Freeing yourself on the trails: hiking for emancipation with Clémence Blot
In this podcast episode, I welcome Clémence Blot, co-author of the guide Randonneuse, who explains how hiking can become a space of emancipation for women, and shares her advice on how to dare to take the plunge.
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Episode summary
Illustrator and mountain enthusiast Clémence Blot is co-author with Camille Chrétien of the guide Randonneuse, se libérer sur les sentiers. In this interview, she talks about the genesis of this project, about hiking as an act of emancipation and about the obstacles encountered by women in their practice. She also shares concrete advice on how to dare to take the plunge.
A project born of personal experience
It all started with a hike organized by Camille in the Taillefer massif. For the first time, she had taken the lead in the organization, and emerged proud and confident. The experience prompted her to ask herself why she hadn’t dared to take the plunge earlier, when she had the skills to do so.
From this questioning came the idea of asking other women about their obstacles. In Grenoble, Clémence and Camille organized a workshop… which was completed in just a few hours. The testimonies gathered showed that these obstacles were widely shared.
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Hiking as an act of emancipation
For Clémence, hiking is much more than a physical activity: it’s a terrain of freedom. It allows women to reclaim their time and their bodies, in a society where they are often subjected to multiple injunctions.
Learning to find your way around, choosing an itinerary, carrying a bag: these are all experiences that boost your self-confidence and have an impact on your everyday life.
Identify and deconstruct obstacles
In the book, the two authors list the obstacles expressed by the women they meet. Some are universal, while others are specifically gender-related, like these:
- Fear of aggression, even if the risks are lower in the mountains than in the city, remains a major obstacle.
- Physiological aspects: menstrual cycle, perineum, menopause, all realities rarely taken into account.
- Guidance, often perceived as a male skill, when in fact it is first and foremost an apprenticeship.
Clémence reminds us that it’s essential to place these obstacles in a social and cultural context: education and the way women are portrayed outdoors have shaped these internalized limits.
Tips for getting started
Clémence encourages you to start gradually, on small loops close to home, without aiming for performance.
Being accompanied by a mountain leader can also help you acquire safety skills.
In terms of preparation, a number of avenues are being explored:
- strengthen back and legs to better manage the weight of the bag,
- tame your fears by taking it one step at a time,
- choosing the right equipment for your body type, especially your backpack.
Testimonies and representations
The book is packed with testimonials from both beginners and professionals.
Clémence underlines the importance of these voices, often modest but essential to inspire other women.
She also reminds us that representativeness is a key lever: the more visible women are in the outside world, the more they will encourage others to take the plunge.
And after the guide?
Since the book’s release, Clémence and Camille have been stepping up their activities: conferences, themed workshops (notably on pregnancy and postpartum) and educational projects. Their ambition: to continue opening up dialogue and passing on information.
A final message
Clémence concludes with a simple encouragement:
“Dare to go, stay safe, but don’t forget that you’re strong. The more you practice, the more capable you’ll feel.”
Links
- Book “Randonneuses, le guide
- Clémence’s Instagram account
- Book Instagram account