Four Profiles That Will Inspire You

“Dareen has been on more community expeditions than anyone and she’s showing no sign of letting up. This turtle is living, breathing proof that it is indeed the turtle and not the hare that wins the race.”

Taking your first steps in the outdoors can feel a lot like walking into a new gym. You’re ready to do your thing. You’ve gotten yourself psyched for a major change in your life. And then you walk into one of the most intimidating environments since middle school track and field, and relegate yourself to the treadmill for 20 minutes before never walking in there again. Here are a couple of profiles that will inspire the adventurer inside to go beyond just following, liking and commenting on social media. These are the doers who decided the treadmill just wasn’t good enough and walked through the smokescreen to experience the true inclusiveness of our outdoors community.

THE QATARI/AMERICAN STUDENT COUNSELOR
Dalia joined us for our first ever trek of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 2019. She was very keen to let us know that this was her first ever experience and that she wasn’t too sure if she had what it takes. Her trek was no small feat. She faced debilitating vertigo, one or two panic attacks, mild altitude exposure and challenged her physical self beyond anything she could have imagined she was capable of. Although she may have felt like she was holding some of the team members back at times, nothing could have been further from the truth. Her strength and perseverance inspired each and every team member on the trail. Ask anyone from our 2019 team what the highlight of their experience was and you’ll find that it wasn’t reaching Machu Picchu. It was reaching Machu Picchu with Dalia.

THE TURTLE
When Dareen joined her first trip with us in 2017 she kept to herself, happy just being at the back and walking at her own pace.

“You may have heard of the fashion label Jessica K, but you’ve probably never imagined that the fashionista behind it actually trades the heels for the trekking boots and the beautiful wardrobe for colors that are usually a fashion faux pas!”

With her music in her ear, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Dareen was even on the team until she’d show up at the rest stops or at the lodges. From the Tour du Mont Blanc in 2017 to Bhutan and the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2018 and now the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 2019, Dareen has been on more community expeditions than anyone and she’s showing no sign of letting up. This turtle is living, breathing proof that it is indeed the turtle and not the hare that wins the race.

THE FASHION ICON
You may have heard of the fashion label Jessica K, but you’ve probably never imagined that the fashionista behind it actually trades the heels for the trekking boots and the beautiful wardrobe for colors that are usually a fashion faux pas! That’s exactly what Jessica and her husband Georges have been doing. Just back from their trekking expedition in Bhutan and Nepal they’re getting themselves ready to head back out on the Tour du Mont Blanc in just a few short months. Not your usual suspects on a trail in the middle of nowhere but then again, who is?!

THE FLORIST
Malaika kept telling us how she didn’t think she would summit, that this was all way beyond what she could have imagined she could do, and that she would be happy just getting as far as she has. On June 20, 2017, this florist from Nigeria reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in the shortest amount of time any LHO expedition has taken on summit night. With tears of joy in her eyes she hugged everyone on the team who had supported her. The truth is that it was she who supported us in more ways than she could possibly know.

Who has inspired you to get outdoors? Tell us about them in the comment section below. We’re always looking for fresh inspiration.