The High Sierra Retreat: A Women's Weekend of Dayhiking, Singing, Songwriting and Yoga with Nicki Bluhm and Heather Sullivan

Weekend Camping Retreat. Join Balanced Rock co-founder Heather Sullivan and singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers for a lovely weekend camping in the High Country of the Sierra. Since the release of her second album, Driftwood, with her smokey soul sound Nicki has become the “It Girl” of the San Francisco music scene. This course will focus on finding our voices through writing, singing, and songwriting. Also enjoy dayhikes, daily yoga, meditation, delicious locally-produced meals,
and time for lounging by lakes or rivers. No prior music experience necessary.

The granite slabs and alpine lakes of Yosemite National Park offer some of the most scenic "music and yoga studios" in the world. This course is ideal for anyone looking to become inspired through nature, and appropriate for both beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.

Each day will be spent hiking through the mountainous terrain of the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite, practicing yoga and music outdoors, and camping in a campground that we can drive to and includes bathroom facilities.

Highlights:

• Two optional yoga classes each day
• Morning meditation instruction and practice
• Hiking and gentle peak climbs in Tuolumne Meadows
• Singing and songwriting solo time and group sharing
• Fresh meals include local and organic ingredients

 

Itinerary

Friday
We will gather at Tuolumne Meadows campground in the high country of Yosemite National Park at 3:00 pm for introductions, intention setting and an orientation to the course. In the afternoon we will dive into our yoga and music practice and get acquainted with each other and the wild beauty of Yosemite. The evening is set aside for dharma talks, wilderness education, creative journaling, music-making or quiet contemplation around the campfire.

Saturday
We will greet the day with morning meditation and yoga practice. After a nourishing breakfast we will pack our daypacks and head out into Tuolumne Meadows. Here, among the granite domes and wildflowers, we will explore our yoga and music practice. We will weave our themes and practice with the power of the wilderness around us. In addition to our hiking and yoga practice, there is also time for dips into the cool waters of the Tuolumne River, conversations with other participants, or enjoying the views of the High Sierra from our campground "hammock lounge".

 

Sunday
After our morning yoga session and breakfast, we continue our exploration of yoga practice, music, and the world around us. While out on the trails and meadows of Yosemite, we will focus on bringing our practice back home-exploring ways to integrate our new learning and appreciation of yoga into our world back home. We will end our weekend with a final closing session, concluding the formal program by 2:00 pm.

Note on Itinerary:

This schedule is an outline. It is subject to change depending on the needs of the group and allowing for spontaneous inspiration. This program operates rain or shine.

Price Includes:

Professional instruction and guiding, campground and permit fees, first-aid supplies, and group gear for camping. Balanced Rock provides delicious and high-quality meals, cooking gear, and water purification supplies.

Not Included:

Transportation to and from your hometown to Yosemite, park entrance fees, and personal items.

 

Travel:

The driving time to Tuolumne Meadows from the Bay Area is 4-5 hours and varies depending on traffic and road conditions. For California highway conditions visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/ or call 1-800-427-7623. For the latest road conditions and advisories in the park, call 1-209-372-0200 then press 1. You are required to carry and be prepared to use tire chains.

Important Information about Air Travel:

Prior to purchasing your airline tickets contact Balanced Rock to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required and has not exceeded its maximum capacity. info@balancedrock.org or 209-379-9453.

Closest Airports:

Mammoth Yosemite airport (MMH): 1 hour; 47 miles to Tuolumne Meadows. One daily flight in and out of LAX (Los Angeles).

http://www.visitmammoth.com/airport/

 Reno-Tahoe International (RNO): 3hrs, 13 minutes; 158 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

Fresno (FAT): 3 hrs, 18 minutes; 144 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

San Francisco (SFO): 4 hours; 214 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

Oakland (OAK): 3 hrs, 42 minutes; 195 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

Sacramento (SAC): 3 hrs, 44 minutes; 204 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

Modesto (MOD): 2 hrs, 46 minutes; 128 miles to Tuolumne Meadows

Public Transportation and Carpooling:

There is excellent train and bus transportation from the Bay Area to Tuolumne Meadows via BART train, then Amtrak, then the YARTS bus, and finally the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus. Once you are enrolled we will send you detailed pre-trip information including options for carpooling. We typically arrange for carpooling depending on participant location in the 2 weeks prior to the trip.

 

Accommodations:

We will be camping at the Tuolumne Meadows campground in tents and shelters provided by Balanced Rock or under the stars.

Qualifications:

Appropriate and open to all level of outdoor, yoga and music experience. This trip requires the ability to hike at altitudes ranging from 9,000 to 10,000 feet, over varying mountain terrain. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise routine prior to the course. We also recommend that you stay well-hydrated prior to departure to assist in adjusting to altitude. Please see notes in the welcome letter for further information on preparing for our adventure.

Weather:

Daytime temperatures can range between 50°-90° F. Mountain weather can change quickly. It is common to have clear sunny mornings with building clouds and afternoon showers followed by clear starry skies at night. Please check the forecast frequently before your course and plan accordingly. Visit the Yosemite National Park "Plan Your Visit" site for detailed information and weather-related links. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm

General Information:

Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. Detailed pre-trip information, including directions to the meeting place, will be sent when you enroll.