Belay
“Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy.”
- L. Babauta
Renunciate, Megan “Belay” Taylor, has no house to call home for Nature and the open road are her homes. Belay lives a simple life primarily outside, on foot, and on the move. Her heroes and greatest inspirations being contemplative monks and outdoor hermits. Belay’s love for the Great Outdoors combined with her ascetic beliefs and intensive study on depression and happiness create for a unique minimalist and mindful approach to long-distance outdoor journeys.
Belay’s journeys consist of mountaineering, backpacking, and bikepacking. With ten personal solo journeys, she exceeds 21,000 miles on her feet and pedals and has stood atop Mount Kilimanjaro and over 80 of our nation’s highest peaks to include 31 of 54 Colorado Fourteeners and 44 of 50 United States High Points. She has walked the entire length of the 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail, the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, 220-mile John Muir Trail, 273-mile Long Trail, 223-mile Ouachita Trail, and completed a double traverse of Zion. Additionally, she has zig-zagged America several times on bicycle, exploring the scenic routes of the Trans-America Trail, Southern Tier, Western Express, Sierra Cascades, Historic Route 66, Underground Railroad, Mississippi River Trail, and the Natchez Trace. Her latest obsession is whitewater kayaking Colorado’s Arkansas River.
Before BELAY EXPEDITIONS, Belay professionally guided for companies in Alaska, Utah, Arizona, and New England as well as taught university for programs offering degrees in outdoor recreation and experiential education. Belay has a Bachelors in Outdoor Recreation from Southern Utah University, a Masters in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University, and spent four years pursuing a Doctorate at the University of Utah where she researched spirituality, ascetism, and happiness in Nature. Additionally, Belay earned her personal training certificate from Cooper Institute and her Mountaineering certification through the International Wilderness Leadership School. All this, post-military.
Belay started BE after her 8th solo long-distance journey which included bicycling 3,000 miles connecting six national parks across the southern United States. She noticed an incredible amount of people wishing to experience similar long-distance endeavors but deeming the endeavors impossible. Belay began BE 4 Change after several years of desiring to help families in need through her personal expeditions. Having worked in group homes for at-risk and foster care youth, Belay ultimately decided to help children placed in Kansas foster care experience the Great Outdoors.
As much as Belay lives for outdoor adventure and the pursuit of dreams, she’s extremely laissez-faire with her main goal of living a meaningful and intentional life. With minimal possessions and obligations, Belay spends her mornings sipping coffee in the sun while listening to birdsong; her afternoons crafting or experiencing life-changing journeys; and her evenings savoring the rosiest teas. Heeding the wisdom of her heroes, Belay rids the unnecessary clutter of a materialistic life to make time for the experiences that matter most with the people who matter most - family, friends, and you.
Podcasts
Today’s guest on All Bodies Outside is Megan Taylor who owns and operates Belay Expeditions. She guides clients on all kinds of adventures including mountaineering, backpacking, and bikepacking. In addition to the physical component of her guided adventures, Megan's guiding company focuses on psychological outcomes so that her clients can journey towards their best self. During her PhD experience, Megan researched connections between nature, spirituality, and awe. She has also conducted intensive studies on depression and happiness. Thus, when journeying with Belay Expeditions, clients benefit from a physical journey and a guided mental journey.
Today’s guest on Adventure Made is Megan “Belay” Taylor. Belay is the owner of Belay Expeditions. She is a mountain climber, long-distance expeditionist, and extreme minimalist. Once entirely nomadic living only on the open road with her bicycle, She now calls Lake City, Colorado home. Belay turned full-time entrepreneur at the age of 35 even though her love for the great outdoors has been ironclad since she was 23. Her entrepreneurial endeavors came after the tumultuous yet life-changing decision to exit a life-long career in academia. Megan lives by and operates BELAY EXPEDITIONS by three values: BE Outside, BE Simple, and BE in Pursuit. She believes these three values coalesce for a life lived better. Hence the BE motto: BE You. Better. Belay credits her achievements and happy life to these three guiding values and motto.