Guten Tag, Reader,

It was still dark. Still cool. The rising sun threw only the slightest glimmer onto the very tops of the canyon walls. Soon, it would be bright. Warm. Hot probably. But not yet.

Right then, all movement on the beach was guided by headlamps. The women were still wearing that extra layer as they broke down camp for the last time on this adventure.

They moved with skill, strength, and grit. Unexperienced strangers just a week ago, they had bonded into a tight team of confident wilderness adventurers, lending a hand without being asked. Accepting help without hesitation.

My colleague Angie and I checked in, as we had every morning, on every beach. In each other’s eyes, we saw a sense of pride and the realization that we had been witnessing, over 80 river miles in five days, something extraordinary.

“We did it,” we said, with big smiles, followed by a big, long hug.

And we knew right then, on the last morning of last summer’s Salmon River Slowdown, that we wanted more women to experience the transformation we had observed in our participants (and that we had experienced in our own bodies).

That Knowing has become wildHER.

This year, we are moving even farther west, to Oregon’s Rogue River.

The Rogue was one of the original eight rivers of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act in 1968. wildHER will run along the Lower Rogue, where it flows through the rugged Siskiyou Mountains and carves a dramatic and isolated canyon. Cascading side streams, slippery rock slides, fern-hung grottoes, and inviting sandy beaches create the backdrop for an experience designed to support both deep restoration and wild remembering.*

One third (at least) of the women who will join wildHER are returning participants.

That’s how powerfully last year’s river retreat resonated. And I agree with one adventurer who called it “a life-changing experience.” It changed my trajectory, as well.

By the end of the retreat, you’ll feel lighter, wilder, and more confidently yourself than you’ve felt in a very long time.

You’ll also be held—by the river, by us, and by a group of fellow adventurers who are asking the same questions. Angie and I can’t wait to be enchanted all over again—with the land, the river, and the souls it calls.

I hope you’ll consider joining us. Learn more and reserve your spot here.

I will see you back here in two weeks. If you liked this letter, please forward it to a friend.

Always on your side, truly,

*The wildHER Rogue River Adventure will be outfitted by Ouzel Outfitters. Their experienced guides will care for your safety and comfort.

p.s. If you got something from today's letter, why not buy me a coffee? I am keeping my writing AI-free, which means a lot of creativity goes into it. You can leave me a tip here.