Climber Story: Kristen Hernandez

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a mom and Founder of Trailmothers.LA. I'm proud of all the dedicated stewards that have stood by the community for the last years, recovering Stoney Point Park, Elysian Park with Ontrail Hiking Community that are also stewards and share the passion to care for the trails. As we care for the crags, we are making impacts everywhere we go!

I am also a wife, and I love working at REI Northridge. I love to climb, hike, camp and teach outdoor ethics — something I believe in very much!

How did you start climbing?

I began climbing 5 years ago with my son Liam who was 5 back when we first started at Boulderdash in Chatsworth, CA.

What impact has climbing had on your life?

It's hard to put into words the impact climbing has on my life, but if I had to try I would say: friendship forever, stewards, beautiful humans, and support!

What are some other things you do that you find most fulfilling?

I love to pick up trash and educate others on how to stay leave no trace.

If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

Take care of the places where you hike, climb, walk, and play. The next generation sees what we cannot, so let's continue to be good stewards of native lands, public lands, our streets, & beaches. And keep spreading awareness!

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

I love how kind, awesome, and cool Leslie is!

Is there something you're working on that you'd like to tell our community about? We love a good story.

I'm currently working on spreading awareness for Stoney Point Park and Elysian Park. A few of the things we are focusing on include Leave No Trace education, wet rock education, native land acknowledgement, organizing community clean ups, and collecting data.

You can find Kristen on Instagram at @kristenliam31 or reach out via Trailmothers on their website or Instagram @trailmothers.la.

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Stories here.

We hope you have enjoyed these sneak peeks into climbers' lives. We're on a mission to share diverse stories about rock climbing. Let's push the boundaries of who we know as climbers. Let's use our energy and passion for the outdoors to love our environment and inspire one another.

Have someone you think we should feature? Send us a message and let us know!

Until next time!