I need to get back to Colorado ASAP! - #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #outdoors #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #suckafree #togetheroutside (at Nederland, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD1ZvTkJf_o/?igshid=1664c632jo4oy

Laural Falls Smokey Miountain

Today's adventure ended at a waterfall. I love sitting and listening to the sweet music it makes. #blackgirlswhohike #blackgirls #blackwomen #blackisbeautiful #nature #hiking #hikinglife #happyhiking #happyhiker #optoutside #hikingwhileblack #diversitynadventure #unlikelyhikers #melaninbasecamp #diversifyoutdoors #chantryflats #sturtevantfalls #losangelesnationalforest #hikingadventures #hikela #waterfall #peaceful #thesoundofnature (at Sturtevant Falls)

Blue Jay and pink flowers.

#audubon #photooftheday #birder #birdwatcher #cute #love #animal #photography #art #photooftheday #birdsonearth #birdsofinstagram #photooftheday #wearedonedying #blackpeoplewhohike #waterfallwednesday #blackhealthmatters #birdsinflight #birdsinaction #hikingwhileblack #wehiketoo #birdsinflightphotography #birdwatching #birdlovers #bestbirdshots #feather_perfection #birds_brilliance #birdfreaks #nuts_about_birds #birdphoto #birdphotos

Hike 8 River Bend / Hagan Park at American River Parkway. #hiking #hikingstories #hikingadventures #hikingwhileblack #blackwhilegreen #blackgirlstrekkin #blackhikersmatter #melanatedhikers #trailblazers #ranchocordovanature #americanriver #sacramentonature #52hikechallenge (at American River Parkway)

The winter trains have returned to wash the city #lalife #nofilter #naturephotography #rain #neverrainsinla #clean #vista #runyoncanyonpark #hikela #hikingwhileblack (at Runyon Canyon Park)

Imagine my surprise when I saw @campingnoire listed alongside this awesome list of local and national black hiking organizations and groups. Thank you @negrowsbynature for including us!! When this group was created, it was initially to promote the book but it quickly turned into so much more - a safe space for black and brown women, including myself, to share struggles of anxiety, overwhelm, and super woman syndrome; a community that allows us to take off our capes, lay down our ambitions and soften in the embrace of mother nature; an opportunity to disconnect and get lost in the expanse of the great outdoors in order to reconnect and find ourselves. And it's been nothing short of amazing. And it's equally amazing to be in the company of so many other groups created for us, by us, that are committed to our physical and mental health. Wherever you are in the US, there's absolutely no reason not to go outside and revel in the gentle healing magic of mother nature. Consider joining @CampingNoire for a monthly Goddess Hike, or upcoming camping, hiking, or kayaking adventure. Many of them are free! Check out the #linkinbio! * * * #thankyou #campingnoire #hikingnoire #gooutside #forusbyus #diversifyoutdoors #njhikes #dchikes #nyhikes #californiahikes #alabamahikes #arizonahikes #georgiahikes #missourihikes #michiganhikes #texashikes #tennesseehikes #seesomenature #weallwin #blackhistory #hikingwhileblack #mentalhealth #blackpeopleputdoors #naturaltherapy #health #wellness #mothernature #blackpeoplehike https://www.instagram.com/p/B8qb3iKhTNt/?igshid=ffp6rm5bwlvj

It was brought to my attention yesterday while hiking that I have no fear of being in rural and remote places with trees.

To which my reply was, “Why should I fear nature?” It’s not nature that my family and friends are afraid of but the thought of being somewhere they believe we shouldn’t be or not welcomed and having to face the wrong person(s) wanting to hang us from a tree for merely existing.

While the reasons may seem extreme, the history of lynching black people in America has left my people fearful and cautious of being exposed outdoors.

They truly do not feel safe unless they are in an environment they can control and trust. We... I ... have to change the narrative. Show them that even though our ancestors endured brutality our pioneers challenged the notion of fear by living to create a legacy using every facet of nature to survive!

I walk fearlessly in the shadows of those pioneers who came before me and I’m committed to teaching my people how to walk with me.

Peace & Blessings ✌🏾🙏🏾

#hiking #hikingstories #hikingwhileblack #blackoutdoors #blackpackers #blackhikersmatter #blackhistorymatters #neverforgetourpioneers #mothernaturerocks #forceofnature #forcefornature

On July 27, 2007 I moved to Los Angeles for the Freshmen Summer Program (FSP) at UCLA and 13 years later I’m still here! Who would’ve known my dreams of working in the Entertainment Business would come true. Now it’s time from me to move from behind the camera into the forefront! #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #outdoors #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #suckafree #togetheroutside (at Warner Bros. Entertainment) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDKPZ_nJpqI/?igshid=41y52tt5rovu

Up we go.

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." -Oprah Winfrey -------------------- #blackgirlswhohike #blackgirls #blackwomen #blackisbeautiful #nature #hiking #hikinglife #happyhiking #happyhiker #optoutside #hikingwhileblack #diversitynadventure #unlikelyhikers #melaninbasecamp #diversifyoutdoors #chantryflats #sturtevantfalls #losangelesnationalforest #hikingadventures #hikela #waterfall #peaceful #serene #friendship #sundayquotes #inspiration #oprahwinfrey (at Sturtevant Falls)

You see a stretch Lincoln Continental on hiking trail, what do you do? Take a picture in front on it, duh! (Only in LA) - Occupy: Hike and TrapHike will be back in September! - #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #outdoors #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #suckafree #togetheroutside (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDwl-Vbplup/?igshid=oivoi5vwq1t1

Just being a vessel. - #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #outdoors #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #suckafree #togetheroutside (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDrMKAXJs7X/?igshid=1hhi3qyequs9n

Do any of you ever get Travel Anxiety? For me, traveling use to make me very anxious. I didn’t like long plane rides. I needed to know exactly what we were doing on a trip. I needed to be in control. That’s why it took me so long to start traveling internationally (besides having the money to travel). Traveling requires some element of “Go-With-The-Flow,” and I had to learn that. This photo is from my second International trip to Mexico which was a spur of the moment trip with an old friend. We had no plans...hell not even a hotel booked, but the flights were cheap. And you know what, this turned out to be a great trip! Found a cute boutique hotel on HotelTonight and booked an all day excursion to the Yucatán Penisula where we visited Chichén Itiza and got to go swimming in a Cenoté in Tulum. We also got to “Drive the Boat” to a snorkeling meet up in a Coral Reef. Work on not letting fear or anxiety (fear of the future) prevent you from having great life experiences. I know it may be difficult, but sometimes life’s greatest rewards come with overcoming challenges and difficulties. #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #conqueringourfears #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #cancun #togetheroutside (at Cancún) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDecUdvpmcP/?igshid=1788l97b4qpa6

Stepping into a new week and month feeling powerful AF! - #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #conqueringourfears #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #haiti #togetheroutside (at Amiga Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcURC2Jbde/?igshid=1q3817dsr9hyh

August is going to have me in bag (as the kids say). - Mountain Mic is back, y’all! - #hikelife #traphike #destinationHL #occupyhike #naturedaddy #hikingwhileblack #hiker #bigmoves #hikinglife #hikingtrails #traildiversity #wegotoo #weworktotravel #wecoloroutside #idhikethatcrew #weoutchea #outdoors #blackoutdoors #wehiketoheal #alltrails #whyIhike #takeupspace #colorfulandcarefree #wehere #blackhikers #youknowthevibes #allgasnobreaks #theyhateuscausetheyaintus #suckafree #togetheroutside (at Griffith Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDZEdo2JosF/?igshid=17v22lq3ro996