Meet at the trailhead
Meet at the trailhead Friday at 1 p.m. for introductions and a gear check. Hike in at a relaxed pace, set up camp, and share dinner and your first night outdoors.
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Inner UtopiaWilderness Adventures
A little farther from everyday.
A little closer to yourself.
Come spend a weekend outside with us. Our guided backpacking retreats begin within two hours of Boise, Idaho, with two nights in the wilderness, a relaxed pace, and no more than six guests.
From our wilderness journeys · destinations vary by trip
2 nightsFriday through Sunday
2–6 guestsTwo guests minimum
$895Per person
Near BoiseTrailhead within 2 hours
Make room for the wild
A weekend outside,
with time to be here.
So much of what I love about The Mortar & Mage begins outside. Inner Utopia is an invitation to spend a little more time there—with a pack on your back, good company, and room to notice what is around you.
Jason and I will guide you on the trail, cook our camp meals, and share what we know along the way. We’ll spend time identifying plants, connecting with nature, and trying fly fishing where the destination and conditions allow. Some weekends will bring us to a river or waterfall; others to an alpine lake or a stretch of forest.
You’ll carry your own backpacking gear and sleep outdoors for two nights. We’ll walk at a relaxed pace, with time to stop and take it in.
A sample wilderness weekend
Three days to settle in.
A day in the wilderness
Enjoy breakfast and coffee or tea, then time on the trail, nature connection, foraging identification, and space to linger. Optional fly fishing depends on conditions and rules. Share lunch, dinner, and a second night in camp.
Hike out and celebrate
Share breakfast, pack up camp, and hike out, aiming to return to the cars by Sunday at 2 p.m. Then gather for a celebratory group lunch in a nearby town to share stories. Guests pay for their own restaurant lunch.
Sample itinerary: Friday 1 p.m. arrival through Sunday 2 p.m. return to the cars, followed by a group lunch. Timing and plans may change with the destination, group, weather, smoke, and trail conditions.
The inaugural season
Choose your weekend in the wild.
Each of our six 2027 weekends takes us to a different destination. If you’d like to come on more than one adventure, we’d love to have you—there are no planned repeats. Join us for one weekend, a few, or the whole season.
Choose the weekends that call to you and join the free interest list. We’ll let you know when reservations open.
2027 · Friday–Sunday
May 21–23
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
2027 · Friday–Sunday
June 11–13
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
2027 · Friday–Sunday
July 23–25
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
2027 · Friday–Sunday
August 6–8
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
2027 · Friday–Sunday
September 24–26
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
2027 · Friday–Sunday
October 15–17
2 nights · $895 per person
2–6 guests
Six guests maximum · Two-person minimum · $895 per person · No payment to express interest
When bookings open: secure your spot with a $150 deposit per person. The remaining $745 is due 60 days before departure. For now, joining the interest list is free.
Planning your trip
What to expect on the trail
Most trips are planned for no more than 10–15 miles of total hiking and no more than 1,500 feet of total elevation gain, with a relaxed pace and time to pause.
Meet at a trailhead within two hours of Boise. At your Meet + Mingle two weeks before departure, we reveal the destination and discuss the route, gear, and group preparations.
Routes and destinations remain subject to weather, smoke, and trail conditions.
Included in $895
- Two-night guided wilderness experience
- Backcountry meals: Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast
- Coffee and tea in camp
- Nature connection and foraging identification
- Optional fly fishing where permitted
- Pre-trip Meet + Mingle
You bring
- Snacks and personal backpacking gear
- Transportation to and from the trailhead
- Any required fishing license
- Sunday’s group restaurant lunch, paid separately by each guest
Your guides
Meet Chasta & Jason.
Chasta Feller
Guide · United States & Canada
I’m Chasta, the person behind The Mortar & Mage. I’ve guided in the United States and Canada, and I’m bringing that experience—and my love of plants and the living world—to our weekends on the trail.
Jason Soubliere
Guide · United States, Canada & Australia
Jason has guided in the United States, Canada, and Australia. We’ll be guiding these adventures together, from our first trailhead meeting to the stories we share over Sunday lunch.
Do I need backpacking experience?
You don’t need to be an experienced backpacker. You do need to be comfortable walking on uneven trails and carrying your own gear for two nights outdoors. Most trips are planned for no more than 10–15 miles total and no more than 1,500 feet of total elevation gain, at a relaxed pace. Ask us about fit before committing; route details will be shared before booking is finalized.
Where will we go?
Guests meet at a trailhead within two hours of Boise and arrange their own transportation. Your destination is revealed at the Meet + Mingle two weeks before departure. Waterfalls, rivers, alpine lakes, and forests vary by trip; no single feature is guaranteed. Weather, smoke, and trail conditions may require a change of destination or plans.
Can I join more than one adventure?
Yes. Each of the six 2027 trips has a different planned destination, so you can join one, several, or all six without repeating an adventure. Choose as many weekends as you like on the interest form. Routes may change with weather, smoke, or trail conditions; we’ll keep you informed.
What do I bring?
Bring your own snacks and personal backpacking gear, including your pack, shelter, sleeping setup, suitable clothing, and footwear. Backcountry meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast, coffee, and tea are included. The Sunday restaurant lunch is paid separately by each guest. We will share the packing guidance and review dietary needs before departure.
Can I try fly fishing or foraging?
Foraging identification and nature connection are part of the experience. Optional fly fishing depends on the destination and applicable rules. Guests are responsible for any required fishing license. Identification does not mean harvesting is permitted; collection must follow the rules for the land and species.
When can I book?
Join the free interest list now and tell us which weekends you’re interested in. We’ll email you when reservations open. Signing up does not reserve a spot, and there is nothing to pay today.
How will the deposit work?
When paid bookings open, you can secure your spot with a $150 deposit per person toward the $895 trip price. The remaining $745 is due 60 days before departure. Cancellation, refund, and minimum-group terms will be provided before payment. Deposits and paid reservations are not available yet.
What happens before departure?
A signed waiver and health and emergency intake are required before participation. We will review trip fit, equipment, and dietary needs, then share the destination at the Meet + Mingle two weeks before the trip. Each departure needs at least two guests and has a maximum of six. Booking, cancellation, and minimum-group terms will be provided before payment.
Come outside with us
Which weekend
is calling you?
Choose one, a few, or all six adventures. Leave us your name and email, and we’ll be in touch when reservations open. There’s nothing to pay today, and you’re welcome to ask us about the trips before deciding.