EVERYTHING IS BETTER
WITH SNACKS AND TRAILS
ABOUT US
We are two women who love to backpack. Some might call it an obsession, others call it self care. When we aren't backpacking we are planning our next adventure. We find that we are our happiest when we are out in Montana's Backcountry, climbing peaks, and sleeping under starry skies. We think backpacking is meditative and we want to share the Northwest Montana's backcountry with more people, especially women.
Growing up the the mountains of northwest montana Madison has an affinity for the outdoors and sharing that passion with others. She finds walking with her head down through the forest to be one of the most meditative practices that one can do. The way life widdles itself down into simple acts of survival in the outdoors brings her a sense of peace and focus. Sharing this peace and sense of accomplishment with other women is one of the main reasons she confounded WNG.
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As one of the founders and lead guides of WNG, Sally feels that backpacking is meditative and can positively impact people in plentiful ways. She wants to share the backcountry with more people, especially women. She loves her daily yoga, running, cold plunging, and meditation routines. Sally is in constant pursuit to expand her knowledge on the outdoors and what it has to offer.
Both Madison & Sally have attained their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certificates and their Avalanche Level 1.
Between the two of them they have a total of 8 years of professional guiding experience. Not including years of recreating in Glacier National park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Flathead National Forest and beyond!
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Safety is at the forefront of everything we do here at Wild North Guides. From educating our guests how to properly carry and deploy bear spray to making sure everyone is hydrated during a hot day on the trail, we pay attention to all the big and little details. One of the most asked about topics from our guests is bears and what do we do if we encounter one. We take all wildlife encounters very seriously and have protocol for all types of interactions and will provide instruction. However, our main line of defense is controlling our scents. Yes you read that correctly...scents! We have a nightly scent routine where we make sure no one is going to bed with any unnecessary scents in their tents with them like a granola bars or chapstick. In all of our years of guiding neither one of us has had a negative bear encounter!
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OUR GUIDES
Love to Snack
Madison Browning
Madison has been a guide for over 6 years and lives to be outdoors.
Poppy
Poppy has what seems to be endless energy. She is constantly on guard. And we mean it. If there are mosquitos bugging you, she will make it her top priority to chase them away ASAP. Poppy is Frankie's sidekick in terms of safety. She follows Frankie's instruction and continues to provide us with further peace of mind and safety while sleeping out in the woods. Poppy is also our resident therapy dog, as she is happy to provide all the comfort and positive vibes. Plus, she's stinkin' cute.
Sally Stecher
Being outside is Sally's top priority, no matter the season. Sally feels at home when backpacking and wants to share this love for living outside with other people.
Frankie
Frankie's instinct is to protect her people. She comes along with us on every single trip for supplemental safety, humor and entertainment for us humans, a playdate for Poppy, and an extra warm cuddle buddy. Frankie is one of the reasons we feel extremely safe when in the backcountry doing what we love. She is our more serious and stoic pup cause she knows her duties. At the end of the date at camp, she can also melt into goofball mode.