HIKE for Mental Health’s “Hiker Highlight” series is a way for folks within the HFMH community to help #breakthestigma surrounding mental health by sharing their story about hiking and mental health. Read on below to learn about our first three Hiker Highlights and stay tuned for more!

Meet Michelle “Starr” Moshinskie. Michelle completed a life mission in 2022 as she trekked northbound from Georgia to Maine along the 2,193.4-mile Appalachian Trail. In addition to the grueling daily grind of such a task, she was also successful in raising $10,750.00 for HIKE for Mental Health!

In her words, “Mental health has affected me my whole life. The only time I feel at complete peace is within the woods. I chose to complete the AT because I wanted to face mental anxieties and fears, face-to-face, and I did just that. Since summiting, I’ve gained not just physical muscle, but mental strength too. I’ve adapted a new perspective on life and believe everyone should experience something similar.”

Michelle has hiked over 5,000 miles in her lifetime and has participated in multiple hiking fundraisers supporting numerous causes in recent years. To see more from Michelle’s journey head on over to Instagram @hiking_with_starr.

Meet Jay Morrison of @jaymorrisonoutdoors – an avid participant of HIKE for Mental Health’s annual #hikeOctober event.

“When I started realizing the benefits I was experiencing from my outdoor adventures, I started recording and releasing trip videos on YouTube with the goal of educating and inspiring others to “Get Outside & Do Something Awesome”. In 2019, I found out about HIKE for Mental Health’s annual #hikeOctober, and immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of it.”

“Since then, I have been able to leverage the @jaymorrisonoutdoors online brand to spread awareness, normalize conversations, and raise money to help those dealing with mental health issues. We all know someone who is suffering – sometimes it’s ourselves or a loved one, and other times it’s an acquaintance or a co-worker – I #hikeOctober to share the message that these people don’t need to suffer alone, or in silence. The fact that some of the money raised through #hikeOctober goes back into the trail systems that I love is an added bonus!”

Meet Erin Day of @tensummityoga – another avid participant of HIKE for Mental Health’s annual #hikeOctober campaign.

“Hiking and mental health are important to me as I see time in nature and the state of our well being as inseparable. I also feel that the state of the environment reflects our mental health.”

“Nature was always healing for me and then I lost someone close to me to suicide. During the years that followed I did everything to not face the grief I felt, which was very unhealthy. I didn’t hike as often as I once had – that would have meant being honest with myself [and] letting everything surface. So, I held it in, which is even more painful. #hikeOctober is actually what helped me return to hiking. As I dedicated my hikes to others I naturally moved through more of my own grief while out on the trails. Nature has such a gentle way of supporting us through the most difficult stuff.”

Do you have a story to tell about hiking and mental health? We want to hear it! Send an email to brayden@hikeformentalhealth.org for a chance to be featured as one of HIKE for Mental Health’s next Hiker Highlights.