Those Who Roam: Zamira Rodriguez
Give a warm howdy to Zamira Rodriguez! She is an inspirational woman who loves being in nature, crushing the personal goals she sets for herself, and looking fabulous while doing it. Zamira was the first friend I made at the beginning of my outdoor journey back in 2021 at an REI camping class for women – the rest is history.
I’m excited to feature her on Those Who Roam to tell her story. Let’s hear what she has to say!
Q: Tell Us a Little About Who You Are
My name is Zamira Rodriguez. I'm from the Rio Grande Valley right by the border with Mexico down south. I’ve lived in Austin Texas on and off since 2012, so it took about 12 years or so give or take.
I really love the outdoors. I met Victoria at an REI camping class for women during the pandemic. I didn't know anything about camping but I wanted to learn to take the next step with my hiking trips. I would just say I'm a really big person when it comes to parks, lakes, beaches, mountains, and traveling in general.
Q: When Did You Start Adventuring in the Outdoors?
The pandemic, honestly, like the early unsought – I would say around April or May. I just lived in San Antonio briefly for a time and I just started walking around in my local parks because I wanted to find a way to lose weight that was free, accessible, and easy.
I just started lingering, looking at the trees and the grass and the sights around me and being LIKE, “Hey, maybe working out isn't so bad. I like how everything looks!” And then I just started delving more into hiking.
Q: In What Ways Has Nature Helped With Your Mental Health?
Oh my God, so much more! I think when I would just go to a regular workout class there was a mirror and I would just focus on that in the beginning and just be like, “Oh, I don't want to focus on this right now. I just want to focus on my activity.”
What's great about nature is there's no mirror. There are no people judging you for the most part. You're by yourself in the woods alone and so you could just really take in the sounds of the birds, the waves, everything going on, and just forget about you.
That would take the focus off of myself in my head was such a relief, such a calming thing and I loved it.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to find their space in the outdoors but is scared to take the first step?
I really like researching when I'm uneasy about things so I would just look at places around me, do a Google search for ‘nature areas around me’ and then look at the reviews and look at pictures and be like, “Oh look, I want to go here because it's really famous for picnics and stuff. I'm going check this area out.”
Just do a little bit of research beforehand so you don't just feel like, “Oh I'm stepping in uncharted territory.” Or if you are more the adventurous type than being like, “Oh, I've heard of this place, let's just check it out today.” And tell people where you are. Having their coordinates like that's helpful too.
Q: Who had the most significant influence on your outdoor journey?
Myself! I didn't have any people in my life who were really into this [outdoors]. The background where I'm from culturally, people aren't really into the outdoors. Nobody in my family ever camped or hiked or did anything like that, so going out to the outdoors was a completely random thing for me.
I'm happy I went out of my comfort zone and did that.
Q: What are your goals in the outdoors?
I guess this is the only area where I am competitive with myself. My goal is to always do better and see more and experience more. For me, it's always, if I'm on a hike, I'm like I want this to be my longest hike or I want this to be my heaviest hike or I want to see the most peaks or the most lakes. For me, it's always upping myself. That motivates me.
Q: What is your most significant outdoor accomplishment?
I would say the Narrows hike. And not the famous one that's in the National Park! I mean the super off-the-beaten-path one in Texas near Wimberley. If you haven't heard of it, it's a 14-mile round-and-back trail, that isn't really a trail.
It's through a riverbed that's dried up in some areas and has it [water] in others and it goes through private lands so you can be caught trespassing if you get out of the riverbed.
Long story short, when I went, I went with a stranger who was experienced in rescuing people from National Parks so I felt like, ‘Okay this person could help me in case anything happens.’ And I just went out and it was a full day-long adventure. We met up at five in the morning and finished at 6 PM when the sun was starting to set.
It was the craziest day. I ran out of food and water. I didn't pack correctly but just swam through the areas, seeing snakes, and all these crazy things trying to hide from people who would have guns if I stepped on their land. It was just the craziest experience and the views were unforgettable.
Q: Where is your happy place outdoors?
My happy place is someplace here now [McKinney Falls State Park]. Just being in between trees, hearing the birds, being on the grass, and enjoying the breeze in my hair. It's so cheesy but it's what I like.
Q: What do you have to say to women trying to find their confidence in the outdoors?
To answer that question, I want to say a little bit about myself first. You can't tell because I'm dressed like this now but I am the kind of person who is very girly, loves to dress up, and loves my glam moments. So stepping into this area where it's nature-driven and beautiful, I never thought about ever considering it because I didn't fit in the mold.
I'm not the kind of person who's brushing aside all superficial things and just enjoying the moment – I’m both. If you're the kind of person who is girly or does want to think about their outfit and enjoy all those things, you don't have to try to fit in the mold with everyone else. You could be yourself. You’re going to get some looks maybe you know there are some haters out there but whatever, do you!
Q: Any final thoughts?
I want to see more girly girl Latinas out here! Don't let anything hold you back and come out and enjoy nature. It's for everyone to share. There should be no gatekeeping or pressure that you don't deserve this too.
The End
From carving her own space in the outdoors to completing the most difficult hikes, I hope Zamira’s story inspires you to forge your own way. Check out her Instagram (@zamira.rdz) to keep up with her adventures!
What is the Those Who Roam Series?
Those Who Roam is a video and blog series Victoria Rosa Flores created to highlight the stories of all the wonderful people she met outdoors to share their stories, accomplishments, and reasons for getting out in nature. From improving mental health to developing friendships, each person featured has their reasons for roaming through winding trails, paddling in rivers, climbing bouldering walls and so much more.
If you know an outdoor adventurer who would be perfect for Those Who Roam, email me at roamtheouterspace@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can set up!
