Trip Recap: Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park
All photos by Janet Bauer (instagram @missjanetb)
In July 2024, Wild Women Escapes took our first cohort of beginner backpackers to the Enchanted Valley for a 4 day, 3 night adventure in Olympic National park. It turned out to be an unforgettable adventure that exceeded all expectations.
Meg and Lauren clearly communicated from day 1, there was no question left unanswered (even the silly questions that I kept googling but finally asked to get a good answer). They were so encouraging through the entire process and shared so much of their knowledge that led to a great first time backpacking experience. The trip exceeded all my expectations, the best part of the trip was seeing the enchanted valley and going with such a positive group! The leaders made it so I only had to focus on enjoying the hike because of the safety, camping and backpacking prior knowledge that they had shared.
-Trip Participant
The organization that was put into planning and executing this trip was incredible; from the list of needed items, to the training guide, to the delicious food and swag bag. Nothing was subpar. The fact that all small and large details were considered, made going on this trip so easy (even for a mom of 3, soon to be four)! I feel more confident in my abilities to plan a backpacking trip with my friends and family. It also has piqued my interest in hiking in state parks near me! Nature has a beauty that I don’t want to escape! Thank you Wild Women 🙂
– Trip Participant
Highlights of the trip (according to our participants!)
- Chilling by the river in the Enchanted Valley
- Making pizza as a group
- Talking & connecting around the fire
- Being immersed in nature and completely present in the moment
- Pit stop to swim in the cold mountain river
- Seeing the different life that surrounded/created the trail
- Getting to know different, awesome women
We were incredibly fortunate to go this entire trip without a single drop of rain. This is really rare in the PNW and we took it as a good omen!
The trail presented a mix of challenges and rewards, winding through ancient forests, towering trees, and serene meadows. The camaraderie within our group added an extra layer of enjoyment, as we shared stories around campfires each evening.
Walking into the Enchanted Valley was mesmerizing; steep cliffs and a lush green meadow stretched out where the Quinault River flowed peacefully. Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs, adding to the valley’s enchanting charm.
The trip was a challenge but an amazing experience! It was something outside of my comfort zone – and I’m so glad I took the risk! I enjoyed meeting other awesome women, pushing myself, and learning more about backpacking. It was great that Lauren and Megan gave tips and tricks about anything and everything from packing, to wearing a pack, and meals/snacks. They were well prepared and made me feel so comfortable. I 100% would do a trip again and recommend this to anyone wanting an adventure!
-Trip participant
This trip was awesome and I am so glad I took a risk and signed up for it. The pre-trip communication enabled me to be fully prepared from a physical, mental, and gear perspective. The trail chosen for this trip was exceptionally beautiful and challenging without leaving me totally exhausted. The trip leaders were encouraging, I never felt intimidated. They also provided a lot of opportunities to foster community within the group. There were some lovely curated touches like the welcome dinner, swag bags, a camp shower, and boiling our water for morning coffee. There was a lot of on-site education about safety, proper hiking technique, gear care, and other essential backpacking tasks. I felt completely immersed in nature and present in the moment, and a spark for backpacking was ignited in me. I feel empowered to say yes to future camping/backpacking trips that friends propose and may even plan some myself!
-Trip participant
We (the Wild Women) team are wildly grateful to our very first cohort of ladies for making our inaugural trip such a success. They came prepared, excited, and ready to roll. We loved witnessing their kindness towards one another, their eagerness to help with tasks around camp, and their perseverance. We can’t wait for our second trip in just a few weeks!
Want to be the first to hear about upcoming events and trips?
Subscribe via email to be the first to hear about our Summer 2025 trips and upcoming community events.
A great way to learn all the basics of backpacking – from what types of meals and snacks you’ll need to how to train and exactly what gear you should buy. After going on this trip, I feel prepared to go on a multitude of backpacking trips due to the length (both in mileage and nights!) of this first trip. Lauren and Megan do an excellent job of thinking through every detail – from curated swag bags to how to download offline maps to your phone to which snacks are great on the trail. Lots of preparation on the front end made for a seamless trip with lots of downtime to enjoy the scenery, go for a swim and get to know other like-minded ladies! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to dip their toe into backpacking but isn’t sure where to start!
-Trip Participant
Trip Recap: Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park
All photos by Janet Bauer (instagram @missjanetb)
In July 2024, Wild Women Escapes took our first cohort of beginner backpackers to the Enchanted Valley for a 4 day, 3 night adventure in Olympic National park. It turned out to be an unforgettable adventure that exceeded all expectations.
Meg and Lauren clearly communicated from day 1, there was no question left unanswered (even the silly questions that I kept googling but finally asked to get a good answer). They were so encouraging through the entire process and shared so much of their knowledge that led to a great first time backpacking experience. The trip exceeded all my expectations, the best part of the trip was seeing the enchanted valley and going with such a positive group! The leaders made it so I only had to focus on enjoying the hike because of the safety, camping and backpacking prior knowledge that they had shared.
-Trip Participant
The organization that was put into planning and executing this trip was incredible; from the list of needed items, to the training guide, to the delicious food and swag bag. Nothing was subpar. The fact that all small and large details were considered, made going on this trip so easy (even for a mom of 3, soon to be four)! I feel more confident in my abilities to plan a backpacking trip with my friends and family. It also has piqued my interest in hiking in state parks near me! Nature has a beauty that I don’t want to escape! Thank you Wild Women 🙂
– Trip Participant
Highlights of the trip (according to our participants!)
- Chilling by the river in the Enchanted Valley
- Making pizza as a group
- Talking & connecting around the fire
- Being immersed in nature and completely present in the moment
- Pit stop to swim in the cold mountain river
- Seeing the different life that surrounded/created the trail
- Getting to know different, awesome women
We were incredibly fortunate to go this entire trip without a single drop of rain. This is really rare in the PNW and we took it as a good omen!
The trail presented a mix of challenges and rewards, winding through ancient forests, towering trees, and serene meadows. The camaraderie within our group added an extra layer of enjoyment, as we shared stories around campfires each evening.
Walking into the Enchanted Valley was mesmerizing; steep cliffs and a lush green meadow stretched out where the Quinault River flowed peacefully. Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs, adding to the valley’s enchanting charm.
The trip was a challenge but an amazing experience! It was something outside of my comfort zone – and I’m so glad I took the risk! I enjoyed meeting other awesome women, pushing myself, and learning more about backpacking. It was great that Lauren and Megan gave tips and tricks about anything and everything from packing, to wearing a pack, and meals/snacks. They were well prepared and made me feel so comfortable. I 100% would do a trip again and recommend this to anyone wanting an adventure!
-Trip participant
This trip was awesome and I am so glad I took a risk and signed up for it. The pre-trip communication enabled me to be fully prepared from a physical, mental, and gear perspective. The trail chosen for this trip was exceptionally beautiful and challenging without leaving me totally exhausted. The trip leaders were encouraging, I never felt intimidated. They also provided a lot of opportunities to foster community within the group. There were some lovely curated touches like the welcome dinner, swag bags, a camp shower, and boiling our water for morning coffee. There was a lot of on-site education about safety, proper hiking technique, gear care, and other essential backpacking tasks. I felt completely immersed in nature and present in the moment, and a spark for backpacking was ignited in me. I feel empowered to say yes to future camping/backpacking trips that friends propose and may even plan some myself!
-Trip participant
We (the Wild Women) team are wildly grateful to our very first cohort of ladies for making our inaugural trip such a success. They came prepared, excited, and ready to roll. We loved witnessing their kindness towards one another, their eagerness to help with tasks around camp, and their perseverance. We can’t wait for our second trip in just a few weeks!
Want to be the first to hear about upcoming events and trips?
Subscribe via email to be the first to hear about our Summer 2025 trips and upcoming community events.
A great way to learn all the basics of backpacking – from what types of meals and snacks you’ll need to how to train and exactly what gear you should buy. After going on this trip, I feel prepared to go on a multitude of backpacking trips due to the length (both in mileage and nights!) of this first trip. Lauren and Megan do an excellent job of thinking through every detail – from curated swag bags to how to download offline maps to your phone to which snacks are great on the trail. Lots of preparation on the front end made for a seamless trip with lots of downtime to enjoy the scenery, go for a swim and get to know other like-minded ladies! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to dip their toe into backpacking but isn’t sure where to start!
-Trip Participant