[It’s like a book title, isn’t it?]

Meet our lady of the day: Tori is a 29 year old osteopath, who’s made her home in Christchurch - not surprisingly, since there are so many mouth-dropping hiking opportunities nearby! Her favourite hiking companion is her Border Collie - Bodhi [And no wonder, look at that gorgeous boi!]

What gets her to the hills is something that we can all relate to, I think: “Feeling completely problem free. My mind declutters, my lungs get filled with clean, mountain air and my eyes are always in awe of what they see. I am always encouraged by seeing where my two pins can get me”.

A favourite hike: Foggy Peak up to Castle Hill peak in the Torlesse Range - sunset views & the beautiful sounds of…nothing. [Note: this is a steep track, which needs a lil’ bit of footing!]

Biggest challenge: “Figuring out what the weather is going to be doing. It changes so often, and this makes it more difficult when planning a multiday trip [Yes, she’s definitely talking about NZ, a 4-season-in-a-day kind of country]. Packing enough, but not too much is a challenge. Weight of a pack for me, is my biggest downfall. Haha. I generally always pack too much, and never use what I’ve packed, which frustrates me as it becomes unnecessary weight! However, it is better to pack more than less, especially if the weather does turn nasty at the drop of a hat”. [Oh Tori, I hear you. Your pain is my pain.].

Okay, so moving on to the actual massive community she’s created -

So, the obvious – what made you start this group? When did it start and why?

I started the group while I was living up in Auckland, during the long Covid lockdown. I had recently ended a relationship with a guy who was my primary hiking buddy. During the covid lockdown and working through my relationship break-up, I realised I still wanted to get out into the outdoors but didn’t know how to do this alone. I was cautious about whether it was safer to hike alone or with others. So the idea to find like-minded women to group together and organise adventures, developed. And what has happened since, has just been a magical growth in numbers!

[Oh wow, I’m sure so many women can relate to this - hiking solo is a BIGGIE for lots of us (myself included) and honestly, you can never be too careful.]

And, how did it go from there? Did it grow very quickly, which were the first interactions? 

The group has grown exponentially. In the initial 3-6 months I was receiving about 30-50 requests a day. This has since plateaued out to about 7-10 per week… Which is a lot more manageable given I am the only admin for the group and don’t spend much time online haha.

[Damn, I’m sure many community managers are envious haha! She really tapped into something here.]

What made you make the group exclusive for women?

As I had broken up with my ex-partner, I didn’t fancy finding another man to get out there with. The thought about starting up a group specifically for women helped me navigate through the heartache of a break-up by feeling empowered as a woman to connect like-minded females together. Making a group for women to connect and create a supportive, empowering community was my personal goal, because I needed that. I just never thought it would be so attractive for others in the community to want to be a part of.

[This is just so real, isn’t it?]

So, I personally love this group. I find it helpful, so many wonderful women answering questions, AND also find it inspiring. What do you think is that makes it so? 

I think that this group provides a safe space for women to really connect with others, without feeling the need to pretend or feel insecure about questions they fear are “silly”. The members of this group offer support, care and kindness, which makes it easier to be vulnerable and ask questions that help an individual with feeling more confident to get out and adventure. We are an empathetic and emotionally engaged group. No question is silly and no member should feel inadequate amongst the rest – we are a community of like-minded individuals that have grouped together and connected over a common interest – our backyard.

[I know I’d feel safer asking something that reflects my inexperience in this group rather than in other FB groups!]

Has this group helped you grow personally, and how so?

Absolutely. In so many ways. I have connected a wide range of women who believe in grouping together to empower each other. This has helped me with my own confidence and self-esteem. It feels truly special to be at the forefront of a group that is driven by strong, independent women that just love the outdoors.

We know many people like using Facebook groups as a way to feel better than others (rather unfortunately) - How do you manage when there’s conflict within the group? 

I have had a few reported issues, which members have flagged and have popped up on my notifications as abuse. Generally, I read through these (whether it’s comments or posts) and decide if it should be deleted. Generally, I give members warnings against what they’ve posted or have been reported on, if it warrants this. On the odd occasion I have had to ban and delete members – but this is generally if their posts are scam accounts or scam events. I have only had one occasion where bullying occurred, but this was dealt with and I’ve never had reports since of bullying.

What has worked well with the group? Do you remember any inspiring stories? 

Goodness, there are too many inspiring stories!!! I have so many, this group has me as its number one fan! I love seeing and hearing the adventures women go on, and I enjoy seeing the connections that are made. I have heard so many stories of women getting groups together and individuals within those groups forming life-time friendships. It’s awesome and incredibly inspiring!

How does the group make you feel? Do you have future plans or ideas for this group?

I love the group. I have been approached by certain companies to market their products etc. But I really don’t want to commercialise the group. I love that it is a simple place for women to inundate others with their adventures, and not have their feeds filled with brand marketing.

[And this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the main reasons this group is so fantastic - no ads, no self-promotion, no commercialising - just honest, community support.]

Finally – what’s your advice for people managing outdoor groups? What have you learnt?

Keep it sweet and simple. Manage where it’s needed as an admin, but let the group form a life of its own. Let the group grow based on the members that populate it, don’t fill it with columns or events that aren’t necessary. Don’t bombard it with marketing ploys etc. I think what I’ve enjoyed is that everyone is a leader in this group… Hopefully I don’t post so much that people roll their eyes and think “oh here’s another post by her”. Haha. I like that the group has become its own, based on the members that are contributing to it. It’s a free group, for women to share their plans, ideas and adventures. Which is what inspires or connects others. It’s a safe space for women to find their confidence and grow with other like-minded women in the community. What I’ve learnt is that women are wonderful, kind and empathic beings, driven by one true love for getting out there and enjoying the trails.