Body Positivity Outdoors with Unlikely Hikers Founder Jenny Bruso
Photo credit: Brie Jones. Graphic Artist: Sarai Pak
“We all have a calling to the land, whether we’re in touch with that or not.”
Jenny Bruso (she/they), a Diversify Outdoors member and the creator of @unlikelyhikers, didn’t grow up hiking. Her relationship with the land and the outdoors began about a decade ago near her home in Portland, Oregon. “It was incredible, it was beautiful, it made me so curious about nature, and we really were just meandering, says Jenny, remembering a hike in Forest Park. That trip redefined her thoughts about hiking and led to her quickly becoming interested in learning everything she could about hiking.
Jenny was soon hiking every week, enjoying the outdoors not just for the cause of exercise or seeing something beautiful, but also for the sense of mindfulness that it created. “When I first started hiking, I did feel that connection to the earth and did feel a sense of homecoming with being outside in that intentional way.” The more Jenny got outside, the more she noticed the lack of diversity on the trails.
“I knew I was having a relationship with the outdoors that I wasn't seeing mirrored anywhere else.” As a self-identified queer, fat, femme individual, it was important for Jenny to connect with people she could identify with. Jenny created Unlikely Hikers to create space for those connections and to curate a social media feed that actually wanted to engage with. With over 140,000 followers, the social media page has grown into an international community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.
Many folks struggle to find their way into outdoor recreation because of “the very real anticipation and or fear of being mistreated by others for simply existing as the person that they are.” Unlikely Hikers exists to meet the needs of this community. It’s an anti-racist, diverse, body-positive space where folks can enjoy the outdoors safely and free of judgment.
The group hosts frequent meetups and is expanding to include 10 new hiking chapters around the U.S., with hopes of many more to follow. The hikes are open to those who are vaccinated and boosted and require mask-wearing when not on the trail. Group hikes are usually 5 miles or under with less than 500 feet of elevation gain. Accessible hikes for folks with physical or invisible disabilities are also offered when possible. In the future, Jenny hopes to expand programming to include more hiking and kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, and other outdoor activities.
For Jenny, enjoying the land is important, but that is not where hiking ends for her. “Educating myself about the First Nations of the lands that I recreate on is something that feels imperative to my outdoor practice now.” Jenny brings this education and practice to Unlikely Hikers, donating to the First Nations of the land they use to host their group hikes. “If we really love the places that we recreate, it's our responsibility to understand what has taken place and what takes place.” Understanding the violence and trauma associated with the land and with Indigenous communities is a priority for Jenny and something she continues to address through her work.
Another priority for Jenny is making sure that people of all body types and sizes have access to quality hiking gear. Jenny has partnered with several brands to design gear, including plus-sized packs with Gregory and shoes with extra sizing options by Merrell. “I'm a part of troubleshooting something that actually encourages people to get outdoors and maybe even dream bigger than what they originally thought for themselves. Because they finally have the right gear to be comfortable enough to go do it.”
Make sure to check out those products and visit the Unlikely Hikers shop for more great merch. Follow @unlikelyhikers and @jennybruso on social media and check out their website to stay up to date on future events and meetups.
To support Unlikely Hikers, consider making a donation through their website or joining their Patreon. Happy hiking!
