Courtesy of http://www.justtrails.com

This is Part 1 of my interview with Rebecca Walsh of Just Trails and Hike Like a Woman.

Here’s an excerpt:

As I meet people in the virtual and physical hiking community I’m inspired by their stories. Last week’s interview with Rachel is just one example. I think everyone has a story to tell, we all have something in us that makes us special and unique and I’m on a mission to find those stories and share them right here. When I first heard Joyce Britton’s hiking story I was inspired by her positive “I can do this” attitude. I think as you read the interview there’s a point where her words will give you goose bumps and you’ll find yourself cheering her along the way.

We broke Joyce’s interview down into two parts. So be sure to check back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!

Let’s dive right in as Joyce tells us about her hiking background, her online Hyker Girl community and her latest project, Tales from the Trails.

Q: How long have you been hiking, when and where did you get your start?

I have been hiking for just over five-and-a-half years.  It was something that I had to be introduced to and I didn’t hike until I moved to California.  I grew up in an area of Texas that was all flat and green, so any talk of hiking was completely foreign to me.  My impression of hiking was more like serious mountaineering with ropes, picks and harnesses, not a nice walk in the park up a gentle incline, which some trails offer.

I was introduced to hiking by the vey first friend that I made when I moved to California in 2008, John Ellis’ wife, LynNita.  She invited me to hike with a church-related hiking group and said it would be a good way for me to meet people since I was new to the area.  At first, I was like, “Excuse me?  I don’t hike.”  I thought it was something really dangerous and far beyond my capabilities, but she convinced me to go and I had a blast.  We hiked at Vasquez Rocks in Santa Clarita, CA.

You can read the full article here.