The many things that bring us together – including Liz Gilbert

One reason our group works so well together centers around our lives outside the wilderness — in the madness of the day to day, the struggles of leadership, the need for support from other strong women and the yearning for a place to process all of it with trusted friends.

What started as a way to see cool things in our backyard forests has grown into so much more. Many hours on the trails have included problem-solving issues ranging from professional workloads to nonprofit board management and personal relationships to big life decisions.

For Kristen, the FAB (For. About. By) Women’s Conference represented both personal and professional goals. The Sheridan Press, where she used to work, organizes the event with the help of a committee of women in the community (including this backpacking crew). In 2018, Kristen secured Elizabeth Gilbert of “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Big Magic” fame as the keynote speaker for the spring 2019 event. While this was exciting for the small town of 18,000 people in northern Wyoming, it also meant plenty of fundraising, planning and stress. Luckily, Kristen was able to brainstorm and work through logistics on the trail.

Inspired and excited for Gilbert’s appearance, during the summer of 2018 each of us brought a book of hers to read on the trail during our longest annual trip. Along the way and beside the campfire at night, we talked about her accomplishments and messages.

Here are a few of our favorite nuggets of wisdom from Liz:

Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.
— “Big Magic”

So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?
— “Big Magic”

You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be.”
— “Eat, Pray, Love”

The inspiration provided by Gilbert’s writings added to the creative magic of our group and it was no surprise that we found ourselves in the middle of an amazing photo opportunity while on our trip. Of course, photo cred to Jenae Neeson.