Gillespie Point
The primary purpose of the ruck is to prepare you for future backpacking trips, but it is also a great opportunity to meet others, or “dip your toes” into the world of hiking & backpacking. We go over many useful tips such as how to pack a balanced backpack, safety in the outdoors, and much, much more. We typically hike at a leisurely pace, taking time to enjoy the outdoors or pause to go over any questions the group might have.
Wild Roots finds the Ruck Days so important to preparing for an overnight trip, that anyone who signs up for a Wild Roots Backpacking trip will earn free registration to 1 Ruck Day (preferably prior to their trip). If you aren’t yet ready to commit to a backpacking trip, but would like to “dip your toes in” with a Ruck Day, you can apply the $50 registration fee of your ruck towards a future backpacking trip (within 1 year of the ruck date).Â
This trip is dedicated to empowering women in the outdoors.Â
About the ruck
Join us on Sunday, April 21st near Blackwell, PA for a day of hiking, learning and comradery! This route covers ~5 miles with 1,100+ ft of elevation gain, earning it the difficulty rating of “difficult”. Enjoy babbling streams, a challenging climb, and gorgeous views. Expect to spend some time getting to know your fellow hikers, learning about Leave No Trace through an interactive lesson, and of course experience the trails on foot with your day-hiking or backpacking gear. Plan for up to 6 hours between hiking and lessons.Â
This particular Ruck Day is best suited for those planning to attend the Intro to Backpacking or PA Grand Canyon backpacking trips in June, but Wild Roots welcomes all skill levels to attend, whether you are signed up for a backpacking trip or just looking for a day hike.
Sign up and/or share with a friend via links below!
Quick Facts
- When:Â Sunday April 21st, 2024
- 10 am start, ~4 pm end
- Where: Blackwell in Tioga SF
- Who:Â women looking for on trail comradery and to learn about hiking/backpacking best practicesÂ
- What:Â ~5 miles with 1,100+ ft of gain; A day of hiking and learning with like-minded women. Learn about backpacking basics while enjoying some lovely views!
- Why:Â through individual experience & community, cultivate a sense of confidence and competence while enjoying Mother Nature and the lessons she provides.Â
- Registration:Â $50/person
What you'll learn
- Mental & physical preparing for overnight backpacking trips
- Leave no trace principles
- How to store food in the backcountry (PCT food-hang – and other options)
- Basic navigation with topographic maps
- Respecting, appreciating, and staying safe amongst wildlife
- Packing a balanced backpack, and choosing gear that is right for you
- How to complete your own shakedown – what to bring, what not to bring
- Your own strength!
Quick Facts
What you'll learn
- When: Sunday April 21st, 2024
- 10 am start, ~4 pm end
- Where: Blackwell in Tioga SF
- Who: women looking for on trail comradery and to learn about hiking/backpacking best practicesÂ
- What: ~5 miles with 1,100+ ft of gain; A day of hiking and learning with like-minded women. Learn about backpacking basics while enjoying some lovely views!
- Why: through individual experience & community, cultivate a sense of confidence and competence while enjoying Mother Nature and the lessons she provides.Â
- Registration: $50/person
- Mental & physical preparing for overnight backpacking trips
- Leave no trace principles
- How to store food in the backcountry (PCT food-hang – and other options)
- Basic navigation with topographic maps
- Respecting, appreciating, and staying safe amongst wildlife
- Packing a balanced backpack, and choosing gear that is right for you
- How to complete your own shakedown – what to bring, what not to bring
- Your own strength!
2023
Trip Gallery
Popular Questions
Ruck Day FAQ
To reserve your spot in our next adventure, click “sign up” above, fill out the form, and Wild Roots will reach out to you for payment.
Payment received = spot reserved. Ruck Days are limited to 10 people, so spots will fill up fast!
- Scheduling a consultation with Wild Roots to go over readiness prior to the Ruck Day
- Packing food (snacks or lunch)
- Clothing & shoes
- Gear (some rentals available)
- Bringing your sense of adventure and love for nature!
For safety reasons, Wild Roots will only be sharing specific itinerary details with individuals who have registered for the hike. You can find basic itinerary details in the “about” of this page. Follow Wild Roots on your Facebook or Insta to keep up to date on more Ruck Day details.Â
Ruck Days are the Wild Roots version of a shake-down or practice hike. Essentially, you will gather all the gear you currently have and pack it up as if you were going on an overnight trip. You’ll then hike with all your gear, preferably on trails, 3-10 miles. This provides an opportunity to learn how to organize your pack, find out how it feels to carry the pack, and adjust according to how well that went. Sometimes you’ll find that you have too much gear (either it’s too heavy, or doesn’t fit, etc). WRG provides group Ruck Days for you to practice and meet others with guidance. Check out our Ruck Days on the Events page. It is included with your backpacking trip cost!
Try the “virtual” option! Ruck Days are mandatory for anyone registered for an overnight backpacking trip, but maybe your schedule just does not align with the dates WRG Ruck Days are scheduled. If that sounds like you and you are registered for a backpacking trip, take advantage of the Virtual Ruck Day, which includes:
- 1 pre-ruck consultation (up to 1 hr)
- 1 post-ruck consultation (up to 1 hour)
Â
These consultations replace the “in-person” Ruck Day, and are included in your backpacking trip cost. During the pre-ruck consult, WRG will help you plan your route and prepare for the ruck. During the post-ruck consult, we can go over what went well or how you can improve your experience for next time. You will complete the ruck on your own time, whenever it fits your schedule.Â
- Experienced guide, certified in Wilderness First Ad & CPR
- Use of WRG rental gear (for weight)
- Initial consultation
- Gear/Packing ListÂ
- All logistics planned for you
- A map of your trip route
- Group first aid kit
- Guidance for those preparing for overnight trips
- Dependent – Leave No Trace Awareness course or “How to Pack Your Pack aka Shakedowns”
- A hiker game – opportunity to win prize!
- Schedule a consultation
- Meet with Wild Roots for additional consultations, $35/hr (optional)
- Ask about rental gear
- Being generally active in the weeks leading up to the event can help you aerobically, meaning a more pleasant hiking experience
This is a great topic to cover during a consultation, which is required before your Ruck Day. We will review a Gear/Packing list and can discuss what items you may already have, which gear items you may want to rent (included with ruck day cost), and which gear you may want to invest in. Consultations are either included in your trip cost, or $35/hour, and you can apply this payment towards future registration if you are not yet signed up.
First and foremost – backpacking is not a race. On ALL guided trips, we are out there to experience nature. Yes we are also hiking, and it may be difficult at times, but we will always stop to smell the flowers, adjust packs, or rest when the feeling is right.
Also, the initial consultation is a great time to access your readiness for any adventure. There are plenty of people who can take the “couch to 5k” approach to backpacking, others will need time and practice before registering for an overnight trip. When unsure, always lean towards training and preparing. Backpacking Trips are rated from easy-moderate-difficult, and WRG can help you decide which might be the best fit for you!
Popular Questions
Ruck Day FAQ
To reserve your spot in our next adventure, click “sign up” above, fill out the form, and Wild Roots will reach out to you for payment.
Payment received = spot reserved. Ruck Days are limited to 10 people, so spots will fill up fast!
- Experienced guide, certified in Wilderness First Aid & CPR
- Use of WRG rental gear (for weight)Â
- Initial consultation
- Gear/Packing ListÂ
- All logistics planned for you
- A map of your trip route
- Group first aid kit
- Guidance for those preparing for overnight trips
- Dependent – either a Leave No Trace Awareness course or “How to Pack Your Pack aka Pack Shakedowns”
- A hiker game – opportunity to win prize!
- Scheduling an Initial Consultation with Wild Roots to go over readiness prior to the Ruck Day
- Packing food (snacks or lunch)
- Clothing & shoes
- Gear (some rentals available)
- Bringing your sense of adventure and love for nature!
- Schedule an Initial Consultation
- Meet with your guide for additional consultations (optional)
- Ask about rental gear
- Being generally active in the weeks leading up to the event can help you aerobically, meaning a more pleasant hiking experience
For safety reasons, Wild Roots will only be sharing specific itinerary details with individuals who have registered for the hike. You can find basic itinerary details in the “about” of this page. Follow Wild Roots on your Facebook or Insta to keep up to date on more Ruck Day details.
This is a great topic to cover during an initial consultation, which is required before your Ruck Day. We will review a Gear/Packing list and can discuss what items you may already have, which gear items you may want to rent (included with ruck day cost), and which gear you may want to invest in. Additional consultations are also available at $35/hour, often completed virtually over a video conferencing platform.
Ruck Days are the Wild Roots version of a shake-down or practice hike. Essentially, you will gather all the gear you currently have and pack it up as if you were going on an overnight trip. You’ll then hike with all your gear, preferably on trails, 3-10 miles. This provides an opportunity to learn how to organize your pack, find out how it feels to carry the pack, and adjust according to how well that went. Sometimes you’ll find that you have too much gear (either it’s too heavy, or doesn’t fit, etc). WRG provides group Ruck Days for you to practice and meet others with guidance. Check out our Ruck Days on the Events page. It is included with your backpacking trip cost!
First and foremost – backpacking is not a race. On ALL guided trips, we are out there to experience nature. Yes we are also hiking, and it may be difficult at times, but we will always stop to smell the flowers, adjust packs, or rest when the feeling is right.
Also, the initial consultation is a great time to access your readiness for any adventure. There are plenty of people who can take the “couch to 5k” approach to backpacking, others may need a little time and practice before registering for an overnight trip. Backpacking Trips are rated from easy-moderate-difficult, and WRG can help you decide which might be the best fit for you!
Try the “virtual” option! Ruck Days are mandatory for anyone registered for an overnight backpacking trip, but maybe your schedule just does not align with the dates WRG Ruck Days are scheduled. If that sounds like you and you are registered for a backpacking trip, take advantage of the Virtual Ruck Day, which includes:
- 1 pre-ruck consultation (up to 1 hr)
- 1 post-ruck consultation (up to 1 hour)
Â
These consultations replace the “in-person” Ruck Day, and are included in your backpacking trip cost. During the pre-ruck consult, WRG will help you plan your route and prepare for the ruck. During the post-ruck consult, we can go over what went well or how you can improve your experience for next time. You will complete the ruck on your own time, whenever it fits your schedule.Â
Hope to see you at the next one!
Past Events
Hope to see you at the next one!
Past Events
Hope to see you at the next one!
Past Events
Testimonials
what our hikers say
Testimonials
what our hikers say
Testimonials
what our hikers say
