Trail Ready Woman: The Guided Backcountry Experience
No Experience Required • Small Group • Expert Instruction + Practice • Overnight Backpacking • $525
Build the skills.
Gain the confidence.
Step into the backcountry.
You don’t need years of experience to get there.
You need the right structure, the right support, and the right environment.
Are you ready for more than day hikes, but you’re not quite sure how to get there?
Gear, planning, safety. It can feel like a lot.
This experience bridges the gap between curiosity and confidence so you can move beyond the trailhead and into the backcountry with clarity.
With expert education, hands-on practice, and a fully guided backcountry experience, you’ll learn exactly what to do, how to do it, and most importantly, trust yourself doing it.
By the end of this experience, you will know how to prepare, carry, and move through backcountry terrain with confidence.
You won’t just understand it. You will have done it.
“I achieved one of my life goals. I have always longingly admired people who could set off on days-long hiking adventures in the backcountry. With no experience to draw on, few people in my network with this interest, and very limited time to myself, I was discouraged and just didn’t know how to get started.
Then I met Kerry Mannette (Valkyrie Adventures Inc.) and Deborah Peddle-Hann (Journey to Wellness and Healthy Hiking). Kind, funny, knowledgeable, and with years of experience, these two are dedicated to empowering other women to take on outdoor adventures with confidence and agency.
Through their Trail Ready Woman program I quickly learned about the gear I needed, how to pack it, and how to embark on a backcountry trip safely and with confidence. One of the best parts was the chance to share my first backcountry experience with other likeminded women.
If you are a woman who is curious about exploring the backcountry, but just not sure where to start, reach out to Kerry and Deb. You won’t regret it!”
Jaymi - Trail Ready Woman
YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY
From uncertainty to capability in three key phases
Part 1: Gain Clarity
Remove the guesswork around gear, planning, and how everything works together.
2-hour online workshop
Understand your gear system and what actually matters
Clear guidance on planning, safety, and expectations
Part 2: Build Confidence
Learn and apply the systems that support you on the trail.
1-day in-person workshop
Hands-on gear setup, packing, and fit adjustments
Learn safety systems, pacing, and trail movements
Guided Skills Hike: Lake William Trail
A structured gear test run where you apply, adjust, and refine your setup on real terrain.
~5 km distance, ~52 m elevation
Out and back trail
Focus on pack comfort, pacing, and movement
Part 3: Step into the Backcountry
Move beyond theory and complete your first guided overnight experience.
Experience Details
7 km distance, ~70 m elevation
3–4 hours hiking
2 days, 1 night
Coastal terrain shaped by tides and exposure
Group tidal crossing with fixed timing constraints
Learn to carry, adjust, and move with confidence
Supported, guided, and structured throughout
This experience is for:
Women who feel ready for more than day hikes, but aren’t sure where to start
Women who want to feel confident in what to bring, what to do, and how to handle the trail
Women who are done second-guessing and ready to trust themselves in the backcountry
You don’t need:
Prior backpacking experience
Advanced fitness
Perfect gear
You just need to be willing to try, learn, and step into something new.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Experience
Women-only, small group, professionally guided experience
Intentional pacing and structured group support
Route selection and safety oversight throughout
Skill Development
Practical, on-trail skill development for real conditions
Foundational training in trail movement, gear, and preparation
Introduction to navigation, safety, and decision making
Preparation & Support
Pre-trip guidance, including what to expect and how to prepare
On-trail support, including pacing adjustments and rest timing
Guidance on building endurance, resilience, and readiness for longer hikes
Additional
Optional photography to capture the experience
15% discount with MEC Halifax
10% discount for Journey to Wellness Virtual Fit Camp
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to and from the trailhead
Personal gear or equipment
Meals, snacks, or beverages
Travel, medical, or trip cancellation insurance
Advanced, technical training or certifications
Guaranteed weather conditions
YOUR GUIDES
Deborah Peddle-Hann
Deborah Peddle-Hann is the founder of Healthy Hiking and Journey to Wellness, where she helps women build the strength, confidence, and practical skills needed to explore the outdoors safely and comfortably. With nearly two decades of experience in fitness and wellness, Deborah prepares hikers not just physically, but mentally and logistically for longer trails and backcountry adventures.
After discovering her love for backpacking in her mid-40s, Deborah understands firsthand how intimidating it can feel to step beyond day hiking. Through real-world experience, practical guidance, and her down-to-earth teaching style, she helps women feel capable, prepared, and inspired to explore more of what’s possible on the trail.
Kerry Mannette
A lover of wild places, challenge, and meaningful experience, Kerry founded Valkyrie Adventures after years spent exploring Nova Scotia and landscapes around the world. From hiking and backcountry camping to scuba diving, skiing, and travel, these experiences shaped a deep respect for nature and a lasting appreciation for presence, resilience, and connection.
Kerry is passionate about bringing women together through small, intentional adventures. She believes growth happens just beyond comfort, but never beyond preparation. Challenge should be intentional, risk should be understood, and effort should be shared. Through these experiences, women move through powerful landscapes as active participants, building confidence, connection, and a deeper sense of strength that extends far beyond the trail.
WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT
This is the only experience in Nova Scotia that takes you from no backcountry experience to confidently completing your first overnight trip with full guidance.
Structured progression
Hands-on skill development, not theory
Real backcountry application, not simulation
You will be supported by two experienced women who you can trust to be there for you every step of the way
TESTIMONIALS
"I think I always had the confidence, but I felt like I was missing certain information. What I learned is that I wasn't missing as much as I thought. It was reassuring to realize I already knew more than I gave myself credit for and that I'm more capable than I realized. I didn't feel anxious about the weather, the crossing, or any of the things I expected to worry about. For once, I didn't have to be the one looking after everybody else. I could simply relax, enjoy the experience, and spend time with other women. Both Kerry and Deb were calm and confident, and that gave me confidence too." -Tara
“I learned that I can adapt when my body isn’t feeling the way I expected it to. Having the support of the group allowed me to slow down, take care of myself, and keep going. It gave me confidence that I can handle challenges on the trail.” -Erin
“I feel like I could do this by myself, or with a friend, for one night for sure. I just feel more confident about going out. I’ve learned a lot of tips and tricks, and I feel much more prepared and capable than I did before.” -Sherri
"There are places I’ve wanted to explore, but I’ve been hesitant to go on my own. This experience helped me realize that I can get out and explore more of Nova Scotia with confidence.” -Nicole
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE
You don’t need years of experience to start.
You just need the right guidance, in the right environment.
Review the ‘Before You Book’ section for key requirements and expectations
Group Size
Limited to 8 participants
Each session is a complete 3-part experience. Individual components are not offered separately.
August 19 | 7:00 PM
Virtual Intro Session & Gear GuidanceAugust 28 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Hands-On Skills Workshop + Guided Test Hike (In Person – Fall River, NS area)August 29-30 | 12:00 PM – Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 3:00 PM
Guided Backcountry Experience (Eastern Shore, Nova Scotia)
Payment Plan
$100 non-refundable deposit due at registration to reserve your spot.
$200 payment due on June 30, 2026.
Final payment of $225 due on July 20, 2026.
Your registration is not considered complete until all required forms have been submitted and all payments have been received.
Cancellation Policy
Due to limited group sizes, partner commitments, advance planning requirements, and the progression-based nature of the program:
Up to one month before start of experience: Participants may cancel and receive a refund of payments made, less the $100 non-refundable deposit.
On or after one month before start of experience: The program is non-refundable.
If Valkyrie Adventures & Journey to Wellness is able to fill the cancelled spot from the waitlist, a refund may be issued at our discretion, less the $100 deposit
If Valkyrie Adventures & Journey to Wellness cancels the program for any reason, participants will receive a full refund of all amounts paid. This information can be reviewed in full on our Terms and Conditions page.
Not ready for these dates?
Join the Priority Access List and be the first to hear when new dates are released.
Many women tell us they're interested but the timing doesn't work. If that's you, add your name to the list and we'll contact you before future experiences are opened to the public.
✔ Priority notification of new dates
✔ Early access to registration
✔ No commitment required
