But your head is spinning with questions—

“What gear do I need? How the heck do I fit everything in a backpack?!

“My backpack feels like it weighs 50 pounds—Oh god, it actually does!

“When will I find the time to organize yet another trip that might not ever happen?

“What about bears?!“

…Not to mention the friends, family and unsolicited opinion-givers who just love to tell you it isn’t safe for you to go out there—into the wild—alone!

I hear you, loud and clear.

You lead a busy life. And all the unknowns associated with hitting the trail are totally overwhelming.

That’s where I come in!

Hey! I’m Ivey Smith

(she/her)

Your backpacking guide and the founder of She Treks.

I created She Treks as THE solution to the obstacles standing between you and a long, adventure-filled weekend in the backcountry.

Why?

In 2017, I completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail—maybe you know the deal?

Georgia to Maine, 5 months of backbreaking, blister popping, sweat dripping, pack chafing pain—honestly, it was the most fun I’d ever had.

After suffering for years from alcoholism and a perpetually broken heart, I found a place where my puzzle piece just fit, a place where the shape of my edges didn’t matter, a place where I could finally start to heal.

When I finished my thru, I was still the same person with all my same problems, but I acquired something new as a result of those 2,200 miles passing beneath my weary feet. 

Somewhere in the dirt, between one end of Appalachia and the other, I found hope.

After a taste of freedom—try as I might—I couldn’t keep myself out of the mountains.

In 2018, I returned to the A.T. to retrace the northern-most 1,000 miles, again.

In 2019 I backpacked another 200 mile section of the A.T., and then traveled north, to explore 300 miles of the Great Divide Trail, a rugged route meandering along the spine of the Canadian Rockies.

In the summer of 2020, I completed thru-hikes of the 273-mile Vermont Long Trail in 13 days, the 500-mile Colorado Trail in 27 days, and in late fall of 2021, I completed a very solitary thru-hike of the 780 mile Arizona Trail, in 35 days.

Most recently I hiked Colorado’s 164mile Collegiate Loop in September of 2023, in under 4 days, and then I set an unsupported record on the 290mile Benton MacKaye Trail, in Southern Appalachia, in 6d18h0m54s, in early October.

I was the first woman to hike the BMT entirely unsupported, and I was able to take 12hours off the men’s unsupported time at the time of my record.

The freedom I’ve found in backpacking is second to none.

I’ve always known that in order to keep my freedom, I would need to share it.

Between June of 2019 and March of 2020, I spent 192 days in the field with world-renown wilderness school, NOLS.

During my 8 months as a student, I participated in four wilderness expeditions in Yukon Territory, CA, and Patagonia, Chile, ranging from 25 to 40 days in length.

I took part in activities which pushed me out of my comfort-zone and prepared me for the undertaking of a life time—building a company that would lead people just like you, on life changing treks into the wilderness.

I concluded my time with NOLS by becoming a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and a Leave No Trace (LNT) Master Educator, solidifying my deep commitment to safe and sustainable outdoor living.

Speaking of outdoor living…

What is it like to embrace life in the backcountry with She Treks?

A backpacking trip with She Treks is the taste of freedom you are searching for, and…

…a hot cup of coffee on a crisp mountain morning.

…all the best ultralight gear in a pack you can lift without straining your back.

…a ride to and from the trailhead—permits and planning entirely taken care of.

…a guided adventure that will leave you wanting more.

Are you hungry yet?

While exploring the backcountry with She Treks, you will be served high quality, thoughtfully prepared meals from scratch.

All meals can be prepared GF, V, or DF with advance request.

What else sets an adventure with She Treks apart from other backcountry trips?

You don’t have to worry about finding the trailhead.

We meet as a group at an accessible, prearranged location, and get shuttled all together to the starting point of our hike.

When our trip is concluded, we are shuttled back to the meeting point for our final goodbye—until next time, that is.

Your trip with She Treks will prepare you for future backpacking adventures, by teaching you the basics of sustainable, lightweight backcountry travel.

At the start of your adventure—before your trail-runners ever hit dirt—I make sure you are familiar with all of the gear you will be carrying, and I teach you how to pack your backpack like a pro.

Once in the mountains, we make every decision as a group.

We decide where to camp, how far we walk each day, whether to travel or seek shelter in the event of a storm, and, of course, whether or not to take a detour to the summit or walk a little bit further for a swim in a lake.

At camp, you learn how to properly set up your tent and “storm proof” your gear so that you can enjoy a cozy night in the wilderness, worry free.

And in the morning you get to practice efficiently breaking down camp in order to prepare for another full day of adventure.

While walking and camping, we talk about how to protect the fragile environments we are sure to encounter while exploring.

Finally, we discuss backcountry hygiene, and how to stay fresh when a shower (or toilet) is miles away.

It is my goal to leave you feeling safe and capable after your trip with me, so that you can approach future trips with confidence.

The best part?

She Treks is committed to providing you with an unforgettably lightweight wilderness experience.

What we carry into the backcountry matters.

I don’t want some heavy, bulky, mammoth of a backpack getting in the way of you exploring.

I have dedicated countless hours to researching and testing products since 2017, curating lightweight, durable, and efficient gear for you to use on your upcoming guided adventure.

That’s right! I provide all the gear for your backpacking trip.

You’ll have everything that you need—nothing that you don’t—and I aim to keep your base weight below 20 pounds.

It is my intention—the mission of She Treks—to connect, empower and inspire women and gender minorities through lightweight backcountry travel. 

Just when the glow of your adventure starts to wear off, you’ll look down at the dirt under your nails and know…

You are part of something so much bigger than just you.

Ready to get some dirt under your nails?

because we all carry something…

together

we will make whatever it is you carry

lighter.