Soophia Ansari

Soophia is a Pakistani-American, Muslim outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about learning and growing in nature and through the teachings of indigenous wisdom. The child of immigrants with limited resources, Soophia struggled to find her place in the outdoor recreation world until her late 20's, when she connected with a network of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) mentors skilled in backpacking, mountaineering, and climbing. With a community of support behind her, Soophia plans to embark on a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023, with the intent of paying it forward and mentoring the next generation of BIPOC outdoor enthusiasts on how to start and plan their own thru-hikes.

When Soophia isn't backpacking, you can find her painting, walking around Minneapolis, reading books on climate justice in local coffee shops, practicing her Urdu with mom on the phone, learning how to climb, and loving on her partner and cats.

IG: @soophansari