Feature Friday | Marinel De Jesus

Today’s Feature Friday is both a story, and an opportunity that we can’t wait to tell you all about. Meet woman who hikes, Marinel de Jesus @browngaltrekker. Marinel is an avid backpacker/hiker who left her 15 year career as a lawyer in DC to start Peak Explorations which focuses on the inclusion of indigenous women in the trekking tourism industry. Her work led to her move to the Andes mountains in Cusco, Peru and she is now working closely with the porters in the Cusco region to empower and advocate for better working conditions on the treks such as the Inca Trail. Marinel recently launched The Porter Voice Collective to provide a platform that aims to listen to, celebrate, amplify and elevate the voices of porters in Peru, Nepal and Kilimanjaro. The mission is to create a certification for fair and equitable treatment of the porters in these regions. Marinel is also a writer at browngaltrekker.com which promotes both women and diversity in the outdoor and travel spaces. Marinel is currently organizing a once in a lifetime women-only trek with the indigenous women in Mongolia's Altai mountains where participants will engage in an authentic nomadic migration. This trek is led by the indigenous women nomads and female eagle huntresses who are competing at the Eagle Festival which is scheduled to occur following the trek. This trek is scheduled March 13-23 2020 and is also in celebration of Women's History Month. See this link to learn more about the trip and how to follow along/sign up.