WILDER RETREAT in Chamonix, FRANCE
September 4-9, 2025
ALL-INCLUSIVE RUNNING, WRITING, & ADVENTURE RETREAT
for People of All Genders
Teacher: Lauren Fleshman
Camp Director: Zoë Roy
This Wilder Running and Writing Retreat is new this year, and we encourage people of all genders to apply! We’ve scouted one of the most iconic places to run trails in the world, and couldn’t imagine a better place for our first international retreat! This retreat spans six days and five nights, based in a simple and quaint French chalet in the valley. One of the nights will be spent in a Refugio, which is a kind of communal lodging up in the mountains only accessible by foot! We are seeking a small group of adventurous people who want to run and hike through gorgeous and challenging terrain, participate in Wild Writing in community, and co-create something memorable together. Like all of our retreats, we aim to stretch ourselves with the help of teachers, learn from the work of others, and fill ourselves up with fresh air, big trees, dramatic landscapes, rushing water, good food, laughter, and a mixture of community and solitude. A wilder approach to running and writing will help fuel confidence and purpose in the work we do at home for ourselves and our community.
Get a feel for the retreat below.
Camp Director Zoë on a scouting mission in Chamonix in the fall of 2024 :)
WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?
This is a retreat for runners who write and writers who run, capped at 15 participants. This retreat is available to people of all genders and we encourage everyone who is interested to apply. But because trail running still skews male overall, in order to make this an inclusive space we will reserve 50% of the spots for women and women-identifying people, which includes trans, genderqueer, and non-binary people who identify with the historical struggles and socialization forces faced by women. You absolutely do not need to have any formal training in trail running, but some experience on trails and a sense of adventure is a must. The only writing requirement is that you are curious and interested in writing in community.
Where?
CHAMONIX, France
This will be our first retreat held at this incredible location AND our first international retreat. Chamonix, officially known as Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is a renowned alpine town located in southeastern France, near the Italian and Swiss borders. It sits within the Haute-Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and lies in a valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe, towering at 4,808 meters (15,774 feet). We’re excited to gather a small group of incredible people with a sense of adventure who are willing to embark on a Wilder journey!
WHEN?
The retreat will officially begin Thursday at 3pm, September 4th. Friday will be a warm up run day as we acquaint ourselves with the surrounding area. Saturday we will venture into the mountains and spend the night at a mountain refuge. We will return to Chamonix on Sunday and explore the other side of the valley via foot on Monday. The retreat will conclude after breakfast on Tuesday September 9th. The detailed schedule will be released to participants in plenty of time to plan travel.
How to register?
For this first time event, we are using an application process. We will go through the applications and email people who we feel are a good fit to offer them a spot, which will be secured through a deposit. We will email everyone who applies by March 1 with a decision either way. Please fill out the application linked at the bottom of this page to apply, being sure to read all the details first.
We need a minimum of 8 participants in order to run this retreat. If we do not reach 8 participants, we will cancel the retreat by May 1, 2025, so we recommend not booking flights before then unless they are refundable.
THIS RETREAT IS FOR YOU IF:
you expect to be able to physically run or hike three days in a row over aggressive terrain with elevation, all paces are welcome
you are interested in an immersive experience with very full days, mixing action, ease, togetherness, and solitude
you are excited to dive into the empty page with an open mind, and create
you like the idea of contributing to a collective experience
you value discomfort and joy as pathways for learning and growing and want to be stretched at times
you believe you never “grow up” but are always “growing up"
you enjoy exploring the outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
you love good nourishing food, fresh air, adventure, and the company of amazing people
you love the outdoors and exploring
you are up for sleeping in a communal mountain hut environment one of the nights in the name of adventure
you can take responsibility for yourself and the things that may come up for you in this work
THIS RETREAT IS NOT FOR YOU IF:
you don't like to run or move your body outdoors
you have an inflexible training program that doesn't allow you to participate with the flow of the retreat
you do not feel particularly robust in varying weather, elevation, and terrain.
you are primarily interested in publishing advice, or refining a particular piece of writing
you have extremely restricted food requirements that the lodging environments will be unable to accommodate (ask us!)
COST:
Price varies based on lodging options (included in cost)
Double occupancy option (one twin bed in a shared room): $3950
Single occupancy (private room): $5100
*Single occupancy applies to the four nights at the chalet in Chamonix. The night in the mountain hut does not offer single occupancy rooms, only twin or dormitory options.
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrive in Chamonix, settle in, dinner
Day 2: Gorgeous trail run
Day 3: Gorgeous trail run to mountain hut, overnight stay
Day 4: Gorgeous trail run from mountain hut back to Chamonix
Day 5: Gorgeous rail run from Chamonix
Day 6: Breakfast, depart
Each day will include some writing time and time for surprise delights.
INCLUDES:
WILDER RUNNING AND MOVEMENT
We will use running and movement as a way to be embodied, to explore, to feel awe, to sharpen the senses, to feel both vast and small. Varying paces and experience levels will be respected and accommodated. We'll experience beautiful, scenic trail runs in the wild, with significant elevation, and with footing ranging from gravel to dirt to roots and rocks. Over the course of the retreat, each guest will have an opportunity for one-on-one advice if desired.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
We will be using Wild Writing, a form of writing done in community within a specific container. There will be full group sessions, smaller breakout groups, independent writing and reading time, and the opportunity for individual guidance with Lauren Fleshman on the work you're doing at the retreat. The emphasis will be on writing for potency, and removing the barriers that get in the way of our most powerful work. The amount of formal writing time will be between 1 and 2.5 hours per day.
GUIDING
We are partnering with Chamonix based company Adventure Base to provide four days of guided trail running and onsite logistics.
LODGING
We will spend four nights in the Auberge du Manoir, a quaint hotel built on the premise of a former alpine farm in the heart of Chamonix. It is located steps from the main street of Chamonix, minutes via foot from hopping on trails, and nestled in the midst of the spectacular Chamonix Valley with mountains towering on both sides. Shared accommodations (double occupancy, twin beds) are the default lodging option with the possibility of a single occupancy upgrade for an additional cost. You can select your lodging preference when you apply.
We will spend one night mid-retreat, at the Refuge Plan de I’Aguillie. The refuge sits at an altitude of approximately 2,207 meters (7,241 feet) on the slopes of the Mont Blanc Massif. Yeah, we’re excited too.
MEALS
We have the pleasure of experiencing French cuisine (chef’s kiss!) at its most authentic! We will provide nourishing meals to fuel your body and soul throughout the retreat from the start on Thursday afternoon to breakfast on Tuesday morning. This includes:
Day 1, Thursday: afternoon appetizers and dinner
Day 2, Friday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3, Saturday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4, Sunday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5, Monday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6, Tuesday: breakfast
*Let us know us know your dietary restrictions and we'll do what we can to help you find what you need. At the same time, know that we are in a foreign country and we will do our best to work with the options we are provided.
*Guests are welcome to bring whatever special food items they would like onsite.
TRANSPORTATION DURING THE RETREAT
Transportation to all off-site running adventures will be provided. This includes cars, trains, lifts and/or gondolas.
PLAY TIME & SURPRISES
The backyard of the retreat site is the beautiful Chamonix Valley. There will be time set aside to explore town, and the surrounding area on your own if you so choose.
SPONSOR SWAG BAG
Some special items will be assembled for everyone to enjoy during and after the retreat.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Eva Moss will be our onsite photographer documenting the trip. She graduated from Smith College with a degree and a half in Film and Theater Studies, Through these visual arts, she connects to her subjects, learns who they are, what they love, how they look at the world, and then translates that learning into a unique story that makes us feel connected to one another and the important issues of our time. We’re excited to have her along to capture our adventures!
NOT INCLUDED:
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION TO CHAMONIX, FRANCE
The retreat does not include travel to and from Chamonix. Participants will need to make their own arrangements for air travel, as well as transportation to and from airports to Chamonix on September 4th and 9th. Participants will have an opportunity to arrange shared transportation with other participants if they’d like, in advance of the retreat. See below for suggestions for travel to and from the Geneva Airport (this is the closest airport to Chamonix).
SNACKS & DRINKS
We know that everyone’s stomach reacts differently to eating and drinking on long outdoor adventures (pre, during, and post), especially in a foreign country. We will have a supply of snacks and beverages to choose from to take with you on our outdoor adventures, but if you have specific requirements, we recommend you bring those items with you to Chamonix.
TRANSPOrtation OPtions TO & From Chamonix:
The closest airport to Chamonix is Geneva, Switzerland, located 100km northwest of Chamonix. There are transportation options ranging from bus to private car and vary from €20 to €250. Trains are also an option if you are keen to experience the rails, but not quite as straightforward between the two locations. We recommend checking transportation schedules and booking in advance to ensure space on your preferred mode of transportation. Below are a few bus and private transfer options at a variety of price points.
Adventure Base Private Transfer - email olly@adventurebase.com
Omio (this website searches several bus options)
Loyal Transfers (private van) - Whatsapp #: +33769357477
The Wilder Retreat in September is limited in size to 15 people. Spots will be made available first to alumni and those who have been on waitlists or had to decline their spot in a past retreat. Remaining spots will be made available to the public and reserved on a first come first served basis. We are looking forward to being together!
Subscribe to the mailing list to be notified when we open the registration window again or have news of another retreat.
If you have any questions, please contact
zoe@wilderrunning.com
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