6th November 2025

You Don’t Need a Personality to Go Hiking (And Other Lies I Told Myself)

You just need socks. And maybe a snack.

Who Even Goes Hiking?

Before I ever went on a proper hike, I had a very clear picture in my head of who hiking women were.

They wore expensive sunglasses and had pockets that actually did things.
They ate homemade protein balls out of beeswax wraps.
They looked both sweaty and stunning.
They knew what gpx files were.
They had opinions about Merrell vs. Salomon and said things like, “I just feel more myself in nature.”

Me?
I had a mild fear of hill climbs, a dependency on Google Maps, and a wardrobe made entirely of brunch-activewear.
I thought:
“I am not the kind of person who hikes.”
Which is funny. Because now? I literally guide them.

The Spark: What Actually Happened on My First Hike

Here’s the truth no one tells you about hiking:
You don’t need to be sporty. Or spiritual. Or even particularly interesting.

You just need to show up.

My first hike wasn’t graceful.
I packed too much. I tripped over a root. I got overtaken by a 74-year-old woman with walking poles and a pink visor who called me “love.”

But somewhere between km 2 and “where the hell is this lookout,” something shifted.
Not in my body,  in my brain.

Because for the first time in ages, I wasn’t performing.
Not at work. Not as a friend. Not even as a woman.

I was just… walking.
Breathing.
Unbothered. Unjudged. Undone.

And it felt like coming home to a version of myself I’d forgotten about.

The Lies I Believed, And The Truth I Learned

1. “I’m not outdoorsy enough.”

No one is. Not at the start.
You become outdoorsy by going outdoors.
You don’t need to know bird species or tie knots or have your life together.

You need shoes.
And water.
And maybe someone to say, “You’re doing great.”

That’s it.

2. “I’ll be the slowest one there.”

Listen.
Everyone thinks this.

And you know what? Sometimes it’s true.
You are the slowest.
But no one cares. Because you’re out here. Walking your own pace. Doing something kind for yourself.
That’s not embarrassing. That’s badass.

Also: nature doesn’t reward speed. She rewards stillness.

3. “I need to wait until I’m fitter / less anxious / more confident.”

Nope.
The trail is not a reward for being the best version of yourself.
It’s a reminder that you already are.

You don’t wait to feel confident before showing up.
You show up,  and then confidence quietly catches up.

Usually somewhere near the eucalyptus trees.

4. “Everyone else will know what they’re doing.”

Spoiler: most people are winging it.
Half the women I walk with say “wait, is that a hike or a walk?”
Some bring their anxiety. Others bring a full cheese board.
All of it is welcome.

The point isn’t to be good at it.
The point is to be in it.

The Trail Within: What I’ve Learned Since That First Walk

I’ve now guided thousands of women on trails across WA.
And the #1 thing I hear?

“I didn’t think this was for someone like me.”

Women who are burnt out.
Women who are overbooked.
Women who’ve spent so long showing up for everyone else, they forget what it’s like to just be with themselves.

And when they finally do come?

They don’t want to leave.

Because it’s not about hiking. Not really.

It’s about the exhale.
The perspective.
The laugh you didn’t see coming.
The feeling of “wow, I did that” not to prove anything, but just to feel alive again.

It’s Not About the Trail. It’s About You.

If you’ve been telling yourself stories like:

“I’ll start once the kids are older.”
“I don’t have the right gear.”
“I’ll slow everyone down.”

Here’s your permission to stop waiting.

The trail isn’t reserved for the confident, the coordinated, or the calm.
It’s for anyone willing to try. Even if they’re unsure. Even if their activewear is mostly for coffee runs.

Let This Be Your First Step

You don’t need a personality to go hiking.
You don’t need a plan.
You don’t need to “find yourself” on the mountain.

You just need a little courage, a good pair of socks, and maybe a guide who remembers what it felt like to be a beginner, too.

We’ve got space for you just as you are.

Ready to walk with us? Check out our upcoming experiences.  Whether you’re burnt out, curious, lonely, or just need a break, the trail is waiting.

Written by Kate Gibson

Kate Gibson is the founder of The Hike Collective.  A nature wellness tour company helping people reconnect to themselves through slow, soulful hiking experiences across Western Australia. As a mum, business owner, and lifelong seeker of ‘something more,’ Kate created the kind of adventures she craved: meaningful, no-pressure, real-life moments in nature. When she’s not guiding hikes, you’ll find her laughing too loud over coffee, getting lost on purpose, or rewriting the rules for what success really looks like.