Wild Women in Hiking

WILD WOMEN IN HIKING

Meet Karla Amador, Founder of The 52 Hike Challenge & Mandy Bland, Founder of Purple Rain Adventure Skirts

by Jaime Purinton

KARLA AMADOR, CO-FOUNDER OF THE 52 HIKE CHALLENGE

Inspired by her good friend’s weight loss journey and surviving a difficult and emotional divorce, Karla found that getting outside to hike was starting to heal her inside, where she needed it most. In January of 2014, on a flight returning from a scuba diving trip, Karla made a New Year’s resolution to hike at least once per week that year; thus, creating the beginnings of the 52 Hike Challenge. Since then, the challenge has turned into a global event with over 20,000 people all over the world committing to hiking once a week for a year. Karla has taken on a role as a motivational speaker and has spoken at REI Outessa Summits, She Ventures, California State University, and various other events and REI’s around the nation.

Karla is such a huge inspiration for mepersonally, and is such a beautiful womaninside and out.

Jaime: How did you get into hiking? Whotook you on your first hike? Karla: I got into hiking in 2013 while I was going through my divorce, I did a visualization exercise at the time where I saw myself on top of a mountain in Machu Picchu - feeling joy, peace and freedom. Fast forward, one and a half year later, my co-founder Phillip, took me on a hike where I felt hope and joy for the first time in a long time. After that, I was hooked and wanted that feeling over and over again.

Jaime: What changes in you personally hasyour journey with the 52 HC created?Karla: So many changes, I think the ability tosee how a crazy and audacious goal can beachieved by taking it, one step at a time. Firstyou set a goal with a deadline, then youbreak it down into manageable pieces. Bytaking small consistent steps, you’ll achieveyour goal before you know it. Somehow thephysical act of seeing the 52-hike goal cometo life, made me realize that applying thatsame concept to anything else in life wouldtake me far. Most importantly was findingself-love, forgiveness, and spirituality throughnature.

Jaime: How is hiking in nature healing? What has hiking healed in you? Karla: I believe that being out in the grandeur of nature changes your brain and really allows you to open up. There are times I am physically exhausted and all of a sudden tears come gushing. Whether it was for my dog whom I lost to cancer or was for

mistakes I made in the past. I think that the silence and need to be present and aware makes hiking a walking meditation. We all need stillness and quiet to get in touch with our intuition and true being.

Jaime: How does completing the 52 HC empower those that finish? What do you think is the biggest reward? Karla: I believe that we tend to have many negative self-thoughts and beliefs about who we are, and what we can achieve in life. Setting such a big goal, being persistent,

going through all that internal turmoil, and realizing that you can do it, is very powerful. I think the biggest reward is the feeling of accomplishing something hard; reaching your summit, seeing how far you’ve come, and realizing the only person standing in your way was you.

Jaime: What inspires you the most about the challengers? Karla: I am inspired every single day. Seeing people that I don’t know being touched, reading their stories of growth, changes they’ve been through – it all just touches me to my core. It’s all very empowering and overwhelming. I love seeing them persist and emerge who they always were.

Jaime: What’s your advice for someone who doesn’t hike but wants to start the challenge? Karla: First, sign up for the challenge at www.52hikechallenge.com, take advantage of all the resources we have created. Go to REI and get the proper gear, including the 10 essentials. Next, get out on the trail; start with something local, short and well-marked. We recommend using the Alltrails app to start. Surround yourself with others who already did the challenge, we are opening chapters around the nation in 2019 to help more people get outdoors and have local community. In the future, people can take our hiking 101 course and webinar classes (to be announced soon)!

Jaime: What keeps you up at night?Karla: My brain is ALWAYS on! I want tobuild out more

tools on the website, because I want to really help people succeed in hiking and life. At the end, it’s all about mindset and if I can help one person to see how capable they are, this challenge is the physical manifestation of it!

Jaime: What is the thing that drives you more than anything? Karla: I think it’s God - really. I feel I am doing my assigned job here on earth. I feel genuinely passionate and eager to help people heal - because we all suffer. If we take the time to heal, we become better as a society.

Jaime: What’s one thing you always have in your backpack? Karla: The 10 Essentials and 52 Hike Challenge patch.

Jaime: What does it mean to you to be a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry? Karla: I feel proud to not only be a woman leader in this industry, but also a woman of color. I wish to be an example of what you can achieve with persistence, vision, passion, grit, hard work and pursuing ones “calling.” To me, it’s not about money. It’s about fulfilling my life purpose and I’m doing that. And to all the men who have supported, me including Phillip, my co-founder, thank you.

Jaime: How does 52 HC give back to the community? Karla: First, one of the things we ask our participants to do, is a stewardship hike as a

part of the Adventure Series. Second, we just launched our leadership program, to help challengers locally, but grow these leaders to fulfill their own higher purpose. Many times, after a person has been through the challenge, they want to share the gift of nature with others. We are now giving them the keys, to pay it forward, and learn how to empower others ethically. I think this empowerment is huge and will pay out great dividends to all involved.

Jaime: Do spirituality and hiking go hand in hand? How? Karla: I think some people disagree that they go together. I do believe that being outdoors is a spiritual experience, because it opens you up. It heals. Nature is so grand, aweinspiring and not man made. I feel that if you want to truly be happy in life, then you must nurture these four pillars: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual- I believe hiking fulfills all of those.

Jaime: Tell us about your book- Karla: My book, yes. Well, the 52 Hike Challenge began with my desire to share my life-changing experience of taking 52 hikes in 2014. Eventually it evolved. Phillip and I, shared our story and invited people to do their own 52 hikes. I then decided to collect stories in hopes of sharing those in a book. In mid-2018, I finished my book proposal, and to my surprise 6 top literary agents reviewed it, and it was rejected. But something magical happened since. I had this dream and hunch to create a 52 Hike Challenge journal in 2016… life got in the way and it just sort of sat in my subconscious. This year, I wrote it down as a 2019 goal. I then asked the community if they wanted a journal, and we got an overwhelming response. So, in less than 5 days, we picked 52 quotes from finishers, created prompts, designed and edited our first 52 HikeChallenge Journey Journal. Now, challengers can use this journal to see their progress, reflect, plan their hikes and keep them motivated.

Jaime: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about? Karla: Thanks for such a wonderful interview! If anyone is interested in taking the challenge, please visit: www.52hikechallenge.com and tell your friends! Thank you for reading.

MANDY BLAND: FOUNDER OF PURPLE RAIN ADVENTURE SKIRTS

I remember when I first stumbled across Purple Rain Adventure Skirts on Facebook a couple years ago- I was instantly obsessed. A skirt with pockets that is lightweight, has a waist like yoga pants, come in multiple colors, and are handmade in Oregon by the seriously talented Mandy Bland really appealed to me. Mandy is also an amazing hiker who has hiked multiple thru hikes including the PCT and AT, so not only does she know her stuff, she’s a serious badass.

I ordered my first one, and discovered they’re an authentic, well made, functional, and comfortable hiking skirt and felt proud to support her small business. Since then, PurpleRain Adventure Skirts has been growing, andhas been featured in multiple blogs,magazines, and gear reviews, with her biggestfeature in Backpacker Magazine. I now ownseveral of the skirts, and consider them one ofmy “go to” hiking staples and I am not alone. Icannot tell you how many women I have highfivedon the trail wearing one of these skirts,especially on the PCT hikers that comethrough my neck of the woods every year. Ihighly recommend adding one (or three) toyour gear. Not only will you be getting ahandmade skirt that is absolutely amazing,you’ll be supporting a small company, andMandy’s dream. I have been lucky enough toconnect with Mandy, who has been somewhatof a mentor to me when HIO Clothing was firststarting out. She has never hesitated to guideme when I needed some help and we’ve nevereven met in person. That’s just the kind ofperson she is and I am grateful for herguidance and friendship.

Jaime: How did Purple Rain Adventure Skirts begin? Mandy: My partner and I were planning a section hike of the PCT. I wanted to try hiking in a skirt but didn’t want to spend $80 on something I didn’t know if I’d like, especially since all I could find were skorts. I scavenged thrift stores for old hiking pants, cut them up and made my own skirt. A few miles into our hike I knew I was on to something. I first launched PR Skirts on Etsy in March 2014. I listed them for $40 and had no idea what my time was worth. My first sale was to my friend

Kelly, bless her heart. Looking back, there was a lot of naivety involved in starting my own business. If I knew then what I know now, I may not have gone for it. But I really didn’t want to write another cover letter.

Jaime: What makes your skirts so unique? Mandy: They are smart, comfy and practical. Good pockets, performance fabric and a stretchy waistband that will take you from trail to town. I’m not reinventing the wheel here, just making it more comfortable.

Jaime: Are all your skirts handmade in Oregon? Mandy: Yes, I have handmade every skirt for the past four years. Wow, that’s nuts now that I think about it. I have found a local woman owned manufacturer who is starting to take over production, but not on full scale yet. I really just want to own this skirt game for a while, but being a mom has really dominated my life. I love my business and have no intention of going anywhere and I really like where it is right now. I make money to help

support my family while still giving my time and attention to my young son. He won’t be young forever, so I’m trying to stay present with him. I’d love to find a business partner or mentor to help me grow the business on a sustainable level. Anyone out there want to work for free and help build this business? Bueller?

Jaime: What drives you? What lights your fire? Mandy: These days it really is my kiddo. I have no intention of becoming a “mommy brand but dang it if that kid doesn’t drive my decisions in every aspect. While each generation has had its fair share of hardships, there are a new set of challenges that these children will face. Be it global warming, declining public lands, population overkill, nutritional deficiencies, or drowning in debt, take your pick. I have a fire to raise a child that loves the outdoors, can think critically, respect others while understanding and accepting his privilege in this world. I’ve found this makes me more conscious about the decisions I make in running a business; trying to find more sustainable fabric sources, keeping production local and supporting local businesses for printing services. I'm exhausted!

Jaime: After hiking a few long-distance thru hikes including the PCT and AT do you have any plans of more long-distance hiking? What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to do a long distance thru hike? Mandy: I hiked the AT in 2012. I turned 30, quit my job and flew to Georgia. Best decision ever. I have not completed a thru-hike of the entire PCT yet, but my partner and I hiked the Oregon section in 2013 and the following summer did some chunks up in Washington. I figure I’ll take on the whole thing the year I turn 40, and hopefully my son wants to come along- and maybe a triple crown when I turn 50. My advice? Make a list of the reasons why you want to complete a thru hike. On your worst day take it out and read it. There’re a million good reasons to throw in the towel. The rewards of hiking may not seem obvious at the time, but it will make you stronger than you ever thought possible. And take care of your feet.

Jaime: What is your favorite “go to” hike in your hood? Mandy: Pilot Rock near the CA/OR border is a great hike. It crosses the PCT north of Ashland and is a lovely walk through the woods until the end. But the scramble is so worth the views, Mt.Shasta looks pretty amazing from up there.

Jaime: Now that you’re a Mom, how has that impacted your hiking life? Or has it? Mandy: Oh absolutely! We were getting pretty good at the Ultralight game before the kiddo, but there’s no way to be UL with 20lb baby on your back. We are heavy and we move slowly, but we still get out there! There’s a lot more base camping with day hikes up to mountain lakes. More early camp set up days to spend time playing in the meadow or splashing in the river. We’ve learned to slow down and enjoy the smaller details in nature. It’s pretty rad.

Jaime: What does Hike It Off mean to you? Mandy: Hiking has become a form of therapy for me. Nature provides a sense of solace you don’t find elsewhere. Life is simple and easier to handle in the woods. Two months after I finished the AT my brother passed away suddenly. All I wanted was to be back on the trail, back to that simpler life. The next summer we took off for the PCT. That trek was very healing. I cried and I hiked and I kept going. Kind of my mantra for life now.

Jaime: Who is someone you look up to in the hiking world and why? Mandy: Jennifer Pharr Davis is such an inspiration. She hiked the Mountains to Sea trail with her family and makes me want to do it too!

Get your Purple Rain Adventure Skirt here.

Jaime: What’s next for Purple Rain Adventure Skirts? Mandy: Get this production thing figured out! Then I can start working on the other design ideas I have. I’d love to have a small line of hiking apparel. Baby steps...

Jaime: Anything else you’d like to add? Mandy: You’re awesome Jaime, thank you for being such a great advocate for my skirts. And thank you for bringing the hiking community together.