Hello everyone. I am Alexandra, and I moved to the Triangle with my family from Illinois in 2021. I am originally from Germany and have lived in the USA for 11 years. Being from Germany, I grew up in the woods, and hiking was always part of my life! I love being outdoors, and I try to teach my kids to appreciate the outdoors as much as I do. Hiking in the triangle with this group is my therapy and helps me get less homesick since the NC trails remind me a lot of Germany!

*Alex speaks French and German.

Hi, hiking friends! I’m Amber and I can’t wait to meet you on the trails.

I’m a North Carolina native and one thing that has always kept me here is how beautiful our state is. I love that I can spend every weekend hiking on local trails in the Triangle and drive just a few hours for trails in the mountains.

Hiking is even better with friends so come join my hikes so we can enjoy it together!

When I’m not on the trails you’ll catch me rock climbing, traveling or hanging out with my dogs! I’ll happily hear all of your pet stories, send them my way.

I am looking forward to seeing you on the trails!

Hi everyone! I’m Ana, and I’m excited to be able to be a part of such an incredible organization. I’m originally from the northeast, but NC is the 5th state I’ve lived in- dare I say I finally found home! I am a nationally certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, going on my 12th year. My own dog (Athena, or “Pig” I call her most often) is absolutely my best friend. We are also avid backpackers and love to lead first-timers out into the wilderness on extended trips. Other than the obvious fact that I love to hike, I also truly enjoy the opportunity to empower women to be more confident and independent. Learning about people and what makes them who they are is one of my favorite things in the world, so feel free to chat with me! We have a lot to learn from each other.

I've been a technology executive for over 20 years and in tech my entire professional career. Along my professional journey, one of the things I enjoyed the most was mentoring women. The second thing was international travel, typically visiting our company offices around the world. I grew up in upstate NY but we've been in NC for 30 years and never looked back (who needs all that snow!). I've recently retired and am looking forward to this next phase of my life, which includes doing what I love, which is spending time outdoors. I am a dedicated outdoors woman! Always seeking outdoor adventures, whether it's backpacking on the Camino Trail, hiking down the Matterhorn or enjoying the Appalachian mountains. Nature has always brought me peace of mind. I look forward to many more outdoor adventures with the WOTTHC!

Hi! I’m Deborah. I am a Durham native (yes, we really exist!) and I am thrilled to be back home after many years on Long Island. The woods of southern Durham were my happy place when I was growing up but I have since branched out to explore the beautiful trails that have been developed throughout the Triangle. As a high school science teacher, I shared my love of the biosphere with my students. Now I am looking forward to sharing it with all the wonderful people who come to experience the woods with me.

When I am not out in nature, I can be found desperately trying to learn my chorus music or sitting on my giant purple sofa, surrounded by my plants, knitting or crocheting items to donate. I’ve been known to stitch and walk at the same time- but I promise not to do it on our hikes together!

Originally from NY, I've lived in Raleigh since college. Retired after 41 years working with computers. Now I enjoy my free time supporting the club and creating theatre with a few different community theatres in Raleigh. Walking has always been my preferred fitness activity, especially near the local lakes. In 2020 I started exploring some of the unpaved trails of Umstead, and a newbie hiker was born. I discovered WOTTHC in early 2022, just as I wanted to explore further. I'm happy to be able to give back to WOTTC.

Hi, everyone! My name is Karen. I was born in California, lived a lot of my life in Georgia, and finally settled in the Triangle about 15 years ago. I didn't get bitten by the hiking bug until I started going out with the club not so long ago - and now I'm either on a scheduled hike or out wandering trails most every weekend. I remember being really unsure and scared  when I started, but it's become something I love doing so much. I would really love to help other people discover how awesome it is to get out there and gain the confidence to explore. I'm a marketing writer professionally and really enjoy it, but it does keep most of my adventures confined to the weekends. In my spare time I write, watch scary/terrible old movies, play retro/cozy/puzzle video games, read too many advice columns, and have a TBR stack that will last me forever. I have a husband and two cats, but none of them are into hiking. So please come out with me! We'll find something cool. P.S. - please introduce me to your dog.

Hi, I’m Karyn! As a native North Carolinian, I’ve always loved being outside, and some of my fondest memories as a child are of exploring the woods behind my house. My love of hiking and camping has only grown after seeing my own children develop a love of the outdoors, and my family just completed our NC State Park passport book after visiting all of the state parks. Our next grand adventure involves exploring as many National Parks as possible.

I joined WOTTHC as a way to meet other outdoorsy women in the area and to give my family a break from always having to go on a hike with me. :) I love empowering women to feel confident outside, and I’m excited to support others in their outdoor journeys!

When I’m not exploring trails, you can find me dreaming of future travels, going to the gym, trying a new recipe, cheering for my kids in their various endeavors, or reading a good book.

Hi friends! My name is Katie and I'm so excited to be your hike leader! I've been hiking all of my life and love being outdoors in general. I also enjoy camping and have recently gotten into backpacking! As an NC native I love visiting all of our wonderful state parks and forests. Outside of hiking I also enjoy birding, playing video games, baking sourdough, and spending time with my cat Luna. I cant wait to see you on the trails!

Hello fellow hiking ladies! My name is Larissa. I am originally from Fortaleza, Brasil. I moved to and have been calling North Carolina home since 2004. I work full time in biopharma here at the RTP area. A biologist by trade, I have always loved nature, all the amazing and beautiful environments and their living creatures. With my kiddos having grown up and being out of the house, I have found time to explore the outdoors. Inspired by the beauty of this state, it awakened my passion for hiking. Being in nature, hiking, is my happy place. It brings me joy and peace, and it's where I find balance and wholeness. In addition to hiking, I enjoy listening to music, baking and cooking, and spending time with my family and dogs. I am also very passionate about women empowerment, leadership, and sisterhood. We have so much to share with and learn from each other!  Looking forward to meeting you on the trails! 

Hello my hiking friends! I am Mila and I love to be outside, especially in the company of other outdoor loving women. Hiking is my favorite pass time but when I am not on the trail, I work as an executive recruiter, I am a mom of a bunch of teenage boys and 3 pups. I love to travel, read, bake and bring friends together. I look forward to seeing you on a hike soon!

Hi! I am Scarlet! I am originally from the suburbs of Washington, DC. We moved to NC four years ago; since then, my family and I have gotten into hiking. I have three children and way too many pets that I adore! I have been a part of WOTTHC for a little over a year, and I love getting out into the woods and exploring new areas while meeting new friends. I became a hike leader to help share my love of the trails with others while also pushing myself to experience something new and challenging! I can't wait to share the trails with you!

*Scarlet is fluent in ASL

Hello! My name is Shannon, and I joined the club in the fall of 2024 after googling "hiking clubs near me" with the intention of finding like-minded people with whom could connect. I became passionate about hiking in 2022 when I began to focus more on my health. In 2023, I set a goal to hike all 42 NC State Parks by the end of the year, and on 12/30/23 at Crowder's Mountain State Park, I accomplished that goal. I live in Fayetteville with my spoiled pets: two pups and one cat. I work in healthcare management and spend most of my free time trying to relax by cooking, reading, or hiking. I am passionate about the NC mountains and try to escape there as often as I can. My next major hiking goal will be to hike some (maybe eventually all) of the Appalachian Trail. I look forward to meeting many awesome ladies on the trails!

Hi, I’m Valerie. I love being outdoors hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. I had the opportunity to be part of a scout troop with my kids for many years and joined WOTTHC so I could keep spending time outdoors with others now that they are in college. I have logged many hours on trails in Chapel Hill and have also hiked on the Appalachian Trail, in NC state and national parks, and in various locations overseas. When I’m not on the trails, I spend time reading, cooking, trying to revive my French language skills, and planning future adventures. I enjoy chatting with members during hikes and look forward to hiking with you!