Women in Nature Hike

By: Grace Eggleston, Communications Intern

During the summer months here in Pittsburgh, adventurous women from all around the city participate in Venture Outdoors’ popular Women on the Water (WOW) programs. But, as the kayaks at North Park and on the rivers have been put away for some time now, it was time to lace up our hiking boots and try something new. 
So, this year for the first time ever, Venture Outdoors offered the very first Women in Nature Hike! Over 25 excited women met in North Park on January 22 for a leisurely Sunday morning hike in the woods, led by Trip Leader Sheila. The weather was warm and the trails were muddy as we trekked two by two through the park. We went about three miles altogether, laughing, grateful for the fresh air, and helping each other avoid tree branches and puddles of mud.
Our path also took us onto a stretch of the Rachel Carson Trail, which was perfect for the occasion. Sheila led a conversation about Rachel Carson’s legacy and the history of the trail. Many of the women had been on the trail before, while others were checking it off their to-do list for the first time. One participant shared with the group her experience completing the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, which involves hiking the full distance of the trail in a single day (35.7 miles)! She inspired the group by describing the challenge as “the good kind of suffering- the kind that makes you feel alive.” After the hike ended everyone enjoyed a spread of coffee, cookies, banana bread, fruit, and other treats before heading back into the city.
Want to be a part of the fun? Join the next Women in Nature Hike on February 26 at Hartwood Acres!