06/01/2026

June Brings Boots, Bugs, and Blue Skies

What’s on the Schedule?

We’re taking a moment to reflect on our beautiful Spring trips. Nomadology women explored the Colorado canyons, the Tennessee waterfalls, and the Indiana hills, all while expanding their outdoor experience and knowledge. Spring built self confidence, sparked curiosity, and was a wonderful beginning to the backpacking season. Now we’re ready for Summer!

June is bursting with excitement as we get the chance to learn beginner backpacking skills in Big South Fork, Pictured Rocks, and the Porcupine Mountains! We’ve also started rolling out our Fall trips, with an intermediate trip to The Adirondack Mountains (one spot left)!

Our Wilderness First Aid Course hosted by The National Outdoor Leadership School will take place in Clarkston, MI on July 25th and 26th, reserve your spot today! We’ll learn what steps to take if you encounter any sort of illness or injury in the outdoors. We’ll cover topics including blister care, sprained ankles, dehydration, hypothermia, lightning safety, snake bites, and more! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to build safety and confidence in the backcountry, and meet some awesome women!

Stay tuned as we continue to roll out our Fall Trips, including Kayak-Packing, Outdoor Leadership, Beginner Backpacking, Red River Gorge Camping and Climbing, and another Navigation weekend.

Check out all of our Upcoming Trips!

Call to Action:

Spring brought the rain in the Midwest, and caused widespread disaster across communities, including those in Northern Michigan. Climate disasters like this can cause more than flooding- this month we’re focusing on Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie, and what we can do to help!

What are HABs?

Over the last couple decades, the Maumee River Watershed and Lake Erie algae crisis has been one of the biggest environmental disasters in the Midwest.

Much of the land surrounding the Maumee River Watershed (Northeast Indiana, Southern Michigan, and Northern Ohio) is used for agriculture- corn, soybeans, and industrial level livestock operations. These farms utilize chemical fertilizers and manure spreading, both of which contain phosphorus. Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) is harmful when excess amounts enter the waterways.

DRP enters the waterways through runoff, from excessive use, heavy rainfall, and erosion. Once DRP contaminates the watershed, it eventually drains into Lake Erie. Phosphorus is naturally a scarce, limiting, nutrient in Lake Erie, and algae feeds on it. Because of this, when phosphorus levels rise and the conditions are right (temperature, sunlight, etc.) algae rapidly multiplies. This causes surface scum, decreased light exposure for aquatic plants, and decomposing algae creates a low oxygen environment for fish. Not all algae is toxic, but harmful blooms include cyanobacteria, which can produce toxins like microcystins.

Now scientists have documented recurring and intensifying HABs in Western Lake Erie every summer since 2002. Some years the blooms even contaminate Toledo’s drinking water.

Now that you know, what can you do?

You can advocate for a fix. Volunteers have been organizing, educating, and demanding fixes like enforcing phosphorus regulations, backing local watersheds, and pushing for targeted farm conservation funding. To be a part of this, you can:

1. Contact your state regulation agency (Michigan EGLE, Ohio EPA, Indiana IDEM, etc.) to voice your concern and/or demand regulation enforcement.

2. Research your local Water and Soil Conservation Districts, Watershed Conservation Volunteers, and/or local Farmers Associations to learn about their efforts in mitigating this disaster.

3. Public input can influence how federal and state programs (like USDA) are designed and funded. Advocacy for targeted funding can reduce runoff.

Information Links
EPA Data Lake Erie Foundation Alliance for the Great Lakes

Nomad of the Month

✨ This Month’s Nomad Lady is Rebecca! ✨
Rebecca joined her first backpacking trip last September and has been all-in ever since! In less than a year, she’s already completed four adventures with The Nomadology, and is excited for more!

Every group needs a Rebecca: she brings the laughs, lends a helping hand whenever needed, and always has the perfect backpacking tip ready thanks to all the research she’s done along the way. Her enthusiasm, curiosity, and positive energy make every trip better for everyone around her.

Here’s what she had to say when we caught up with her this month:

Tell us how your interest in backpacking began.

My interest in backpacking grew out of years of hiking local parks and trails. As I became more serious about hiking beyond my local area, I started watching YouTube videos to learn about gear and trail preparation, and eventually I stumbled across backpacking videos.

What hooked me was the challenge, the chance to reach beautiful remote places, and the calm and clarity I always find in nature. I knew I didn’t want to start completely on my own, so I reached out in local Facebook hiking groups for advice. The name Nomadology came up more than once, so I jumped on an opportunity to join an upcoming trip.

My husband had some backpacking experience, and after I gathered my gear, he took me on my first overnight trip on the North Country National Scenic Trail in Newaygo County, Michigan. Other than that, most of my family and friends joke that they’re ‘hotel people,’ so backpacking has really been a journey I pursued through my own curiosity, research, and willingness to try something new.

Has there ever been a moment during your backpacking journey when you felt discouraged, unsupported, or questioned your decisions?

One of the biggest challenges in my backpacking journey hasn’t always been the trail itself - it’s been the battle in my own mind. Often when hiking with local groups, many of the women move fast, and I find myself wondering if I’m slowing them down, or becoming an inconvenience. I like to hike slower, to take in the views, the birds, and the trees; but that inner dialogue can be hard to quiet. That’s why I like Nomadology so much. We take dedicated breaks, keep a group pace, and make stops to enjoy the views.

I’ve also had hikes I didn’t finish - turning back because of weather, exhaustion, lack of motivation, or anxiety. When I’m alone in the woods, anxiety can sometimes convince me I’m not safe, even when I am. That mental battle can be just as challenging as anything the trail puts in front of me.

Is there a moment that comes to mind when you were treated a certain way because you're a woman?

As a woman who hikes and camps alone, I’ve had many people express concern for my safety. There’s often an assumption that a woman being alone in the woods automatically means she’s unsafe. I understand those concerns usually come from a place of care, but I’ve learned that being alone doesn’t mean being unprepared.

I carry my Garmin inReach Mini 2, keep my phone with me, share my itinerary with someone I trust, and always communicate my expected return time. I take safety seriously and do my homework before every trip. Those conversations haven’t changed my desire to get out there - they’ve simply reinforced the importance of preparation and confidence.

Was there anything that surprised you about backpacking?

What surprised me most was how quickly I fell in love with backpacking, but even more than that, I surprised myself by learning that courage doesn’t always look like confidence - sometimes it looks like doing it scared. So many people, myself included, can get stuck in the ‘what ifs’ - What if I’m not prepared? What if I fail? What if I don’t like it? What if something goes wrong? The unknown has a way of convincing us to stay where things feel safe and familiar.

For me, backpacking became a way of pushing back against that. The anxiety didn’t magically disappear, and I didn’t suddenly feel completely ready. I decided I didn’t want fear making my decisions or robbing me of experiences, especially in beautiful outdoor places.

When I discovered Nomadology and signed up for three trips, someone asked me, ‘What if you don’t like it?’ My response was simple: ‘But what if I do?’ Sometimes growth begins the moment we stop waiting to feel ready and take the first step anyway.

For women curious about backpacking, what would you say to recommend it or encourage them?

I’d say you don’t have to go all in on day one - just get your feet wet. Clara has created such a welcoming environment for beginners. She’s kind, patient, hospitable, and truly wants women to succeed.

Personally, some of my biggest moments of discovery have come when I realized I’m more capable than my anxiety tells me I am. Every trail, every overnight, every challenge I work through builds confidence. Backpacking hasn’t just shown me beautiful places - it’s shown me parts of myself I may not have discovered if I had stayed comfortable.