About Ericka “Sparkles” Johnson
Ericka (trail name “Sparkles”) is a hiking guide, artist, and writer based out of Salt Lake City, UT. Her passion for cultivating meaningful experiences in the backcountry blossomed during an all women’s AWE expedition to the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. Wondrously devoted to a life full of whimsy, you can find Ericka ribbon dancing through the wilderness and pursuing new skill sets in the outdoors. This summer, follow along as she hikes the CDT to raise funds for the Summit Scholarship so more women can have access to expeditions and experiences like these.
Every girl deserves her summit story
‘ve worked alongside the Continental Divide Trail for the last 8 years. I started up in Glacier National Park, moved down to Colorado and worked in the Rockies, then guided along the Wind River Range and Yellowstone. There are so many places that I have seen individually that I wanted to link up into one grand adventure.
I decided a few months after solidifying my date that I wanted to turn this into a fundraiser. I had been very fortunate in my life to receive fundraiser or scholarship money myself, and it put me in a position to be where I am today. I was able to take my avalanche snow safety course, Wilderness First Responder course, and have a piece of my CDT hike sponsored as well.
And so my hope is to give a little bit back. These experiences that I’ve had through the Summit Scholarship Program changed my life. And so, I would like to open the doors to what’s possible out there for one other woman.
Why Get Out and Give Back?
Sunny and my AWE expedition teammates taught me how to take up space, trust my voice, and believe in myself again– the way you do when you’re a kid convinced that you’ll be an astronaut or a firefighter or professional hula hooper when you grow up.
Outdoor adventure sets this stage where you realize you can be anything, do anything you set your mind to. Because of programs and organizations like these so many people have created lifelong friendships, pursued goals and careers they once counted themselves out of, and reminded women of who the heck they are before their environment began to decide it for them.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to get out there and see what magic is atop that peak. Every woman deserves to hear their peers tell them how strong and special they are while they are challenging their limits. And every person deserves to have their story heard. Because that kind of journey resonates with everyone. We are all in pursuit of something. And once we arrive at the finish line of our dreams, there’s nothing more special than passing it on to another spirit about to begin.