Mountains for the Mind
Mental health – out in the open
On forming Black Girls Hike…
“We set up the group last year to create a safe and inclusive space for women to walk. The group is primarily for people who have never hiked before, giving them the chance to explore. Our first walk was near Manchester in March 2019 – just me, a friend, 12 strangers and a journalist from The Voice newspaper. We’ve since done walks in the Midlands and London, with over 100 people joining us in Epping Forest, plus activities like caving, gorge walking and climbing, and met so many cool people while doing it. We’re also working on a campaign with Vivobarefoot this winter to show that nature is accessible to everyone.”
On breaking down barriers...
“Most people think the outdoors is an inclusive place, but there are still loads of challenges and attitudes that need to change. The safety element of women walking alone, especially in winter, is a big deal. There’s also the fact that people from cities and urban areas can be more reluctant to visit rural areas. People who grew up in those areas have less exposure to people like me, so there are still lots of negative stereotypes. We don’t really experience overt racism, but we do get lots of looks and people often think we don’t know what we’re doing. But when you see a black girl out walking, don’t just assume it’s our first time there!”
On why we walk together...
“Walking with other people is great for networking and boosting confidence. I grew up around Manchester and it’s a very transient place. Lots of people move to the city from all over, so it’s all about establishing your own friendship groups. One girl who walks with us even described Black Girls Hike as networking meets the outdoors! We’re a group of young professionals with loads of shared interests. You can come along and just be yourself – you don’t need to do the mask thing, as though you’re the only black person in the office trying to fit in.”
On the power of the outdoors...
“Walking is great for our mental and physical health. Being out there among nature’s sounds, smells and beauty distracts you from any pain and discomfort you might be experiencing. It’s soothing, calming, restorative and makes you more present. It also makes you pay more attention to the world around you, captivating you, and giving your mind a rest. Walking promotes a connection with nature and the environment, which makes you realise you have a responsibility in the stewardship of the world and that we all have a responsibility to look after it. And then there’s the physical exercise side. Nature’s like a gym where you can run, swim, climb, hike... and it’s free!”
On escaping social media noise...
“Our diet isn’t just what we eat, it’s everything we ingest every day. If you see something you don’t like on social media, you can let it affect you all day. We almost can’t control what we consume anymore and most of us are overstimulated, but when you’re outside you can focus better. It’s like taking a digital detox.”
On new walkers building confidence...
“Becoming more confident outdoors is all about education and experience. Hiking in the mountains can seem really elite to beginners. If you follow social media influencers you’ll think you need lots of expensive kit, but when I started I just bought a cheap pair of boots and a waterproof jacket and started walking local hills and trails. My advice would be to find a small group or community to walk with when you first start out. I only started hiking properly last year, and once got us lost on a group walk at Dovestone Reservoir near Saddleworth Moor in terrible weather – I was so relieved when we made it back to the car park. But since then I’ve done a hill skills course, learned to navigate properly, and picked up lots of useful little tips about things like planning and timing.”
On the future…
“We’d like all Black Girls Hike walk leaders to become Mountain Leaders, and we’d also love to have qualified climbing and outdoor instructors so we can start running events ourselves. Two of the girls recently completed Mountains Skills courses and had a great experience, so once lockdown restrictions fully lift we’re hoping to do more of it. I’ll be continuing to build Black Girls Hike, developing projects and opportunities for people to explore and develop within the outdoors. I only took up hiking last year – it’s been crazy and I can’t quite believe it’s all happened. I just love exploring with friends and banking new memories.”