Finding Freedom in the Wild: Jasmine’s Journey to Solo Adventure and Self-Discovery
The outdoors has a way of stripping life back to what’s real. For Jasmine, that truth began with silence, the sound of birds, a rushing river, and the rare calm that only nature can give. It was in these moments that she first discovered her freedom in the wild, a feeling of being fully present, unbound, and connected to the world around her.
“Being in those spaces made me feel alive, even if only for a moment.”
For years, Jasmine worked in healthcare, pouring everything into her job until exhaustion became routine. Days blurred into shifts, dinners, and sleep. Life felt small, robotic, even. On weekends, she’d walk short trails near home, more to breathe than explore. Fear and what-ifs kept her from going further.
That started to change in 2022, when she moved to Colorado. Inspired by local adventurers she followed online, she thought, That could be me someday. And slowly, it was.
She began with short hikes, then longer ones, each step teaching her to trust herself a little more. Her first solo road trip from Colorado to California changed everything. She stayed in remote huts in Utah, slept under Arizona stars, and fell completely in love with California’s giant sequoias.
“It was terrifying to be on the road alone,” she says, “but it awakened something in me. That trip lit a fire I never knew I had. And I never looked back.”
The Place That Changed It All
For Jasmine, one moment stands above the rest - a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.
“It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to witness something that massive, so vast, ancient, and powerful.”
Hovering above those red cliffs, she felt both tiny and infinite. The scale of it, the colors, the wind, the silence, rewired something inside her. Her problems didn’t disappear, but they suddenly felt smaller. The canyon reminded her how wide the world really is.
That experience became a compass for how she travels now: always chasing wonder, seeking places that make her feel connected to something bigger than herself.
When Adventure Goes Off Script
Not every journey goes smoothly. On a trip to Iceland, Jasmine lost her phone after a glacier tour at night, in a snowstorm. She tried searching, but visibility was near zero. The driver promised to keep an eye out.
Exhausted, she returned to her hotel and slept through an entire day. When she finally woke, devastated, she realized she’d missed several non-refundable excursions. “I was so mad at myself,” she admits. “I felt like I had failed.”
But the next evening, the bus driver showed up with her phone. That small act of kindness flipped her perspective. Losing her phone forced her to rest, something she hadn’t done in days.
“That experience was a wake-up call. I had been pushing myself too hard. Losing my phone was the universe telling me to slow down.”
Since that trip, Jasmine’s learned that rest isn’t a weakness, it’s part of the adventure.
(For more lessons from the unexpected, read our feature on Junko Tabei - the woman who taught the world how to climb with humility)
Why Her Story Resonates
Jasmine’s adventures aren’t about perfection, they’re about persistence.
“I didn’t grow up outdoorsy,” she says. “I knew nothing about hiking or camping. But I was curious. I took that first step, and I kept showing up for myself.”
Now, she’s proof that you don’t need all the answers to begin. You just have to begin. Her message hits especially hard for those afraid to go it alone.
“If you’re always waiting on someone else, you might miss out on experiences meant for you.”
Her advice to new solo adventurers is simple - start small. Explore local trails, build confidence, and expand your comfort zone one hike at a time. Safety, planning, and intuition go hand-in-hand. And above all, trust yourself.
If you’re new to solo hiking, our guide on Hiking Safety Tips: How to Hike Safely in the Wilderness is a good place to start.
A Dream Day in the Wild
Ask Jasmine to describe her perfect adventure, and she paints a quiet, vivid scene.
A small hut tucked deep in snow-covered mountains. The air crisp, her breath visible. A steaming mug of black tea in her hands as the sun spills pink and gold over frozen peaks. Later, snowshoeing through untouched powder, laughter by a fire, stories shared under a clear winter sky.
“That’s the perfect day to me - simple, connected, and full of quiet beauty.”
The Takeaway
Jasmine’s story reminds us that the outdoors isn’t about speed, likes, or checklists. It’s about presence, and choosing to say yes, even when fear whispers no.
For anyone who’s ever thought, I can’t do this alone, Jasmine is proof that you can and that what’s waiting out there is worth it.
Follow her journey on Instagram at @adventureswithjasmiine, and check out more real-world stories from explorers redefining adventure.