Nikki McCants
Nikki is a hiker, past (and hopefully future!) trail runner, physical therapist and budding photographer living in the Southwest. After several years of adventuring in the outdoors, building deep friendships and taking steps to repair a complicated relationship with her body and self-confidence, she experienced an unexpected illness that, for the last five years, has left her indoors more than out. Remembering that we all have a place in the outdoors, she is now ready to reintroduce this new version of herself to the outdoors, reconnect with her love of exploring and speak up for gender equity in outdoor spaces.
Every Trail on South Mountain–Rebuilding Self-Trust in the Outdoors
Through this project I hope to exemplify why safe and equitable access to the outdoors is so important for those who identify as women and girls as we get outside and explore the limits of our bodies and minds.
To be honest, I don’t know what this new body is capable of. I am much healthier than I was for the first 3-4 years of my illness but I don’t yet feel like my old self. I have stayed minimally active these last few years and I know I can get stronger but doubt and fear of disappointment and a lifelong tendency to compare myself wistfully to others has prevented me from exploring my new limits for quite some time.
Why Get Out and Give Back?
“Now more than ever, women need to speak up and speak out. When I was growing up in the 90s and early 2000s the most visible female figures were not ones setting examples of body neutrality, self-empowerment and physical strength. This led me and many other women and girls to struggle with our own self-image and self-concept. While social media has its problems, the visibility of diverse women’s voices has been such an important part of my own growth and transformation. When one woman rises up to a challenge regardless of the outcome, other girls and women are inspired to access their own power. The Cairn Project can play such an important role in women and girls’ discovery of their power.
The outdoors has been a tremendous source of self-reflection, growth and empowerment for me and the healing power of nature cannot be underscored. Gender equity in the outdoors, like many spaces, needs a lot of work and I have been looking for a way to take action for an important cause. It is easy right now to feel overwhelmed by all the work that needs to be done, and I appreciate the Cairn Project providing avenues for action. Helping more women and girls discover the outdoors and complete their adventure projects is very exciting and inspiring.”