Next Enrollment Window: October 21st through December 30th
(Limited spots available for our next class)
Have You Been Wanting to Go Backpacking, But Keep Talking Yourself Out of Going?
Maybe you’ve been watching YouTube videos, researching gear, saving trails on AllTrails and telling yourself that someday you’ll finally go backpacking.
But when it comes to actually planning a trip, you find yourself wondering…
What if I get lost? What if I run into a bear? What if I can’t figure out my gear? What if something goes wrong and I’m out there all alone?
Or maybe you simply have no idea where to start. There’s so much information out there that it’s hard to know what you actually need to learn, what gear to buy and how to put it all together.
And maybe you’ve been waiting for a friend to go with you or telling yourself you’ll go when you finally feel ready.
I get it. I’ve been backpacking for over 10 years and I know how much there is to learn.
That’s why I created The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System.
It’s an online coaching program designed to help women learn the skills, build the confidence and get the support they need to start backpacking or take their backpacking adventures to the next level.
You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. And you don’t have to wait until you feel completely fearless to get started.
What is The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System?
Think of it as a roadmap for learning how to backpack with confidence.
Instead of spending hours watching videos, researching gear and trying to piece everything together yourself, you’ll have a step-by-step program to work through, along with weekly coaching calls and a community of women who are learning right alongside you.
We’ll cover everything from choosing gear and planning your trips to trail safety, food and preparing yourself mentally for an adventure.
The goal is to help you feel comfortable making decisions, planning trips and handling things that can come up when you’re out in the backcountry.
Hey, I’m Kathleen!
I’m the woman behind The Hungry Hiker and I’ve spent more than a decade learning, exploring, making mistakes, figuring things out and discovering just how much backpacking can change your life.
Backpacking has given me the opportunity to explore some incredible places, challenge myself, meet amazing people and experience the kind of independence that comes from knowing I can head out on an adventure and take care of myself.
But I didn’t start out knowing everything. Nobody does.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about planning trips, choosing gear, staying safe, handling unexpected situations and working through the mental side of backpacking.
I created this program over four years ago because I know how overwhelming it can be to learn how to backpack when you’re trying to figure everything out on your own.
I wanted to create a safe place where women could get the information they need, ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking in other spaces, work through their fears and learn from someone who’s been out there doing it.
I especially want women to know that they don’t have to wait for someone else to be available or for their confidence to magically appear before they start pursuing the adventures they want.
You can learn the skills. You can build confidence. And you can do this in a way that works for you.
That’s what I want to help you do.
Here’s What You’ll Learn
We’ll cover the things you need to know to plan, prepare for and enjoy your backpacking adventures.
BACKPACKING BASICS & GETTING STARTED
How to prepare for your first solo backpacking trip
How to work through your fears
How to mentally prepare for an adventure
How to get comfortable using your backpacking gear
The fundamentals of backpacking
What to practice before heading out
PLANNING YOUR TRIPS
How to choose a trip that’s right for you
How to put together a trip plan and itinerary
How to find hiking partners and plan group trips
How to plan longer-distance backpacking adventures
How to prepare for winter hiking
How to use navigation apps like Gaia GPS & onX Backcountry
TRAIL SAFETY & BEING PREPARED
How to prepare for unexpected situations
What to know about wildlife & water crossings
How to avoid getting lost
How and when to use a satellite messenger
How to make informed decisions on the trail
GEAR & FOOD
How to choose the right gear for you
How to pack your pack
How to understand your base weight
Water filtration, cooking systems & the 10 essentials
How to plan your backpacking meals
Food storage, trail hygiene and those little things that make life in the backcountry easier
GETTING YOUR BODY READY
You’ll also get an eight-week training program with stretches and exercises you can do at home or at the gym, to help prepare for the backpacking season.
The goal isn’t to turn you into an ultralight backpacker or make you follow someone else’s idea of the perfect setup. It’s to help you understand your options and figure out what works for you.
But This Isn’t Just an Online Course
One of the things I love the most about this program is getting to work with women as they put what they’re learning into practice. Here’s what’s included:
SELF-PACED ONLINE LESSONS
Work through the curriculum and revisit lessons whenever you need them.
WEEKLY LIVE GROUP COACHING CALLS
Bring your questions, talk through your plans and get help working through the things you’re struggling with. We’ll also cover many of the program topics together during our live calls.
A PRIVATE, WOMEN-ONLY COMMUNITY
Connect with other women who understand what it’s like to learn something new, work through their fears and take on new adventures. You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
GUIDES, CHECKLISTS & RESOURCES
Use practical tools to help you plan your trips, prepare your gear and put what you’re learning into action.
GROUP BACKPACKING TRIPS
Join eligible group backpacking trips when they’re offered throughout the year. These experiences give you an opportunity to put your skills into practice and connect with other women in the community. Students must meet the program’s course competition requirements to participate. There’s no additional program fee for eligible students to join these trips.
LIFETIME ACCESS
Revisit the lessons, guides, checklists and other course materials whenever you need a refresher.
What If I Don’t Want to Backpack Alone?
That’s completely fine!
Despite the word solo in the program name, you don’t have to want to backpack alone to benefit from this program.
Maybe your goal is to do your first solo overnight trip. Maybe you want to feel more confident backpacking with your kids or friends. Or maybe you want to be the person who can plan a trip and invite other women along instead of always waiting for someone else to organize it.
All of those are great goals.
This is about giving you the skills and confidence to make your own decisions about how, where and with whom you want to go backpacking.
What Can Happen When You Stop Waiting & Start Living
One of the best parts of coaching women through this program is watching them start doing things they once weren’t sure they could do.
Meet Jodi: Jodi is one of the women who’s been through The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System. In this video, she shares her experience and what it’s been like to take steps towards living the life and adventure she wants.
Who Is This Program For?
This program is for you if:
You’ve been wanting to go backpacking but aren’t sure where to start.
You’ve done some hiking or backpacking but still feel intimidated by planning trips on your own.
You want to feel more comfortable with your gear, trail safety and decision-making.
You want to backpack solo someday or simply want to be more independent and confident whenever you head outdoors.
You’re tired of collecting information without knowing how to put it all together.
You’d like guidance, encouragement and a community of women who are learning alongside you.
You don’t need to be an experienced backpacker. You don’t need to have your first trip planned. And you certainly don’t need to have everything figured out before you join this program.
You do need to be willing to learn, practice and take steps toward your goals.
Enrollment Opens October 21!
I’m opening enrollment for a new class of women to join The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System.
Instead of keeping enrollment open all year, I’m bringing women into the program during a set enrollment period so they can learn, ask questions and build their confidence alongside one another.
Enrollment will be open October 21 through December 30, 2026, with 30 spots available.
Once enrollment closes on December 30, the program won’t open for new students again until October 2027.
If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is your opportunity to apply and see whether the program is a good fit for you.
Here’s How To Get Started
Apply to join the program. Complete the online application down below to tell me a little about your backpacking experience, your goals and what you’d like help with.
Let’s talk. You’ll then schedule a free one-on-one Zoom call with me to discuss where you’re starting from, what you want to accomplish and whether the program is a good fit.
Make your decision. On our call, I’ll answer your questions, walk you through the program and help you understand your payment options. You can review the investment and payment plans below so you know what to expect before we talk.
There’s no pressure to make a decision during our conversation. I want you to feel good about the program you’re choosing and the goals you’re working towards.
What is the Investment in The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System?
There are two ways to enroll in The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System, depending on what works best for you.
Option 1: Pay in Full - $2,400 USD
Pay once at enrollment and save 20% compared to the monthly payment plan.
Option 2: Monthly Payment Plan - $3,000 USD
Make an initial payment of $750 to enroll and get immediate access to the program. Then make three additional monthly payments of $750.
Both options include the complete online curriculum, weekly live group coaching calls, our private women-only community, guides, resources, lifetime access to course materials and the opportunity to join eligible group backpacking trips after meeting the program’s course competition requirements, with no additional program fee for those trips.
You’ll receive the same program and support whichever payment option you choose.
Still Have Questions?
You’re free one-on-one enrollment call is an opportunity to talk about your backpacking goals, ask questions about the program and decide whether this program is the right fit for you. There’s no pressure to make a decision during the call.
Ready to Start Planning Your Next Adventure?
If you’ve been thinking about backpacking for a while, I’d love to help you take the next step. Let’s talk about your backpacking goals!
Complete the online application below. Details on how to schedule your free one-on-one Zoom call will be emailed to you after you’ve submitted your application.