After cycling 5,000kms off road from Canada to Mexico along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Richelle Olsen discovered that women around her lacked self confidence and belief in their ability to go on adventures of their own. She decided to do something about it.

Richelle started Escaping Your Comfort Zone, a body positive adventure and hiking club for women and non binary people, to make adventure more accessible and to be a cheerleader for people who underestimate themselves. No one gets left behind and everyone feels seen.

In this chat we cover:  

• What is Escaping Your Comfort Zone?
• Riding from Canada to Mexico 
• Being a cheerleader for others 
• Events and leaders 
• Plus sized stigma in the outdoors 
• Outdoor Gear 
• Inspiration
• How Escaping your comfort zone does things differently?
• Trips 
• Accessibility and getting started
• Body Positive Stomp trail run 
• Women and non-binary people
• Interstate members 
• Join the FB groups for your region 
• You don’t need to do the entire trail!

 
Want to join in on the fun? Head to Escaping Your Comfort Zone to join an event, follow along on Instagram @escapingyourcomfortzone and keep tabs on what Richelle is up to @richelleridesbikesandwaves.

Follow @we_are_explorers on Instagram for your daily dose of adventure and check out our website weareexplorers.co for destination guides, road trip itineraries and adventures from all over the country. 

Thanks to Amy Fairall our News and Features Editor for hosting this week. 

Producer - Sian Brain