Today’s episode is Part 2 of my Mount Everest Base Camp Trek Travelogue from May of 2018. If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, I highly recommend starting there so you can catch up on the journey so far, as I travel from to Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar with a group of five fellow New York City based photographers. This episode covers days 8 through 18, as we continue up and across the Sagarmatha National Forest, all the way to Base Camp, and back down, stopping in different villages and...

Today’s episode is a bit of a departure from the usual. I’m going to take you back in time to the beginning of Girl Gotta Hike, or actually, before the beginning. Living in New York City, it’s all too easy for me to get tied into the day-to-day hustle and while I often dream of heading out on long hikes, it’s been the rare occasion that I’ve been able to step out of the fast lane for an extended break.   In the summer of 2017, I had become an officially licensed Outdoor Guide. I hadn’t quite...

Today we’re talking all things thru-hiking on a super special Q&A episode featuring three New York City-based hikers, who are all aspiring to hike the Appalachian Trail this year! Alyssa, Micaela, and Haley have participated in many Girl Gotta Hike day hikes, snowshoe excursions, and weekend backpacking trips over the last couple of years, and it’s been a blast getting to explore the outdoors with them. Hiking the Appalachian Trail had a huge impact on my life, so I was stoked when I...

On today’s episode, I go for a hike in the Catskills, with local artist and ceramicist extraordinaire, Cheyenne Mallo. Cheyenne and her partner Zac handmake functional pottery such as mugs, bowls and dishes that feature topographic map-imagery of mountains, hiking trails and rivers out of their home studio. I’ve been a big fan of Cheyenne’s style ever since I first laid eyes on one of her mugs back in 2017. As someone who is drawn to all things hiking maps and coffee-drinking, I certainly...

On this episode, I get a chance to catch up with my good friend and regular Podcast guest, Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser, at the halfway point of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail! Kelley’s been making her way north from the Mexican border toward the Canadian one for the last few months, and now by the time this episode is airing, she’s almost halfway through Washington State and nearly finished already!  During our conversation she talks about what it’s like to finally be on a journey that was...

Hello and welcome to Episode 23! This episode sounds a bit different than usual, because I’m the one who’s answering questions, while guest host Alexandra Kenin is the one asking them! Alexandra is the founder of Urban Hiker SF, an urban hiking tour company in San Francisco and author of two guidebooks, Urban Trails: San Francisco, and Urban Trails: East Bay. She is super passionate about getting out and exploring cities by foot, and she also happens to be a big fan of Girl Gotta Hike! ...

On this episode I go for a walk in Pine Hill with Alex McClain, a Catskills 3500 peak completionist, Long Path End-to-Ender and outdoor apparel designer. Alex’s outdoor adventures began as a child, hiking and camping with family in her home state of Indiana, but it wasn’t until she moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion design, that she began to notice how spending time in the outdoors became essential for both her mental health, and her creativity.  Like many carless New...

On today’s episode I head up to East Harlem for a chat with Jasmine Guadalupe, founder of The Hood Hikers, a hiking and outdoor adventure company based right here in NYC! The Hood Hikers creates a safe space in nature for all Black and Brown folks, regardless of gender, income bracket or any other divider. While everyone is welcome on her hikes, the Black and Brown experience is at the core, allowing participants to enjoy the outdoors on their own terms.    A self-described “Bronx-bred, 80s...

Guess what y’all? This is the 20th episode of Girl Gotta Hike the Podcast, whoop – whoop! It seems like with every new episode and every new interview, this podcast actually inspires me to want to get outside and adventure more, and I hope that it’s been doing the same for you!   On this landmark episode, I go for a day hike in Denver with long-distance backpacker, author, fellow podcaster, and fellow New York State native, Juliana Chauncey, trail name, Chaunce. Many of you may recognize...

Melissa recently had the absolute honor of guiding Liz Forkel on a 5-day backpacking trip. Liz is a personal trainer, fitness coach and owner of LizFit, a fitness center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nearly seven days a week, she helps her clients find their way to a fitter and healthier lifestyle by leading them in small group classes, personal training sessions and nutrition consultations. She works side by side with them to help raise their confidence and reach their fitness goals, but...

Melissa first met Kate Rhodes, a fellow backpacker and NYS Licensed Outdoor Guide, where she’s met so many other amazing women – out on trail! They both happened to be camping out at the same lean-to on the same night along the Northville Placid Trail in the Adirondacks when Melissa first heard word of but a few of Kate’s many amazing outdoor endeavors — but she’s so humble, it was her hiking companions who were the ones to hype her up! At the time, Kate was training for an upcoming attempt...

Whoo-hoo! Episode 17 (aka the first of the Slackpack Series) is an entire episode dedicated to doling out some down and dirty of advice from four female thru-hikers, who love nothing more than discovering the joys of getting deeper into the backcountry. During an impromptu trek through Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, GGH host Melissa “Click” Goodwin, and her semi-regular podcast guests and trail besties, Emma “Sprout” Hileman, Lauren “Woodchuck” de la Vega and Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser,...

Girl Gotta Hike the Podcast has reached episode Sweet Sixteen, which is not only super exciting, but an amazing coincidence, since the featured guests happen to both be sixteen years old and reign from Melissa’s hometown of Rochester, New York! Kahmil Monk-George and Amanda Torres are both Junior Urban Ecologists with The Seneca Park Zoo Society’s Rochester Urban Ecology Program, a paid workforce development program for junior and senior high schoolers. Back in April, during their high school...

Episode 15 features the insightful and engaging Melodie Mendez, outdoors advocate, public relations specialist, NYC Chapter Leader of Latino Outdoors, and all around lovely human being! Mel(odie), a Harlem-resident and NYC native, takes Mel(issa), a once suburbanite now Brooklynite, on a meandering walk all around the beautiful North Woods and Ravine in Manhattan’s Central Park.    Throughout their walk, they talk about all-things diversity, equity, and inclusion and how to work toward a...

Mariah Reading, Eco Artist, Interpretive Park Ranger & NPS Artist in Residence talks all about process, inspiration, nature and landscape painting with a purpose!

Lucky episode #13 is the longest (and funniest?) Girl Gotta Hike the Podcast episode to date — and it’s all about thru-hiking The Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Crest Trail and everything in-between!! Grab a drink, kick back and get ready for a super fun Q&A with Click, Woodchuck and NoSeeUm.

In Episode 12, Melissa talks with fellow Brooklynites and hike leaders, Avalou Baptiste and Claydona Dennie, who have been nurturing a growing love of the outdoors within their Caribbean community through their group TriStateHikers. About five years...

On episode 11, Melissa talks with fellow Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, photographer, writer, farmer and good friend, Sarah Jones Decker, also known as “Harvest.” Sarah’s new book, The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts was...

Episode 10!!! On this episode, Melissa goes for a walk in nearby Forest Park in Queens, with New York’s own Patty “Boom Boom” Alcivar, professional boxer, Emergency Medical Technician, Spanish Language interpreter, running coach and personal trainer,...

Take an urban hike in San Francisco with Alexandra Kenin, Founder of Urban Hiker SF, an urban hiking tour company. Melissa and Alex take a walk and chat about all things city hiking, what motivates them to run their businesses & dip into some San Fran history.

Take a virtual Forest Bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku walk / audio journey down The High Line in New York City with Brooke Mellen of Cultured Forest, an Art and Nature connection company in New York City.

Brooke Mellen, Forest Therapy guide and founder of Cultured Forest, an Art and Nature connection company in New York City shares her story of combating stress and creating a deeper connection with nature, art and like-minded souls. Brooke promotes wellness in the outdoors by leading guided mindfulness walks where she introduces participants to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, also known as Forest Bathing.

The sixth episode of Girl Gotta Hike the Podcast features Jenny Siegfried, mixed media artist, illustrator and outdoor enthusiast, right here in New York City. She talks about her time as Artist in Residence at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making art out in the elements and hiking around NYC.

Tamara Jacobi, Author of Wildpreneurs and Owner of The Tailwind Jungle Lodge shares the story of how her business on the Mexican Pacific came to fruition, living an adventure-filled life with intention and what inspired her to write a book about it