Beginner-Friendly 2-Night Backpacking Trip: Yoga, Connection & the Indian Heaven Wilderness

Are you craving connection: to nature, to your body, to others, and curious about dipping your toes into the world of backpacking? This gentle 2-night guided trip is designed with beginners in mind and led by two women who care deeply about creating intentional, inclusive, and nourishing outdoor experiences.

Together, we’ll slow down and reconnect, learning the basics of carrying a pack, camping as a group, practicing yoga in the open air, and exploring the beauty of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Expect a blend of movement, stillness, skill-sharing, stargazing, and real connection.

We’re keeping the group small and intimate : only 6 spots available / to maintain a cozy, well-held container as we journey together through this beautiful alpine landscape.

The trailhead is about a 2-hour drive from Portland. We will discuss carpooling options as we get closer to the set off date.

Meet Your Guides

Mitra is an experienced outdoor guide with a deep love for wild places, wildflowers, and the kind of magic that happens when people adventure together. They bring years of experience leading multi-day trips, teaching backcountry skills, and sharing stories of the land and plants around us. As a Wilderness First Responder and resident plant nerd, Mitra will help you feel safe, supported, and inspired. Expect laughs, dog stories, and some unexpected botanical wisdom along the way.

Jena Rae is a 300-hour certified yoga teacher who blends her love of movement, mindfulness, and the natural world into every offering. She’s traveled far and wide, both on trails and through her inner landscape, and brings a grounding presence to our time together, inviting you to fully arrive in each moment.

We’re both certified in first aid and emergency response, each at different levels, to ensure your safety and peace of mind on trail.

More about the trail we’ll be hiking:

Thomas Lake to Blue Lake Trail

Itinerary

September 12 – Meet at [Location TBA] and caravan / carpool from Portland. Hike to our campsite, settle in, and unwind with a yoga practice before cooking dinner and relaxing under the stars.
September 13 – Wake to the sunrise with a Hatha yoga class. Then, spend the day exploring the area. Return to camp for a gentle hatha / restorative class, group dinner, and cozy connections.
September 14 – Start the morning with our final yoga practice before packing up and hiking out. We'll aim to return to Portland by [time TBA].

*To note, there may be mosquitoes during this time of year, which will affect the way we move our bodies in yoga and our time together. We will discuss alternative options for the elements. There also may be a fire burning or heavy smoke, and in this case, we have made an alternative plan for a different trip in the Willamette National Forest. If we have to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances, we will generate deposit refunds in this case. Please reach out if you have further questions or concerns about this. We want to ensure you feel supported and filled with as much information as possible.

Prepping Together

We’ll have 1–2 group meetups before the trip to go over gear, food planning, packing lists, carpooling, and any questions. These pre-trip gatherings are designed to help you feel fully prepared and supported, no matter your level of experience.

Support Our Work: Suggested Donation for Your Guided Experience
We're so excited to offer this 2-night, beginner-friendly backpacking trip into the Indian Heaven Wilderness. This trip is born from our love of the outdoors, movement, and meaningful connection - and we're honored to create and hold this space with care and intention.

We’re offering this experience outside of any formal business structure, which means we're not charging a set fee or running it as a commercial enterprise. Instead, we’re inviting participants to contribute via sliding-scale donations, which go directly toward supporting the time, energy, prep, and guidance that we (Mitra + Jena Rae) are putting into making this trip happen.

✨ $50 Deposit (non-refundable)
This secures your spot and helps us coordinate shared gear and logistics.

Option 1

✨ Suggested Donation: $100–$250
This supports our planning time, food prep, group gear, yoga instruction, trail guidance, and more. If you're able to give more, your generosity helps support others who may not be able to contribute at the higher end.

Option 2

✨ Suggested donation range: $150–$300
This helps cover our planning time, food prep, shared gear, yoga instruction, trail guiding, and more. If you're able to give more, your generosity helps support others who may not be able to contribute at the higher end.

Please note:

Your deposit holds your spot and helps us prep any loaner gear you need.
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds, but we deeply appreciate any amount you're able to offer.

This is a labor of love, and your contributions allow us to continue making these experiences accessible, safe, and beautiful for everyone involved.

With gratitude,
Mitra + Jena Rae

Have questions? Reach out anytime, we’re here to help you feel excited, confident, and ready. 💛