RAWASI

BACKPACKING

RETREAT

3-Day Muslim Wilderness Trek

July 17-19, 2026

Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA

Brothers Only · Ages 18+ · Beginner-Friendly

BOOK NOW

Only 13 spots available!

Spend your weekend in the Sierra Nevada — deep in the backcountry, under open sky, surrounded by brothers. This guided expedition combines stunning wilderness terrain with an integrated Islamic program, giving you space to reset, reflect, and build real bonds far from the noise of everyday life. Depart Friday afternoon, return Sunday — no experience needed.

Islamic Program On A Guided Expedition

What’s Included In Your Booking!

Door to trailhead and back. A 15-passenger van takes the whole group deep into the Sierra Nevada — no coordinating carpools, no driving yourself after 3 days on trail.

Friday night feast to fuel up before the trek. Saturday meals on trail — lightweight dehydrated meals that actually taste good, just add boiling water. Sunday pizza waiting for you at the trailhead when you walk out.

Ibrahim leads the expedition — route planning, safety, pacing, campsite selection. You show up and hike. Everything else is handled.

Imam Yaseen Mahmoud leads a halaqa every morning before we hit the trail and every evening at camp. Starting and ending each day with intention, surrounded by the creation of Allah, miles from the noise of daily life.

Emigrant Wilderness

Immerse yourself in California’s :

Emigrant Wilderness is a vast, roadless stretch of California's northern Sierra Nevada packed with hundreds of crystal-clear alpine lakes, sun-baked granite domes, and peaks topping 11,000 feet. It's the quieter alternative to nearby Yosemite — got better fishing, and a night sky so dark the Milky Way looks like it's within arm's reach. It's one of California's best-kept secrets.

Trip Itinerary

Shuttle departs 2:30 PM from MCC · 4 hour drive into Sierra Nevada · Arrive hike to first camp · Fully cooked feast · Evening halaqa

Friday July 17 — Departure

Saturday July 18 — Real wilderness

Morning halaqa · Full day backpacking through alpine terrain · Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, backcountry swimming · Dehydrated meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) · Evening halaqa at camp

Sunday July 19 — Return

Morning halaqa (closing session) · Break camp · Hike back to trailhead · Pizza at trailhead · Shuttle back to MCC by evening

Frequently Asked Questions

Your base price covers: roundtrip shuttle from MCC, all meals Friday through Sunday, wilderness guide (Ibrahim Twist), and morning and evening halaqas with Imam Yaseen.

If you need to rent backpacking gear, that's an optional $150 add-on. (Sleeping bag + pad, 2-person tent, Backpacking pack)
Ibrahim Twist is your Wilderness Guide — he handles all logistics, route planning, safety, and operations. He has extensive backpacking experience in the Sierra Nevada and knows this terrain well.
Imam Yaseen leads the Islamic programming — a morning halaqa before we hit the trail each day and an evening halaqa at camp. The spiritual dimension of this trip is intentional, structured, and led by someone with real knowledge and presence.
MCC Masjid, Bay Area. 2:30 PM sharp on Friday July 17 — no exceptions. Returns to MCC by Sunday evening. Exact destination is not disclosed publicly — it's part of the experience.
Young adult men, above 18 to mid-30s. Outside that range but feel called to this? Reach out and we'll talk.
We've got you covered. For $150 rental added to your base price, we give you a complete kit:
- Sleeping bag + sleeping pad — $50
- 2-person tent — $55
- Backpacking pack — $45
  
  Book asap — gear cannot be guaranteed for late bookings.
No — but you need to be in reasonable shape. Saturday is a full day on trail with a loaded pack through Sierra Nevada terrain. If you can walk 3–7 miles comfortably, you can do this. Ibrahim sets a pace the whole group can sustain. Unsure if you're ready? Reach out before booking — we'd rather have that conversation upfront.
Yes. The Emigrant Wilderness has established trails and no technical terrain. A wilderness first aid kit is on trail at all times. July is peak Sierra season — long days, stable weather, no snow. Ibrahim plans every route with the group's ability in mind.

A full packing list is sent after booking. The essentials: layers (Sierra nights get cold in July), broken-in hiking boots or trail runners, light-weight water bottle, sun protection, small istinjaa, and modest athletic clothing. Avoid cotton — it doesn't dry. Every pound in your pack matters.
Yes. All food on this trip is halal. Friday dinner and Sunday trailhead lunch are fully cooked meals. Saturday meals on trail are high-quality dehydrated meals — just add boiling water. If you have dietary needs or allergies, let us know at booking.
No. One shuttle, one group, one departure time. There is no individual transport option. If a genuine emergency comes up, reach out and we'll work through it.
All five prayers are observed as a group, led by Imam Yaseen on the trail and at camp. The Sierra Nevada has rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the route — clean water for wudu is accessible. Tayammum applies when water is not. Any fiqh questions on the trail — Imam Yaseen handles it.
Urination — step off trail, away from water sources. Simple.
Solid waste — dig a 6-inch hole at least 200 feet from water, trail, and camp. Bury waste, pack out toilet paper in a waste bag — we provide these. Ibrahim gives a full orientation before hitting the trail Saturday morning. After Day 1 you won't think twice about it.
Istinja — bring a small personal squeeze bottle designated for this. Standard practice among Muslim backpackers. Imam Yaseen is available for any specific questions.
Ibrahim has a clear emergency protocol — stabilize, assess, and contact Tuolumne County Search and Rescue if evacuation is needed. Emergency contacts are collected from every participant at booking. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, let us know confidentially in advance so we can be prepared.
Full payment is required at booking — no deposits, no holds. Spots are limited to 13 and all logistics are built around confirmed headcount. If something comes up, reach out as early as possible. The closer to the trip date, the harder it is to offer a refund as costs are already locked in

Meet Your Trip leaders

Imam Yaseen Mahmoud

Muslim Scholar, Rawasi Co-Founder

A Bay Area native and Eagle Scout, Yaseen brings a lifelong connection to the outdoors and a deep commitment to community. He holds a degree in Islamic Law and Theology from Zaytuna College, where his studies focused on Arabic Literature, Islamic Jurisprudential Law, and Ethics. On the trail, Yaseen leads morning and evening halaqas — grounding each day in intention, reflection, and brotherhood. His scholarship and presence transform this expedition from a wilderness trek into something far more meaningful.

Ibrahim Abdul-haqq Twist

Wilderness Guide, Rawasi Co-Founder

Ibrahim's outdoor roots run deep — the Twist family has been organizing wilderness retreats for the Bay Area Muslim community since 2008 through organizations like L.A.K.E. and Cool Currents. He has guided multi-day backpacking treks in California's Sierra Nevada, traversed terrain across the Trinity Alps and Utah's Wasatch Mountains, and has taken his pursuit of wilderness abroad — including volcanic terrain in Indonesia on Mount Rinjani and Mount Merapi. His background in backcountry travel and group logistics gives every participant the space to be fully immersed in the wilderness and the experience.

WHO WE ARE

Built for the Muslim Community

We launched “Rawasi Adventures” this year with one purpose: to bring Muslims into the wilderness. Not just for the adventure — but for what happens when you disconnect from everything and stand in front of Allah's creation with nothing between you and it.

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding."

Surah Al-Imran, 3:190