#116 | From Solo Female Backpacking Across the U.S. to Building Les Ventures: Cowgirl Camping & Climbing Mt. Whitney's Snow Covered 99 Switchbacks with Melanie Daisy

On this episode, I am joined by a SoCal based outdoor adventurer, solo backpacker, traveler, community builder, outdoor creator, and founder of Les Ventures - Melanie Daisy.We dive into Mel's outdoor roots from boulder hopping in the Mojave Desert with her mom as a kid to discovering trail maintenance in Laguna Canyon as a source of healing during a difficult divorce. That connection to the land sparked her solo backpacking journey and ultimately led to the creation of her backpacking group Les Ventures.Mel shares how solo backpacking became a love letter to herself - proving she could take care of herself in the wild. She also talks about cowgirl camping under the stars, living nomadically out of her car, and building a community where people of all ages come together to adventure, connect, and heal through nature.Mel opens up about embracing her Yaqui/Perpetua and Viking heritage, earning the trail name "Xena," her favorite trails across the country, summiting Mount Whitney in early June by breaking trail through the snow covered 99 switchbacks, completing Cactus to Clouds twice, solo female backpacking safety, and her powerful experiences visiting Native Nations across the U.S., including walking the Trail of Tears barefoot in Arkansas.Whether you're healing from something difficult, thinking about your first solo adventure, or simply need a reminder that the mountains are always calling, this conversation is filled with resilience, inspiration, and a deep love for the outdoors and reverance of the land. Stay Updated with Melanie & Les Ventures on social media:https://www.tiktok.com/@les.ventures https://www.instagram.com/camp.letsventurehttps://www.instagram.com/meldaisygLean more about Les Ventures on https://www.lesventures.net/Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trekShop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠Become a Just Trek Patron member on https://www.patreon.com/justtrekListen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek