Diane ‘Charlie’ Witters

Canyon Lands Trip Host

Hi, I’m Diane – and many friends know me as Charlie. I feel most alive and hopeful when I’m wandering some trail, leaning into the wild beauty of the natural world and drawing strength from it. Countless backcountry adventures with my family in mountain valleys and desert canyons have fed my soul through the years. Backpacking, mountain and road biking, Nordic skiing, canoeing and hiking below snow-covered peaks or sculpted sandstone – these activities connect me to stillness and peace. And they’ve stirred me to encourage all of us to carefully preserve a diversity of wild landscapes for future generations and the creatures we share our planet with.

I discovered a passion for mentoring young adults at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, where I spent 14 years teaching graduate students in STEM fields. I helped them polish their research publications and presentations and tend to their own well-being amid high expectations.

I’ve loved mothering in all of its chapters: raising boys at home while offering programs as a volunteer naturalist, balancing family time with a challenging career during their teen years, and cultivating fruitful relationships with them as adults – feeling mutual support and growth.

Writing to inspire, photo journaling, sharing the flow of home life and learning new guitar songs with my husband John, and enjoying playdates with my sweet neighborhood “Littles” who’ve adopted me as Nana … these all bring joy to my days as well

While I’ve been an enthusiastic solo explorer, through Honest Heart Journeys I’ve opened up to the possibilities of delving into scenic, cultural, and inner landscapes with other women. I’m eager to see what discoveries await us on a shared journey in a canyonscape – savoring nature’s artistry and nourishing ourselves and each other with wonder, renewal, and connection.