A Call of the Wild hiker revels in her recent trek up Mount Whitney in California.

Since 1978, Call of the Wild Adventures has organized and lead wilderness trips for women by women. Excursions range from local day-long hikes to two-week Himalayan adventures. While exercise, relaxation and picture-taking are all on the agenda, it’s the mental aspect that separates Call of the Wild from other adventure travel companies.

“We set a different tone by giving the women a sense of empowerment and accomplishment they usually don’t get in their day-to-day lives,” explained guide Kara Sigler.

Call of the Wild, currently the world’s longest-running women’s adventure travel company, serendipitously began when founder Carole Latimer decided to pursue her passion after being fired from her secretarial job. She organized and ran the excursions for 34 years and even published a backcountry cookbook, Wilderness Cuisine.

In 2012, Emilie Cortes left behind the security of her Bay Area finance job to become owner and president of Call of the Wild Adventures. She traded in her corporate dress shoes for a pair of hiking boots.

“I couldn’t do the 30-year grind anymore,” explained Cortes.

After purchasing the company, Cortes decided to move the base of operations north from San Francisco to Bend. A warehouse full of gear and the use of local outfitters on international trips allowed Cortes to be based where she saw fit.

From Bend, Call of the Wild Adventures guides trips to places as close as Smith Rock State Park and the three Sisters to places as far away as Kilimanjaro in Africa and the Italian Riviera. As for a preference, Cortes defers to her own sense of adventure.

“There is an extra sense of adventure when you travel to the other side of the world,” she explained.

Call of the Wild Adventures offers trips geared for women of all ages and fitness levels. Participants have ranged in age from 16 to 80 years old. Most of the women sign up for the company’s adventures independently. However, after completing a trip, many of them become friends and traveling or hiking companions.

“We try to foster those connections,” said Cortes. “It enhances the community spirit. And, hopefully, they come back to take another trip with us.”

“Most of the women carry such a huge burden of worry,” Cortes explained. “They constantly wonder if they can keep up, or carry a pack, etc. To see them, by the end of the trip, with a little encouragement, gain the confidence to complete the trip is really great.”

In addition to customizable family and group trips, Call of the Wild offers four types of excursions: hiking and trekking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, backpacking and multisport.

Every trip guide is a certified Wilderness First Responder and trained in Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. And, more importantly, they are passionate about what they do.

“I love working with groups of women in the outdoors,” said Sigler, an eight-year veteran of Call of the Wild. “And I love that we focus on good food and community.”

Call of the Wild takes great care in ensuring the food on all of their trips is something that the clients will rave about to friends. The recipes are taken from Latimer’s original cookbook or are homemade by the guides. Preparation usually takes between two to five days, including shopping, preparing, cooking, dehydrating and packaging the meals

“They do an amazing job with food,” said Stephanie Tanler, who has been on two trips with Call of the Wild. “I really loved the chicken curry salad roll.”

“It’s important to be nourished in the backcountry,” added Sigler. “We make real food, with real ingredients, and then dehydrate it ourselves. And, we never forget the coffee.”

As an example of their stewardship of the land, Call of the Wild recently renewed their partnership with Smith Rock State Park to maintain the native plant garden near the welcome center yurt. This is the second year Call of the Wild will assist in weeding and planting in the park.

“I can’t say enough about Emilie and the whole staff,” said Tanler. “I respect her so much. She’s very professional and easy to be around. I can tell she cares about women.”