I saw a LinkedIn post recently from a woman frustrated by the tone of many women’s networking events. You probably know the kind she means. They often feature pink décor, canvas painting, and sparkly drinks. The gift bags come filled with items that assume we all want the same shade of lip gloss.
Now, if that’s your thing, genuinely, enjoy it. There is no judgment here. But the post made me realize something. The most meaningful networking I have ever experienced did not happen in a ballroom or at an event organized by the local chamber.
It happened on a trail.
No Name Tags, Just Backpacks
A few years ago, I decided to join a backpacking trip with Dirty Girl Adventures, an organization run by Compass Point. This trip was never advertised as a professional development opportunity. There were no scheduled breakout sessions, no keynote speakers, and certainly no structured circles where we were prompted to share our elevator pitches.
It was simply a group of women, our backpacks, and miles of trail stretching before us. The group was a mix of personalities and professions—corporate leaders, university professionals, government employees, and small business owners. We represented different industries, different ages, and various stages in our careers.
Somewhere between the challenging uphill climbs and the long, quiet stretches of trail, conversations started to unfold. These were not the polished, rehearsed discussions you have while balancing a drink and a plate of appetizers. They were the real kind.
Something Happens When You’re Walking
When you’re hiking all day, you don’t have much energy left for posturing. Your focus shifts to the essentials: breathing hard, watching your footing, and thinking about how much further it is to the campsite. In that shared state of effort, your guard naturally drops.
So, we talked.
We discussed the challenges of leading teams and the frustration of being overlooked for opportunities. We navigated male-dominated rooms and the delicate dance between confidence and humility. We spoke about wanting more from our careers, wondering if we were allowed to say that out loud.
What made these conversations different? We weren’t trying to squeeze them into a ten-minute break. We were walking for hours, side-by-side. There’s something powerful about a conversation in motion; you don’t have to maintain constant eye contact, and there’s no sense of performance. It felt less like networking and more like truth-telling with blisters.
When Support Is Earned, Not Exchanged
At that point in my life, I was in the middle of a job search. It was not the exciting, hopeful kind, but the vulnerable, uncertain kind. On that trail, women I had just met offered genuine, unconditional support.
I heard things like:
“There’s an opening at my company. You’d be great at that.”
“Send me your résumé.”
“I know someone you should talk to.”
And they all followed through. When you have watched someone push through a steep incline with thirty pounds on their back; when you have shared snacks, water filters, and personal stories; you build a different level of trust. The support offered was not transactional; it was relational. Many of those trail conversations turned into emails, introductions, and ongoing encouragement long after we had washed the dust off our boots.
Accomplishment Is a Quiet Confidence Builder
There is another powerful element to an experience like this: out there, no one is coming to rescue you. We carried our own gear, filtered our own water, set up our own camp, and climbed every hill ourselves. There was no symbolic safety net, only our own competence and resilience.
When you stand at the top of something that cost you real, physical effort, you do not come back the same person. That sense of accomplishment settles into your bones. It shows up later in business meetings, during negotiations, and in how you answer a difficult question. It affects whether you raise your hand for a new challenge.
Confidence built through shared challenge feels different than confidence built through applause. It is quieter, more internal, but it lasts much longer.
Maybe We Have Defined Networking Too Narrowly
I am not anti-conference or anti-paint night. I am certainly not against anyone enjoying whatever fills their cup. But I do wonder if we have made networking too tidy and predictable. Maybe the most strategic thing you can do for your career is to walk beside other women for a few miles and tell the truth.
No pink balloons are required. All you need is dirt under your boots and the space to have a real conversation. For me, that trip was some of the most meaningful professional development of my life. And if that makes me an unconventional networker, I am perfectly fine with that.
Outdoor Groups & Opportunities for Women
If you’re inspired to get outside with other women — whether it’s short hikes, backpacking trips, or multi-day excursions — here are some of my favorites and great places to start:
Dirty Girl Adventures – Based out of Kansas, Guided hikes, backpacking, kayaking, and camping adventures that fill up fast and bring women together on the trail.
Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills – Learn outdoor survival skills with Jessie Krebs
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism — Becoming an Outdoors woman – State-level offerings for women’s outdoor skills, educational programs, and nature outings.