Women Who Hike: Walking with America's Most Inspiring Adventurers

by Heather Balogh Rochfort

A celebration of athleticism, wisdom, and skill—Women Who Hike profiles over twenty of America’s most inspiring women adventurers ranging from legends to the rising stars of today. The book is both inspirational and aspirational as each adventurer tells her story in her own words through featuring their favorite hike, highlighting personal challenges, accomplishments, and philosophy, as well as providing readers with practical how-to suggestions on maximizing not only their own potential in hiking but in life. The profiles are complemented by stunning color photographs. Each profile includes a map of the hike being profiled, hike specs, miles and directions, GPS coordinates to the trailhead, and a sidebar of something noteworthy about the hike, the location, or the adventurer.

Featured

1. Ingrid Backstrom

2. Teresa Baker

3. Gina Bégin

4. Katie Boué

5. Jainee Dial & Lindsey Elliott

6. Caroline Gleich

7. Sarah Herron

8. Shanti Hodges

9. Kristin Hostetter

10. Jen Hudak

11. Rue Mapp

12. Hilary Oliver

13. Haley Robison

14. Elyse Rylander

15. Shawnté Salabert

16. Ambreen Tariq

17. Kalen Thorien

18. Mirna Valerio

19. Jolia Varela

20. Pamela Zoolalian

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Womens, Travel, Outdoors

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

About the author

Heather Balogh Rochfort is a five-time author and freelance writer based in western Colorado in the heart of the mountains. Her tiny travel blog snowballed into an award-winning writing career built on the outdoor adventures she holds close to her heart. You are more likely to find her sleeping in the dirt on the side of a mountain with her husband and daughter than in any city in America. Heather also has bylines in publications like The Washington Post, Men's Journal, Outside, Backpacker, and Afar magazine as as being The Weather Channel's on-air hiking expert. She has truly carved out her niche as an established adventure writer.

Reviews

[Kelly K · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really wanna know is, how is everyone able to take 2+ months off work to go hiking? THIS IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.

[Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, when are we going backpacking? Because seriously, after finishing this book, I’m all in. While I’m normally a short, day-hiker kind of girl (and am completely obsessed with all things and books mountain-and-hiking related), man, do I dream of hikes like these. This book was a birthday gift and I devoured it in a few days this week. The photos are stunning, the tales inspirational, and I walked away with a bucket list of hikes I want to do. But seriously, how do people take that much time away from work/families? Super jealous.

Anyhow, a must-reader for the hiking enthusiasts or just a person seeking a tale of adventure. Super inspirational for women hikers, especially!

[Pants Dance · Rating 5 out of 5]

So full disclosure, I bought this book to mail to a friend as a birthday present but then COVID-19 happened and I got shut in and stuck at home. Started to read the book because I saw a section about
Sarah Herron who I had recently listened to a podcast about and was intrigued to read her section. Which brought me to start reading the entire book. Well I couldn't put it down and finished within a week (it is an easy read anyway with GORGEOUS pictures). I highly recommend this book; especially now as we all are stuck indoors and can't exactly leave to go enjoy all of these places. At least I can enjoy them vicariously and remember them and be motivated to go hike them when everything returns to normal. Stay safe everyone and happy hiking!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather has a way of provoking passion, inspiration, and heartfelt wonder in her words. If you don't feel inspired or ready for an adventure after reading this book, you've read it wrong! Do yourself a favor and buy this book for yourself or ANY woman in your life.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful book for learning about some neat hikes and connecting to women-centric stories, but the writing is just not my cup of tea. Perhaps I would have preferred to hear first-person accounts from the women highlighted. Definitely more inspired to get out there though!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women Who Hike highlights 20 different hikes, each chosen by women from various backgrounds who have their own reasons for loving hiking. I found many of the stories inspirational and many of the hikes intriguing. I didn’t read this book in the usual cover to cover fashion. I started reading about a hike that I have done and love. From there I read about the other hikes in my state. Once we are free to move about the country again, I hope to explore a few of these hikes.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return to nature and be like a tree. Be rooted, be connected, and be grounded. Rue likes to believe that if humanity can persevere and find the same loyalty as the redwoods, there will always be hope for the future.

If you keep doing the hardest thing you've ever done, everything else seems just a bit easier.


~~The iconic view of Half Dome in Yosemite, highlighted by the setting sun. As a lifetime east coast girl, I couldn't help but notice that 85% of the hikes showcased in this book are west of the Mississippi. But it's hard to argue with views like this. While the Appalachian mountains have a soft beauty that changes with the seasons, the western ranges are starkly breathtaking. I'm challenged by my Blue Ridge Mountain hikes....but I've never worried a grizzly might be around the next bend, or faced the cables. There are many women who hike, but the ones featured in this book are truly formidable.

Things I learned: Mountain goats frequent the trails in Washington state, and are attracted to urine...Plan bathroom breaks with care.

~~The Great Salt Lake is residual leftover from a huge inland lake during a previous epoch. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail follows the boundaries of the prehistoric lake.

~~Reaching the top of Half-dome is a difficult accomplishment to be proud of--and can be down-right scary.

~~The Appalachian Mountain Club has a surprising number of huts along various New England trails that are actually pretty cheap to stay at during the self-service season.

~~Wrap duct tape around a water bottle or trekking pole to save weight, and have this key emergency supply on hand.

~~Rock Creek Park is kind of a national park, but not technically. And it's located right in the heart of the bustling Washington D.C. metro area.

~~In California, there is a bristlecone pine tree (unmarked to prevent vandalism) named Methuselah which is estimated to be 4,850 years old!!!

~~I want to graduate from day-hiking and try an overnight (or 2) backpacking trip before I get much older.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much sustenance in this book. There are 4 pages per person or so. These women are inspirational in their passion for the outdoors. I did look some of them up or their foundation but I did that online because there wasn't much information in the book. Each woman talked about a hike she took are frequents. This really ranged from local running/hiking trail to a multiday backpacking adventure off trail.

[Camie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed this book. I checked it out from the library after seeing it at REI. The premise of the book is interesting - each chapter is about woman and one hike. It's interesting and personal. Reads more like a story rather than anything super informative about hiking. Some of the chapters interested me more than others, mainly based on the location. I read through the 2 hikes in Yosemite and the women who did them since that is closest to where I live.

[Patrice La Vigne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need any inspiration, this book will deliver. Women accomplish amazing things! And even the most “ordinary” person has their own story that needs to be told, and Heather does that well. Can’t wait for Heather’s next book—Moms Who Hike!

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring, informative, and educational. A must-read for female hikers of all levels!

[Linda Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a woman hiker will enjoy these stories of courage and perseverance. It also provides information about each hike including a map. I bought a copy for me and one for a gift.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

20 interesting women and their favorite trails. Not really a bucket list but rather a challenge to explore and discover your own favorite trail.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe interesting for people in the US, not so much outside. I stopped after two chapters.