Nancy enjoys sharing her stories and knowledge through workshops and presentations. To discuss an event, email her at nancypeast@gmail.com.
2023 Calendar of Events
January 27-29: Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, TN. I’ll be signing books and speaking at the following times:
- January 27 at 4:30 p.m. (Fast and Furious: 801 miles of the Smokies)
- January 28 at 5:30 p.m. (Staying Safe & Found on Hikes: Search and Rescue Team Member Stories)
February 13: Union Avenue Books, Knoxville TN (book signing and reading)
February 25: Rose Glen Literary Festival signing books and speaking at 11:00 a.m. about my book and how it pertains to my involvement with search and rescue in the Smokies.
March 1: Junaluskans presentation (private event)
March 5 : Dehydrating Your Own Backpacking Meals in Asheville, NC through Blue Ridge Hiking Company
March 5 : Safe and Found with Gaia GPS Workshop in Asheville, NC through Blue Ridge Hiking Company
March 9: Nantahala Hiking Club presentation at Franklin, NC Library
March 17: Waynesville Rotary Club presentation (private event)
March 27: “Stories and Lessons from Haywood County Search and Rescue” (Women of Haywood Hiking Group)
April 22: “The Hesitant Hiker” and book signing. Weaverville Library, 11:00 a.m.
April 23: “While I Walk: Solo Adventuring in the Vast, Beautiful World” book release event. I’ll be moderating a discussion with Rachel Durschlag, the book’s author. The Wedge at Foundation, Asheville, NC, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
May 19-21: Trail Days (Damascus, Virginia) I’ll be selling/signing my book and presenting on “Search and Rescue in Southern Appalachia” (time and date for talk TBD)
May 23: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Sugarlands Visitor Center Book Signing
July 27: Mill Town Market Book Signing (Canton, NC)
October 7: Hiking Safely with Your Dog and First Aid for the Trail at Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association Gathering in Abingdon, Virginia (9:55 a.m. in room 240)
October 27: Keynote speaker at Girls Who Hike Tennessee Fall Gathering
October 28: Keynote speaker at Carolina Mountain Club Annual Meeting
November 3: Keynote speaker at the Foothills Trail Conservancy’s Fall Gathering at Table Rock State Park
November 10-11: Speaker at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort’s Wellness Retreat (time TBD)
Backpacking 101 Course
If you’d like to learn how to backpack confidently and safely, I offer a Backpacking 101 Course privately and through Blue Ridge Hiking Company. In this self-paced, comprehensive course, participants will gain access to extensive video and written content to use as they plan and prepare for backpacking trips.
Three in-person, group coaching meetups (or Zoom calls, if in-person isn’t possible) are also included in this course. The class is capped to a small number of participants, so there is plenty of time to ask questions specific to your needs.
Content of this course includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Trip Planning and Logistics (arguably the most valuable part of the course with step-by-step planning methods and checklists)
- Navigational App Tutorials (how to use them but not rely on them exclusively)
- Food and Hydration (caloric and hydration needs, best food choices, buying vs. making backpacking meals)
- Safety and First Aid
- Pee, Poop and Periods
- Last Minute Logistics (tips and checklists)
- On the Trail (hiker etiquette, Leave No Trace overview, tips to stay comfortable and energized, etc.)
- In Camp (campsite selection, food storage, mitigating fears, cooking, cleaning, & sleeping tips)
- Air Travel Tips
- Money saving tips for gear and clothing
- Exclusive discounts for participants on a Gaia GPS subscription and Gossamer Gear
If you are interested in taking this course, the dates it is offered are posted below. If you would like to discuss this course being taught to a private group, email Nancy at nancypeast@gmail.com for more information.
Upcoming Dates: Stay tuned (sometime in early spring)
The Swag: Expert in Residence
I am honored to be an Expert in Residence at The Swag, a premier Relais & Châteaux property which borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
To attend any of the hikes or presentations at The Swag, you must be a paying overnight or day guest….but it is an experience you won’t forget.
April 28-30
June 30-July 3
August 11-14