The first women’s only backpacking intro a few weeks ago was a success so we decided to offer another, this time mid-week. We knew turnout might be limited with a mid-week trip, but not everyone works Monday through Friday so we really needed to make this possible. And we did. We were even able to make it run even with one person — and that’s what we had. That said, we consider this one a success, too. Lots was learned and it was a positive experience for all. The location this time was the Three Ponds Trail and Shelter. Leading and teaching this trip was Redline Guide Rhonda Willette. After the trip Rhonda provided some photos and wrote the following summmary:
Our guest is an experienced White Mountains hiker and outdoor enthusiast who wanted to add backpacking to her skill set — and I think we accomplished exactly that. We covered all the core skills: bear bagging, pooping in the woods, filtering water, backcountry cooking, sleep systems, pack management, trail hygiene, Leave No Trace, and shelter life.
We also practiced the classic backcountry triangle — keeping the sleeping area, cooking/eating area, and food‑hang area spaced out for safety and wildlife awareness.
Using her Jetboil for the first time sparked a flood of childhood memories of exploring outside and cooking with her brother when they were young. Listening to her reminisce was one of my favorite parts of the trip. —Rhonda
