Beginners Backpacking on the AZT with Carrot Quinn
COMING SOON
Overview
6 days of learning, backpacking, and enjoying good food in the beautiful low-elevation Sonoran desert.
Location: Arizona
Dates: Coming soon! 2 sessions in February, 2026
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Operator: Carrot Quinn
Max Hikers: 5
Guide: Carrot Quinn
Cook: Kelly Kate Warren
Trip Description:
From Carrot - Do you want to hike a long trail in the future, like the PCT of AT (or just go backpacking in a similar style, with light gear and confidence in trip planning/food/pacing/weather etc) but you feel overwhelmed by the idea of learning on your own? Then come learn with me and a small group of women/trans/non-binary people in Southern Arizona! You and I will spend two hours together on zoom in the months leading up to the trip- I'll help you figure out your gear, food and navigation, and answer whatever questions you might have.
In February the group of six of us will meet up at the rental house in Arizona, spend an evening and a full day practicing our skills (setting up our shelters, packing our packs, using the navigational app on our phones etc) and also discuss our hiking itinerary- where we'll camp, how far we'll hike each day (about twelve miles) and where we'll find water. We'll also eat incredible meals, prepared by our chef Kelly Kate.
The morning of the third day we'll set out for three days of backpacking- we'll hike far enough each day to put our gear and bodies to the test, in order to learn and troubleshoot and grow, but not so far that we stop having fun. Along the way I'll be there to help with whatever comes up. At the end of the third day we'll be picked up at a trailhead and shuttled back to our rental house, where an incredible dinner awaits us. The next morning we'll have breakfast and say our goodbyes, having made new friends, had an incredible time, and gained a lot of confidence about backpacking, and I'll drive everyone back to the airport.
Who is this retreat for? This retreat is for women, trans and non-binary people who want to learn about backpacking in the style of long-distance hiking, either in hopes of completing a long trail in the future or just to feel more confident on shorter trips. You don't need to have any outdoors experience to join this trip! (Although you will need to have a certain amount of physical fitness by the time the trip rolls around- I can help you figure out how to train, if you'd like- and you'll need to be willing to purchase or borrow lightweight gear if you don't already have it.)
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Carrot will pick folks up and bring them to our rental house, where we will talk trail, get to know each other, and enjoy a big dinner
Day 2 - Learning! We'll get comfortable with our gear and prepared for our backpacking trip, breaking for a hot lunch, sightseeing in town, good conversation, and a dinner party
Day 3 - We’ll eat bougie breakfast and hit the trail for a full day of hiking amongst the saguaro cactus
Day 4 - We'll practice our backpacking skills, hike some gorgeous trail, make camp, and enjoy the sunset
Day 5 - We'll hike to the trailhead, get picked up by KK, and head home for hot showers and a celebratory dinner
Day 6 - We'll enjoy one last breakfast, say our goodbyes, and hitch a ride with Carrot to the closest Airport.
Curriculum:
Things we'll cover before the trip in our zoom calls, and also practice in Arizona:
What gear to bring
Pitching your single wall shelter
Choosing footwear
Planning water carries in the desert
Navigation
Caring for your feet
How much food to bring and what sort of food (including meals for dietary restrictions)
How to schedule your hiking day
Which trail is the best fit for you
How to pack your pack
Shitting outside
Planning your resupplies
Budgeting for a long trail
How to prevent and care for chafe
Keeping your gear dry in the rain and preventing hypothermia
Keeping cool in the desert and preventing heat exhaustion
Campsite selection
What clothing to bring
And so much more.
Meet Your Hosts
Carrot Quinn, Author, Thru-hiker, Wilderness Guide
My name is Carrot Quinn. I’ve walked eleven thousand miles, including from Mexico to Canada three times. I wrote a blog post every day on every one of those hikes, and you can find those posts on my website.
My first long distance hike was the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. I had no idea what I was doing, so made lots of mistakes and had an extremely epic time. I wrote a book about that hike- Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart. That book is available here.
Currently I write a weekly newsletter here about my life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
Check out my website: https://carrotquinn.com/
Contact me: carrotquinn4@gmail.com
Follow me: @carrotquinn
Read my books:Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, The Sunset Route, and Bets.
Kelly Kate Warren, Backcountry Cook, Writer
Hi! My name is Kelly Kate Warren. I've been working in the wilderness for 13 years, as a trail worker, backcountry cook, wilderness ranger, youth educator, guide, and field biologist.
I love to cook. I've worked in restaurants in San Francisco throughout my 20s, and fell in love with food as a means of celebration and cultural exchange. I then spent 5 seasons as a Backcountry cook for trail crews In the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and being a private chef to a bunch of dirtbag trailworkers is my proudest achievement.
I revel in cooking thoughtful, personalized meals, be they gluten-free, vegan, or an especially beloved dish. Food is medicine and eating can be fraught, and I think that dinner parties can help us to nourish ourselves and our communities. I also love welcoming folks into the wilderness, and have spent over a decade as a wilderness educator and guide.
When I'm not working, I'm walking my dog, eating frozen dumplings, writing stories, dancing in the moonlight, hosting dinner parties, and giggling with my friends
You can find me on instagram @thebackcountrycook where I write about the wilderness, my feelings, and my hopes for the future.
Trip Dates and more details to come!
You can subscribe to Carrot's newsletter to hear about the 2026 Arizona trips, and additional adventures in Alaska and Utah, and stories about her life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
You can subscribe to the Backcountry Cook newsletter (sign up below) to hear about the 2026 Arizona Trips, and mule packing trips in the High Sierra.
COMING SOON
Overview
6 days of learning, backpacking, and enjoying good food in the beautiful low-elevation Sonoran desert.
Location: Arizona
Dates: Coming soon! 2 sessions in February, 2026
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Operator: Carrot Quinn
Max Hikers: 5
Guide: Carrot Quinn
Cook: Kelly Kate Warren
Trip Description:
From Carrot - Do you want to hike a long trail in the future, like the PCT of AT (or just go backpacking in a similar style, with light gear and confidence in trip planning/food/pacing/weather etc) but you feel overwhelmed by the idea of learning on your own? Then come learn with me and a small group of women/trans/non-binary people in Southern Arizona! You and I will spend two hours together on zoom in the months leading up to the trip- I'll help you figure out your gear, food and navigation, and answer whatever questions you might have.
In February the group of six of us will meet up at the rental house in Arizona, spend an evening and a full day practicing our skills (setting up our shelters, packing our packs, using the navigational app on our phones etc) and also discuss our hiking itinerary- where we'll camp, how far we'll hike each day (about twelve miles) and where we'll find water. We'll also eat incredible meals, prepared by our chef Kelly Kate.
The morning of the third day we'll set out for three days of backpacking- we'll hike far enough each day to put our gear and bodies to the test, in order to learn and troubleshoot and grow, but not so far that we stop having fun. Along the way I'll be there to help with whatever comes up. At the end of the third day we'll be picked up at a trailhead and shuttled back to our rental house, where an incredible dinner awaits us. The next morning we'll have breakfast and say our goodbyes, having made new friends, had an incredible time, and gained a lot of confidence about backpacking, and I'll drive everyone back to the airport.
Who is this retreat for? This retreat is for women, trans and non-binary people who want to learn about backpacking in the style of long-distance hiking, either in hopes of completing a long trail in the future or just to feel more confident on shorter trips. You don't need to have any outdoors experience to join this trip! (Although you will need to have a certain amount of physical fitness by the time the trip rolls around- I can help you figure out how to train, if you'd like- and you'll need to be willing to purchase or borrow lightweight gear if you don't already have it.)
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Carrot will pick folks up and bring them to our rental house, where we will talk trail, get to know each other, and enjoy a big dinner
Day 2 - Learning! We'll get comfortable with our gear and prepared for our backpacking trip, breaking for a hot lunch, sightseeing in town, good conversation, and a dinner party
Day 3 - We’ll eat bougie breakfast and hit the trail for a full day of hiking amongst the saguaro cactus
Day 4 - We'll practice our backpacking skills, hike some gorgeous trail, make camp, and enjoy the sunset
Day 5 - We'll hike to the trailhead, get picked up by KK, and head home for hot showers and a celebratory dinner
Day 6 - We'll enjoy one last breakfast, say our goodbyes, and hitch a ride with Carrot to the closest Airport.
Curriculum:
Things we'll cover before the trip in our zoom calls, and also practice in Arizona:
What gear to bring
Pitching your single wall shelter
Choosing footwear
Planning water carries in the desert
Navigation
Caring for your feet
How much food to bring and what sort of food (including meals for dietary restrictions)
How to schedule your hiking day
Which trail is the best fit for you
How to pack your pack
Shitting outside
Planning your resupplies
Budgeting for a long trail
How to prevent and care for chafe
Keeping your gear dry in the rain and preventing hypothermia
Keeping cool in the desert and preventing heat exhaustion
Campsite selection
What clothing to bring
And so much more.
Meet Your Hosts
Carrot Quinn, Author, Thru-hiker, Wilderness Guide
My name is Carrot Quinn. I’ve walked eleven thousand miles, including from Mexico to Canada three times. I wrote a blog post every day on every one of those hikes, and you can find those posts on my website.
My first long distance hike was the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. I had no idea what I was doing, so made lots of mistakes and had an extremely epic time. I wrote a book about that hike- Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart. That book is available here.
Currently I write a weekly newsletter here about my life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
Check out my website: https://carrotquinn.com/
Contact me: carrotquinn4@gmail.com
Follow me: @carrotquinn
Read my books:Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, The Sunset Route, and Bets.
Kelly Kate Warren, Backcountry Cook, Writer
Hi! My name is Kelly Kate Warren. I've been working in the wilderness for 13 years, as a trail worker, backcountry cook, wilderness ranger, youth educator, guide, and field biologist.
I love to cook. I've worked in restaurants in San Francisco throughout my 20s, and fell in love with food as a means of celebration and cultural exchange. I then spent 5 seasons as a Backcountry cook for trail crews In the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and being a private chef to a bunch of dirtbag trailworkers is my proudest achievement.
I revel in cooking thoughtful, personalized meals, be they gluten-free, vegan, or an especially beloved dish. Food is medicine and eating can be fraught, and I think that dinner parties can help us to nourish ourselves and our communities. I also love welcoming folks into the wilderness, and have spent over a decade as a wilderness educator and guide.
When I'm not working, I'm walking my dog, eating frozen dumplings, writing stories, dancing in the moonlight, hosting dinner parties, and giggling with my friends
You can find me on instagram @thebackcountrycook where I write about the wilderness, my feelings, and my hopes for the future.
Trip Dates and more details to come!
You can subscribe to Carrot's newsletter to hear about the 2026 Arizona trips, and additional adventures in Alaska and Utah, and stories about her life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
You can subscribe to the Backcountry Cook newsletter (sign up below) to hear about the 2026 Arizona Trips, and mule packing trips in the High Sierra.
COMING SOON
Overview
6 days of learning, backpacking, and enjoying good food in the beautiful low-elevation Sonoran desert.
Location: Arizona
Dates: Coming soon! 2 sessions in February, 2026
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Operator: Carrot Quinn
Max Hikers: 5
Guide: Carrot Quinn
Cook: Kelly Kate Warren
Trip Description:
From Carrot - Do you want to hike a long trail in the future, like the PCT of AT (or just go backpacking in a similar style, with light gear and confidence in trip planning/food/pacing/weather etc) but you feel overwhelmed by the idea of learning on your own? Then come learn with me and a small group of women/trans/non-binary people in Southern Arizona! You and I will spend two hours together on zoom in the months leading up to the trip- I'll help you figure out your gear, food and navigation, and answer whatever questions you might have.
In February the group of six of us will meet up at the rental house in Arizona, spend an evening and a full day practicing our skills (setting up our shelters, packing our packs, using the navigational app on our phones etc) and also discuss our hiking itinerary- where we'll camp, how far we'll hike each day (about twelve miles) and where we'll find water. We'll also eat incredible meals, prepared by our chef Kelly Kate.
The morning of the third day we'll set out for three days of backpacking- we'll hike far enough each day to put our gear and bodies to the test, in order to learn and troubleshoot and grow, but not so far that we stop having fun. Along the way I'll be there to help with whatever comes up. At the end of the third day we'll be picked up at a trailhead and shuttled back to our rental house, where an incredible dinner awaits us. The next morning we'll have breakfast and say our goodbyes, having made new friends, had an incredible time, and gained a lot of confidence about backpacking, and I'll drive everyone back to the airport.
Who is this retreat for? This retreat is for women, trans and non-binary people who want to learn about backpacking in the style of long-distance hiking, either in hopes of completing a long trail in the future or just to feel more confident on shorter trips. You don't need to have any outdoors experience to join this trip! (Although you will need to have a certain amount of physical fitness by the time the trip rolls around- I can help you figure out how to train, if you'd like- and you'll need to be willing to purchase or borrow lightweight gear if you don't already have it.)
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Carrot will pick folks up and bring them to our rental house, where we will talk trail, get to know each other, and enjoy a big dinner
Day 2 - Learning! We'll get comfortable with our gear and prepared for our backpacking trip, breaking for a hot lunch, sightseeing in town, good conversation, and a dinner party
Day 3 - We’ll eat bougie breakfast and hit the trail for a full day of hiking amongst the saguaro cactus
Day 4 - We'll practice our backpacking skills, hike some gorgeous trail, make camp, and enjoy the sunset
Day 5 - We'll hike to the trailhead, get picked up by KK, and head home for hot showers and a celebratory dinner
Day 6 - We'll enjoy one last breakfast, say our goodbyes, and hitch a ride with Carrot to the closest Airport.
Curriculum:
Things we'll cover before the trip in our zoom calls, and also practice in Arizona:
What gear to bring
Pitching your single wall shelter
Choosing footwear
Planning water carries in the desert
Navigation
Caring for your feet
How much food to bring and what sort of food (including meals for dietary restrictions)
How to schedule your hiking day
Which trail is the best fit for you
How to pack your pack
Shitting outside
Planning your resupplies
Budgeting for a long trail
How to prevent and care for chafe
Keeping your gear dry in the rain and preventing hypothermia
Keeping cool in the desert and preventing heat exhaustion
Campsite selection
What clothing to bring
And so much more.
Meet Your Hosts
Carrot Quinn, Author, Thru-hiker, Wilderness Guide
My name is Carrot Quinn. I’ve walked eleven thousand miles, including from Mexico to Canada three times. I wrote a blog post every day on every one of those hikes, and you can find those posts on my website.
My first long distance hike was the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. I had no idea what I was doing, so made lots of mistakes and had an extremely epic time. I wrote a book about that hike- Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart. That book is available here.
Currently I write a weekly newsletter here about my life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
Check out my website: https://carrotquinn.com/
Contact me: carrotquinn4@gmail.com
Follow me: @carrotquinn
Read my books:Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, The Sunset Route, and Bets.
Kelly Kate Warren, Backcountry Cook, Writer
Hi! My name is Kelly Kate Warren. I've been working in the wilderness for 13 years, as a trail worker, backcountry cook, wilderness ranger, youth educator, guide, and field biologist.
I love to cook. I've worked in restaurants in San Francisco throughout my 20s, and fell in love with food as a means of celebration and cultural exchange. I then spent 5 seasons as a Backcountry cook for trail crews In the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and being a private chef to a bunch of dirtbag trailworkers is my proudest achievement.
I revel in cooking thoughtful, personalized meals, be they gluten-free, vegan, or an especially beloved dish. Food is medicine and eating can be fraught, and I think that dinner parties can help us to nourish ourselves and our communities. I also love welcoming folks into the wilderness, and have spent over a decade as a wilderness educator and guide.
When I'm not working, I'm walking my dog, eating frozen dumplings, writing stories, dancing in the moonlight, hosting dinner parties, and giggling with my friends
You can find me on instagram @thebackcountrycook where I write about the wilderness, my feelings, and my hopes for the future.
Trip Dates and more details to come!
You can subscribe to Carrot's newsletter to hear about the 2026 Arizona trips, and additional adventures in Alaska and Utah, and stories about her life in Alaska and the various arguments of being alive.
You can subscribe to the Backcountry Cook newsletter (sign up below) to hear about the 2026 Arizona Trips, and mule packing trips in the High Sierra.