Adventure Retreats

UPCOMING ADVENTURE RETREATS:

SEQUOIA - SUMMER 2025
JOSHUA TREE - FALL 2025
DEATH VALLEY - WINTER 2025

What’s an Adventure Retreat?

It’s a backpacking trip + wellness retreat. We’ll hike and camp but also focus on total body and mind wellness. It’s a fun, physical adventure in nature with health benefits!

Here’s what you can expect:

A fully supplied and planned trip. No gear, no experience, no problem. I provide all logistics, permits, food and gear.
A good time. Depending on location, this will involve activities such as hiking, swimming, cliff diving, fire building, cooking, games and more.

A customized fitness & nutrition plan. To prepare you for the trip, I will send you an exercise and diet plan to empower you on our journey.
Connection with nature. We’ll be in the wilderness without service sleeping under the stars - the digital detox you need.
Connection with yourself & others. Real, honest and deep conversations about how we are showing up in our lives, what we want, and how we plan to get it.
Support. You are not alone. The bonds you make on this trip are there to support you while we’re out in the wilderness and after.

Sequoia National Forest 2024

Join The Waitlist

Trip Reviews

“I’ve always wanted to live a healthier lifestyle, and the trip with Michael became the catalyst for me to begin that type of life. Oftentimes I blamed my physical limitations for not being health conscious, but this retreat showed me that the key to a healthier lifestyle might lie in my mentality rather than my physicality. It was fun, demanding, exhilarating, and eye opening and I cannot recommend it enough. If you’re having second-thoughts, all the more reason to say yes to this retreat. Michael is an excellent guide and I consistently felt safe in such strange territory, both mentally and physically. I have zero regrets, and you won’t either.”

Thomas M., Filmmaker
“My retreat with Pine Body and Mind in Death Valley was a perfect opportunity for reflection during a period of significant change and decision-making in my life. Michael tactfully balanced shared meals and bonding activities with intentional solo moments, encouraging deep self-exploration and healthy habits that have continued to shape my months following the retreat. As someone who loves the outdoors but lacks extensive backpacking experience, this weekend provided a low-maintenance way to feel the rewards of being fully offline and built confidence in my outdoor skills so I can spend more time deeply connected with nature going forward.”

Brian P., Entrepreneur
"The Sequoia adventure was a completely enriching experience on several levels. With how demanding my work life often is, I spend a lot of time concerned with output and results. This trip allowed me to shift the focus back to the internal, prioritizing my sense of self and being receptive to the world around me. The journey presented challenges, both physical and mental, that I otherwise wouldn’t have explored on my own, but I’m so grateful for them and the bonds I built with the rest of the group along the way. I now find myself inspired to experience more of the nature around me and live with a greater sense of intention. I would recommend the experience to anyone looking to recalibrate their perspective to finding more joy, appreciation, and curiosity toward life — as well as anyone who just wants to get out into the world and experience some of the most beautiful, exciting wonders it has to offer."

David K., Film Executive
“My backpacking trip in Sequoia National Park with Pine Body and Mind was unforgettable. Over three days and 14 miles, Michael created the perfect balance of structure and freedom, incorporating reflective practices like meditation and journaling that made the experience deeply meaningful. He handled everything seamlessly—meals, permits, gear, and logistics—so we could just immerse ourselves in nature. This trip was worth every penny, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone open to new connections, personal discovery, and the peace of the outdoors.”

Jordan K., Outdoor Adventure Guide
I joined this retreat because I was longing to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with myself. When Michael reached out about this trek, I immediately knew it was the intentional experience I needed. Leading up to the retreat, I found myself overwhelmed by constant digital consumption, to the point where it distracted me from the things that truly feed my soul. I was questioning fundamental aspects of who I am and who I want to be. This retreat allowed me to remember so much—how vital it is for me to be in nature, how much clarity and peace it brings, and how important it is to carve out time just 'to be.' One of the most impactful realizations was how even in stillness, we tend to occupy ourselves instead of allowing space for reflection. Michael created an environment that encouraged not just self-reflection but also deep and meaningful conversations. The group discussions were incredibly powerful—full of vulnerability, support, and genuine connection. It was a rare and beautiful experience to be surrounded by men from different backgrounds, all relating to each other in ways that made life's challenges feel less isolating. After the retreat, I felt lighter and clearer. I was finally able to have long-overdue conversations in my personal life that I couldn’t quite find the words for before. The meditations, journaling, and group reflections helped me organize my thoughts in a way that has had a lasting impact. If you're considering joining a future retreat, take the leap. It was an incredibly grounding experience that left me feeling recharged, inspired, and connected—with nature, with others, and most importantly, with myself. Michael took care of everything, making it an easy and accessible experience for everyone, whether you're new to the outdoors or mindfulness practices. I can’t recommend it enough.

Kwasi T.A., Head of Product Design
"As a bodyworker, health and wellness are at the top of my priority list. However, since moving to Los Angeles from Sedona, I’ve found the grind of city life has made it harder to prioritize what I’ve found to be my ultimate mental and physical recharge: time spent in beautiful, unencumbered nature. Add in the loneliness and isolation that many of us seem to be feeling these days, especially in a city where it can be notoriously hard to find a good friend, and one can see how these problems can compound and exacerbate one another. Enter Michael. At the recommendation of a client of mine, I contacted Michael and we met for coffee. We connected over being from the east, our passion for health and fitness, and our love for the outdoors. I was lucky enough to join him on his last retreat to Death Valley, and to put it simply: it was exactly what I needed. He brought us to an absolutely incredible spot where we camped on sand dunes that would make even the most well-travelled second guess if they were in the Sahara. He curated the entire weekend, including structured time to discuss and connect with one another, as well as free time for us to explore and re-connect with ourselves. Not only is Michael great at planning a retreat, he’s a great guy, and I can’t recommend one of his experiences enough. "

Jordan R., Bodywork Specialist

Safety & Certifications

We will never be more than a few hours away from help, and I carry a satellite communicator in case of emergencies.

Additionally, I am certified in:

Wilderness First Aid

Adult & Pediatric First Aid / CPR / AED

Pricing

Base:

With Full Gear Rental:

$675

$895

All food, permits, and logistics included. A la carte gear rental options available.

*If the price is an issue, please let me know. I never want money to be the only thing that prevents you from an adventure, so I’m happy to discuss payment plans and scholarships.

Reach out for more information & to join the waitlist.

Please tell me a little about yourself, how much outdoor experience you have, and what you’d like to get out of the adventure.

“BE HUMBLER ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW,

MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT’S POSSIBLE,

AND LESS AFRAID OF THINGS THAT DON’T MATTER.”

Tim Urban