retreat stories
Real stories from real women who've joined The Retreat Co for ski retreats, camp retreats, and work retreats since 2018.
From first-timers who came solo to repeat guests who've been back four times (and counting). Here's what they found when they said yes.
For years, Christina loved skiing but found herself running into the same challenge many women face. Her friends were busy. Her children were busy. Life was busy. Ski trips were always something that sounded great in theory but rarely happened in practice. Joining a ski retreat with women she had never met felt completely outside her comfort zone, but saying yes ended up opening an entirely new chapter of adventure, friendship, and confidence.
Read more from Christina
When Pam joined The Retreat Company’s ski retreat in Jackson Hole, she wasn’t just signing up for a ski trip. She was stepping into an unfamiliar experience: spending a weekend with a group of women she had never met before. What she found was far more than great skiing. She found connection, inspiration, and a reminder that it’s never too late to keep saying yes to new experiences.
Read more from Pam
When Noa graduated from university in Melbourne, Australia, she decided to spend a season chasing snow across the world. What began as her first solo international trip became something more meaningful: proof that you can build genuine friendships, feel at home among strangers, and discover new versions of yourself in unexpected places.
Read more from Noa
what our retreat guests say
“If you want a different kind of vacation, instead of going to Mexico and sitting in the sun with a margarita, this is active. You’re moving. There is never a dull moment. Yoga, painting, waxing skis. It’s endless. You can’t sit still.”
— Julie
“If you can do it, do it. If you’re worried about coming alone, don’t. Everyone is welcoming. You’re surrounded by people with shared interests and a common goal. You’re going to find people you connect with.”
— sally
“You are always finding women who have created something interesting and are doing something badass, whether it’s photography, food, art, business, or something else. There are all these amazing experiences, but it never feels overwhelming. There’s still time to relax, explore, and do your own thing. You’ve created something really magical.”
— mel
see the Full Retreat Stories
Real, unfiltered Q&As with women who showed up solo, didn't know anyone, and found exactly what they didn't know they were looking for.
For Mel and Sarah, a mother daughter ski trip to Jackson Hole started with a simple invitation and turned into one of those weekends neither wanted to end. Between tram rides, summit waffles, skiing laps together, and meeting a group of women who instantly felt like friends, the retreat became more than just a ski trip. It became a reminder that shared experiences create memories that last far longer than the weekend itself.
Jessica first joined The Retreat Company for a Sun Valley ski retreat after her original travel plans changed. She came for the World Cup Finals, shared lodging, and a group of women who loved skiing as much as she did. Three retreats later, she has found local friends, unforgettable mountain memories, and a deeper appreciation for what happens when women choose collaboration over competition.
After years of wanting to ski Lake Tahoe, Julie decided to fly across the country from Massachusetts, use two of her personal days as a teacher, and join a retreat where she did not know anyone. What she found was an adventurous weekend full of skiing, connection, laughter, new skills, and women who understood exactly why showing up mattered.
For Margy, joining a ski retreat wasn’t entirely new territory. She had attended retreats before and understood the power of stepping away from everyday life. But this was her first ski retreat, and like many women, she still had questions, hesitations, and a busy schedule to navigate. What she found over the weekend was exactly what she hoped for: connection, adventure, confidence, and a reminder to stay open to what’s next.
After a divorce, becoming an empty nester, and finding herself at a crossroads in life, Sally decided to do something she’d never done before: fly to a mountain she’d never visited, meet a group of women she’d never met, and join her first ski retreat. What she found in Sun Valley wasn’t just great skiing. It was proof that life can still surprise you when you’re willing to say yes.
Meet Theodora —aka Tenacious T—in this inspiring Q&A from our Women Who Can’t Not series. A therapist, writer, and fast grandma on skis, Theodora shares what it’s like to return to skiing as an adult after years away from the slopes.
In this Q&A, Kasia shares what it’s like to attend The Ski Retreat not once, but three times—spilling on what drew her in, what keeps her coming back, and how each experience has helped her grow both on and off the slopes. From conquering blue runs to upgrading her salad dressings, her story is equal parts fun, inspiring, and real.
Meet Elaine — the 22-year-old East Coaster who full sent it west for her first Ski Retreat. In this candid Q&A from our Women Who Can’t Not series, she shares what it was like to fly solo across the country, ski bowls for the first time, and rediscover joy after a tough season. A reminder that sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is book the trip and go.
“You [the retreat co] did an amazing job facilitating introductions, making connections, and making sure everyone felt welcome from the moment they arrived. Even beforehand. It was such a gift to put the outside world away for a few days and focus on being present with people who shared the same energy.”
— margy
“When women are encouraging, supportive, giving, and just there for someone, I think that’s so important. It’s a reminder that we need to be a girl gang. Especially in this day and age, it’s important to look out for one another and feel empowered to do that.”
— jessica