22/04/2025
FREE - Absolute Beginner Backpacking Adventure - FREE
No experience? No problem
No gear? No problem
No hiking Boots? No problem
No money? No problem
Get ready for a reboot of Valiant Outfitters after a hiatus for Joe to finish his first book’s manuscript. (We’ll share details in a few weeks https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Joe-Bassett/237425940).
To get ready for our reboot, we’re adding a last-minute beta test of our newest overnight trip: “The I’ve Never Slept Outside Before and Might Not Ever Do It Again, but I’d Like to Try It At Least Once Backpacking Trip.” Sure, the name doesn’t roll off the tongue, but it gives you the gist of what you’ll experience. The beta test will take place on May 3-4, 2025.
We’re looking for 2-4 backpacking newbies for this one-night guided backpacking trip. You don’t need any gear or experience - just climate-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes, like sneakers, and a slight sense of adventure.
Ideally, we’re looking for people who have never been on any overnight backpacking trips, but anyone is welcome.
We’re offering this beta test at a special, one-time-only price of $0. Yep, FREE. All we ask is that you provide some feedback and a Google review, preferably a good one, but we’ll take what we get.
Here’s the deets:
Distance: 1 to 2.5 miles on day one; 1 to 3.5 miles on day two, depending on how we feel once we get on the trail.
Difficulty: Just slightly harder than walking on the beach.
Schedule:
May 3, 2025
5:30 PM - Meet at Jenning’s State Forest.
5:45 PM - Go over safety navigation basics and hand out gear.
6:15 PM - Start the trail.
7:30ish PM Arrive at the tent site and set up camp.
8:00ish PM - Charcuterie and S’mores around the campfire, and be bored by stories of wilderness adventure as embellished by your guides, Emma and Joe.
10:00 PM - Wonder if you’re hearing a bear or a bullfrog.
10:15 PM - Worry that the coyotes you hear in the distance will come into camp.
Spoiler Alert: It’s a bullfrog, and no, the coyotes won’t bother coming into camp.
May 4, 2025
Sunrise - Wake up.
Sometime after that, your guides will provide breakfast. You’re welcome to try your hand at camp cooking or have a guide cook it for you.
A little later - Sip coffee and wonder why you’ve never tried this before.
9:30-10:00 AM - Pack up camp and hit the trail.
Noon - Arrive back at your car.
Valiant Outfitters provides
Tent (two persons per tent)
Sleep system (inflatable pad, sleeping bag, inflatable pillow)
Backpack
Cooking system
Breakfast (freeze-dried biscuits and gravy; coffee
Water bottle
You provide
Climate-appropriate clothing (we can advise on what will work)
Closed-toed shoes and appropriate socks (sneakers are great for this hike)
Your guides for this trip (https://valiantoutfitters.com/about/)
Emma Rosset
Joe Bassett
Leave a comment if you're interested and we'll tell you how to register.
