Women, wilderness and wagging tails
Hiking together…and so much more
The premise seems too good to be true: provide a platform for women to connect for a wide range of activities — with emphasis on inviting their dogs to join in.
That’s precisely the goal of the Facebook-based group “Wilderness Women and Adventure Hounds.” Though the name suggests hiking and camping, in truth the group connects women for just about any activity a member can dream up — from an evening walk on the Rims to a monthly book club; from a meet-up on the ski slopes to an afternoon of pickleball or a spring flower shopping event.
“The only real limit to the type of event someone can create is their imagination,” says Heather Dabney. She, along with Niki Serafin and Kelsie Hitchler, founded the group two years ago.
While events can be as “exotic” as next winter’s planned manatee adventure in Florida, they can be simple as simple as two members getting together for coffee.
“This group is meant for people to say ‘anyone want to go for a walk? A bike ride? A hike? Coffee? Beer?’” Niki says.
It’s little surprise that the concept has taken off. The women first formed the group in April 2024 as a private, invitation-only way to meet up with friends and friends-of-friends. After going public a year ago, Wilderness Women and Adventure Hounds has grown to 400 members. And that’s not even counting the canines.
“Sometimes there are more dogs than people,” Kelsie says, smiling.
The core group of active members numbers about 50, ranging in age from 20 to 70. They also range in their capabilities. Most live in Billings, but several come from surrounding communities. Hiking events typically draw five or 10 members and usually trend from moderate to more difficult.
“We want the barriers of entry to be as low as possible,” Kelsie says. “We’ve had people who’ve never hiked before and others who are pretty experienced. Most can push their comfort zones a little bit and feel successful.”
The three founding members come from very different backgrounds. Niki, now 56, said she wasn’t exposed to hiking and camping as a child — though she has fond memories of her aunt taking her skiing. Later on, as a married mother of two and working fulltime, life just got in the way. “I always liked it but I just didn’t have a lot of opportunity to do it,” she says.
But life took a turn when her husband passed away. As a widow and empty nester working from home as a nurse, the Billings native decided to “make her life what she wanted her life to look like.” And that included outdoor activities.
Then she met Heather, 38, on a walk along the rims. Heather, a native of Northern California, was also working from home and the two hit it off. “Heather and I have the same hiking pace and pretty much the same availability for hiking,” Niki says.
Up until then, Heather’s outdoor activities were primarily linked to hunting and fishing.
“I didn’t hike for the fun of hiking until I found this group,” she says. “I now crave hiking and spend a crazy amount of time planning and researching hikes.”
Not much later, Niki met Kelsie on the ski slopes. Kelsie, 34, had grown up in Southern California, hiking in the Sierras with her father. Now, as a vet tech doing telehealth — also from her Billings home — Kelsie, too, was eager to meet others and explore the area.
Despite the age difference, the three became fast friends. And that chemistry inspired them to share their adventures. “They were both encouraging me to start my own group,” Niki says.
Heather remembers wanting it to be “a supportive, inclusive community for women of all ages, interests, and physical abilities to be able to meet other women, create friendships and maybe tackle some life goals they have been putting off due to lack of support.”
Kelsie emphasizes the power of women supporting women.
“Women tend to prefer to try new things in the presence of other women,” she says. “It’s just been fulfilling to create that type of environment to explore those things without pressure.”
Beyond female company, the three saw a niche they thought they could fill. And that “niche” included their dogs. Niki and Heather each have three. Kelsie has one. They stress, however, that having a dog is not a prerequisite. And there are certain situations when the pups just can’t come along.
Today, the three ladies strive to keep things informal. Yet, for safety reasons, they require all members to follow the few rules stated on their online site. The rules refer to risks inherent in outdoor activities, reminding members to know their own limits and to voice their concerns if pushed too far.
“We are not guides,” Niki emphasizes. “We are not wilderness trained. We just prefer not to go solo when enjoying the great outdoors.”
Their site also encourages sharing rides and sharing gas expenses. “We love to carpool — it’s one of the best ways to connect with each other,” Niki says. “It’s a great way to make new friends and it’s much more fun than driving solo!”
In addition, they’ve got rules for the dogs. All pups must be vaccinated and must get along well with other dogs. Likewise, the dogs’ women must always carry a leash and be prepared to use it.
“With multiple dogs on the trail, things can get tricky,” the rules state. “A bit of space and a leash go a long way in preventing any unexpected doggy drama.”
Member Theresa Pacheco said the group has opened up new possibilities. She’s enjoyed the camaraderie and has participated in less demanding activities.
“I’m still working on health, but I have made new friends and done some short walks,” she says. “It seems any time I want to do a walk, I have someone now.”
Jan Shanks joined the group to discover hikes around Billings. “I actually never thought about all the wonderful ladies I’d get to meet too!” she says. Another unexpected bonus, she says, is learning about new restaurants, handy outdoor gear or “just about anything.”
“And, yeah, for me, I definitely have more physical endurance.”
Niki, Heather and Kelsie insist they’re not the only leaders of Wilderness Women and Adventure Hounds. In fact, they strongly encourage members to host their own events via chats on the group’s Facebook page.
All three women say doing things with other women has upped their level of confidence.
“It’s cool to see where I am with outdoor activities today versus five years ago,” Niki says. “Most women, once they give it a chance and step outside their comfort zones, realize how much fun it is.”
Heather sums up the group in one simple sentence.
“We are just a group of adventurous women, trying new things, making friends and getting active,” Heather says.
Oh! And with a pack of dogs along for the fun.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Wilderness Woman and Adventure Hounds, search their name on Facebook and ask to become a member.
