Black Girls Hike empowers women to explore, connect, and build community
Image: Sebastian Barros
In 2019, following a traumatic accident and a diagnosis of PTSD, UK-native Rhiane Fatinikun was determined to find a positive outlet for her wellbeing. She turned to hiking as a way to reconnect with nature and heal. Inspired by the desire to create a supportive space for Black women like herself, Rhiane launched an Instagram account and organized her first hike, inviting others to join. Fourteen women showed up, and from that small gathering, Black Girls Hike (BGH) was born. Since then, the group has grown exponentially, with hundreds of Black women coming together over the years to explore the outdoors and build community.
Countering the lack of representation in the outdoors and hiking industry, BGH aims to provide a safe space for Black women, regardless of their experience level, to discover a love for the outdoors. Although she recalls having no experience reading maps or navigating in the early days of BGH, Fatinikun has grown from reluctant group leader to experienced hike coordinator as the group expanded over the years. BGH intentionally focuses on hiking routes that are manageable for beginners, making outdoor activities more accessible and inclusive. This approach is designed to welcome women who might otherwise feel deterred or intimidated by outdoor activities.
“Being part of BGH and knowing that I’m inspiring people, that people see me as a leader and role model is quite surreal sometimes. It’s a sisterhood, not just a hiking group,” said Fatinikun.
As the group’s hikes and experiences expanded beyond the UK, Fatinikun discovered another way to share her journey by creating a guide with practical tips to help Black women everywhere begin their own hiking adventures. Published in 2022, Finding Your Feet: The how-to guide to hiking and adventuring contains many of the lessons Fatinikun has learned through her hands-on experience with BGH.
As BGH continues its important work, Fatinikun remains dedicated to prioritizing community building. "I think the success and the growth of Black Girls Hike is testimony to the fact that it was needed and it was required by the community," she said. "There are a lot of other organizations that weren't necessarily fulfilling those needs, so we were actually plugging a gap and also contributing to the wellbeing of a community."
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