I’m Sara and I’m the creator behind the Hiking Outdoor Family channel. I am a lover of the outdoors. Whether it is hiking, kayaking, photographing wildlife or visiting national parks, I just love spending time outdoors. I started hiking when I was in college, and it is an activity that brings me so much joy. For many years I worked in the Information Technology industry and hiking was my way to escape the stresses of work on the weekends. As my husband and I raised our family, we started taking our kids to national parks, camping and hiking with them.
01) What inspired you to start a YouTube channel about hiking? Was there a specific moment that made you take the leap?
I started the channel in 2021, and I started it because my kids encouraged me to. They thought people would enjoy watching all the different places we hike at and visit. I really want to inspire others to hike and visit various parks. It makes me so happy when someone lets me know they visited a spot because of my channel.
02) Have you ever faced any dangerous or unexpected situations while hiking?
I don’t think we’ve ever faced any really dangerous situations, but we have had our share of small mishaps. From slipping in mud (that was me!), to getting lost on the trail or getting caught in a terrible thunderstorm. One time we really overdid it with hiking where we could barely walk the next day. You do learn from these situations and sometimes the things that were the most unpleasant at the time are the stories you remember fondly.
03) What piece of outdoor gear do you swear by, and why?
I swear by my folding kayak. I have these Tucktec origami style folding kayaks, and they have allowed me to go on so many adventures on the water even though I drive a small car. I often keep one in my car trunk in case I see a great paddling spot.
04) How do you keep your content fresh and interesting, especially when hiking can have many repetitive elements?
I love to show wildlife while I’m hiking and incorporate that into my videos. I also really enjoy solo hiking, hiking with my family or other creators to keep the content fresh. I try not to worry too much about my niche and will show travel, national park trips, kayaking or whatever else we are doing outside.
05) What’s your top tip for someone who’s just starting out on their YouTube journey?
I would say to make sure you are having fun. YouTube can be a lot of work and it can be hard to get started, if you are having fun creating your content, you are more likely to stick with it.
06) How do you keep your audience engaged? Do you adjust your content based on feedback or analytics?
I try to keep my videos on the shorter side, about eight minutes for my long format because I have found that helps keep the audience engaged. I do look at the analytics and if the viewers like a certain place or video, I will try to make similar ones.
07) Where do you see your channel going in the next few years? Do you have any big goals or dream hikes you want to film?
I am a parent to two teenagers, so once we are empty nesters, my husband and I really want to travel more around the country and hike. We have a goal to visit all of the US National parks. We are up to 42 parks, and I’d love to get to some of the more remote ones in Alaska one day.
