Episode 23 - Melissa Goodwin, Photographer + Founder of Girl Gotta Hike
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!
Well I’m a big fan of hers too – in fact I interviewed her back on Episode 9 of this podcast – so when she proposed the idea of interviewing me during a recent visit to Brooklyn, though I was a bit nervous, I just couldn’t say no!
When I started this podcast, I assumed that my listeners would mostly consist of those who get to come out for a hike with me in person. On trail, I’m often answering questions about how I got into guiding and sharing snippets of my thru-hiking adventures, so my podcast goal was to talk less about me and highlight other women who are rockin’ their outdoor passions instead!
But it turns out that so many of you listeners, and especially those that are new, come from locations that are much further afield than my New York City-based circle, and until Alexandra pointed it out to me, it hadn’t really occurred to me that you might want to learn some of the history and details about how I got into the outdoors too!
So many thanks to her for the invite, and I hope you enjoy our walk and talk together in Prospect Park!
Useful links:
Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com
Check out GG’s amazing pack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)
Melissa "Click" Goodwin can be found at:
Girl Gotta Hike - Website
@girlgottahike - Instagram
Facebook - @GirlGottaHike
Guest Host Alexandra Kenin can be found at:
@urbanhikersf - Instagram
Urban Hiker SF - Website
Facebook - @UrbanHikerSF
Twitter - @UrbanHikerSF
Trip Advisor - Urban Hiker SF - Day Tours
Urban Trails: San Francisco - guidebook to the trails of San Francisco
Urban Trails: East Bay - guidebook to the trails of Oakland, Berkeley, Freemont, & more!
Podcast Cover Photo courtesy Emma “Sprout” Hileman. Photos in grid by Melissa “Click”, Michael “LongTime” & Susan “Sideways” Goodwin.
Left to right row one: Early (1st?) camping trip, circa 1981; Canoeing on Chenango River, 1987; Acadia National Park, 1992.
Row two: 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine, 2011; Pacific Crest Trail, 2022; 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine, 2019
Row three: Appalachian Trail thru-hike 2011 — Springer Mountain; AT half-way point; Mount Katahdin.