Unlikely Hikers Instagram Jenny Bruso

We've all seen the ads and photos of hikers (typically rail-thin women) who hit the trails in trendy workout gear and somehow manage to reach the mountaintop without sweating off their makeup or mussing their hair.

Through her blog and Instagram account, Jenny Bruso is shattering the image of what a hiker looks like and she's already inspired us to hit the trails.

“Don’t believe the hype about what it looks like and means to be ‘outdoorsy,’” Bruso says. “Nature doesn’t give a fuck.”

Bruso, 35, describes herself as a “queer, femme, fat, former indoors kid” who discovered her love of nature by chance. "[M]y first date with my partner, Brie, was a hike up the Maple Trail in Forest Park. I pretended I was into it because I liked her," Bruso recalls. "It changed my life right then and there. We got to a viewpoint and something clicked into place in my head. I found myself hiking more and more. Nature was calling to me."

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Who is a “real” hiker? . Whether you hike a mile or fifteen, or only a few times a year; if you use a mobility device on trails, or don't see anyone who looks like you; You Are A Hiker. When we base our worth as hikers on how many miles and feet of elevation we crush, or on our physical abilities, or inabilities, we miss out on the journey, healing and connection to all-that-is that can be found in nature. It’s not a race. You don’t get to stop and smell the wildflowers or dip your tired feet in a creek on a race. . I invite you to move your body in ways that feel good, for the joy of it. Be in your own journey, don’t compare it to someone else’s. It’s the doing it that matters. . It’s ok to challenge yourself. It’s ok to want to do more, harder, faster, longer, but it doesn’t make one a “real” hiker. That standard Instagram summit photo at golden hour is beautiful, but it doesn’t tell the story of a “real” hiker. . The outdoors is for everyone. If you need an invitation, this is it. If you need an invitation to quit these thought patterns, this is it. . If you hike, you are a hiker. Welcome ♥ . #sponsored #REI #ForceOfNature #optoutside . Location: Ozette Triangle aka Cape Alava Loop, Olympic National Park, Washington #olympicnationalpark

A post shared by Unlikely Hikers (@unlikelyhikers) on Jul 13, 2017 at 4:05pm PDT

Bruso grew up in an abusive household and she used to cope with her depression and anxiety through alcohol and drugs. Hiking and a love of nature have provided her with a healthy coping mechanism that sustains her even on her roughest days.

She launched Unlikely Hikers on a whim after becoming frustrated with the stereotypical image of what a hiker looks like. "I get tired of seeing the same kind of [hiker] over and over again online," Bruso explained. "How many times can you see photos of a flawless, thin, white woman on a summit looking like she got airlifted in? I tell you, that’s not what I look like when I’m on a summit. I look haggard and like I just worked my ass off to get up there. I’m invested in being another face for the outdoors."

When Bruso launched her Instagram account last year, it was an instant hit. Since then, she's featured hikers including a woman in a headscarf enjoying Antelope Canyon, people in wheelchairs, and transgender individuals.

"My parents nurtured my sense of adventure from the beginning. Some of my earliest memories are of road trips, especially visiting Luray Caverns and Shenandoah Valley. Now I'm getting out of my comfort zone in ways I never imagined. In 2016, I went from my first tent camping trip in New York to a week of it climbing Kilimanjaro. It's a dream come true to be able to do these things." -Naureen / @naurtorious17 . Location: Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona #lowerantelopecanyon . Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured!

A post shared by Unlikely Hikers (@unlikelyhikers) on May 17, 2017 at 11:45am PDT

I am constantly thrilled by the people I get to interact with because of doing Unlikely Hikers. Here's a recent feature from @nativesoutdoors. Give them a follow! . "There's ways for me to get training done inside. But for me, I need fresh air, I need scenery. When I push outdoors, I can look out for miles and miles, you can't get that from being inside while training. I wish I could go hiking but with my limitations, I stick to pushing on pavement.” -@steel_wheely on Training for a race (half/full marathon) . Location: Crystal, NM, Navajo Nation . Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured!

A post shared by Unlikely Hikers (@unlikelyhikers) on Mar 28, 2017 at 5:43pm PDT

"When I first started hiking, I was an unlikely hiker because I had no outdoor experience. I didn't hike or camp growing up. But in the depths of depression, something called me to a trail near my house. I feel now that hiking helped save my life. I continued to be an unlikely hiker because back then I thought I was a cis woman. Now, as a transmasculine nonbinary person, I face new challenges on the trail due to being visibly gender nonconforming. My partner, a trans woman, shares in these challenges. Where will we pee? Are we safe in this rural area? But we hike anyway, because the power and beauty of nature is worth it. We're proud to be trans and be unlikely hikers in love!" -Ray / @ray.writes . Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona #grandcanyon . Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured!

A post shared by Unlikely Hikers (@unlikelyhikers) on May 23, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

Although Bruso prefers to hike alone, she's begun organising Unlikely Group Hikes. "I want them to be a different experience: It’s not about crushing miles and bagging peaks, it’s about being in nature and moving your body in any way that feels good," she says.

Despite the barrage of messages we receive about what an "athletic" or "outdoorsy" person should look like, Bruso's account proves that hiking and nature can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their shape or size.

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