BadassWilderness Women

Somewhere between “this is hard” and “holy s**t, I’m actually doing it” …
something changes in you. ⛰️🔥

Badass Wilderness Women isn’t just about summits.

It’s about becoming the kind of woman who trusts herself in wild places, takes up space, laughs loudly on ridgelines, and realizes she’s capable of far more than she thought.

This is your reminder to:
✨ climb the mountain
✨ take the photo
✨ do the ridiculous pose
✨ make the memories
✨ become the story you’ll tell later

If you’ve adventured with us before, drop your favorite hike below 🥾👇
And tag us in your mountain photos + summit moments so we can celebrate your wild self with you. 🏔️💛

Stay wild.

⚡️ HIKING + LIGHTNING SAFETY ⚡️ (Know the 30:30 Rule!)

A reminder that storms in the mountains are never something to take lightly. Summer afternoons in Colorado can shift fast, and knowing what to do could save your life (or someone else’s).

Here are some important lightning safety reminders for hikers + outdoor adventurers:

• Know local weather patterns before heading out
• Summer storms often build quickly in the afternoon — start early
• Plan turnaround times and stick to them, even when the summit is close
• Use the 30/30 rule: 🌟
→ If thunder follows lightning within 30 seconds, seek shelter immediately
→ Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before continuing

⚠️ Avoid:
• Ridgelines & exposed peaks
• Lone trees
• Open meadows
• Water
• Metal fences, poles, trekking poles, or packs with metal frames
• Shallow caves or overhangs

✅ Safer options:
• Lower terrain
• Dense forest with trees of similar height
• Hard-topped vehicles
• Substantial buildings

If caught outside with no shelter:
• Squat low on the balls of your feet
• Keep feet close together
• Minimize contact with the ground
• DO NOT lie flat
• Spread your group out

🚨 Important:
Someone struck by lightning does NOT carry an electrical charge and is safe to touch. CPR and rescue breathing can save lives.

The mountains are beautiful, wild, and humbling. Respecting weather is part of becoming an experienced hiker. Stay aware. Stay prepared. Stay alive. ⛰️⚡️

This one cost me a thumb…
For a little while anyway.

On El Diente Peak in early July, maybe 4 years ago? I’d have to look back. I learned that the mountain always has the final say.

A rock shifted.
Then another.
And before I could fully react, my hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Broken thumb. Lesson received.

And here’s the truth I took with me (and am offering to you, as the mountains are thawing out…)
Early season climbing on loose, chossy peaks isn’t just about fitness or grit, it’s about timing.

That in-between phase…
where snow is melting but the mountain hasn’t fully stabilized yet?
It creates movement. Unpredictability. Hidden risk.

I’ve found that waiting, until things have settled, isn’t weakness.
It’s wisdom.
Let the freeze-thaw cycles do their thing.
Let the mountain quiet down.
We don’t always have to be first.
We don’t always have to push.
Sometimes the most badass choice…
is patience.

Curious, have you ever had a mountain moment that made you rethink your approach?

Hey baddies! Let me introduce myself!

I’m Jackie, and I’m new to the admin team!

I’m looking forward to meeting new women and encouraging you in reaching your goals. A little about me:

* I married my high school sweetheart
* I have an elderly, grumpy dog named Expo. He climbed the 14ers with me when he was younger!
* I moved to Colorado in 2018 and love everything about this place!
* I work in HR

* I’ve hiked all the 14ers, and am working on the 13ers

I’d love to hear from you below. What’s one badass wilderness achievement you’re proud of? This is a safe space, no accomplishment is too small or too big! Comment down below!

❓Questions you SHOULD ask a potential hiking partner BEFORE hiking together!

We’ve all been there, looking for a hiking buddy, someone to enjoy the view, so you make a post in a group and people answer, wooohooo let’s go hike but…. Let’s slow the roll for a minute.

Going on a hike isn’t a cup of coffee, it’s a long commitment. You are usually out and sometimes in harsh conditions with someone you don’t know very well.

We all want to have an amazing experience, afterall it’s our happy place, the outdoors. But what if someone is littering or their pace is much faster than yours or the elements turn….Here is a list of questions/things to consider BEFORE going on that hike:

❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓

1. What is your hiking pace/style? Do you like to take lots of breaks or just push to the top? Do you like to snack and stop once an hour? Every 2 hours? Never?

2. Do you have any physical limitations (knee replacement/hip, asthma etc), allergies (bee stings?epi pen?) or or take any medications (insulin?) that I should be aware of?

3. Do you always stick together? What does that mean? Within eye sight or within 10 feet? Sometimes people need to push uphill and not stop, specify what you mean.

4. Do you have an SOS device? Are you carrying a med kit? Emergency blanket? Water filter? Have enough food?

5. For high altitude hikes: have you been to altitude before, how high? Have you experienced any altitude sickness symptoms in the past?

6. What has been your hardest hike?

7. Have you had to turn around on a hike? And why?

8. What are your best backcountry qualities? Navigation? Snacks? Research? Finding awesome trails? Trail jokes?

These questions are geared towards a day hike. If backpacking, I highly suggest going on a day hike prior.

Is there something you ask before hiking with a new partner? Add in the comments below ⬇️

🚨 Current conditions. Check the CAIC for more:

https://avalanche.state.co.us/

❄️ Gear up, winter warriors! Unleash your inner snow ninja with our winter hiking clothing list that will make even frosty the snowman jealous. 🏔️

👀 Looking for gifts for that special hiker in your life? Click the link below for our ultimate winter hiking clothing list! Get ready to sleigh the trails and sleigh the gift game!

Winter Hiking Clothing List | badassladyhikers All the essential gear items to bring with you on your winter hiking adventures. Looking for gift ideas for the hiker in your life? This list has it all.

Clouds can tell you so much! Don’t forget to look up and pay attention ☁️

Fun Fact Friday: These clouds are altocumulus, which signify atmospheric instability and are one of three types of "warning clouds." This picture, taken Wednesday before the storm, also shows the variable snow coverage we’re seeing across the state. A general lack of snow is one of the reasons the avalanche danger is LOW (1 of 5) across the state. It's hard to trigger an avalanche in most places, except for isolated areas with continuous snow cover.

This is going to change Saturday night as the next storm rolls in. By Sunday, there will be many more places where you can trigger an avalanche at the new/old snow interface. Saturday is a good day to look around your favorite spots and remember where there is snow. Those will be the dangerous places on Sunday.

Get the full forecast at colorado.gov/avalanche.

☃️ New blog post : WINTER HIKING GEAR LIST

➡️ What gear are you missing?
➡️ Are you prepared for winter hiking?
➡️ Are you looking for gifts for the special hiker in your life?

Click on the link 🔗 below to see our comprehensive list of essential winter hiking gear!

Happy hiking!

Winter Hiking Gear List | badassladyhikers All the essential gear items to bring with you on your winter hiking adventures. Looking for gift ideas for the hiker in your life? This list has it all.

Photos of backcountry search and rescue often make the work of our volunteers look fun, adventurous, even glamorous. The truth is that while we all find it rewarding, it is also often grueling, backbreaking, emotionally tough work. Rescues are not "scheduled" for sunny days but often happen in the middle of the night, in all kinds of weather conditions and challenging terrain. No matter the circumstances, volunteer rescuers in Colorado respond to any call for help and save lives in the backcountry. Colorado Gives Day is December 5th this year, and we hope you will support your local team. If you don't have a local team, you can support the entire Colorado SAR community by donating to CSAR here: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/The-Colorado-Search-And-Rescue-Board