Alpine Immersion Retreat

September 12-15, 2024

The San Juan Mountains of Western Colorado are calling you…

The Alpine Immersion Retreat is intended to provide a deep connection to the alpine environment while enjoying a sense of community and a taste of the land...

This is a hike-in, hike-out retreat. Our basecamp for the weekend will be the Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge, located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains at 11,100 feet. Despite rooting ourselves snugly in the backcountry, I’ve woven in a nice array of creature comforts! The hike in/out will only be 2.5 miles and a gear shuttle will be provided so you’ll only need to carry a light daypack. We will be offering an array of guided hikes into the alpine from the lodge each day in varying degrees of difficulty. We will be enjoying chef-prepared, locally-sourced meals influenced by the bounty and pioneering heritage of the Western Slope by the lodge owner, Eric Johnson. There is a wood fired hot tub and some unbelievable views to wake up to with warm coffee in hand. I will be offering daily meditation and fire circles for reflection as we lean into the elements of earth, fire, air, and water as our guides for the weekend. We will be playing with watercolor and writing prompts as a tool for connecting to the land and with ourselves.

May this incredible landscape lead you on a

creative journey of your own

the power of nature + self exploration

Mother Nature has so much to teach us and sometimes, all it takes is intentional time to be with her in an uninterrupted way so her wisdom can seep in. This retreat is designed to give you the space that is needed for personal expansion, introspection, and a deeper connection with the land and all her offerings. May she nourish you with her bounty and her beauty!

I’ll be empowering you with basic watercolor and plain air painting techniques but this immersion is more about learning from nature and connecting with ourselves than it is about learning art techniques. Art is an incredible tool that you can use to connect and express yourself, unlocking your innate wisdom so you can gain clarity. We’ll be tapping into the four elements as a theme to provide a container for discussion, exploration, and curiosity.

I choose the San Juan Mountains for a reason…. Getting into the alpine offers the gifts of perspective. Spending time up high in a fragile ecosystem can spark a deep sense of awe. These mountains in particular holds both strong feminine and masculine traits- tall jagged peaks and flowing abundant valleys. I have always found landscapes like this intriguing because they can mirroring the coexistence of the masculine and feminine in each of us. The lush nature of this region gives the vegetation a richness that is unique to Colorado. Having a comfortable lodge that requires a small amount of work to get to will make the gift of spending three nights in this location even more meaningful.

Spending time away from the busyness of our regular lives to pause and take inventory is perhaps the most potent invitation. I love this whole region and if you have time to add a few days on the front or back end of the trip there are amazing hot springs, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and local food destinations worth exploring between Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, Rico, and Ridgeway. This area is truly a gem, tucked deep in a sea of mountains, valleys, and sky.

retreat staff

what’s included + Cost

The Retreat will begin on Thursday September 12th at 10am. We will meet in the Camp Bird Parking lot (5 miles outside of Ouray, Colorado) to load our packs in the gear shuttle and begin the 2.5 mile hike to Hayden Backcountry Lodge. You’ll be responsible for your own transportation to and from Ouray. It’s highly encouraged to arrive Ouray the night before and enjoy some local hot springs or other area attractions. The retreat will end mid-morning on Sunday and we will hike out together, arriving the Camp Bird lot around 12 or 1pm. Gear Shuttle will take our packs out on the exit as well. Here is a list of what’s included in your registration fee:

Cost and Registration Process:

• the cost is $1450 per person

• $500 deposit holds your spot at the time of registration

• payment in full due 60 days before the retreat (July 12)

about our basecamp

faq

How hard will the hikes be? Hiking is accessible right out the door of the Lodge. The diversity of hiking options from this location is incredible. You can choose from a gentle forest walk to a waterfall to summiting several nearby 13ers and everything in between. We will gauge the group’s interest for hiking destinations and offer options each day for shorter and longer excursions, both guided by either Kjersti or Sarah. The hike into the Hut will ascend roughly 1600 feet in 2.5 miles. The hike will begin at 9500 feet so we will be hiking at higher elevations the whole time.

Do I need to be an artist? I believe that everyone is creative, and everyone has a capacity for strengthening their creative muscles. The goal of this retreat is to connect with and invest in your creative self. We will have basic instruction for all of the mediums that we use, but the goal is to use those mediums for creative exploration not a mastery of the medium. As long as you’re excited about playing with color and and giving yourself permission to let go and commit to the process, you’ll be good to go.

Can I opt out of the hike in and just drive to the lodge?“ Hayden Backcountry Lodge is in a remote location, only accessible by serious 4x4 vehicles. We do have a few seats in the car that will be driving our gear with Eric the lodge owner. If your interested in this experience but worried about the hike in/out, please send me an email and I’d be happy to find you a ride to the lodge. art@sarahuhl.com

What else should I bring? You’ll be provided all the art supplies you need for the workshop but you are welcome to bring personal art supplies, journals, or books! We will be having 3 meals a day but it might be a good idea to bring some personal snacks/trail food. You’ll need a good size water bottle, a day pack, comfortable hiking shoes and a variety of clothing for changing temperatures. You’ll also need to bring a sleeping bag liner or a sleeping bag and a pillow case. The hut is equips with plenty of warm blankets but requires everyone to bring their own liner due to limited water for excessive sheet washing after each guest. A full packing list will be provided before the retreat.

How do I get to Ouray if I’m flying in from another part of the country? The closest airport is Montros Airport, about 45 minuets from Ouray. Durango airport is about 1.5 miles away (and will provide you with one of the most spectacular drives in your life!). This website will give you a glimpse into Ouray and the Million Dollar Highway. You could also fly into Grand Junction which is about 3 hours north of Ouray. There are shuttle options from some of these airports and I’m happy to pick you up in town on Thursday morning if you need a ride from downtown Ouray to Camp Bird parking lot. It’s about 5 miles outside of town.

Area Attractions: This entire area is just incredible. I recommend arriving a day or so early or staying later if you can swing it! The nearby towns are all so unique and full of character but the wild nature surrounding this region is endless. Hot springs, Via Ferrets, waterfalls, ghost towns, local food culture, hiking, alpine lakes, and so much more. I’m more than happy to help anyone plan a longer trip or provide some recommendations.