My name is Norther Emily.
I am an artist, a writer, an endurance athlete, and a person of the woods.
I grew up in the dense, powerfully charged forests of the central Oregon coast, where I learned to navigate cross country while exploring the basalt cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean as a child.
I returned to the forests in my early twenties, and each year that passes I find myself spending more and more time alone in the wooded canyons, mountains, and steppe.
I am not a peak bagger, not a mountain climber, not a biologist, not a photographer, not a professional athlete. My wisdom is self-taught and hard-earned.
If you seek to know yourself better through the experiences born of time spent in wild, wide open spaces; if you aim to reconnect with your place in the forest; if you desire a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with the places around you, my work will guide you there.
You Belong to the Forest
At Wild Solitude, we believe that repetition, experience and competency build the foundation you need to move through the backcountry mindfully. We seek to attune your skills, to take you further than you have gone before, and to help you find your place in the forest, mountains, and steppe.
Learn how to navigate by sight, read maps, plan your own routes, identify native plants, make yourself “lost proof”, assess potential risks and hazards, care for your body on long days, observe and identify animal signs, forage for edible plants, collect drinking water, navigate off trail through various types of terrain, stay warm in adverse conditions, avoid hypothermia and frostbite, move comfortably through cougar territory, and most importantly, learn how to feel at ease in the forest alone.
You belong there.
With a range of in-person events covering topics like off-trail travel and foraging, monthly community classes meant to introduce you to the most beautiful places you’ve never seen, as well as night hiking, and private 1:1 workshops, we have something for everyone- from beginners to highly experienced athletes.
For those who like to find their own way, we have a variety of advice and consult options tailored to fit your needs.
Check our MINI GUIDES page for a selection of limited edition guides to familiar places and obscure destinations across Oregon.
Or request a custom mini guide tailored to your exact needs and preferences. We can help you find the perfect locations for hiking, camping, swimming, backpacking and more.
We also offer trip planning services, for backpacking, road trips, camping vacations and more, as well as 1:1 consult calls, where you can tap into my encyclopedic knowledge about recreation destinations across the Pacific Northwest.
Make sure you follow along on social media to stay up to date on all the latest SALES, special offers, and inspiration!
Check out @wildsolitudeguiding on Instagram and stay tuned for all kinds of great tips, photos, and dispatches from the wildest places in Oregon.
Ready to learn more? Follow us on instagram!
What People Say
“Norther has always had a knack for finding special places in nature. She puts in the work to find the special things that are overlooked. Finding all the beautiful, interesting, special and magic places. Sometimes deep and far away and sometimes right under your nose. You won’t find someone better to explore someplace you’ve never been.”
“Norther has exquisite and rare knowledge of hidden gems in the Pacific Northwest and is an exceedingly skilled navigator. She is a natural explorer and guide.”
Wild Solitude 