It’s no secret nature has a diversity issue.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in sports and the outdoors. Activities like skiing, mountaineering, and rock climbing are dominated by men, and guiding companies are mostly staffed by men. It’s a barrier some groups are working to overcome. After all, it wasn’t until 2012 that women competed in every sport in the Olympics.

In Tahoe — a smorgasbord for nature lovers and backcountry enthusiasts — several women-led companies have carved a niche for women in the outdoors, empowering them to try new things and create community.

Moonshine Ink spoke with the leaders of three such companies — Alpinistas Adventures, Backcountry Babes, and The Retreat Company — all of whom agreed on the need for women-centric spaces dedicated to adventure.

Alpinistas Adventures was founded in 2021 by Joanne Bienskie when she realized that both outdoor retail and backcountry education weren’t catering to women. Both were lacking, so she started the online store Alpinistas, formerly located on Mount Rose Highway, which then grew to encompass guided excursions for women as well.

“The environment wasn’t built to support women progressing in the outdoors,” Bienskie said, “and it didn’t seem like anyone cared to change that.”

Backcountry Babes owner and CEO Emily Hargraves noted that even among guides, it’s hard to be a woman in a male-dominated field without being exceptional at one’s job. Backcountry Babes began in Colorado in 1997, and its headquarters moved to Tahoe in 2015, when Hargraves took the helm. The company offers avalanche classes within Tahoe and Colorado and runs international backcountry tours.

“I think women tend to underestimate their downhill ski ability, their uphill fitness,” Hargraves said. “A question that I answer a lot is, ‘Am I going to be athletic or fast enough for this trip?’”

While some women minimize their capabilities after seeing the rigorous portrayal of the backcountry in films, others may find themselves unprepared or ignored.

“I had a lot of interactions with women in the outdoors who would relay pretty negative stories about their experiences with clubs or guide companies when they were trying to learn or recreate,” Bienskie said.

She shared a story of a woman who was left behind by her group and guides when she felt uncomfortable continuing to the summit and didn’t want to turn around alone. She stayed overnight in a snow filled chute without proper gear.

The story is all too familiar. Choosing the wrong partner for a hike or excursion can turn deadly. And having the right one can make an experience better than one could have hoped for.

“I wanted to create a space also for women to be able to learn these sports and do these things,” Bienskie said.

Alpine divorces — a term coined for cases of women being deserted by partners in the wilderness — have made headlines and gone viral this year, such as the conviction of Austrian hiker Thomas Plamberger whose girlfriend froze to death on a mountain after he abandoned her to continue his trek.

Alpinistas Adventures seeks to provide positive experiences for women. It is even hosting a free upcoming series called Unknown Terrain to supply women with knowledge for navigating the decision of whom to join or take along into the backcountry.

“There’s a lot of new people moving to the region and they just don’t know anybody,” Bienskie said. “One of the biggest challenges that I hear all the time is not having a partner to do X, Y, Z, whether that’s just going on a hike or rock climbing or doing some of these bigger peaks in the wilderness.”

The Retreat Company founder Charlotte Lilley noted that many women’s entry into the outdoors is led by men. She started her company in 2018 to offer her own camping, skiing, and work retreats, providing a way for women to get out there without depending on a partner. Lilley successfully brings women together and facilitates community. She said that according to surveys, most group members leave the retreats with lasting friendships.

Among a culture of first tracks, personal records, and the next big summit, these women-led and women-only companies are prioritizing the journey, connection, and experience.

“When you have a space like that, it actually gives women more confidence to push themselves harder and try new things,” Lilley explained. “You feel like you can speak up more, ask more questions, and push yourself in a different way when it’s all women.”

Lilley said she receives many comments from women who have only skied with their partners, or whose friends no longer hit the slopes, and want to find new friends for their excursions. Companies like The Retreat Company, Alpinistas Adventures, and Backcountry Babes break down those barriers to finding partners.

“I want to bring [women] together,” Lilley said. “I want it to be like a girlfriends’ trip, but then have people come in who maybe haven’t skied before and I want them to feel comfortable and do this thing.”

Hargraves said the experience also increases confidence and camaraderie. There’s something unique about being surrounded by women.

“It’s hard to put your finger on why an all-women’s trip is so special,” Hargraves said. “It’s just joyful, energetic, fun, lots of laughs. Everyone’s chipping in to make sure that everyone’s well taken care of and having a good time.”

Whether it’s for meeting new people, learning a sport under the guidance of a woman, or joining a nonintimidating group, these women-led companies are paving the way and fostering womanhood.

“I think just what we’re doing is creating this entire experience that’s built around women and the way that they actually want to connect with each other and the way that they want to participate,” Lilley said.

Learn more about upcoming retreats at theretreat.company. Find seasonal courses and trips at alpinistasadventures.com and backcountrybabes.com.