05/11/2026

May Flowers

What’s on the Schedule?

We recently returned from The Nomadology’s first train trip, and first backpacking trip in Colorado! The mountains and canyons in Western Colorado were such a treat, we cannot wait to go back next year! Check out our photos on The Nomadology Facebook page.

This past weekend our incredible leaders Mo and Hanna guided a group of nine through the Tennessee hills to explore waterfalls and camp near the cliffs! The Savage Gulf is a Nomadology favorite, as it always cultivates a fun and imaginative experience, and has built a love of backpacking for many of our Nomad Ladies!

Later this week we head out on the trail for an Intermediate Backpacking trip in Hoosier National Forest! The group will be learning map reading and navigation, cooking their own meals, and sharing the lead all four days.

Our Wilderness First Aid Course hosted by The National Outdoor Leadership School posted last month and we still have plenty of spots available! Learn what steps to take in any sort of medical emergency in the outdoors, build your First Aid kit, and meet some outdoorsy ladies July 25th & 26th. We are also currently offering a Mother’s Day Sale on this course, save $50 when you sign up by Tuesday May 12!

Fall trips are posting soon! Stay tuned for more trip announcements in Pictured Rocks, The Adirondacks, Kayak-Packing, and Outdoor Leadership!

Check out all of our Upcoming Trips!

Call to Action:

Let’s talk money! Here’s how the proposed President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2027 will impact your land.

The National Parks Service is Weakening

It’s no secret that America’s national parks have long been underfunded and understaffed- even as they generate significant economic activity and help sustain communities across the country. Many towns nearby the parks rely heavily on park tourism; that revenue supports local businesses and helps keep essential services like hospitals and schools operating.

Beyond their economic value, national parks protect critical habitat for thousands of plant and animal species that might otherwise face unsustainable pressure. They also safeguard clean water, clean air, and provide access to green spaces that are essential for public health and well-being. As public lands, these places belong to all of us- and we rely on the federal government, through the National Park Service, to manage and protect them responsibly.

So what happens when funding falls short?

After significant staffing reductions in 2025, the latest federal budget proposal includes an additional $736 million cut to the National Park Service (roughly 25% of its operating budget) putting thousands more jobs at risk. At the same time, parks are already facing a substantial maintenance backlog. With natural disasters becoming more frequent and severe, these challenges are likely to intensify.

Reduced funding can mean delayed repairs, less monitoring of ecosystems, and fewer staff available to ensure visitor safety. Meanwhile, visitation continues to rise, increasing the demand for education, restoration, and on-the-ground management.

In response, parks may be forced to raise entrance fees, rely more heavily on state or private support, or expand partnerships with private companies. Some policymakers advocate for a greater emphasis on the economic use of public lands, including energy development and commercial activity.

What do you advocate for?

The House and the Senate are reviewing the President’s Budget Proposal, and are in the process of drafting changes. Once the budget is accepted by congress, it will take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year, which is October 2026. In as little as six months, the domino effect of degradation could amplify in the parks if we do not do our part to advocate for conservation.

The parks are a gift to future generations, contact your Senators and Representatives to let them know what your values are, and where you would like your money spent. Use the links below to find contact information for your congresspeople!

Information Links
US Senators US Representatives Association of Ntl Park Rangers

Nomad of the Month

✨ This Month’s Nomad Lady is Amy! ✨
Amy has been backpacking with The Nomadology for 5 years, and she brings such a warm, joyful energy to every trip she joins. Whether she’s out on the trail with our group or adventuring with her family in the National Parks, Amy makes every experience feel a little more special.
If you spot her on the trail, chances are she’ll be smiling, swapping stories, and making newer backpackers feel right at home.

We loved getting to chat with her this month—here’s a little glimpse into what she had to share:

Tell us about your “Happy Place”

I always thought of my "happy place" as anywhere there is sand and water. I'm a Pisces so it seemed natural that I would be drawn to the water. And in many ways it remains true; I love going to sleep listening to the sound of waves and wind. The more vigorous they are the most peaceful it feels. However, last fall I visited Glacier National Park and it's not an exaggeration to say I had a spiritual experience. We hiked the Iceberg Lake Trail, and I've never seen anything like it. The beauty, the vastness, the sky meeting the mountains....I had no words. At the half way turnaround point there is a pool of water from the melted glacier at the bottom of the mountain. The water so clear it looked like glass reflecting the mountains. The few people there were sitting in quiet meditation and awe. This group of strangers shared an unspoken understanding that we were in a place that deserved our reverence, our acknowledgment of its importance and stunning beauty.  On the hike back I just kept thinking about how to describe what I was feeling and experiencing. What kept coming to mind was "home." It felt like I was at the place I came from and will return to.  It was the most peaceful I have ever felt in my life. 

Has there ever been a moment during your adventures when you thought, “Crap, what I am doing out here?”

The year I turned 50 (2018) I had a strong desire to mark the occasion by doing something that made me feel strong and capable.  I knew I didn't want to run or bike so decided to a hike. After doing some internet research I decided on Half Dome at Yosemite.  It looked challenging but I saw videos of children, grandparents and all levels of fitness doing the hike.  "If they can do it, I can do it," I thought.  I recruited my sister and a friend to do the hike with me.  

Half Dome is a 14-16 mile hike that takes 10-12 hours and has an elevation gain of about 4,800 feet.  The hike includes hiking up a 400 foot vertical rock holding onto steel cables.  Many do the hike in one day starting before sunrise while others backpack and camp overnight, completing the hike over two days.  We opted for backpacking.

Mind you, I had never backpacked before.  I had never done more than a 3 mile hike before.  But I exercised regularly and walked a lot and was confident I could handle it.  Well, it went about as well as any experienced hiker or backpacker would expect it to.  Carrying WAY too much crap in my backpack, switchbacks for 5 miles going straight up, we stumbled into the campground well after dark, our bodies and our spirits feeling completely broken.  We knew then this hike, and this mountain, was more than we were prepared for.  We had no problem deciding that this was the end of the road for us and Half Dome!

There was a part of me that felt like I let myself down and was even a little embarrassed.  I had been talking about this for months, climbing stairs with my backpack during my lunch hour to train.  My coworkers, family and friends knew I was doing this hike and were excited for me.  And I had to go back and tell them I didn't finish it.  I couldn't finish it.

But the amazing thing that happened is that I found a new passion.  I discovered that despite the difficulty and the pain of that hike, I learned something knew about myself:  I LOVED hiking and being outdoors!  My whole life I thought I was not an outdoor person.  Boy was I wrong!  My problem was that I tried to do something that was like driving a semi with only ever having ridden a bike.  But when I got home I craved being out in the woods and on a trail.  I started hiking trails close to my hometown and then decided to give backing another try.  That's when I found The Nomadology.  The Nomadology was, and still is, a perfect place for beginners like I was to learn and gain confidence in outdoor skills among likeminded women who encourage, support and uplift one another.

What would you say to women that are curious about backpacking to encourage them to give it a shot?

Backpacking makes me feel strong and capable.  And being immersed in nature takes the focus off daily frustrations and struggles.  For me, finding a group like The Nomadology, where women uplift and encourage each other, made me feel like I can do this and if I was struggling it was okay, it was nothing to be ashamed of.  I'd say if you're curious go on a beginner trip and see if it's for you!