Rising Stars: Meet Veronica Castro of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Castro.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Back when I was 14 years old my older brother David and I would hike the Griffith Park trails, that was our favorite hobby growing up. No maps, no time limit, just exploring as we pleased. But as time passed after high school he moved away to Fargo, North Dakota and I was left exploring by myself.

Around 2016, every now and then I would invite some of my friends on a hike with me but I found myself exploring alone more than with friends as our schedules never really aligned. I would post all my adventures on Instagram and with that platform, open for all to see, I started getting many questions about the locations I was posting and people started wanting to join me. So I opened it up to all, and would post the dates, location, and time of my next adventure for anyone to join. I even made my own website through WIX and decided to call my hiking adventures Hike it Up W/V.

That lasted for about a year then slowly stopped hiking due to college, work, and life’s many trials and tribulations. Fast forward to 2021 I was blessed with more free time for myself, and I felt the urge for more self discovery, much needed healing, and grounding. The mountains called me again, this time full force. I started hiking peaks, lengthening my hikes from what used to be 1-3 mile hikes now turned into 7-14 mile hikes. Being out in nature was the best distraction I needed, it brought me back to center, it cleared my mind, it gave me strength.

Again, through Instagram, I was posting all my adventures and decided to start my hiking group again, this time it’s called Sweat So Guud, because sweating never felt good until now. Also because a friend joked and said I always make them sweat on my hikes and I said yes! Sweat So Good! And voila!

Through Sweat So Guud my group hikes started growing profoundly and quick. I noticed so many people are also craving those adventures that bring them back to center. Getting distracted by the most beautiful sceneries and forgetting any problems you have out in your world. I soon found the biggest hiking community of like minded individuals where I connected with so many incredible humans. All with the same
goal and intention when hiking, keep nature clean, work for those epic views.

I decided to take my adventures a bit further with more intention. I started including wellness in my group hikes. I collaborated with friends to guide my participants with meditation, yoga, and sound baths on my hikes. It was the best treat post hike. It was the intention I didn’t know we needed.

A few years ago I changed my name yet again, to She’s for the Trails. I’m from South LA, where many people say “She’s for the streets,” if someone loves to stay out and be a Callejera and never stay home. But me I’m for the trails, I’ll never leave the mountains that’s where I’ll always belong.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t always a smooth road, through the years it took a lot of self growth to be the person I am now. I was a bit of an introvert, and wouldn’t socialize as much believe it or not. But being in the hiking community brought me out of my shell and the outdoors has given me the confidence to lead others along the way in their journey.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently work in the non profit field and am the Team Lead for a time limited subsidy program assisting the homeless with housing and stabilization. Apart from that I am also a new mom to a one year old who takes up 90% of my time now.

So not only do I lead out in the hiking community but also at work and in my household.

What I’m known for in the hiking community is bringing wellness and nature all in one. I’ve been aiming towards gathering women together more than ever now as a mom as I see a different need now for women and elevating them back to their best self, whatever that looks like for them.

What I am most proud of is being able to set time for myself and prioritize my well being as a mom and making sure that other women have the space for that when I host hiking events for them. I applaud all the women who show up to the 7am hikes because waking up really is the hardest part, but the views and the feelings of accomplishment post hike are so worth it.

How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe we all create the life we want to live. I believe everything happens for a reason and every mistake and failure serves a greater purpose meant to elevate us to our next best version of self.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: sweatsoguud