Wilder Women’s Weekend 2026

Update: This trip is now full.

Join me for the very first Wilder Women’s Weekend May 15-18, 2026, taking place at the farthest northwest corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at one of my favorite places in the world, the Porcupine Mountains. I have reserved one of the backcountry, rustic cabins where I will host a women’s weekend of backcountry hiking and cooking, disconnecting from technology and connecting to nature. There will be opportunities for canoeing, rockhounding, forest bathing, nature journaling, hammocking, a polar bear swim in Lake Superior and day hiking to lakes, waterfalls and rocky overlooks. All activities are optional. Some basic backpacking equipment will be necessary. Participants will need to be capable of hiking over rough, rocky, hilly terrain for several miles at a time. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is curious about trying backpacking as we will only be backpacking into and out of the cabin and will not have to carry in tents. The rest of our stay will be day hikes from the cabin while carrying only the essentials. We will do community meals that we will work together to organize ahead of time with each person sharing the food load that we purchase and pack in. 6 spots currently available. I am not looking to make any money off of this trip. This is just something I’ve wanted to plan for a while. I will only be asking participants to cover their share of the reservation fee, gas for those who choose to carpool and food. If you don’t have the basic backpacking gear that you will need, we can chat about buying used gear or renting gear or what to look for if you are all in and want to buy new gear. Please email me at morganaislyn@gmail.com or private message me on Facebook if you are interested in participating. The Porcupine Mountains is one of those magical places that speaks to your soul and I can’t wait to share it with the women who join me on this adventure. 

About the cabin

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness has a handful of rustic cabins and yurts throughout the park available to reserve as backcountry lodging. Most of these are only accessible by hiking in. They do not have running water or electricity. We will be in the Mirror Lake 8-person log cabin which is the oldest cabin built in the Porkies and is a home base for backcountry hikers, hunters and fishermen. It can be accessed by several trails. It is next to picturesque Mirror Lake which is a great place to draw and filter water for drinking and cooking. While out on day hikes, we’ll also pass rivers and streams where we can filter drinking water if anyone needs a refill. There is a vault toilet within a short hike of the Mirror Lake cabins. Each Mirror Lake cabin also has its own canoe and/or rowboat with paddles and PFDs. Each cabin also has a woodstove for heating and cooking. The 8-person cabin will take a bit more effort to keep warm due to its size but I was given an insider tip that we can find lots of downed wood around the lake via the canoe and rowboat if there isn’t much around our cabin. Backcountry cabins come equipped with bunk beds with basic cushion mats, a dining table, chairs, benches, pots and pans, wash basin, can opener, wood stove and an outdoor fire ring. Any other supplies that we need for cooking, we can pack in. We’ll also pack in a few battery powered string lights for inside the cabin during the evening hours.

Weather

In mid to late May, the weather will be cool, with average highs around 55 and lows around 42. Hopefully, this means no mosquitoes or biting flies but it’s always a good idea to have long sleeves, pants and a mosquito head net just in case. Pack and wear moisture wicking layers that are easy to add or remove as temperatures fluctuate. Rain gear is always recommended no matter what the forecast says. Trails can be extra muddy in springtime which is something to consider when choosing footwear. We might have one or two unbridged river crossings while out on day hikes as well which is very common in the Porkies. May is a great time of year to see waterfalls at peak flow after the spring snowmelt.

Getting to the Porkies

There is a sign as you get close to the Porkies that says END OF THE EARTH 2 MILES, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS 4 MILES. That is an accurate description of how it feels after traversing across the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From my home in Whitehall, it takes 9 hours without food or gas stops to reach the visitors center. The first time I went, my phone and car picked up Wisconsin’s time zone and made me think we had more time than we did and by the time we checked in with the ranger for our permit, drove up the long road to our trailhead and hiked to our first site, it was dusk and we were scrambling to get the tent set up before dark. A very early start time is highly recommended to allow ample time for food, gas, bridge toll and traffic backups. I also recommend drivers top off their gas tanks in Ontonagon or Bergland before continuing to the state park because once there, there are very long park roads and nowhere to get gas. Vehicles will need a state park pass to enter and park overnight.

Other Info

This backpacking outing is organized by a volunteer, not an expert. While we will try to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone, by showing up to participate in this event, you are assuming full responsibility for your health, safety, and well-being for the entire duration of the outing. It is your responsibility to show up prepared. You understand the inherent risks of backpacking in the wilderness and that you are participating at your own risk. The organizer is not an expert and assumes no liability for your safety getting to and from or during the outing. 

Packing List

Hiking boots or sturdy trail runners. I have used both for backpacking. At the Porkies, I was glad to have my boots. There is also a chance for more mud in May which might make boots more preferable. Sizing up is recommended so that you have ample room to allow for the natural swelling of the feet that can occur while hiking as well as ample toe room for hiking downhill. It is always recommended that you properly break your boots in before your first backpacking trip to avoid painful foot problems. Wear them around the house to make sure you purchased the correct size. Then start wearing them on short walks/hikes and gradually increase your distance with them.

Backpack. One that holds enough gear for 4 days and 3 nights and is comfortable to hike in. There are lots of different kinds of packs. I recommend trying a few different styles on in an outdoor store. Once you know what you like, you can look for good sales or for used items on marketplace. There are also places you can rent backpacking packs.

Rain gear. Rain jacket and pants or poncho. Rain protection for your pack. Some packs come with a built in rain cover or you can buy a rain cover that fits your pack. You can also use a bag liner that is like a giant plastic bag inside your pack that all your gear gets stuffed into. My pack didn’t come with a built-in rain cover so I use a $3 pack liner. Always be prepared for rain even if it’s not in the forecast. It’s hard to come back from cold wet gear.

Sleeping bag. We’ll have lows in the 40s but the cabin has a wood stove that should keep us a little bit warmer than that. Most sleeping bag ratings are about 10 degrees off for women because women actually do produce less body heat at night. Sleeping bags have down or synthetic filling. Down is warmer, more packable and lightweight but synthetic dries faster if wet and less expensive.

Trekking poles. Some people like the added stability of trekking poles, especially on rocky descents and river crossings if we have any. They also take a decent amount of weight and wear and tear off your knees. Some people prefer the freedom of not carrying them. There are very budget friendly options out there if you decide you want trekking poles. Definitely practice hiking with them before the trip.

Water filter. We will have to filter water from lakes and rivers while out on the trail as it is just not possible to pack in enough water for 4 days without carrying a ton of weight. Since our home base sits right next to a lake, a small filter like the Sawyer Mini that attaches to individual water bottles would be ideal for this trip. Sawyer Minis are super easy to use and very affordable. I pair a Sawyer Mini with a tall Smart Water bottle. There are tons of options out there besides Sawyer Minis so I recommend looking at the different options to see what you might like best. Gravity filters are a popular option as well. 

Water bottles or water reservoir. You need something to carry your water in and drink out of once it’s filtered. Some people like to carry a couple of water bottles or use a hydration reservoir/straw.

Headlamp and spare batteries.

Basic reusable camp dish, mug and utensils for meals.

Clothing. REI breaks this list down really well, if you’d like to reference their list while considering May weather in the Porkies: Backpacking Gear List: What to Bring on a Backpacking Trip | REI Expert Advice

Health, hygiene and personal items. REI breaks these down really well, if you’d like to reference their list: Backpacking Gear List: What to Bring on a Backpacking Trip | REI Expert Advice  

Trail map. Everyone should have their own trail map, even while hiking with the group. You can print one off here: TRAIL MAP Or you can purchase a large foldable map from Michigan Trail Maps.

Safety Gear. Whistle, small personal first aid kit, knife or multitool, small personal gear repair kit, emergency fire starter, backup water treatment, map (detailed above), itinerary left with friend or family member.

Extras. Journal and pen/pencil, small backpacking pillow, ear plugs and eye mask because sometimes it’s hard to sleep in a group setting or out in the wilderness, camera, small power bank for charging phone, personal mug/bowl/plate/utensils, etc. Anything extra you don’t mind packing in that you might want.

We will not need to pack tents, sleeping pads or pots/pans, stove, fuel, etc., since we will be in the rustic cabin. I will be packing a few extra items such as a satellite communication device for emergencies, first aid supplies, gear repair kit and some cooking supplies that the cabin doesn’t have.

Gear Buying Tips

Remember you can buy lots of gear used, gently used or even new with or without tags on several sites online for a fraction of the new in store price. I often buy used gear. FB marketplace and FB buy and sell groups specific to hiking and backpacking are great places to look. You can also look on sites like Ebay and Mercari. Look at seller ratings and read listings thoroughly before purchasing online. 

You can also rent gear from places like REI. I don’t have any experience renting gear but it occasionally gets brought up in hiking groups and people seem to have a positive experience with it.

I also know plenty of people who have borrowed gear from friends for their first trip before making any financial commitments to gear.

Tentative Itinerary

This is just a tentative itinerary to give you an idea of what our time in the Porkies might look like. Itinerary will depend on if all park roads are open by the 15th and which trailhead we enter from.

Day 1

• Meet at Summit Peak Scenic Area parking lot
• Backpack to Summit Peak Lookout Tower
• Climb Tower for scenic view and photos
• Continue on to South Mirror Lake Trail to Little Carp River Trail to Mirror Lake Cabin 8 (2.5ish miles)
• Settle in
• Collect wood and get wood stove going 
• Dinner
• Leisure time – paddling, exploring around the cabin, hammocking, nature journaling, etc.
• Campfire, smores and stargazing

Day 2

• Breakfast
• Morning Sit Spot
• Day hike to Lake of Clouds Overlook and Cloud Peak. Strenuous hike with lots of elevation gain but worth it in views and photo opportunities. Pack lots of snacks, water and lunch for on the trail. We’ll take breaks as the group needs them.
• Dinner at the cabin
• Campfire

Day 3

• Breakfast
• Morning Sit Spot
• Anything you want! Paddling around Mirror Lake, exploring trails around the cabin, hammocking, nature journaling, etc.
• Lunch
• More free time
• Dinner
• Campfire, smores and gratitude circle

Day 4

• Breakfast
• Morning Sit Spot
• Pack up and tidy cabin
• Backpack out via Little Carp River Trail to Beaver Creek Trail to parking lot (2.8ish miles)
• Drive to Presque Isle Scenic Area of the Porcupine Mountains
• Lunch
• Hike and explore Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls and Nawadaha Falls
• Rockhound the shores of Lake Superior
• If wanting to do the polar bear swim in Lake Superior, we will meet at the Porkies Roadside Park which is the easiest access point for running back to warm cars. Make sure you have packed what you need for the polar bear swim if you plan to participate.
• Farewells and safe travels home

Please reach out to me at morganaislyn@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in joining this trip or future trips. We will set up a private group where we can chat about what to pack, plan our community meals, arrange carpooling for those wanting to carpool and ask and answer questions.