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Shaina Sutton

@shainasutton

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Irish Adventurer | Forever in awe of our natural world 🥰🌱
🧗‍♀️ Outdoor instructor in training
📍 Kerry, Ireland

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Seachtain eile i mo dhúchas ☺️

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Felt like I was among kindred spirits watching the seals awkwardly navigate the shoreline out of the water at the Blaskets…just like me and my kayak this week😂 I may be disproportionately terrified of capsizing but we’ll get there! It’s good to be a total beginner again. taken in Kerry, Ireland by @shainasutton

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6 days ago

An áit a bhfuil do chroí, is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú 🤍
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One whole week in paradise. After a year long hiatus, my soul is finally coming back online and damn, does it feel good 🍀 taken in Kerry, Ireland by @shainasutton

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20 days ago

156km walked, 5 ticks removed, multiple games of monopoly deal played whilst being accosted by midges, copious amounts of carbs consumed…we laughed, we cried, and a whole lotta quality gal time was had. Big shout out to @niamh_hikes for getting us all organised! The best of weeks with my favourite people on the West Highland Way.

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Scotland, July ‘26 taken in Scotland, United Kingdom by @shainasutton

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3 months ago

On Sunday I ran my first race and my first ever half marathon🥹

I came across the @wildwomantrailruns first 50K Scholarship in December to support 15 women to run their first ultra and my heart lit up. For years I’d dreamed of running through the mountains, so I decided to apply. But when I was offered a place, an old familiar voice took over, telling me I wasn’t a runner, I didn’t belong here, and that my dream was too big. This was a voice I’d spent years learning to quiet through the outdoors and an amazing women’s hiking community who showed me what I was capable of. But over the last two years I slowly stopped trusting that voice and allowed myself to be convinced I didn’t belong in these spaces. Then, six weeks ago, something inside me insisted I needed to go anyway. So I went to @elaine_nicreamoinn for support expecting her to tell me it was too ambitious but instead she said do it…

Many days that negative voice felt like a megaphone, but I kept running. I thought about all the women I know who ran through grief, loss, pain, fear, and kept showing up anyway. Every run brought me closer to the voice that carried me to Trout Lake this weekend, where I watched women run their first 50Ks and marathons. As I cheered them in, I realised that everyone was running their own race…some achieved PBs, some pulled out, some ran their longest distance ever, some walked much of the course. And I was in awe of every single woman because they had all done the hardest thing of all- believed in themselves enough to stand on the start line.

This weekend reminded me that the people we surround ourselves with are everything. They can help us remember who we are, or convince us to forget. Listening to these incredible women speak, I heard a new voice saying…you do not need to prove anything to deserve your place. You are enough as you are😊

We need to keep telling our stories. We need to keep believing in ourselves enough to reach for our dreams. And if we forget, we need people who shine a light on the very best parts of us…not people who convince us they don’t exist.

Thank you @wildwomantrailruns @thecairnproject @angvswild for bringing us all together ❤️ taken in Trout Lake, Washington by @shainasutton

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3 months ago

Sights and Sounds from Elk Island National Park

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Somehow, this was my first solo camping trip since moving to Canada 19 months ago (!) and, more importantly, it was my first trip out with my new binoculars. I was on a mission to see my first Canadian beaver and Elk Island did not disappoint. Beavers, the tiniest bear cubs I’ve ever seen, bison galore and an outstanding array of birdlife.

Nature is always the greatest healer. taken in Elk Island National Park by @shainasutton

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4 months ago

"One moment that made me feel truly proud was watching the newer climbers, who were very nervous at the start, progress from climbing 5.5s to willingly trying 5.10s, all on their first outdoor climbing experience. Seeing them push themselves in this way made me realize just how important a safe, supportive, and welcoming space is." - Shaina, Beyond Trails 2025

If you’ve ever wondered “could I do that?” - come find out in a space built for you.

👉 Applications for Beyond Trails 2.0 are now open. Visit our bio to learn more. by @shainasutton

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5 months ago

Life is hard. But also beautiful. And sometimes, it is in fact, quite perfect.

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Some perfect moments from the past week of remembering what home feels like | Éire, Aibreán ’26 taken in Ireland by @shainasutton

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6 months ago

Soft days in the desert on an overdue summer break | Moab, Nov ‘25

Seasonal guiding work means vacation time is best taken later in the year. So before the snow came, I escaped to Utah for some much needed sunshine and rest. Days filled with my favorite things: discovering new places, waking up in nature, noticing unfamiliar plants, slow mornings cooking at the campsite, many crosswords to pass the time and falling asleep to the sounds of nature under moonlight and shooting stars (including the biggest meteor I have ever seen!).

It felt so special to experience some of these beautiful places without the crowds. I didn’t feel like climbing, but I did get to try canyoneering for the first time thanks to Matt. Turns out hiking up a big ol’ rock just to lower yourself over a steep edge is pretty fun.

Time moves so fast these days. Being on my own here in Canada, I’ve come to realise how much I struggle to intentionally make time to slow down. I hope I can do a better job of it this year. taken in Arches National Park by @shainasutton

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9 months ago

Ended 2025 on a high with my first multi-pitch ice climb and possibly favorite adventure of the year.

We lost track of pitches and time (what happens when you put three women having too much fun together), which meant bailing on our final climb and rappelling the entire way down in the dark. An epic 23 hour day when all was said and done, with the drive into the Ghost definitely being the most stressful part of the whole thing and we still managed to laugh the whole way through.

What a wild and wonderful day. So grateful for new friendships and the chance to learn and develop my own skills while having a whole lot of fun. Massive kudos to Sara for letting me play passenger and leading ALL the climbs (still not sure what impressed me more, the driving or climbing) and to Nadia for keeping us fueled all day/night long. Days like this are exactly what it’s all about. taken in Ghost River Wilderness Area by @shainasutton

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9 months ago

For Shaina, the outdoors wasn’t always easy to access.

As an immigrant woman who moved to Canada on her own, she felt held back by limited access, expensive gear, an intimidating outdoor culture, and the quiet doubt of not feeling “experienced enough.”

Through the Beyond Trails project, that began to shift.

She discovered that for beginners, it’s not just about sending the hardest routes. It’s also about creating spaces where others feel supported and encouraged to try.

On her first women’s rock climbing day, Shaina brought together a diverse group of women with the support of an experienced volunteer. By the end of the day, women who had never climbed outdoors were confidently pushing past their doubts.

Today, Shaina is committed to continue supporting others through volunteering, hosting women’s hikes and climbs, and working toward her dream of building inclusive outdoor spaces for newcomer women.

Way to go, Shaina! We can’t wait to see the ripple effect you continue to create.

📸 @shimizuimg

#beyondtrails #womensadventurenetwork #WomenWhoAdventure by @shainasutton

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9 months ago

A real pinch me moment getting to learn from someone I admire so much. Thank you @huens for showing us how it’s done! Always the best days with @womensadventurenetwork

Thanks to @arcteryx.alberta for making this day possible and @shimizuimg for capturing the day! 📸 by @shainasutton

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10 months ago

On Monday, I was lucky enough to experience backcountry skiing for the first time thanks to the incredible @e_xi_r and @skiuphill.ca

I’ve had a very mixed relationship with skiing since I started a year ago, and if you told me that on my 14th day on skis I’d be heading into the backcountry, I never would have believed you…picture me on my first two days unable to stop and barely staying upright on the magic carpet. I did NOT enjoy those early days but everyone else looked like they were having fun, so there had to be something to it 🤷‍♀️

Last winter was rough. Moving to a new country alone with no plan was perhaps not my wisest decision...I wanted to throw myself into skiing, but between the cost, fear, and feeling out of my depth, it just wasn’t possible. So when winter came around again this year, all the same fears came flooding back…the cost, my ability, and whether I was completely delusional thinking I could progress in my late 20s when everyone around me grew up skiing.

Everything changed when I was lucky enough to be selected for the @shejumps Mountain Access Scholarship. It has given me not only the financial support to learn, but an amazing community of like-minded women and a team that believes in everyone.

Monday was the first day in a long time that I felt like my full, best self: challenged, humbled, proud, and so in awe of this world and of my mind and body for getting me through something hard. And most importantly, I was surrounded by the most supportive group of women all thanks to @e_xi_r 😊

So many mountain sports feel out of reach for women, but I don’t think that feeling comes from the mountains. I think it comes from the expectations we absorb that tell us we need to prove ourselves to belong, but nature never asks that of us.

My goal for this winter is simple, have as much fun as possible and encourage others to do the same 😊 yes, I also want to keep pushing myself (I’d love to be confidently skiing black runs in the spring) but more than anything, I want to honour my body, learn from others, respect the mountains, and fully lean into the joy of simply being here.

Thank you so much @shejumps for making this possible ❤️ taken in Banff National Park by @shainasutton

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10 months ago