Beauty, Nature, & Freedom
It was early in the morning and we had Tenaya Lake all to ourselves. The air was a little smoky, but it was also still so the water was like glass – perfectly reflecting the surrounding granite mountains and pine forest. It was maybe 45 degrees outside, but it was too beautiful to notice the cold. Conversation as we hiked varied, but mostly we shared things from our lives that we were proud of. I could not have asked for a better opening hike to the inaugural SheTravels adventure. But then this happened…
Half-way through our hike we arrived at a beach along the lake and a participant whispered “I want to get in.” The first thing my mind did was come up with all the risk management reasons wny it was a bad idea to let someone get into very cold water on a cold morning, with no clothes on, in a group setting.
But very quickly all my “why’s” behind SheTravels beat down those thoughts. If you’ve read my previous blog posts you know the reason I launched the company is because experience has taught me spending time in nature, especially the awe-inspiring kind, connects us to our humanity, which in turn sets us free. And what is more free than jumping into a lake with no clothes on?! So I said yes, and before I knew it everyone wanted to go in and we got to share this unforgettable experience.
I wish I could bottle everything from that moment so I could open it when I need a pick-me-up: the yelps inspired by the freezing water, the giggles as women supported one another to make their way in, the backdrop of mountains and forest reflecting in the water…the triumphant joy of a group of free black women frolicking naked in a mountain lake.
I have goosebumps writing about it now.
Y'all…this was only day one of an adventure I have a hard time talking about without getting emotional. I was expecting to enjoy the hikes, to enjoy getting to know the participants, and to have fun showing everyone the magic of Yosemite. It was such a wonderful surprise to end up with new friends for life, and to know that this experience turned out to be, as one participant put it, “a mile marker in my journey through this life.”
Today I'm sharing my gratitude for the women who came together in Yosemite this fall and gave me a new appreciation for what's possible when a group of black women get together in nature. You all know who you are - I think of you often and I appreciate you!!
📍Yosemite National Park sits on land of the Me-Wuk (Southern Sierra Miwok)
*Photograph above is shared with the explicit permission of each individual shown
