Duck-Duck-Goose: A Weekend in the Snowies
Last weekend, ten adventurous souls (most of whom were brand-new to backpacking) shouldered 45-pound packs and stepped into the wilderness of Wyoming’s Snowy Range for a four-day weekend that would test and transform us.
We came for different reasons: to learn, to challenge ourselves, to get away, to see what we were made of. The mountains delivered. The wind whipped hard enough to make us lean into it. Nights were cold and sleep was elusive. Steep climbs pushed our lungs, and boulder fields tested our balance. But every obstacle became part of the story we wrote together.
By the second night, it felt less like a group of strangers and more like a reunion of lifelong friends. “Tent time” turned into deep conversations, questions, and bursts of laughter. We played Duck-Duck-Goose with zero self-consciousness, sang camp songs as our evenings closed, and helped one another, sometimes literally, up the trail. We cooked for each other, filtered water together, and even navigated the humbling rite of passage: pooping in the wilderness. As one participant said, “The community that blossomed was very sweet.”
Nature met us with jaw-dropping beauty, with sweeping vistas of alpine meadows and towering peaks, wildflowers still in bloom, and the rare, squeaky call of an elusive pika. But the real magic was in the way we showed up for each other, holding each other up physically and emotionally, and encouragement when the trail got steep. We left the Snow Range with a sense of connection, resilience, and a reminder that some of the hardest climbs lead us to the most unforgettable views.
Written by Marley Steele-Inama
Director of Programs & Courses
Marley (she/her) grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, connecting with the natural world through her neighborhood parks and car camping with family. When she moved to Denver for college, new friends expanded her world of what adventure means, cultivating her long-term passion for outdoor recreation. Professionally, Marley has spent over 25 years engaging communities in wildlife conservation education, as well as evaluating environmental education programs and measuring impact. Working for Women’s Wilderness is a meaningful intersection of Marley’s passion for outdoor recreation and her commitment to equity, access, and inclusion for individuals and communities historically excluded from experiences in and with the natural world. Marley lives in Westminster with her spouse, daughter, and perfect kitty. Free time for Marley is spent mountain biking, running, snowboarding, floating our gorgeous desert rivers, reading, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and volunteering with a local racing company.
