{"id":116603,"date":"2019-12-27T11:57:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T19:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=116603"},"modified":"2019-12-27T11:57:21","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T19:57:21","slug":"these-social-media-mavens-are-using-instagram-for-good-in-the-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/these-social-media-mavens-are-using-instagram-for-good-in-the-outdoors","title":{"rendered":"These Social Media Mavens Are Using Instagram for Good in the Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Meghan Young<\/a> finished law school in 2015 and decided to resume her outdoor hobbies with a vengeance, she realized most of her adventure buddies were men. She really wanted to hike and climb with women, but she didn\u2019t know where to find friends who were interested in the outdoor hobbies she loved. Then, during a solo hike, she happened to meet another woman on the trail. They got to talking and realized they were both craving a space where women could connect with other women with similar outdoor hobbies, and where they could practice their outdoor skills without being mocked for their curiosity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know, and if you didn\u2019t grow up in an outdoorsy family or you don\u2019t have a mentor, there\u2019s no reason you\u2019d know it,\u201d Young says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Young and the woman she\u2019d met on the trail, J.J. Smith, ended up creating that space: In August 2015, they (along with <\/span>friend Amanda Lipke)<\/span> founded <\/span>PNW Outdoor Women<\/span><\/a>, which is now a thriving Instagram community with more than 24,000 followers. The group also includes a popular private Facebook group and free educational events geared toward women and nonbinary people. She says Instagram, in particular, gives her a way to spotlight members and connect with sponsors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What a lovely sentiment and moment from @thenomadicartist – – – – – – I believe mountain friends see you at your highest highs and lowest lows. These friends share deepest joys at a spectacular summit or glorious sunrise, face fears and push physical and mental limits together, and embrace the wonderment of trail life – blue bags, snot rockets, tent farts and all. \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f . . . #pnwoutdoorwomen #landscapephotography #girlswhohike #roamtheplanet #optoutside #washingtontrails #pnwonderland #wanderwashington #sheadventures #thatpnwlife #cascadiaexplored #pnwcollective #upperleftusa #pnwisbest #pnwhiking #wildernessculture #pnwdiscovered #washingtonexplored #washingtonhikersandclimbers #pnwadventures #backcountrybabes #allaboutadventures #ourpnw #liveoutdoors #stayandwander #alpineadventures #pnwpeakbaggers #adventureculture #mtrainiernationalpark #tahoma<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by PNWOutdoorWomen<\/a> (@pnwoutdoorwomen) on