Empowering Women Through Wilderness: The Healing Power of Backpacking with Moe Mountains

Moe Mountains is Breaking Barriers: A Female-Focused Backpacking Guide Company

Spending time in nature is one of the most powerful ways to heal, reset, and reconnect with oneself. Yet, for many women, the wilderness can feel inaccessible due to safety concerns, lack of experience, or simply not knowing where to start.

Recognizing this challenge led Lauren Hostetler to create Moe Mountains to empower women with the skills, confidence, and community they need to embrace the great outdoors.

The goal? To help women experience the deep healing and renewal that only nature can provide.

The Wellness Benefits of Backpacking

Backpacking is more than just an outdoor adventure—it’s a holistic wellness experience. Physically, it builds strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that hiking lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease, making it a powerful form of preventive healthcare.

Mentally and emotionally, the benefits are just as profound. Time spent in nature has been proven to lower cortisol levels, strengthen the immune system, and promote relaxation. Being surrounded by the sounds of birds, the rustling of trees, and the fresh mountain air helps shift the brain from a fight-or-flight state into a place of deep rest and recovery.

There’s even science behind the healing power of the outdoors—trees release chemicals that have been shown to lower blood pressure and improve mood. Sleeping under the stars provides some of the most restorative sleep possible, and breathing in fresh mountain air has an undeniable effect on mental clarity.

Additionally, research suggests that time in green spaces boosts creativity, enhances mood, and reduces symptoms of depression. Backpacking unites all these benefits, offering women an opportunity to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits in a single, transformative experience.

A Unique Approach to Outdoor Adventure

What sets Moe Mountains apart from other outdoor adventure companies is a deep commitment to preparation, education, and community-building. Women don’t just follow a guide into the wilderness—they gain the knowledge and confidence to embark on their own future adventures.

Each participant receives a 12-week hiking-specific fitness plan designed to strengthen the muscles most needed for backpacking. At the 8-week mark before each trip, they dive into a comprehensive backpacking prep course, covering essential topics like first aid, Leave No Trace principles, predator safety, food planning, and gear selection.

Beyond physical preparation, Moe Mountains fosters a strong sense of community. Monthly Zoom meetings provide opportunities to review materials, ask questions, and connect with fellow adventurers. By the time participants hit the trail, they aren’t just prepared—they’re excited and ready to embrace the journey ahead.

Finding Confidence in the Wild

For many women, backpacking with Moe Mountains is more than an outdoor excursion—it’s a life-changing experience. It’s about replacing fear with confidence, uncertainty with empowerment, and isolation with community. The mountains have so much to offer, and every woman deserves to feel strong, capable, and connected in the great outdoors.

Join us in embracing adventure, wellness, and empowerment—one trail at a time. Meet Lauren in person at The Bozeman Wellness Expo on May 17th to learn more!

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