In a domain like the outdoors—where masculinity has prevailed for decades—it’s an absolute joy to see women’s opportunities exploding across places like our Island’s backcountry. Wether it’s climbing, mountaineering, trail running, kayaking, hunting or fishing, women’s involvement in the outdoor world is growing every year.

This week, we have the opportunity to hear from my long time friend Jacquelyn Janzen as she shares her journey of becoming an avid and accomplished outdoorswoman here on the Island. Most of her achievements are beyond anything I would ever try to attempt, and I’m proud to call her a friend and an inspiration to me and many others. We’ll talk about her training to becoming a solo hiker, trail runner, running ultra marathons and her 2014 fundraiser run project where she ran from Port Hardy down to Victoria.