Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Christiansen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I had the opportunity to participate in Leadership Frederick County several years ago and was given the nickname Hippy Viking by one of the facilitators. With a nod to my Danish heritage and tough Human Resources leadership style, and a mix of my tree-hugging, passion for the outdoors – Hippy Viking was fitting and destined to become a brand!

Corporate life and endless meetings had become the norm and my soul craved adventure. I often thought about the trails I loved, the wild places I’d explored, and how often people told me, “I wish I could do what you do.” And it hit me! Hippy Viking (the company) was born from this idea of making the outdoors accessible, fun, and maybe even a little badass. We would blend a vibe of hippie at heart with the grit and determination of a Viking. It was unique, just like the experiences we wanted to create.

People wanted adventure but didn’t know where to start. They needed someone to guide them, hype them up, and maybe pack the snacks. We stood out from others with our snarky and bold brand – ready to inspire even the couch-dwellers (or at the very least, sell them a cool t-shirt!)

The logic? We’re solving the problem of “Where do I even start?” by offering guided hikes, safety tips, and Leave No Trace know-how, wrapped in a fun, approachable vibe. What got me most excited? Turning hesitant “maybe laters” into full-on adventurers. Helping people discover that the wild isn’t scary – it’s freeing. And honestly, nothing beats watching someone fall in love with the outdoors for the first time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been an outdoor enthusiast—hiking trails, camping, and soaking in nature’s magic is where I feel most alive. I am certified in Wilderness First Aid, I am a Leave No Trace Instructor and have logged hundreds of miles of hiking various terrains all over the country. I’d often hear friends say, “I wish I could do what you do, but I don’t know where to start,” and that sparked an idea. I swapped office politics for trail maps and started Hippy Viking to help others discover the wild without all the overwhelm.

Hippy Viking is your guide to adventure, offering hiking tours, adventure picnics, proposal setups, outdoor safety tips and cool swag. We’re big on making the outdoors accessible, fun, and safe for everyone. We also live and breathe Leave No Trace principles because reducing our impact on natural spaces is non-negotiable.

I feel that our our approach is unique. We’re not just guides; we’re motivators, teachers, and your biggest cheerleaders on the trail. We mix expertise in wilderness safety with a fun, snarky personality that makes the experience less intimidating and more about enjoying the journey.

What am I most proud of? Watching people who were once unsure of their abilities grow confident, fall in love with the outdoors, and leave feeling like they can take on the world – or at least the next hike.

The main thing to know about Hippy Viking? We’re here to make adventure approachable, fun, and unforgettable. Whether it’s guiding you through your first hike, leading a corporate team building or setting up an adventure picnic, we’re all about creating unique outdoor experiences that spark connection, inspire confidence, and leave you with stories worth sharing!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

We are still working on this, but have found the following to be good advice:

Building Hippy Viking’s social media presence was all about finding our voice and staying true to it.

The key is consistency and engagement. We try to post regularly, showcase real-life adventures (the good, the muddy, and the ridiculous), and interact with comments and DMs like we were chatting with an old friend. I feel like people connected with our authenticity and started to see us as their go-to source for outdoor inspiration and a bit of humor.

Collaboration also played a huge role. We became a Leave No Trace partner, shared content from relevant sources (National Park Service, for example), and worked with local businesses and organizations to reach a broader audience. And, I can’t stress this enough- impactful, high resolution, quality photos (avoid stock photos when you can) are so important!

For anyone just starting out, here’s the advice:

Find your voice and stick to it. People want to follow a personality.
Respond to comments, answer questions, and make your followers feel like they’re part of the journey.
Be consistent. Show up regularly and provide value – whether it’s tips, inspiration, or just something to make them smile.
Collaborate. Partner with others who share your values to cross-pollinate your audience.
Be patient. Growth doesn’t happen overnight!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson that I had to unlearn was the idea that everything had to be perfect before putting it out into the world. I was at times paralyzed and reluctant to move forward because I didn’t have everything “perfect”.

When I first started, there was this constant pressure (this pressure was from myself!) to have the website completely finished with the content I had envisioned, flawless social media posts, polished events, and a perfectly laid-out business plan. I would constantly tweak, revise, and second-guess every decision, thinking it would make or break the brand. The new lesson that I learned through this process? Perfection is overrated – and exhausting!

The turning point came during one of my early guided hikes. My plan was perfect – but everything went wrong. It rained, the group dynamics weren’t what I “had planned”, and instead of it being a disaster, it became one of the most memorable hikes. We made the best of it, rolled with the punches, and still had an amazing time. That’s when it kinda hit me: it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.

I realized that most people connect with authenticity, not perfection. I try to embrace (still a work in progress!) the messy moments, whether it’s a not-totally-perfect social media post or a last-minute pivot on an adventure. It’s those imperfections that make us relatable and remind people that adventure, like life, is a little wild and unpredictable – and that’s the beauty of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hippyviking.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hippyvikingadventure/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093237487591

Image Credits

Love and Sol Photography (me and my husband – we hiked and got married on the top of a mountain)
SarahRachael Studios (photo of the VW Bus and me in Hippy Viking trucker hat with Leave No Trace book)