Ready to start backpacking?
Learn how to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient outdoor backpacking badass (no matter what age or level of experience you’re starting at), so that you can go on and finally take charge of your biggest, wildest, outdoor adventure dreams.
Become an outdoor Backpacking badass!
YOU deserve to feel safe,
confident, and self-sufficient
on the trail (& in life). And
that’s EXACTLY what I teach.
Hey, I’m Allison
I’m an Outdoor Backpacking Educator & Empowerment Coach.
I teach women how to become truly confident, safe, & self-sufficient in the outdoors (specifically through the skill of BACKPACKING) so that they can finally start taking real ownership of their safety on the trail and start making some real momentum on their big adventurous dreams – no matter what level of experience or time in their life they’re starting from.
Through outdoor backpacking and our signature coaching program, Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass®, we teach women how to be self-made, self-sufficient, and the creators of their dreams—and to stop living on the sidelines of their dreams due to fear. We believe backpacking is a powerful catalyst for self-empowerment and is a radical form of self-care that every woman who is drawn to the outdoors can benefit immensely from.
Safe, confident, self-sufficient, resilient, empowered, free >> That is a Backpacking Badass™ Will you join us?
Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit
START TODAY: I created the ultimate Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for you (and it's FREE)! This starter kit is filled with 14 pages of my best hiking and backpacking tips to help you learn what it takes to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient outdoor backpacker!
The adventurous womans guide to thriving during chaotic & uncertain times
YOUR ADVENTUROUS MINDSET: Inside this free 11 page PDF guide you’ll find my very best tips for shifting from panic & uncertainty to thriving & growing no matter what you have going on in your life.
Backpacking Resources & Packing Checklist
GET ORGANIZED: Grab my full Backpacking Gear Checklist that is perfect for 2-5 day backpacking trips. In addition to this organized checklist, you’ll also get a visual checklist, layering essentials tip-sheet, and 25+ backpacking food ideas that I personally love on backpacking trips.
Hiking 101 - The Essential Hiking Gear List (PLUS Hiking Packing List Printable) | Hiking doesn’t need to be overwhelming, but I am a big fan of being prepared for the worst case scenario. In this post I've created a comprehensive hiking packing list for essential hiking gear. Refer to this list each time you hike, and you will be prepared for almost anything! Post includes free gear list printable for easy reference. | shedreamsofalpine.com
The Ultimate 3-5 Day Backpacking Packing List (+ Backpacking Checklist PDF ) | Don’t hit the trails without double checking if you have all the backpacking gear you need. This backpacking checklist goes over everything you might need on a 3-5 day backpacking trip (with a printable checklist), plus my personal recommendations on the best gear. | shedreamsofalpine.com
Training for Hiking How-To Guide (Get Strong for Epic Outdoor Adventures) | Want to hit the trail for an epic hike but don’t feel like you’re in shape to handle it? That’s where training for hiking comes in! While you certainly don’t need a detailed training plan for every simple day hike, training for hiking will help you feel stronger and enjoy your hike more, no matter what trail you tackle. | shedreamsofalpine.com
How to Plan a Backpacking Trip: What You Need to Think About Before Hitting the Trail | Dreaming about taking your first backpacking trip but don’t even know where to begin? Knowing how to plan a backpacking trip is a skill in itself, and I am here to walk you through the process. This post will give you an overview of everything that goes into planning a backpacking trip, so you can feel confident when you hit the trail. | shedreamsofalpine.com
Why You Should Take a Solo Backpacking Trip | Do you dream of backpacking but can’t convince your friends to go with you? What if you decided to just make it happen and take a solo backpacking trip?A solo backpacking trip is an awesome way to discover what you’re capable of and gain confidence in yourself, and here are even more reasons I would recommend hitting the trail solo. | shedreamsofalpine.com
Your Ultimate Guide to Hiking Mount Baldy | If you are based out of the Southern California area, then hiking Mount Baldy is absolutely one of the best hikes in California. Not only is it a great training hike for California’s bigger 14er mountains, it also makes a great day hike on a fun but challenging 11-mile loop. You’ll traverse the famous Devil’s Backbone trail and summit the highest peak in Los Angeles County. A must-do hike for all Californians! | shedreamsofalpine.com
Your Ultimate Guide to Backpacking the Lost Coast Trail in California - Trail Details, Camping, Permits, Weather, Tide Tables, and More | The Lost Coast Trail lies along California’s beautiful rugged coastline and follows some of its most isolated and breathtaking beaches. The trail is about 25 miles long and takes about 2-3 days to backpack. Enjoy one of the most unique backpacking experiences California has to offer with the Lost Coast Trail hike, and check out my full guide for all your trip planning details. | shedreamsofalpine.com
The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Isle Royale (in Lake Superior) | Isle Royale National Park is the least visited national park in America, but is the most revisited. Backpacking Isle Royale is an incredible experience, but it is logistically tricky to get to Isle Royale This trail guides breaks down all the details to make it easy to plan your own Isle Royale adventure. | shedreamsofalpine.com
The Ultimate List of Best Hikes in the World According to These Adventurous Travel Bloggers | I’m super excited to share this ultimate list of best hikes in the world! I reached out to some of the top adventure & travel bloggers for their favorite hikes from around the globe and compiled that list into this epic binge-worthy post. And of course I’ve sprinkled in a few of the hikes I personally consider the worlds best hikes into this post as well. | shedreamsofalpine.com
The Most Amazing Hikes on the East Coast | From the seaside cliffs of Acadia National Park to the stunning peaks of the White Mountains to the towering rock cliffs of the Shawangunks and the Red River Gorge, the east coast is filled with spectacular hikes. This guide covers the very best east coast hikes, including the ultimate thru-hike on the east coast, the Appalachian Trail. | shedreamsofalpine.com
70 Beautifully Inspirational Mountain Quotes | I’m a sucker for quotes y’all.If you read a lot of my articles, particularly some of the more personal ones then you will know that I quote things all the time. So I’ve compiled 70 of my favorite inspirational mountain quotes of all time into this post. Help me build this list by sharing your favorites! | shedreamsofalpine.com
day hiking
In my day hiking gear list post I go through my complete hiking gear list with examples of brands I trust and love for my own hiking gear, but also be sure to download my day hike checklist and print it off so that you never forget the essentials again!
backpacking
This blog post will take each of my backpacking gear list items and will break it down into the gear that I personally recommend and love using myself. So basically, this post is a look at my backpacking gear closet… my backpacking must haves so-to-speak + a Free Downloadable Checklist to go with it of course!
Here’s a small sampling from the students enrolled in the Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass® program.
— melani —
My number one goal was to be self-sufficient and to be fully reliant on myself...which was the main reason I jumped all in on this course. And I love the alumni piece of it where I can see all the women who are in there and maybe connect with them. To have a place to ask the questions you sometimes feel stupid to ask.
— laurie —
I decided to enroll in Allison’s course. That decision set me on the path to my first solo backpacking trip to Havasu Falls…it was a success! I am so, so glad that I stumbled upon Allison’s initial email. Otherwise I think I would have quickly given up or, worse, I might have become one of those people who put the first responders at risk while they rescue you.
— heather —
I decided I wanted to do more and I was tired of watching everyone else have the adventures and being too scared to do them myself… Everything that Allison taught was everything I needed to do to prepare myself, and my kids for this trip. We ended up doing a 4-day backpacking trip in West Virginia that was 23 miles, and it was amazing!
Read more student stories here.
Hiking in the Desert - What You Need to Know | If the magical desert landscape calls to you, you can find incredible hiking trails to explore the stunning sandy environment. But hiking in the desert requires certain skills and preparedness that are different from hiking through the woods or a meadow. This guide will cover the basics of hiking in the desert, from clothing and gear to safety considerations and comfort. The goal is to help you feel prepared to embark on your own desert hiking adventure! | shedreamsofalpine.com