Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Cornett.
Hi Allison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am Allie Cornett, and I am a plus sized adventurer. I have a masters degree from Southern Oregon University in Outdoor Adventure and Expedition Leadership. I have always loved traveling and seeing new places, my parents always tried to take me somewhere new every year, or back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium(which to me was better than Disneyland). I originally went to school in Hawaii on the Big Island for Geology. After a seasonal job working as a park Ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, I realized I enjoyed telling the stories about the volcano, the history, culture, natural sciences. This led me to dropping out of college for quite a few years. It did eventually lead me to getting my dream job from childhood. A job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I started at as a cashier and worked my way up to being a Program Naturalist, doing exactly what I loved: interpreting the stories of the animals, environmental education and conservation. At a certain point I realized that I had hit the glass ceiling in terms of growth there, I did not have a degree. During my time there, I had also rediscovered hiking. I decided I needed a change. Little did I know the pandemic would change everything. As the world shut down, I lost a new summer job I was hoping would give me more experience in outdoor adventures. My roommate at the time wanted to move back home. I had no plan. I googled outdoor Adventure jobs(because the outdoors were the safest place right?) and what popped up? A bachelors degree program for Outdoor Adventure Leadership. I was shocked! I could get a degree in the outdoors? SO I applied, got in and moved to Ashland, Oregon. This program taught me more about myself and how to teach others outdoor skills than I ever expected. I had the opportunity to travel to Peru as an undergrad and then when I decided to go into the masters program, I helped (with my cohort) plan and facilitate a month long expedition to Nepal. This was a dream come true. We did a 12 day trek in the Annapurna region and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Even though I had to leave the trek 7 days in due to illness. I accomplished more than a lot of people thought I would. I think the best part about the whole program was the acceptance and inclusive mindset of my fellow classmates. I never was led to believe I couldn’t do something. They always had my back. After I graduated I had found a few seasonal jobs that I loved and a few that I didn’t. This past summer, 2026, I took a risk and applied for a job with a local non-profit, Friends of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. I had worked as a ranger with them before and I wanted to try again. It was a part time job, leading hikes and kayak tours every weekend. It didn’t take me long to remember why I love taking people out in nature and telling them the stories and information about the unique locations. This job has now ended, but I decided to join the Board for the organization. I am hoping to grow as an outdoor leader and pursue this passion.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Sometimes I feel like life has always thrown challenges at me. My allergy to Sulfur( which always prompted my decision to leave Geology, though I love volcanoes still), lack of permanent jobs that means work paycheck to paycheck, but I think the biggest challenge I have faced is my weight. For a long time I was led to believe that fat people don’t belong in nature, and they can’t do the hard things. I have proven that belief wrong. I hike about 150-250 miles a year. mostly on my own for fun, but I want to find a way to do it as a profession. That will be the next challenge as I navigate learning social media skills and fundraising to help get my idea off the ground.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently I am between seasonal jobs. But I am avidly working on starting a fundraiser called ‘Hiking For A Better Life” where I will be fundraising to help start my hiking dream job. I want to create a business that helps and encourages people to get out and hike. I want to teach people they can do more than they think they can. I plan to hike a mile for every $10 donated and 10% of what I earn is going to be donated to the Friends of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters the most to me is getting people outside on our public lands and teach them about those locations. I had so many people tell me over the summer that it was inspiring to see someone that looked like them out hiking and guiding people on unique trails. I would love to be able to get to a point where I can get grants for gear that I can gift to people who want to hike but don’t know where to start or can afford to start.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @adventure_allie13
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willowirishrose
