Emily Dawn🦋

I found girlhood in the mountains💅

Between early mornings on the trail, shared meals at camp, tired legs & laughing way too hard after a long day outside, I found a community I’ve always longed for.

Over the last decade, I’ve met some incredible women through Instagram, hiking groups, and simply putting myself out there and saying, “Hey, want to go adventure?” It’s been pretty amazing watching strangers become trail friends & trail friends become people you genuinely look forward to seeing again.

There’s something about backpacking that creates a different kind of friendship. You see each other when you’re tired, dirty, hungry, covered in mosquito bites, stinky 🙈… but completely yourself. You share the hard miles, the quiet moments, the epic summit moments, the laughs & you learn how to show up for each other whether it’s through conversation or acts like boiling extra water for your friends.

Finding your outdoor community can feel intimidating. Sometimes you have to be the one to send the message, join the group, or show up to a hike where you don’t know anyone. But those little moments of putting yourself out there can turn into some of the best friendships.

The mountains have given me so much, but the people I’ve met along the way are my favorite part. 🫶

Here’s to more miles, more stories & more women finding their place outside 🤍