TrovaTrip is a platform that connects travelers with hosts (like me) to create group travel experiences. It is a 3-sided marketplace, meaning they serve hosts (me), travelers (you), and tour operators with logistics, planning, and support for professionally designed trips.

The operators do most of the work once we get to our destination because the local professionals have the best understanding of the location’s language, culture, and a stake in its economy. Operators are the folks on the ground who run their own separate tour companies and help bring the itineraries offered through Trova to life.

Operators are the masterminds behind creating pre-built itineraries for trips. They’re usually about a week-long, with spots ranging from 8-25 people, and take place in destinations around the world. Each itinerary is created around a general theme (food, yoga, camping, etc.) and filled with activities reflecting that theme. 

Operators are also in charge of actually running the trip on the ground. They provide English-speaking local guides, book accommodations and transportation, oversee activities, and generally ensure that everyone on the trip has the best possible experience. Operators and their guides don’t work for Trova any more than hosts do; rather, they’re the trusted (and vetted) partners who’ve joined Trova’s platform to run their businesses and reach new clients. 

Basically, the initial base price of a trip is set by the operator to cover their expenses (local guides, transportation, accommodation, entry fees, etc.). Then the host will set a margin to cover their time and work promoting the trip. Finally, Trova will earn a percentage of the total price for their real-time support, payment management, planning and booking, and use of the platform itself. However, all of this only happens if a trip is “confirmed”, meaning if enough Travelers sign up by the deadline to make it a go. Otherwise, down payments are fully refunded and no money changes hands. 

This platform is legit and several hikers and businesses I know are running trips through it. Please fill out the survey to join me on an amazing destination around the world.

My vision is this:

I’m thinking of hosting a hiking adventure somewhere special – whether it be in the US or abroad, and I’d like to go with you. Think a small group trip – 8-16 folks – with a bit of the hikertrash flavor, but the most important thing…you don’t need to be a thru-hiker, extreme backpacker, or adrenaline junkie. All folks are welcome!

One of my favorite things about leading hikes, trail work parties, and stewardship trips over the past 15 years has been meeting all of you! Seriously. People are one of my favorite things about hiking all over the world, and I’d love to go hiking with you in a beautiful place.

What would that look like? We will take day hikes together in a beautiful place but with a bit of luxury (beds, delicious food, spa days?). There are so many fun things we could add to a trip depending on where and what you’d like to do.

Please fill out this 2-minute survey to let me know your info and where you’d like to go, what your budget would be, and other helpful stuff. I need to have 100 responses to start planning the trip, so even if you aren’t sure that you would like to go, chime in! Help me get to 100! (Hint: responses with budgets of at least $2,000 are suggested)

Email me with any questions you might have, or add a comment to the post.

Will we go here?

Or maybe here:

Or here?

There are so many options! Please take the survey and let me know what you think 🙂

It was a true delight to be in conversation with CdV Saizan on her new podcast Kinward: Here, we orient Kinward: exploring solidarities, affirming entanglements, playing with Others, courting rapport—and skillsharing practices that move us into deeper alignment with Life.

“Renee walks us into this episode with a case study of Intentional Hiking from her own life, sharing examples of how she immerses herself into her journeys with the intention of growing deeper connections with the place she’s hiking through: studying its histories; its people; its needs, conservation priorities, and resource conflicts; and then feeling into the ways that a particular place nourishes, holds, and shapes those who move through it.”

I absolutely love how CdV has created the space to dive into thoughtful conversation through this podcast. Please give it a listen!

I love the story that came out in the May/June issue of Bend Magazine!

When author Suzanne Johnson and I met for coffee a few months ago for the story, she wanted to tell the silly and fun side of thru-hiking, and I think that came through 🙂

Thanks Suzanne!

Guess what! I’m talking about hiking soon 🙂

Just kidding, I talk about hiking ALL THE TIME as hilariously captured in this meme:

In addition to my twice-a-month Intentional Hiking events coming up soon:

• March 4, 4:30pm with Hiking My Feelings on Finding Your Wellness in the Wilderness
• March 19, 5pm with Leave No Trace on The Four Ps: Pee, Poop, Periods, and Personal Hygiene – Leaving No Trace on the Trail and Why it Matters
• April 2, 4pm with Glen Van Peski (founder of Gossamer Gear) on The Philosophy of Ultralight

I’ll be hosting/speaking/moderating these events:

• March 12, 5pm (free Zoom event) with ALDHA West: Thru-hike prep panel thru the lens of climate change
• March 13, 6:30pm (free Bend event at Embark) with AdventureUS Women on Epic Adventures (register for free here)
• April 20, 7pm (free Silver City, New Mexico event) with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition at CDT Trail Days

I’ve also had some wonderful conversations lately too.

Check out the Eco System Member Podcast:

And coming up on March 4th I’ll be on Hikertrash Radio…stay tuned!

I am thrilled to be participating in the first ever Hike Like a Woman virtual summit, happening online from May 8-12.

I’ll be one of 41 speakers from 7 different countries, and after looking at some of my co-presenters bios, I’m quite thrilled to be among such good company.

You can tune into the talk at my scheduled time – Friday, May 10 at 9am (Pacific) – or you can watch my and all the 40 other presentations on-demand after the fact.

Hike Like a Woman is an organization founded by Rebecca Walsh, and the summit, well, I’ll let her explain where the idea came from:

“Two years ago, I was sitting in the chemotherapy chair. My head was bald. My body was weak and tired. I was angry, sad, and discouraged. I felt so alone. I was so isolated from adventure, travel, the career I’d had to put on pause, and the outdoor community. I thought, “I can’t be the only one who feels disconnected and discouraged.”

During treatment, I made a promise. That when I was healthy and strong again, I’d do everything I could to amplify women’s voices in the outdoor and wellness space to build community and show the Hike Like A Woman community that we are not alone.

A few months later, as I was walking through the park and slowly regaining my strength, a podcast about virtual conferences somehow ended up on my playlist. Right then and there, I had my answer. We needed a summit.

This summit is what I needed and didn’t have when I was at the lowest point of my life. It’s inspiring messages from 41 women who believe in you, who support you, and who want you to feel brave as you pursue your big dreams.

This isn’t your typical virtual summit full of sleazy sales pitches and guilt trips. No, this is a virtual gathering of women who’ve got your back.

When you register for our summit, you can attend any of our sessions live or access them on-demand after the event so you can watch, learn, and be inspired until 10/1/24.”

Tickets are $19 if you purchase in February, $39 after that, so get them soon!

I also recorded a podcast with Rebecca earlier this year, give it a listen:

You may remember my post earlier this year about the new Oregon Signature Trails report, and I have an exciting update to share:

We have turned that report into a calendar as a fundraiser for the organization.

You can find the beautiful Blue Mountains Trail in February:

And the stunning Oregon Desert Trail in November:

Thanks for your support!

I am preparing for a busy fall season with a number of upcoming events some of you may be interested in:

• Intentional Hiking Launch Event – online – October 23, 5pm (PDT)

• Blue Mountains Trail Presentation – Mountain Supply in Bend – October 24, 6:30pm (PDT)

• Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summit – North Bend, Oregon – Big Ideas in Outdoor Recreation – Applying UX Design Principals to Trails – November 2, 10:34am (PDT)

• Blue Mountains Trail Presentation – Idaho Mountain Touring in Boise – November 15, 6pm (PDT)

Other events:

• Blue Mountains Trail Presentation – La Grande – TBD

• x2 Intentional Hiking Events in November

• x2 Intentional Hiking Events in December

I first heard about the Outdoor Entrepreneur Podcast when I listened to an episode that featured Brittany Coleman from Tough Cutie (a rad new company that is making socks and changing the paradigm of a woman-led outdoor company)

I sat down with the podcast’s founder Liz Landeen this year to talk about the transformative power of time in nature….and more! Give it a listen!