Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Smith.
Hi Cheyenne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up south of Denver, Colorado in the bluffs of the front range. In elementary school, I would go to the local mountain near my house, hike off-trail, and try to find deer antlers. One day, while off-trail, I stumbled across an old, small, underground tornado shelter. It was partially hidden by overgrown grass and absolutely terrifying to look down into. With a little courage, I peeked inside and realized it was empty. From that day, I collected and stashed all the antlers I found in the underground shelter. By the 5th antler, I looked down at my natural treasure box and had a moment of awareness. I became conscious of my inner explorer.
Ever since then, I have been chasing nature. I started rock climbing at a young age and the moment I got my license; I took every chance to get into the mountains. I vividly remember being 16, on summer break, and spending every moment outside when I got off work at chipotle, lol.
I went to college at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I worked in the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during my time at CU and grew a love for transforming campus culture into something inclusive and engaging with diverse perspectives. I finished my third and last year at the University of Wollongong in Australia.
Australia itself was a huge moment of growth. I was living in a shared house with a bunch of adventurous Aussies and spent a lot of time exploring local crags and trails throughout the country. I was one, the only woman climbing in our group, and two, the only black woman climbing in our group. I always felt off because of that. The pandemic hit so I came back to the states, and that “off” feeling in Australia inspired me to start guiding people like me. I am now a field instructor at a non-profit called Women’s Wilderness and focus my outdoor education work with femme and people of color in the Salt Lake City and Denver/Boulder area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s a funny thing diving in a world where no one looks like you and/or looks at you with pre-conceived ideas about who you are and what you are capable of. As a black woman, there is the reality of little to no black female climbers/alpinists to identify with. It can be lonely and leads to unwanted headspaces and immense imposter syndrome. It’s never a smooth road.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) work is probably one of the bumpiest roads to embark on. There is always resistance, people who don’t understand, and people judge, but the moments where you inspire one person to get out of their comfort zone and take up space makes it all worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Many of us can easily identify a person who has helped us navigate new terrain. I remember those who helped me pave my path as I help others pave theirs. That is what outdoor education is about – mentorship. I specialize in rock climbing and backpacking instruction and yes, there is the technical side of things like ropes and gear and risk management, but the bones of my practice are teaching people that being outside is safe, fulfilling, and healing.
When not guiding, I am usually making art or highlining (slacklining over cliffs, I promise it’s safe). Those things have been such an amazing outlet for community and flow state.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I didn’t have a mentor for the longest time. It was a lot of putting myself in uncomfortable situations to learn what I wanted to learn. In some aspects of my outdoor career, it still feels like that.
I really try to cultivate community in whatever I do. I attend lots of meetups and when I get a chance, host meetups for the things I love. I helped cultivate free climbing clinics with various gyms, co-organized the US Women’s Highline Festival, and am very active in the local art scene. Community is everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: cheysmith.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chey.smith/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheysmith.fb
Image Credits
Landon Hale
Scott Crady
AJ Wells
