Wilderness Womxn Breaking Barriers
How five women are pioneering the way and making their mark in a male-dominated recreational space.
Book reviewer and stay-at-home mom, Hayley Haws, never thought twice about hiking by herself around her home in Lehi, Utah. In 2018, her mindset shifted. A missing woman’s body had been found in Hobble Creek Canyon, where Haws frequently hiked.
An outdoors enthusiast herself, Portland State University alumni Naiyear Khajavei dedicated her honors thesis to studying different barriers that hold women back from participating in outdoor recreation at higher rates. Fear of safety and well-being was among many of them.
When it comes to participating in the outdoors, women have to overcome a series of obstacles that men don’t necessarily face. These obstacles, in which Khajavei organizes into three categories, include gender roles, social expectations and lack of early development and skills.
According to the 2019 Outdoor Participation Report, girls ages six to 12 have one of the highest participation rates among youth. But that enthusiasm begins to decline once they hit their teenage years. This is unfortunate because spending time in the outdoors has proven to positively impact both physical and mental health, even more so for women.
“Because women have higher rates of some of these cardiovascular diseases and also mental health struggles surrounding depression and anxiety, the benefit for them would be greater,” Khajavei explains.
But as little girls are warned to be careful of all the terrible things that could happen to them if they go outside alone, they are further discouraged to explore the wonders that nature has to offer.
While having to navigate these obstacles can create less of a draw for women to participate in outdoor activities, there are role models breaking these barriers proving everyone has an equal space in the wilderness.
“I don’t want to stop because there are barriers, but I have to think harder about doing these things.”
Hayley Haws
Hayley Haws
“This girl was missing for years and they could not find her,” Hayley explains. “Her name was Elizabeth Elena Laguna Salgado.”
Back in 2015, Salgado went missing at the age of 26 from her home in Provo, UT. Now three years after the discovery of her body, her murder still remains a mystery. For Haws, this was a wakeup call to take more safety precautions before going out on hikes.
The canyon in which Salgado was found is not one of the more popular ones. But it had been a lure for Haws. And now this. A young woman murdered and left here.
“I had been going into that canyon and it just definitely changed my mindset,” she says. “Because, either A, I could have run into the person dropping her body off, and B, I could have just run into her body.”
For precautionary reasons, Haws follows a list of safety protocols when she goes out and hikes alone. She explains, “I tell my husband where I am going, how long I should be there.” She also mentions, “I carry a quick-release knife. I always carry that in my pocket.”
According to Grand View Research, the global self-defense market is expected to reach $3.6 billion by 2025. The most popular product is folding knives.
“It feels sad,” Haws expresses. “More products to defend ourselves.”
Sunset at American Fork Canyon that Hayley Haws captured. Photo courtesy of Hayley Haws.
Sunset at American Fork Canyon that Hayley Haws captured. Photo courtesy of Hayley Haws.
While Haws believes it is important to be cautious about safety, she doesn’t want fear to hold her back from the things she loves doing most like hiking and taking photos.
She says, “I don’t want to stop because there are barriers, but I have to think harder about doing these things.”
When she is out on a trail Haws keeps an eye out for other women she sees hiking alone as she believes it is important for women to look after one another.
“Which peak are you going to right now? What’s your name?” she asks other women. “You know just in case you hear someone goes missing.”
“I feel as if I am a mother bird,” Haws says.
Hayley's two sons, Oliver and Hudson, on a winter walk in American Fork Canyon. Photo courtesy of Hayley Haws.
Hayley's two sons, Oliver and Hudson, on a winter walk in American Fork Canyon. Photo courtesy of Hayley Haws.
Now a mother of two young children, Haws loves taking her boys out for hikes. She says she often will get looks from other hikers as she believes it is still considered an unusual sight to see a mother and her young kids hike alone.
Haws shares a message for other female solo hikers, “The benefits still outweigh the risks, but you still have to be smart about it.”
“Ever since I became a river guide it became a part of who I am.”
Breann Davis
Breann Davis
It wasn't until she got to college that Breann Davis discovered her love for being in the outdoors and even her future home. During the summer of 2000, Breann worked as a river guide in Moab, Utah. Without having any previous experience, at first, she was apprehensive, but her attitude shifted as she made lifelong memories.
“Ever since I became a river guide it became a part of who I am,” Davis says as she reflects on how she got her start in the outdoor recreation community.
Breann Davis making dinner after a long day of rowing Desolation Canyon on the Green River in the summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
Breann Davis making dinner after a long day of rowing Desolation Canyon on the Green River in the summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
Davis attended the University of Utah, where her roommate initially pitched the spontaneous idea to move to Moab for the summer and work as river guides.
“Don’t you have to know how to do that?” Davis recalls asking.
“Let’s find out,” her roommate said.
It was on the first day of training that Davis looked around at the other guides and noticed she was one of the few women there. Already apprehensive about her lack of experience, Davis was now questioning her ability as a woman.
“I just remember feeling out of my element being a girl and worried I wasn’t strong enough or capable enough,” Davis says.
But instead of letting this obstacle hold her back, Davis says she and the other female guides bonded over a we-can-do-this mentality that enabled them to navigate the turbulent waters.
“The trips that I did that were the hardest, that were the most memorable, were usually with other female guides,” she says.
One trip that stands out, featured her and friend Jamie dealing with miserable conditions.
“It was super low water and we had to make 20 miles in one day and the wind was just out of control,” she says. “I can’t believe how capable we were back then.”
Breann Davis and her friend Jamie Barrus embracing after a long windy day of rowing through Desolation Canyon in summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
Breann Davis and her friend Jamie Barrus embracing after a long windy day of rowing through Desolation Canyon in summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
After graduating, Davis returned to Moab, married her husband and decided to start a family there. She is a mother to her six-year-old Lily along with being a yoga instructor and massage therapist.
Davis says her daughter is at a fun age to get her outside and exploring the outdoors. Early development in outdoor spaces is crucial for children and their future in recreating.
Lily is following in her mother’s footsteps learning how to navigate the waters. “We try to get her on the river as much as we can,” says Davis. “She’s definitely old enough now to do multi-day trips now and get on at least some of the flat sections.”
Breann Davis and a fellow river guide attempting to rescue a canoe in the summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
Breann Davis and a fellow river guide attempting to rescue a canoe in the summer of 2000. (Photo courtesy of Breann Davis)
As a mom of a young girl, Davis believes it is important for her to encourage her daughter to be brave and adventurous. Davis says, “I'm grateful that she is learning at an early age that she can do anything that a guy can do.”
The sun sets over Arches National Park. March 30, 2019. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
The sun sets over Arches National Park. March 30, 2019. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
Britt Zale
Some would call BASE jumper, Britt Zale a “thrill-seeker''; others an “adrenaline junky.” But for the 33-year old Moab resident, BASE is her sanctuary and passion; the place she feels the most at home.
Zale approaches the sport of BASE as she does her entire life––with strength, tenacity, and a touch of calm on her side. While BASE jumping is illegal almost everywhere around the United States, Moab is one of the national parks where it is permitted, creating opportunities for new terrain exploration and experience.
Averaging two base jumps a day is the norm for Zale. “For my everyday BASE jump, it’s fun to reach that point where BASE jumping is a nice, comfortable, relaxing activity as crazy as that sounds,” she said.
A self-proclaimed “type A East Coaster,” Zale is eager and excited to explore the unknown in outdoor spaces, prioritizing the courage, curiosity, and skill it takes to perform BASE.
“As a base jumper, opening new jumps is where I want to grow towards because you feel like you’re pioneering something,” Zale says. “You’re exploring and going to a new place where maybe no one has ever stepped foot before.”
Britt Zale after completing two BASE jumps in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Brooke Welsh, CU News Corps)
Britt Zale after completing two BASE jumps in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Brooke Welsh, CU News Corps)
Not only does Zale thrive off the potential of scouting new jumps, but she is also determined to overcome the obstacles that come with being a woman in a male-dominated sport.
The caveat; throughout her time with BASE, Zale has only jumped with other women twice. For someone who averages 300 plus jumps a year, this number is notably low, indicating a lack of representation in the sport.
In a sport this risky, fostering a sense of empowerment and camaraderie rises to paramount importance – every bit as important as paying attention to safety protocols.
“There’s something about females up here doing something together that can be really welcoming and reassuring,” Zale said.
According to Frontiers in Psychology, women are sometimes excluded from the studies on high-risk sports because of their low frequency and involvement. Acknowledging this reality, Zale has no intention of slowing down.
Britt Zale touches down after completing her first BASE jump of the day in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
Britt Zale touches down after completing her first BASE jump of the day in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
The training and skill it takes to enter the world of BASE can be intimidating at first for those who aren’t yet immersed in the culture. As a leader in the BASE community, Zale understands her role in cultivating an environment that prioritizes confidence and getting people to make the leap.
“We’re not up there to push our limits necessarily–– we’re just up there to experience the beauty of BASE jumping.”
Anna Kirkwood
Anna Kirkwood
Visiting Moab miles away from her home in Squamish, British Columbia, 35-year old Anna Kirkwood joins Zale on her Friday BASE jumps in Kane Creek. An experienced jumper and climber herself, Kirkwood says this will be her first time jumping with another woman.
“We actually just met,” they exclaimed, looking over at each other. Their connection is immediate and camaraderie strong; exemplifying the type of empowerment that is needed in the backcountry.
Between BASE and her nine-to-five job as a Rope Access Supervisor in the oil business, Kirkwood is proof that one can experience and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Zale and Kirkwood are two women redefining the status quo of BASE, with hopes to increase the number of females present in the sport and to share their excitement.
Anna Kirkwood descends from The Tombstone in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
Anna Kirkwood descends from The Tombstone in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Lindsay Coe, CU News Corps)
“We’re not up there to push our limits necessarily–– we’re just up there to experience the beauty of BASE jumping,” Kirkwood said.
They both agree: Sometimes it’s just nice to have a change and not be the only girl.
“We feel a natural affinity for one another and it’s special to be up there with other women who rock and have the same aspirations and ideas of what a good time is.”
Anna Kirkwood smiles after completing two BASE jumps alongside Britt Zale in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Brooke Welsh, CU News Corps)
Anna Kirkwood smiles after completing two BASE jumps alongside Britt Zale in Kane Creek, UT. March 19, 2021. (Brooke Welsh, CU News Corps)
Ella Hall
It isn’t every day that one encounters a life-threatening climbing accident in the outdoors. But for 22-year old Ella Hall, she is here to tell her tale and prove everyone wrong: she can do things.
With the accident in her rearview mirror and two years of rehab under her belt, Hall is continuing to push barriers and limits with no end in sight.
“I'm still learning all of the quirks and limitations of my modified body, but it's inspired me, even more, to set lofty goals for myself, achieve them, and set the bar higher each time,” she said. “There is a competitive aspect to my personality and this drives me to surpass my perceived limits and continue to progress in whatever I set my mind to.”
Ella Hall skis the backcountry in Jones Pass, CO, January 2021. (Photo courtesy of Ella Hall)
Ella Hall skis the backcountry in Jones Pass, CO, January 2021. (Photo courtesy of Ella Hall)
Hall grew up swimming and playing hockey in her hometown of Wisconsin, but it wasn’t until she moved to Boulder for school that she fully immersed herself in the world of outdoor sports and culture, quickly realizing that it would become a large part of her life and identity.
Now, she can be found filling her week and weekends with activities that “push her limits” while also creating a sense of calm and ability to reset. That, and participating in a plethora of extracurricular groups meant to inspire herself and more importantly, those around her.
Hall is walking the talk as a trip leader for the Outdoor Program at the University of Colorado Boulder, a board member for the CU Alpine Club as well as CU Backcountry Club, and a SheJumps ambassador.
Throughout her time with SheJumps, a non profit organization with a mission to help women and girls take risks in the outdoors, Hall has become increasingly passionate about empowering other women to feel confident, strong, and independent.
Participating in an industry that remains male-dominated, Hall shares her goal of helping women see that it is possible to break stereotypes and unearth potential.
“This past winter, I took my AIARE 2 avalanche course with SheJumps in Crested Butte and it was the most productive outdoor-related course I've ever taken,” she said. “I learned so much and didn't feel like I had to be proving that I could keep up with the boys– there was no underlying competitive aspect of the course as there often are with co-ed courses.”
With an emphasis on the “outdoors for everyone,” Hall is hopeful that organizations and industry leaders like SheJumps are working to remedy this; creating a more inclusive and accessible space for everyone regardless of race, class, gender or sexual orientation.
Acknowledging “gate-keeping” and competitiveness as two downsides to the outdoor industry, she also pledges to play a part in shifting the culture for better.
“It shouldn't matter if you are using the nicest, newest gear or your mom's hand-me-downs from the 80s,” Hall said. “What should matter is that people feel like they are welcome in outdoor activities and that there are others who are willing to help them get to the level they want to perform at in these activities instead of being ridiculed for lacking skills or knowledge.”
Ella Hall climbs in Penitente Canyon, CO. September 2018. (Photo courtesy of Ella Hall)
Ella Hall climbs in Penitente Canyon, CO. September 2018. (Photo courtesy of Ella Hall)
For all these women have accomplished in breaking barriers in outdoor spaces, there is still work to be done.
While the conversation is becoming a trend in cisgender white female communities, the goal is to make the wilderness inclusive for all people.
Khajavei looks back at her thesis project and wishes she touched more on diversity.
“I really wanted to be more inclusive with the trans community and people of color and I found that there was very limited research on that,” she explains.
Despite our efforts to find a diverse range of sources, we were left with the same issue as Khajavei further proving there is still a long way to go when it comes to equality in outdoor spaces.
