Finding Femininity in the Outdoors
From Wearing Biodegradable Glitter to Rock Climbing
Written by: Kyra Allen
Standing on top of the narrow ridge of Sacagawea Peak, breath shallow, I gazed down at the rows of trees and peaks encased around us. My eyes lit up with wonder. I smiled as the rays of the sun cascaded down, bathing us in warmth, and the tickle of the breeze sent goosebumps down my arms. The group had begun to sit down around the small gas grill that was caked in chocolate chip pancake batter. I was drawn into conversations as lopsided pancakes were handed out while we all caught our breath, sucking up water. My grin widened —there was nothing better than this feeling.
People from around the country come to Montana to enjoy the breathtaking views all across this magnificent state. Montana is a great space for outdoor enthusiasts, and there are many organizations across the state that encourage people to enjoy every bit of this unique place.
The Backcountry Squatters (BCS) is one such nonprofit organization.
They focus on building an inclusive outdoor community for women and nonbinary people.
Their goals include providing a space where people can be their most authentic, comfortable, and confident selves while also getting the chance to try new things they might not have been able to try on their own. The club allows people the opportunity to share their passions with others.
Partly in thanks to organizations like this, for the first time in history, according to the “Back Country Squatters Take to the Trail” 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report, 51% of the American population participating in outdoor recreation are women. While this may not seem like a big deal to some, this is a significant achievement compared to two years ago when this number was only 46%. However, there is still room for growth. Out of all the Americans who enjoy outdoor activities, only 10.3% are Black/ African American, 13.4% are Hispanic, 5.3% are Asian/Pacific Islander, and a majority 69.7% are white/Caucasian. This indicates a drastic difference in diversity, something Backcountry Squatters is trying to change by providing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for board members and offering members the opportunity to apply for scholarships.
Backcountry Squatters was started by Kit Kocha and Andie Creel in Bozeman, Montana, as a Montana State University (MSU) club called MSU’s Women’s Outdoor Adventure Club in 2015. They aimed to create a community where all women and non-binary people would feel accepted. This community goal quickly spread to other college campuses, creating a need for financial aid as well as some structure, and with that, by 2018 the nonprofit was born. Today, the nonprofit has chapters from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, covering most of the United States. They currently have chapters in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and of course, Montana, but they are always trying to spread the community further, providing more opportunities to anyone who wants them.
“Growing up and doing things outdoors, I found there were not many women my age,”
says Lilith Mueller, one of the financial officers for the MSU branch for Backcountry Squatters.
“In high school, I was the only girl older than 14 on the mountain biking team. When I looked into women’s bike rides, I was the only one under the age of 22. I felt like I was in a weird gap of not having anyone to go on bike rides with or go backpacking. I have always liked recreating with groups of women, and that’s what drew me in.”
Having a space with others who share your interest not only can allow you to create a strong community but also can allow you to blossom more into the person you want to be.
It can provide the opportunity to be passionate and share that passion.
There is something that can be powerful about that.
Lilith Mueller continues, “It allows me to lean into my femininity, in my leadership, my exuberance. I get excited every day because I get to take women and non-binary folks outside. I get to learn new skills with groups of women and get to watch girls do new things for the first time. I feel like it pushes us to be better, which is awesome.”
Not only can this be a way to share your passion, but it can allow you to help create passion in someone else.
“Being around a group of women in the outdoors is less about conquering this peak and more about communing with nature and being alongside it, wearing biodegradable glitter just because and having a friend paint my toenails by Hyalite Lake. It’s about feeling confident in my skills and feeling confident enough to do things outside by myself,” Lilith Mueller adds.
Lilith Mueller continues, “It allows me to lean into my femininity, in my leadership, my exuberance. I get excited every day because I get to take women and non-binary folks outside. I get to learn new skills with groups of women and get to watch girls do new things for the first time. I feel like it pushes us to be better, which is awesome.”
Not only can this be a way to share your passion, but it can allow you to help create passion in someone else.
“Being around a group of women in the outdoors is less about conquering this peak and more about communing with nature and being alongside it, wearing biodegradable glitter just because and having a friend paint my toenails by Hyalite Lake. It’s about feeling confident in my skills and feeling confident enough to do things outside by myself,” Lilith Mueller adds.
Leaders of BCS believe everyone deserves a space where they can go and try rock climbing for the first time and have a group of people who cheer them on from the sidelines or help them along. A safe space where they can be as authentic as possible with others who all have drastically different backgrounds and life experiences but connect through one thing: the outdoors. A space that can allow people to feel confident to express their desire to protect the land around them so many generations in the future can get the same joy they do.
“Backcountry Squatters means having a community of supportive and welcoming women, not just in the outdoors but in all aspects in life,”
Claire Potter, the outreach coordinator for the MSU chapter of BCS, adds. “The club has taught me not to take everything so seriously. It’s more fun when everyone is supportive, and you are in a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable trying new things and people feel it’s okay to be a beginner.”
For many, the outdoors often feels like a space where the stress of everyday life melts away, and hey can just go out and enjoy the serenity of the world around t hem — an experience that for members of BCS, is only heightened when they are around people who love it as much as they do.
While this is a great option for college students, there are always ways for women and non-binary people to get involved in the outdoors that don’t involve the Backcountry Squatters.
Groups like the Bozeman Pedal Project, The Dirt Concern, The Bozeman Women’s Activity Group, Sisters in Snow, and many others all provide amazing opportunities to go out and explore the outdoors.
But if you still don’t know how to get started, BCS leaders have a few ideas.
Lilith Mueller says, “Grab a friend and go on a hike. Just go outside and explore. If you don’t know where to go, ask. Everyone has their favorite places to hike, climb, or ski.”
Another great resource, especially if you don’t know anyone who is an outdoor enthusiast, is social media groups or even just a quick search on Google. There are millions of blogs dedicated to helping anyone who is interested find the best places to do an array of outdoor activities.
“Just get involved in any way that you can. Sign up for events even when you don’t know anyone and don’t know anything about it,” Claire Potter adds. “Take classes, just kind of put yourself out there, and be willing to try new things, even if you’re just a little bit interested. You will find resources along that way. Just be willing to fully immerse yourself and go for it,