Katy Smith :: Backcountry Guide
Backcountry exploration? Check. Whitewater rafting? Check. Search and rescue? Check. Overland navigation? Self defense? Fitness trekking? Check. Check. And check.
When it comes to adventuring, Katy Smith seems to do it all, and all with a smile on her face. A self-proclaimed outdoor lover, Katy has been guiding, educating, and exploring in the Western United States for over 12 years. A passion she uncovered quite by accident.
After four years in the army where she worked as a Field Artillery Officer, Katy was traveling across the country when she decided to stop in Colorado to visit a family friend outside of Vail. That 2009 encounter changed her entire life trajectory. The friend suggested she stay the summer and learn more about whitewater rafting and, eventually, guiding, which she did — and promptly fell in love with.
“It really filled me with a sense of empowerment. The more training I received, the more confident I felt exploring on my own.”
Katy eventually became a certified river ranger, patrolling parts of the Colorado River for the Bureau of Land Management. Meanwhile her craving for adventure continued to expand.
Her aspirations led her to a job as a backpacking guide for a veteran’s organization, where she led 5- to 7-day expeditions in the wilderness. She loved seeing how participants grew during those outings. “I really did get the sense that people’s lives were changing on those trips,” she says. “Being a part of the connection people formed with nature and each other was incredibly rewarding.”
While working as a lead guide, Katy was cultivating her own yoga and mediation journey. She slowly began to realize how mindfulness could enhance outdoor experiences, and she set out to incorporate more of those practices into her own excursions. That concept led to the creation of Intentional Adventures, which Katy founded in 2018.
Through her company, Katy customizes “wellness-focused, retreat-like wilderness experiences” for individuals and small groups. She offers people, mostly women, everything from backpacking basics and GPS navigation classes to multi-day treks, self-defense courses, and sunrise hikes (which I joined for the photos below).
“I love sharing these skills with women. I always start with instruction, which builds confidence and independence. And when you have those three things together, you can be much more present and grounded in the experience itself.”
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