A Catalyst for Recovery

Few experiences can boost self-esteem, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment, like cresting a mountain range or carrying everything you need on your own shoulders. At Gray Wolf Ranch we use our trek program, a one-of-a-kind outdoor education regime, to help our residents gain confidence and self-reliance. Combined with long-term residential treatment, these five to ten day expeditions are a powerful way to accelerate recovery, teaching through personal experience that challenges can be overcome. Our counselors are skilled at using the treks to identify and capitalize on opportunities for both group and individual therapy, finding moments to emphasize and reinforce the recovery work that we do back at Gray Wolf Ranch.

Life-changing. Powerful. Fun.

These are words that our residents use to describe their feelings about Gray Wolf treks

An Abundance of Natural Beauty

A short ride from Port Townsend, Washington, Gray Wolf Ranch sits 50 miles north of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, surrounded by a wealth of natural beauty, national parks and healthy forests. The region’s mountains, lakes, shores and islands provide virtually unlimited areas for biking, skiing, sailing and kayaking.

New Perspectives

In addition to the self-reliance, judgment and confidence gained by our residents, the treks also offer time for participants to reflect, grow and heal. Away from the distractions and details of day-to-day life, residents find they can focus on building relationships, understanding themselves and gaining fresh perspectives on their lives and ambitions.

No Experience Needed

While many residents graduate from Gray Wolf Ranch with a love of the outdoors and newfound interest in backpacking and hiking, many arrive at Gray Wolf with no prior outdoor experience. The trek program is designed for novices and led by highly trained outdoor professionals who enthusiastically share their passion for the mountains and sea with the residents. All necessary equipment is supplied by Gray Wolf Ranch, so no special purchases are required and residents are trained in techniques such as kayaking, sailing and snowshoeing as a part of the trek program.

Staying Safe

Risk is an inherent aspect of wilderness experiences and we embrace it as a key part of the learning process. Recognizing and managing risk is an important life skill our residents will need to develop if they are to succeed in their recovery from substance abuse. Having a chance to develop these skills in a real, yet supervised setting is invaluable to our residents. Gray Wolf has an excellent safety record and meets or exceeds national standards in outdoor education programming. We are accredited by the Association for Experiential Education, the same organization that accredits leading outdoor schools such as Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School.

“Through the community at Gray Wolf and through the amazing staff and the treks that they do, I was able to process relationships with friends and to gain the trust with myself and with others. It took me a very long way.”

Roger G., Gray Wolf alumnus 2000

Hear more about wilderness therapy from Craig Isenberg, Trek Program Manager.

Trek Program Video - Craig Isenberg

The Gray Wolf Ranch Trek Program is accredited
by the Association for Experiential Education

Trek Gallery Archive