PULSE OF THE WILD
A Queer Nature Journey for Aliveness, Connection & Belonging
September 16 - 20, 2026 | Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina (Asheville)
THE INVITATION
Many of us have forgotten what it feels like to be fully alive.
Not because we've done anything wrong.
But because modern life is loud.
We spend years tending responsibilities, managing expectations, navigating stress, and adapting to a world that rarely asks us what makes us come alive.
We become productive.
Capable.
Reliable.
And somewhere along the way, many of us lose touch with our bodies, our instincts, our joy, our playfulness, and the deeper currents of connection that make life meaningful.
Pulse of the Wild is an invitation to remember.
For five days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we step away from the pace of everyday life and settle into a different rhythm...
WHAT MAKES PULSE DIFFERENT
Over five days, participants are invited into a carefully crafted blend of movement, play, reflection, conversation, rest, exploration, ritual, and authentic connection.
Many of the most meaningful moments are surprisingly simple.
Coffee on a mountain porch.
A waterfall swim on a warm afternoon.
Laughter around a fire.
A conversation that moves beyond small talk.
The feeling of being fully yourself in the company of others.
A quiet realization that you feel more alive than you have in months.
THE EXPERIENCE
Each Pulse of the Wild journey develops its own unique rhythm, but most days include a balance of:
Embodiment practices
Breathwork, movement, yoga, meditation, nervous system regulation, and somatic exploration designed to help you reconnect with your body and inner experience.
Brotherhood circles
Opportunities to speak honestly, listen deeply, and experience meaningful connection without competition, posturing, or performance.
Nature immersion
Mountain views, forest trails, waterfalls, rivers, fresh air, and spaciousness become active participants in the retreat experience.
Play and adventure
Depending on weather, group energy, and local opportunities, the retreat may include experiences such as horseback riding, river adventures, waterfall excursions, hot springs visits, swimming holes, or other outdoor explorations.
These experiences are not included to create adrenaline.
They are included because aliveness often awakens when we step outside our routines and engage life directly.
Rest and integration
Equally important are the moments of stillness.
Time to reflect.
Time to digest.
Time to simply be.
Who This Journey Is For Pulse of the Wild tends to resonate deeply with men who: Long for meaningful connection and authentic community Want to feel more alive, embodied, and present Love nature or feel called to reconnect with it Appreciate spirituality without dogma Value freedom, curiosity, growth, and self-discovery Feel exhausted by performative masculinity Want spaces where vulnerability and strength can coexist Are navigating transition, grief, change, heartbreak, awakening, or personal growth Are seeking a deeper relationship with themselves and other men Men of all backgrounds, body types, experiences, and sexual orientations are welcome. While queer experience is centered and celebrated, many of the longings we explore are profoundly human.
BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
Many men have learned that connection must be earned through achievement, appearance, confidence, or success.
Pulse offers a different possibility.
What if belonging didn't require performance?
What if connection could emerge simply from showing up honestly?
Our culture is rooted in:
Consent
Respect
Curiosity
Authenticity
Personal Responsibility
Mutual Care
We are less interested in helping you become someone else and more interested in helping you reconnect with who you already are beneath the noise.
More Than a Getaway
Pulse of the Wild is an opportunity to step away from the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in nature, authentic connection, embodiment, play, reflection, and aliveness.
For many participants, the friendships, insights, and renewed sense of vitality continue long after the mountains are behind them.
Logistics & Investment
September 16-20, 2026
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina (near Asheville, NC)
What's Included
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5 days / 4 nights accommodations
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Nourishing meals and snacks
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Daily embodiment practices
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Brotherhood circles and integration support
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Nature excursions and outdoor experiences
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Facilitator support throughout the experience
Group Size
Limited to 12-14 participants to foster meaningful connection, safety, and personalized support.
Investment
Community Tier - Standard all-inclusive registration
$1,795
Supporter Tier - All-inclusive registration + supports scholarship fund and social justice causes
$2,195
Firekeeper Alumni Tier - Reserved for returning participants who have attended our events before
$1,495
Private Rooms
A limited number of private rooms are available for an additional $650.
Payment Plans & Scholarships
Flexible payment plans are available.
A limited number of partial scholarships are offered for participants experiencing financial barriers.
Reserve Your Space
A deposit secures your place and is applied toward your total retreat investment.
Pricing & Deposit Overview
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Guide & Facilitator
Colter Wild
Colter Wild is a facilitator, guide, and founder of Wild Shamanics, devoted to creating experiences that help people reconnect with themselves, one another, and the living world.
Drawing from more than two decades of experience in nature-based exploration, embodiment practices, spirituality, personal growth, and community building, his work weaves together adventure, presence, play, ritual, and authentic human connection.
He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Utah, with studies in wildlife conservation, psychology, exercise physiology, and nutrition. He is also a yoga and meditation instructor, Reiki practitioner, psychedelic integration coach, and facilitator of transformational experiences for queer communities and beyond.
His relationship with the natural world began in childhood through hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, climbing, and wilderness exploration. Today, nature remains one of his greatest teachers and a central element of his work.
Known for his warmth, authenticity, humor, and ability to create welcoming spaces, Colter's facilitation style invites participants to arrive exactly as they are while supporting deeper connection, embodiment, self-discovery, and aliveness.
He believes that healing does not always begin by becoming someone new. Sometimes it begins by slowing down, reconnecting with what matters, and remembering who we are beneath the noise.
Frequently Asked Questions What exactly is Pulse of the Wild? Pulse of the Wild is a five-day nature, embodiment, and brotherhood journey for men seeking deeper connection, belonging, and aliveness. Through nature immersion, embodiment practices, meaningful conversation, play, adventure, and community, we create space to reconnect with ourselves and one another. Do I need outdoor experience or a high fitness level? Not at all. Activities are designed to be accessible to a wide range of abilities, and participation is always invitational. You do not need wilderness experience, athletic training, or adventure sports experience to participate. Who is this journey for? Pulse tends to resonate with men who are longing for meaningful connection, authentic community, embodiment, nature, personal growth, and a greater sense of aliveness. Whether you're navigating a life transition, seeking deeper friendships, reconnecting with yourself, or simply craving time in nature with good people, you are welcome here. Do I need to be gay or queer to attend? No. While queer experience is centered and celebrated, men of all sexual orientations are welcome. What matters most is a commitment to respect, curiosity, inclusion, and authentic participation. Will there be adventure activities? Yes, though adventure is only one aspect of the experience. Depending on weather and local opportunities, the journey may include activities such as horseback riding, waterfall excursions, swimming holes, hot springs, or other outdoor explorations. The goal is not adrenaline. The goal is aliveness. Is this a clothing-optional experience? Some portions of the experience may be clothing-optional depending on the location, activity, and group agreements. Participation is always optional, and respect for personal boundaries is essential. Is this a tantric or sexual experience? No. Pulse is not a tantra program and does not include facilitated sexual experiences. While conversations about intimacy, identity, relationships, and embodiment may naturally arise, the focus of the journey is connection, nature, community, and personal growth. What if this is my first men's experience? Perfect. Many participants attend their first men's gathering through Pulse. No previous experience with men's work, embodiment practices, spirituality, or personal growth programs is required. Curiosity and willingness are far more important than experience.
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