Starting over midlife isn’t something most of us plan for.
By then, we assume we’ve made our big life decisions… the partner, the career, the location, the lifestyle. But sometimes life has other plans. And if you’re lucky, or brave, you just might discover that the path you didn’t plan is the one that finally leads you home.
For me, that path was hiking.
Specifically, hiking solo.
But before I get there, let me back up.
From Good Girl to Hollywood
I grew up in a tiny rural village in Illinois. Picture flat farmland, quiet country roads, and a whole lot of corn. Our family didn’t have much money, but we had love. I had two incredible parents who gave me a solid foundation. Still, I played it safe. I was the classic “good girl”… straight-A student, rule follower, comfort-zone dweller.
While in college, I met a musician at a concert. He was from California. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was in a long-distance relationship that eventually pulled me all the way to Los Angeles.
It was my first real leap out of my small-town bubble… and it changed everything.
I spent two decades in LA living what some would call the Hollywood dream. I got married, cocktail waitressed in fancy bars, partied at the Playboy Mansion, brushed shoulders with celebrities, pursued acting, and ran a successful kids’ party planning business.
But then, the dream cracked open.
When Everything Fell Apart
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Losing her shattered me.
A year later, my marriage ended.
I felt untethered. Alone. Completely lost.
I spiraled. I numbed out with alcohol. I disconnected from my body and ignored my intuition. I was living in a noisy, overstimulating city but couldn’t hear myself think.
And then, one day, I went for a hike.
Finding Myself Again—One Step at a Time
At first, it was just a short trail in the Hollywood Hills. I bought a pair of hiking boots and headed out with a borrowed daypack.
The deeper I went into nature, the more I began to reconnect with myself, my strength, my spirit.
Hiking became my therapy. The trail was where I could breathe again.
I started exploring more hiking trails in the mountains of Southern California, longer hikes, deeper wilderness. I borrowed gear for my first backpacking trip to Havasupai Falls in Arizona (thank you, Gaiane!). I did my first solo hike in the Grand Canyon with just my back pack and a heart full of nerves.
And once I realized what I was capable of… there was no going back.
Living in the Mountains—and Then Leaving Them
In December 2020, I took another leap. I sold my business, said goodbye to the entertainment world, and followed my heart (and a man) to a small mountain town in Northern California.
We moved into a cozy cabin surrounded by trees, wildlife, and magic. I hiked alpine trails, swam in glacier-fed lakes, learned herbalism from a local mentor, and fed apples to deer in my backyard. I even had a black bear rummaging through my trash once. It felt like I was living in a real-life fairy tale.
But even fairy tales have storms.
I had a miscarriage that broke me. The relationship I moved for turned out to be deeply unstable, at times traumatic and abusive. After four years of trying to make it work, I finally said: Enough.
Leaving that cabin and community was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. But also one of the healthiest.
The Nomadic Chapter
So, what did I do next?
I downsized everything.
Today, I travel nomadically around the San Francisco Bay Area as a pet sitter. Everything I own fits in my car, organized with just a few packing cubes, a collapsible trunk organizer, and a couple of reliable duffel bags. My home changes every few weeks, but my sense of freedom has never been more steady.
It’s an unconventional lifestyle, but it’s given me the chance to explore so many hidden corners of the Bay Area. With each new house sit comes a new neighborhood to explore, a new trailhead to discover, a new furry friend to care for.
I solo hike often, carrying very little, just the essentials: my lightweight trekking poles, a water bottle, headlamp, and a tiny first-aid kit.
This minimalist lifestyle, both on and off the trail, has taught me something big:
I don’t need much to be happy…
Not a full closet. Not a big house.
Just nature, movement, and the trust that I can handle whatever comes next.
What Solo Hiking (and Starting Over) Has Taught Me
Hiking solo has been my greatest teacher. It’s shown me that I can do hard things. That I can carry heavy loads… physically and emotionally… and still reach the summit.
It taught me to:
- Be alone without being lonely
- Trust my intuition and instincts
- Find stillness and strength in solitude
- Rebuild not from scratch, but from wisdom
- Keep walking, even when the path is steep
Starting over midlife isn’t a failure.
It’s a rebirth.
And on the trail, I’ve learned that the only way out is through. Every switchback teaches you something about grit, grace, and letting go.
Why I Created The Hiker Babe
I created The Hiker Babe because I’ve been the woman who felt stuck. Scared. Out of alignment. I’ve doubted my strength. I’ve gotten lost, both on trails and in life.
But I’ve also felt the healing, clarity, and power that comes from being outside, moving your body, and reconnecting with the Earth.
The Hiker Babe is more than a blog… it’s a movement.
It’s for every woman who’s felt afraid to leave her comfort zone.
For those who didn’t grow up with outdoor skills.
For anyone who’s ever felt like the trail wasn’t meant for “someone like her.”
Because guess what? It is.
Here’s What I Know for Sure:
- You don’t need to have it all figured out
- You don’t need fancy gear (just the right few essentials)
- You don’t need permission
You just need to take that first step.
My Favorite Hiking + Travel Tools
Want to hike lighter and feel more confident on the trail? These are my go-to essentials for solo hiking and nomadic travel:
🎒 Osprey Tempest Daypack – Comfortable, supportive, and perfect for women
🥾 Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Boots – Trustworthy on every terrain
🚶♀️ Montem Trekking Poles – Lightweight and super packable
💧 Platypus Hydration Bladder – Hydration made easy
🧭 Garmin Instinct GPS Watch – My safety net on remote trails
📦 Packing Cubes – Game-changing for life on the road
🔋 Anker Power Bank – Keeps me charged on the trail
📓 Wilderness Journal – For logging hikes + thoughts
I only recommend things I genuinely use and love. These tools have helped me hike smarter, travel lighter, and feel more prepared wherever I go.
Big Things Are Coming for The Hiker Babe Tribe…
I’m creating tools to help more women feel safe, confident, and empowered in the outdoors:
📘 Books
💻 Online Courses
🎙️ Masterclasses
🌲 In-Person Retreats & Hiking Adventures
Stay tuned—and stay wild.
Final Thoughts
We’re not just out here to bag peaks (though that’s fun too). We’re here to grow, heal, connect, and become the wild women we were always meant to be.
If you’re in a season of starting over… whether you’re 25, 40, 65, or 88… this is your permission slip to explore the unknown, trust your gut, and blaze your own trail.
Let’s hike with heart.
Let’s lift each other up.
Let’s straighten each others crowns without telling the world it was crooked.
See you on the trail,
The Hiker Babe
This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend products I use and love. If you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my journey and this community!
