As adventurer and author Jenny Tough (real name) releases her new book Solo: What Running Across Mountains Taught Me About Life, we discuss her life in the mountains and the inspiration she’s taken from the women who contributed to her first book: Tough Women Adventure Stories.
Your first book was subtitled: Stories of grit, courage and determination. How did you choose the women who contributed tales to the book?
One issue I have with the ‘adventure book’ category currently seen on mainstream bookshelves is that they seem to promote one type of character, and for those of us who don’t identify with that character, we can’t then find someone to look up to. The reality is that the outdoor industry is filled with diverse individuals who experience adventure in totally different ways. The women in this book are quite diverse in their personalities, journey types, locations, ethnicities, and lifestyles. My hope is that by showcasing so many different characters, anyone who reads Tough Women will find someone they can identify with — someone they can look up to.
Which stories, in particular, did you take inspiration from?
I’m blown away by all of them, obviously. I think every time I flick through the book someone new pops out at me — they tell so many different stories and lessons, and depending on where I am in my life they might resonate at different times.
What does ‘toughness’ mean to you?
Tough comes in so many different forms, and truly believe everyone has their own way of being tough that they can tap into. For me, toughness is in resilience, integrity, and bravery.
Your latest book, Solo, is about your time spent in mountains across the world alone. What did you learn about yourself you didn’t expect to?
Quite ironically, the lesson I had to keep coming back to every time was that I am tougher than I let myself believe.
How have the lessons you’ve learned in the outdoors affected the rest of your life in the outdoor world?
The lessons I’ve gained through outdoor journeys have turned out to be the biggest and most important lessons that have entirely shaped my life. That’s largely why I’m so passionate about encouraging more people into this world.
How can telling stories about you and other female adventurers change perceptions in the outdoors?
Representation really matters. ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’. Showcasing other types of voices and encouraging diversity in our industry leads the way for younger generations to get involved in the outdoors, helps dissuade stereotypes and discouragement that women currently face in the outdoors, and gives opportunities to the women who already work in this industry but are consistently overlooked by top-level media.
Tough women
Follow some of the tough women featured in Jenny’s book.
Read next: Clifftop paradise – hostel to hostel walking in Pembrokeshire.
