The great outdoors is calling, but the call's for women only
By Mike Cleary
Occasionally, the great outdoors will tempt us. You know the seductive pitch: "Hey, Clearys, come sample my natural beauty, mingle with my wildlife and sleep and eat under my stars in a small tent without a minibar, room service or an overhead fan." However, before this citified couple answers any call of the wild, we'll need some survival training and the right guide.
Among our circle of friends, there is only one individual I would trust with our lives for that all-important inaugural outing. The only snag is she won't take me, because I'm not a woman. Mary Ann can go, but I, alas, must remain behind to mind the dog and keep the house clean.
Mary Ann won't be the first woman Carole Latimer has introduced to the wilderness. Recently, a local nature scribe observed that "no other person in America has introduced more women to the outdoor experience than Carole Latimer." The result is she has been inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame, which is no easy feat.
Through her company, Call of the Wild, many urban women have--for the first time in their lives--hiked, climbed, biked, kayaked, camped and sung around campfires in places like Yosemite, Mt. Whitney, the Napali Coast of Kaua'i and the Grand Canyon.
Twenty-four years ago, the likable but suffer-no-fools Latimer was fired from her secretarial job at a radio station. I was one among the many who were disappointed to see her go. To support herself, she began organizing and leading women's wilderness trips. Having grown up backpacking and skiing the High Sierra, she was more than qualified.
To this day, the company's mission statement remains unchanged. Call of the Wild introduces urban women to the wilderness. Married, single, young, old--it doesn't matter. I've read letters from participants who have returned from one of Latimer's adventures and described themselves as feeling transformed: more confident, physically stronger, less stressed and mentally rejuvenated.
Not much needs to be written about why these trips are for women only. Even from my view across the gender divide, I can see how a man's company might be an enormous pain-in-the-backpack for a woman trying to get her first secure footing on one of Mother Nature's many paths.
While Call of the Wild outings run the gamut from easygoing to challenging and from two-day getaways to week-long adventures, all come with surprisingly moderate price tags. It should also be noted that while the groups include women of all ages and all levels of fitness, pre-trip conditioning is highly recommended.
Looking through the brochure, I learned that Yosemite is a popular destination, with trips that include a Half-Dome Summit hike, a High Sierra hike from Tuolomne Meadows base camp and even an outing that adds yoga to the mix. Call of the Wild expeditions are also planned for Lake Tahoe, Mendocino's Lost Coast, the Grand Canyon and Zion and Bryce national parks.
If there's a signature trip in the brochure it would have to be the company's 19th annual July hike to the top of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. No technical climbing is involved, but you must be in good shape and have some backpacking experience. A trip that caught my eye is a November excursion to the heart of Mexico's Copper Canyon, which is deeper and four times larger than the Grand Canyon. The hikes are described as nothing short of spectacular.
To request a Call of the Wild brochure, call 510.849.9292 or visit www.callwild.com. Phone and chances are that Carole will answer. If she does, ask her how she takes baths in a hefty bag. It's not a Berkeley thing--it's a wilderness thing.
Finally, it should be mentioned that food is a specialty at Call of the Wild and the groups dine exceedingly well. Latimer, in fact, has written a cookbook, Wilderness Cuisine, which is in its fourth printing. So, if Mary Ann decides to go, I'll be comforted in knowing she's dining better than the dog and I are. But I'll have the bathtub.
Listen to Mike and Mary Ann Cleary on "Food and Travel Radio," Sundays at 10 a.m. on KABL 960 AM. Mike can be reached at mc@foodandtravelradio.com.
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