Riding the White Rim, and Why it Mattered

The government shut down on the day we set out.

As we sank deeper and deeper into the canyon, focussing on staying hydrated,

pedalling through red sand, and taking in the sweeping desert views, some of that

started to fall away. Regardless of political perspectives and values, we came together

to cheer each other up each hard hill, and as we rode rise after rise, ravens circled

against the towering red canyon walls.

The 13 women on our trip ranged in age from twenties through to mid-sixties (and

notably, we summited the hardest hills in reverse age order). I didn’t know any of these

women before we launched from Mineral Bottom. I had never ridden my mountain bike

for more than two days in a row. We slept under the desert stars for three nights, rose

with the sun to the stirrings of our trail mates and the mouth-watering smell and wake-

up call for, “coffee!” and laughed (and cried) together over alternatingly pale white and

red mile of striped sandstone.

Joy looks like this. Day 2, miles from cell service.

By the first day, descending switchbacks together clad in

tutus and giggling, I’d already started to trust this group of women, and by the end of the

fourth day, cresting the lip of the gruelling Schaeffer switchbacks with my new friend

Kelly riding at my side, I knew that I could count on these women.

13 women, 4 nights, 3 days, spanning 5 decades of life

It hadn’t even been a week, yet it was long enough for everything to become clear

again. I knew these women had my back. I crested the final hill confident,

accomplished, empowered and connected.

Donning tutus makes you feel beautiful and brave.

I returned to cell service remembering that my phone was a distraction, more than

anything. I knew that there’s a place beyond politics, and tribalism, and our to-do lists,

where we can all come together.

The news would hit again soon after our exit from the National Park, where out of

pure love for the land, some staff had continued to steward the space but we had a new

capacity to navigate now. We had each other. And we had received that ever generous,

ever loving gift from the land, and from time outdoors, in community: clarity, kindness,

connection.

I’ll carry it forward.

Love,

Heather

🌅 You’re Invited into the Power of We

If this story sparked something in you — trust that YES.

2026 Women’s Desert Dose Adventures:

✨ Idaho Hot Springs • July 20–24

✨ White Rim Trail • Oct 21–24

You belong here—exactly as you are.

Say YES to a DOSE Adventure

Heather Hendrie is the award-winning author of the Awfully Hilarious anthology series (link: Amazon.com: heather hendrie ) that smashes stigma through humour. Heather lives in Whistler, British Columbia, where she runs True Nature Wilderness Therapy. Heather celebrates joy and play daily—and her inner child insists on wearing all her favourite patterns at once!