What Happens When Women Say YES to Adventure
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
By Shannon Casson, Chief Possibility Officer, The Desert Dose
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from gathering women in wild places, it’s this:
Adventure shows us what we’re capable of — often long before we believe it ourselves.
This fall, The Desert Dose partnered with Western Spirit Cycling to bring a dozen women—spanning five decades of life—into the heart of Canyonlands for a women’s White Rim adventure. Some arrived strong, some nervous, some craving connection, some seeking clarity, and others simply following a quiet pull toward something they couldn’t quite name.
What unfolded was a living reminder of why women say YES to adventure… and why it matters so deeply.
Adventure Helps Us Remember Ourselves
The trail has a way of stripping life down to what’s essential: breath, movement, laughter, awe. Away from the noise of daily life, women reconnect with parts of themselves that often go quiet — courage, curiosity, and joy.
One participant shared:
“I wasn’t feeling strong coming in, but because of all the support along the way, I left feeling so much more confident.”
Out there, surrounded by red rock walls and endless sky, women remember their resilience.
They remember what is possible.
They remember themselves.
Women Supporting Women Is Pure Power
When women gather without comparison or competition, something shifts — connection deepens and encouragement becomes instinctive.
Someone rides beside you when you need company.
Someone rides ahead to show you what’s possible.
Someone rides behind so you never feel alone — and somehow, all three feel like exactly what you need at that moment.
As one woman said:
“Knowing the team was in front of me and behind me gave me the safety to really be present.”
This is the magic of women-only adventure:
belonging within community, strength without ego, vulnerability without judgment.
The Power of Being Led by Women
This trip was guided by Western Spirit’s incredible all-female guide team: Katie and Kira. Two young, strong, deeply capable women leading a group that represented five decades of life experience — from their 20s through their 60s.
The dynamic was profound.
There is something beautifully symbolic about younger women guiding women twice their age — holding space, leading with confidence, and modeling what’s possible for the next generation. And equally powerful was watching older women receive that leadership with trust, respect, and joy.
Western Spirit’s ethos — All the Best Places with All the Best Guides — felt especially true here. The “best places” matter.
But the “best guides,” especially when they are women guiding women, change everything.
Shared Adventure Creates Lasting Bonds
Across miles of red sand, canyon overlooks, surprise thunderstorms, sunset poetry circles, and early-morning coffee rituals, something beautiful happened: strangers became community.
One participant shared:
“I’ll forever remember the laughter, the storytelling, and the stillness of the desert. I pushed myself farther than I ever have before.”
Those connections don’t stay in Canyonlands.
They come home with us.
They change how we show up in our lives.
A Full Circle — And A New Beginning
This collaboration with Western Spirit is a full-circle moment for me.
Nearly 30 years ago, I rode the White Rim as a wide-eyed 20-something who didn’t know how to pitch a tent, find the Big Dipper in the night sky, or even shift the gears on my bike. One of my guides, Jane, taught me how.
That first YES altered the trajectory of my life.
Returning now — not as a beginner, but as a community leader and Chief Possibility Officer — alongside Western Spirit as a partner, feels like honoring my younger self while building pathways for the next generation of women to say YES.
Because when women say YES to adventure, everything changes.
Why Say YES Now?
Because adventure expands us.
Connection grounds us.
And joy — real, contagious, soul-deep joy — ripples outward.
If you’re feeling the pull toward something more… maybe this is your YES.
Join Us in 2026
If you or someone you love is craving an experience to look forward to — something meaningful, memorable, and life-expanding — our 2026 adventures are built for exactly that.
✨ Idaho Backcountry Hot Springs Women’s Adventure — July 20–24
✨ White Rim Women’s Adventure — October 21–24
Come adventure with us — in all the best places, with all the best guides, and a whole lotta joy.
And yes — we’ll help you train for it, too. Your confidence doesn’t start on the trail; it starts the moment you say YES.
Where confidence, connection, and joy come alive.
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