Savannah Mullarney’s 2025 hike for mental health

If you told me a few years ago that hiking would become so important to me, I wouldn’t have believed you. I grew up in and around New York City, where the only path I knew required a MetroCard. Nature wasn’t really part of my upbringing, and I never thought it would be something I’d connect with.

A couple of years ago, I shifted careers into sustainability. Through my work and books like I Quit Plastics by Kate Nelson, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and the writings of Emerson—I began to see how deeply nature can shape our sense of self and purpose. So when I hit a difficult stretch with my mental health, turning to the outdoors felt like the most natural step forward.

My company’s partnership with OneTreePlanted bridged the gap from working behind a computer for sustainability data to real world applications. Through exploring that partnership I was able to find opportunities like the #Hikers365Challenge sponsored by @myadventurechallenge with @OneTreePlanted, which plant a tree for those who complete one or all of their hiking challenges. Over the past year, hiking has become essential for my mental health and a way to regulate my nervous system. Therefore, I am continuing to explore ways to set hiking goals, spend more time outside, and link my own healing with environmental stewardship.

This year, I’m partnering with @hikeformentalhealth for #HikeOctober, raising money for mental health research, spreading awareness about mental illness, and helping conserve wilderness trails. In addition to attempting to hike 365 miles this year I’ve also committed to @52HikeChallenge , #52HikeChallengeEarthSeries, which combine hiking with conservation and stewardship work. These challenges continue to push me to explore Colorado’s landscapes, deepen my love for public lands, and support efforts to protect them for future generations.

I’m not an influencer, and I’m not trying to be one. I’m just a regular person with a full-time job, picks up the occasional service shifts on the weekends, volunteers  in the community, and listens to Taylor Swift. I just make an effort to prioritize getting outside, because it’s become something that truly helps me.

I’m sharing my journey to show that you don’t need to be a pro athlete, an influencer, or even especially outdoorsy to make a difference. Whether it’s donating, planting a tree, joining a challenge, or simply picking up a bottle cap on your next walk—you’re part of the movement too.

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