Stepping Into the Possible: Stephanie Selin’s Presidential Traverse With SheJumps
A confident step into a new challenge, guided by preparation, community, and a mission to expand what women see as possible in the outdoors.
When SheJumps Board Chair and Experience Momentum fitness member, Stephanie Selin, committed to the Presidential Traverse, she was looking for a challenge and a deeper connection to the mission she champions every day: helping women and girls step into bold, life-changing outdoor experiences.
The Presidential Traverse is no gentle introduction to hiking. It’s a rugged, notoriously unpredictable section of the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, spanning nine peaks across the White Mountains—each named after a U.S. President. The terrain is so notoriously harsh that the U.S. Forest Service warns hikers with a sign reading things like: “The worst weather in America. Many have died there… even in the summer.”
But this was exactly the point. Stephanie wanted something that would ground her, connect her. Something meaningful. Something that would remind her—and others—of what women are capable of when given encouragement, skills, and opportunity.
The Journey: Three Days, 20 Miles, 9,000 Feet of Climbing
Over the course of three demanding days, Stephanie joined eight participants and two guides, all women who traveled from across the country. Ages, backgrounds, and hiking histories varied, but there was camaraderie in what they were there to achieve together.
“Much of the trail wasn’t a trail,” Stephanie shared. “It was just fields of huge rocks—nothing like the Pacific Northwest. Climbing up, over, and around rocks with a pack, you're trusting your balance constantly.”
The group stayed in the Appalachian Mountain Club huts—simple bunks, communal meals, and the kind of mountain history that feels like stepping back in time.
Training for a Traverse: The Role of Experience Momentum
Stephanie approached training with intention. She followed the guides’ recommended plan, and credits Experience Momentum with giving her the strength foundation—and community encouragement—that has made a big difference.
Bootcamp. Fitness classes. Seattle stair climbs. Heavy pack training. Weighted vests suggested by coaches. Sandbags and water jugs to mimic heavy trail loads.
“Members and staff donated to my climb, the coaches encouraged me during the workouts, and Erin provided me 1:1 training sessions. With only being able to hike on the weekends, yet needing to train more frequently, EM was critical to my success on the trail. I so appreciated EM’s support in helping me achieve this milestone opportunity!”
All of that combined made a big difference on the trail. She definitely had a big community who believed in her.
“I learned I’m stronger and more capable of going the distance than I thought I was.”
The Hardest Part Wasn’t the Climb
While Stephanie expected the terrain to challenge her, she didn’t expect to be carrying so much emotional weight. Just before leaving, her mother-in-law entered hospice. Her father had passed in the spring, and her uncle just the week before. As she got updates on the trail that her mother-in-law was nearing the end of life, the emotional load became overwhelming.
“I cried much of the second afternoon,” she said “I had grief and loss on my mind.”
That’s when the power of community showed up—exactly the kind of community SheJumps aims to create.
Stephanie shared concern with the lead guide that her distraction could lead to an injury on the trail, and the guide responded with compassion and clarity. She asked Stephanie to hike directly behind her, to focus only on her steps, and she carried on one careful foot placement at a time.
“I was so grateful for the understanding and support that I likely wouldn’t have experienced in a different setting with a different group.”
Living the SheJumps Mission
As Board Chair of SheJumps, Stephanie advocates for spaces where women and girls stretch themselves—safely and joyfully—beyond what they believed possible.
This climb allowed her to live that mission personally.
“I wanted to really embrace and live the mission to get more women and girls outside adventuring – jumping beyond what they think they are capable of, and gaining skills and confidence along the way.”
With her daughters recently starting college, this climb became a personal anchor point too—something to work toward and the fundraising that she would need to support it, was a great opportunity.
What She Learned
That the Appalachian Trail is older and more unpredictable than expected
That women will lift each other up when we need it the most
That she's stronger and more fit than she gives herself credit for
That community - EM, SheJumps, and the women on the trail, bring us joy
Fueling the Traverse
Her nutrition strategy? Simple, carb focused snacks, she enjoyed: cheese and crackers, peanut butter pretzels, sweetened dried mango, and even a roll of Oreos.
Only three days of food needed to be carried, making it manageable and familiar.
A Shared Movement
Like Experience Momentum, SheJumps is also a 1% For the Planet organization, dedicated to preserving the environment so we all have a healthy home for our adventures. Together, with thousands of other organizations, we work together to fund and lead environmental initiatives and inspire others to join us in embracing the power that the outdoors has on all of us.
A Call to Action
Stephanie’s message to anyone considering a challenge—big or small:
“I think both the EM and SheJumps communities are incredibly unique places where people are encouraged, supported, and challenged to safely push themselves - gaining strength, skills, and confidence. But simply trying something new – going outside of your norm and tackling a new challenge, can keep life fun.”
What to do Next?
SheJumps volunteer and Experience Momentum Team Member, Erin Melton, will be participating in the 2026 fundraising climb in the Grand Teton, WY July 12-15 and would love to see you there too! All 2026 fundraising climbs are open for registration, so check out all the incredible places you can adventure while raising money for an incredible organization.
If you want to get involved, reach out, visit SheJumps.org, or you might even get lucky and EM have an upcoming event where you can snag some SheJumps raffle items, a sticker of their iconic girafficorn, and an opportunity to learn more.