Four Days Without Cell Service? For This Adventure-Seeking New Yorker, It Was Bliss

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Wildland Trekking

Published Nov 13, 2026 at 7:53 p.m. ET

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Article sponsored by

Wildland Trekking

Published Nov 13, 2026 at 7:53 p.m. ET

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New Yorkers often pride themselves on their navigation expertise: whether it is finding a commute with the fewest subway transfers or the best way to secure a reservation in a packed restaurant. But when it comes to exploring the world outside of the five boroughs and checking off bucket list trips, this isn’t always the case. Questions like, “How do I pack for hiking at the Grand Canyon?” and “where am I going to find space to store all this gear?” start to creep in. If you've ever wondered how to make an outdoorsy adventure more feasible, keep reading.

For Nicole Goulet, a New York City trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist, spending so much time in the hospital caring for COVID patients led her to seek quiet moments outside of the city. In 2021, Nicole signed up for a four-day, three-night backpacking trip to Death Valley with Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid Company. She arrived with the understandable nerves of a first-time backpacker and left with something she hadn't known she needed: the freedom of being disconnected.

“I loved it so much that when we were walking out of the park that final day, I got sad to have to turn my phone back on again,” Nicole recalls. “At that time, I always needed to have my phone on because of work, so it was an amazing feeling to just not even have the option to have my phone on as there was no service for four days.” (Note: all Wildland guides carry emergency communication devices, which include a satellite phone and/or a GPS locator/texting device.)

On this trip, Death Valley delivered a surprise: four inches of snow in the middle of a Californian desert that is famous for being one of the hottest and driest places in North America (via NPS).

Another high point (pun intended) from her Death Valley trip was reaching the peak of their hike after traversing the mountains and rock formations. “It was so quiet, peaceful and stunning. It was an amazing feeling since in NYC and the hospitals, I am constantly surrounded by people. This and the beautiful sky full of stars are things we do not get to experience in the city.”

Exploring an International Dark Sky Park like Death Valley National Park offers a striking contrast to the bright lights and bustling energy of everyday life in the city, giving guests the opportunity to reconnect with the stillness of the natural world.

Since her first trip, Nicole has been on many trips with Wildland to parks including Yellowstone in 2024 and Yosemite in 2023 and again in 2026. She now takes annual treks with her mother each year. “The trips with my mom are normally either portered or animal assisted because she cannot hike with a large heavy pack, but loves to hike and also camp in the middle of nowhere in a tent!”

Nicole spotlights the Wildland community as a highlight of her trips throughout the years. “You get to meet a great group of very interesting people no matter what trip you take. You also get to know amazing trip leaders. I met Liz Lucas on my very first Wildland trip to Death Valley, we remained in contact and then I got to catch up with her again on this last trip to Yosemite. Liz is such an amazing guide, and I was so inspired by her on that first trip.”

Liz’s own path into the outdoors began with the California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails program, where she found a love for guiding and public land stewardship. Her journey then took her to New Zealand where she further immersed herself in the outdoor industry, and she has now worked with Wildland as a guide for over five years.

She describes the rewarding experiences that come with being a Wildland guide, saying “I find that when I am out on the trail with guests, I get the honor of witnessing them regulating their nervous systems. I see a childlike awe of the world around us, and an increase in self-awareness and capability that they didn't know they had.”

Liz says that Wildland guides are there for guests every step of the journey, no matter their experience or skill level. “While there can be concern about having the right gear, we provide a robust packing list and advise on what is necessary for the trip. A guide will take on all logistics and will give you a plethora of information ranging from natural interpretation to human history.”

In terms of multi-day gear, Wildland provides nearly all of the necessities, including backpacks, trekking poles, tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, cooking gear, eating utensils and more. (Check out their website for additional gear-related details.)

For day hiking, according to Liz, the essentials are straightforward: “Good footwear, good snacks, enough water and a good attitude will put you in the top tier of new hikers in National Parks.” All things that can easily fit in city dwelling of any size!

Ready to trade the city hustle and bustle for a sky full of stars? Wildland Trekking offers backpacking trips, horse/llama/porter supported hikes, inn-based hiking tours, basecamp hiking tours and day hike tours in National Parks and Wilderness Areas worldwide. Get ready for your next big adventure! Find out morehere.

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