You hear the term “outdoorsman”, but you don’t hear “outdoorswoman” at all in common vernacular.
About 3 years ago, this month, O’Connor decided she needed to go back to her Millinocket, ME roots, and do something fun and nature-driven. She needed a hobby. So she began her search for something that inspired her, and could potentially inspire others, as well.
“I get mostly [women] that say things like ‘I can’t navigate’ or ‘I can’t do this by myself’, and I wanted to feel like I could empower them to do these things,” said O’Connor. After finding the Hike Like A Woman web page, she became a local ambassador, and to date, has led over 50 group hikes all over New Hampshire. Her first hike had 11 to the group, and has had up to nearly 20 over the last 3 years.
Originally, she started on Facebook, like so many of us do with social media these days. Her following got well into the 400s, with new moms, retirees, busy working women, and travelers that summer up here. “We live in an area with a lot of natural resources, and I want to show these women that you don’t need to go all the way up to the White Mountains for beautiful views,” O’Connor said.
Added bonus? “It’s therapy for myself,” she said. “Nature’s therapy.”
As a social worker by day, O’Connor spends her life, by the job description, as someone that gives her time to help others. Therapy is important, and nature is her relief of choice.
For some reason, there is a stigma attached to women when it comes to the outdoors; but O’Connor is out on a mission to try and reverse that thought. In addition to her Hike Like A Woman ambassadorship, she also runs a website called “Getting Lost Together” (www.gettinglosttogether.com), where she reviews different trails, gives the lists of best seasonal hikes, and reviews different hiking equipment. It has really become a local treasure, as she’ll ensure that the women viewing her content can appreciate the varying levels of talent. “I’ll do easy hikes, or ones that can be replicated after the fact. They’ll be between 2-5 miles, and take about 2 hours or so,” she said. “People have busy lives, and weekends are a time for family, chores, and whatever else. I want to respect their time,” which is a hot commodity. However, she, for instance, has done the entirety of the Wapack trail with her husband, in three sections.
She is by no means an expert, but as far as those around her are concerned, she is. O’Connor takes the time to break down each piece of the hike, and then reviews it on her website. She is always on the lookout for trails that haven’t been traveled as much, and new adventures await.
Hike Like A Woman has recently transitioned their network from Facebook and the likes to using Mighty Networks, which is a paid subscription site. For up to 1.99 a month, hikes all over the nation can be viewed with timing and leaders. This way, if you’re on vacation, but still want a hike – you can go right into your network and find the closest/most interesting one to take. Going from a free social media spot to a paid subscription has definitely had its toll on losing members, but O’Connor still has a strong following of at least a quarter of her original Facebook group.
You can still find Jacquelyn O’Connor and her Getting Lost Together group on Facebook, as well as on IG, @getting-lost-together. Additionally, in the spirit of fall, visit the Fall Hikes in Monadnock blog from O’Connor to get the best out of a fall hike!
 | Samantha Lockard went to school for journalism at Framingham State University. She currently lives with her fiancé and two dogs at their New Ipswich home. She comes to New Ipswich via Lynn, MA and is a beach lover and Pinterest recipe taster of the highest degrees. Her hobbies include anything to do with Marvel movies and comics, knitting, writing, and playing with the pups. She’s always up for good recommendations on good eats and reads, so if you’ve got one of either, send it her way! |
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