I’m learning to occupy space in the world, and the one place that is my safe space to practice is when I exercise. As a young adult, I shrank to blend into the background; to keep my brown skin and curly hair from drawing too much attention from the Caucasians that surrounded me at school, work, and my extracurricular activities. Thanks to wise and patient friends, an evolving society, and a badass therapist, I can now proudly say – Fuck that.

I wear my hair down during my spin class, letting my medium-lengthed brown curls bounce to the rhythm of my pedaling. I wear my gold hoops during barre class; they graze my arm as I reach overhead while my legs obediently do plies. While weightlifting, I sport a black crop top that says “Fuerte AF.”  I work out at Equinox where lululemon is the unofficial uniform, so this feels like a revolutionary act for the space as I do what I need to feel like I belong.

When I first started hiking, I felt just as insecure in nature. I’d see white people with their fancy hiking gear, and I’d feel inept for not having my own set of trekking poles. “Hiking in yoga pants instead of proper REI swag? What an amateur,” I would think to myself.

That is the toxic judgemental thinking I had to unlearn. To quote our founder, there is no right way to be Latina. In that same vein, there is no right way to experience nature. In my hiking journey, I met fellow Latinas who lived their lives on their own terms, and they dominated those trails like a pissed-off mom with a chancla in her hand waiting for you to get home past your curfew. We covered dozens of miles, we talked about life, and they shared their hiking wisdom, career advice, and, most importantly, the best place to get bottomless mimosas after the hike to “refuel.”

Years after starting my hiking journey, I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past November. I joined my family, who are more of the “leisurely stroll” type of park visitors. Meanwhile, I was ready to hike twenty miles, poop in the woods, and then bury it with the mini lightweight shovel I kept with my emergency supplies in my Camelbak backpack.

We compromised and mostly stuck to the wide paved paths with plenty of bathrooms along the route. When I did get my family on a dirt path, calm confidence and patience washed over me as I showed them how to elongate their trekking poles to the right height, reminded them to drink water, and took snack breaks. By doing the work and making space for myself on the trail amongst nature all those years back, I could now share that with my family of newbie hikers. Hundreds of people visit the park daily, and yet we were the only Latinos I saw. I don’t know why that was but I wasn’t self-conscious this time, instead, I was proud. I used to feel like an outlier, but now I know I’m more of a trailblazer. After years of experience, I know I’m prepared with the right equipment, the right clothing, the right snacks, and the right mentality to make sure I hiked safely.

That has transcended from the trail to other aspects of my life. I trust myself, my education, and my field of expertise. Just like I led my family through the wilderness, I led my team through major projects and tight deadlines. I walked with confidence knowing whatever lay ahead, I would be able to handle. I swear that once you have the confidence to walk into the woods prepared to deal with threats like a bear, you won’t even break a sweat calling out that Karen who interrupts you and takes the credit for your hard work. Step into that Chingona phase in your life by stepping onto some trails in Yosemite. You got this mija.

Beginner Treks

• Bridal Falls Trail – This is the first waterfall you see when entering the national park, and it’s a perfect walk to break in your hiking shoes because it’s less than a mile roundtrip as you walk from the parking lot to the base of the waterfall. Get your cute photos here because after a few hours and a few miles, you won’t be feeling so cute climbing up a cliff 7,000 feet high.
• May Lake – This 2.6 miles roundtrip hike leads to a cute but frigid lake. Think of this as a peaceful stroll you take if you want to walk off the granola bar and beef jerky you had for lunch. This is also a non-strenuous hike, perfect for little ones learning to love the outdoors.
• Lower Yosemite Falls – This short, easy walk is about a mile roundtrip and leads you to spectacular views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. In the summer, the water rushes down so do expect to get wet as you take in the double waterfalls and walk over bridges and through the woods. This is a paved trail, so even grandma can make it with her walker.

Moderate Treks

• North Dome – This hike is 5 miles roundtrip, but fair warning, you’re heading to the top of North Dome, which is over 7,500 feet high. The views are worth it but make sure to drink lots of water to avoid altitude sickness or you’ll be too ill to appreciate the view of Half Dome, Clouds Rest and Yosemite Valley.
• Mist Trail – This is the national park’s most popular trail and is only about 2.5 miles round trip. What makes this a moderate hike is that since it’s such a short hike, it gets steep fast and the trail runs by two waterfalls, so it can get slippery. Also, there’s a deceptively strong stream that has swept people away, so don’t go into the water.

Chingona Treks

• Four Mile Trail – This hike will have you asking “are we there yet?” because the trail name is a misnomer. It’s not four miles… it’s more than that one way, which means a roundtrip will actually have you hiking 9.6 miles. It’s closed because it’s pretty steep and can be slippery in rain and snow, so plan this one for warmer months.
• Valley Loop Trail – This hike is perfect for the ‘gram because you’ll get to see all the major attractions while avoiding the crowds on this road less traveled. You can choose your own adventure and pick between a 7 or 11-mile loop. On the way, you’ll see El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, Bridalveil Fall, and the Merced River.