adventure women’s
AUGUST 2013 | $3.75
*
FLAVORS
OF FALL
+
our heroes
WOMEN TO WATCH
features 30 Walking The Line In a sport where fear could easily overtake an athlete, highliner Emily Sukiennik uses that fear to push herself farther, higher, and beyond.
36 Warrior Woman Through street art, Shannon Galpin, a women’s rights activist and mountain biker brings a photographic survey to a country in the grip of war.
«
43 Redemption Road Helen Thayer explores all corners of the globe to experience its cultures and share them with others.
03
«
MARCH 2013
WOMENSADVENTURE
» 02
contents
regulars
M A R CH 2 013
WO M E N ’ S A DV E N T U R E M AG A Z I N E
lifestyle 10
/
50
W E LLB E I N G
/
N U TR ITI O N
ROOTS WE DIG » Look below the surface for these veggies packed with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and more!
14
/
H E A LTH
MEDITATION » Learn the secrets of this ancient art to diminish stress, boost energy, & improve your mood.
/
EDITORS LETTER
/
ASK THE EXPERT
/
THE BUCKET LIST
venture /
BECOME AN IRON WOMAN » What you need to know about anemia and active women.
12
02 05 08
D E S TI N ATI O N
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA » Our neighor to the north claim some of the world’s best adventure playgrounds.
12
52
/
handbook 40
/
S U RV I VA L
FORAGING FOR FOOD » Learn how to identify and prepare the edible wild plants of nature’s pantry.
43
/
O N TH E M A P
THE WANDER LIST » We present the world’s 15 best hikes, including Patagonia, Newfoundland, & Petra.
55
/
TR AV E L
WOMEN WEEKENDS » Six girlfriend getaways that combine epic adventure with great culture food.
G U I D E TO :
KAYAKING » Everything you need to know for you to master this extreme water sport!
46
/
S K I LL S
BACKPACKING 101 » Learn the basics; from what to pack, how to plan a trip, first aid, survival skills, what to eat, and basic how-to.
23
46
the dirt 16
/
TE C H
PUMP IT UP » From armbands to earbuds, we review 13 outdoor-worthy audio devices.
20
/
GEAR
TRAIL SHOES » We test and review the latest shoes to help you find the perfect fit.
23
/
TR E N DS
SPORTS BRAS » The best new padded support systems for women of every shape and size.
04
«
MARCH 2013
55 WOMENSADVENTURE
» 05
calender
spotlight California! Whether this is your first half-marathon or you’re a trail running veteran, the SoCal Wine Country Half-Marathon will challenge you over a beautiful 13.1 miles. After the race, hang out with friends, new and old, at the awards ceremony and postrace celebration. There will be food and drink, FREE wine tastings, and product demonstrations from our various sponsors. Sign up a team and save on your entry. Come on out for this celebration of trails, adventure and wine!
JULY 28 VENUS DE MILES
WOMEN’S ADVENTURE
EDITOR’S CHOICE
APRIL 20 SHAPE DIVA DASH AUSTIN, TX| An adventurous women-only 5K run with dozens of obstacles designed to test your overall fitness from strength and balance to agility and speed. Jump, climb, swing, and DASH your way to the finish line, but do it your way at the SHAPE Diva Dash. Costumes are officially encouraged, and every participant receives a technical T-shirt and custom bib with their name on it.The Diva Dash aims to appeal to women of all levels of abilities, including walkers.
MAY 3–4 RAGNAR RELAY HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA| Over 2 days, you and your buddies will run day and night, in a 200-mile running event through Southern California. Starting in beautiful Huntington Beach, your team of 12 runners will head south down the pacific coast. The race (and your stamina) will wrap up in San Diego at Em-
06
«
MARCH 2013
barcadero Marina Park South. Pair that with crazy costumes, inside jokes, a great finish line party and unforgettable stories. This race had better make your running calendars. (www.ragnarrelay.com)
JUNE 1 LA BELLA PREME MALIBU, CA| La Bella Preme is what you get when you ask women cyclists to design their ideal cycling event. From the warm welcome you receive when you arrive until the last champagne toast, La Bella Preme is fashioned to charm and to challenge you. We’re also adding an upscale appeal that sets it apart from other rides. Mark your calendars and get ready to have some fun. (www.labellapreme.com)
JUNE 15 SOCAL WINE COUNTRY SAN DIEGO,CA| Grab your friends and take on the original All Womens Trail Half-Marathon & 5-K in Southern
LAKE FOREST, IL| Venus de Miles is a lot of things—Northern Illinois’ first all-women’s road ride, a celebration of sisterhood, support for Greenhouse Scholars, and crazy fun—but one thing it’s not is a race. So, don’t be afraid to walk your bike up that hill, and, most importantly, enjoy yourself. Join over 1,700 people at Prospect Park in Boulder for the fifth annual Venus de Miles. This all-women cycling event offers women from every walk of life to join together in solidarity. Seasoned and novice cyclists will participate in search of a physical challenge, others will join in support of a worthy cause. All will unite in a moment of celebration and sisterhood. (www.venusdemiles.com)
AUGUST 11
BROOKE RABOUTOU Rock-climbing champ, 11, makes Spider-Man look like an amateur
E
by sarah kuta
leven-year-old Brooke Raboutou is a rock climbing phenom who regularly breaks world records on elite bouldering and sport climbs once thought impossible for someone her age. With two former world champion climbers for parents and coaches, she was encouraged from a young age to “scale the heights” of the climbing walls in her house and began rock climbing at about the same time she began walking. During the past four years, she has completed seven record-setting climbs all over the world, from Spain to Italy. As far as nerves go, Brooke said she still gets a few butterflies in her stomach even after competing for the last six years -- and that’s a good thing. “My mom always says if you’re too nervous, then you won’t be able to focus on climbing, but if you’re not nervous it means that you don’t really care,” Brooke said. “I like that. I’m a little nervous, but not enough to throw me off.” In climbing speak, last summer Brooke Raboutou became the youngest female and American to climb a 5.14b route -a rating on the climbing difficulty spectrum that translates to extremely challenging. Brooke’s victorious ascent signifies another step in the progression of both youth and female climbers. Now her sights are on pushing both herself and the climbing world to even greater heights.
OUTDOOR DIVAS TRI LONGMONT, CO| The 6th annual Outdoor Divas Triathlon, is the all women’s triathlon you’ve been waiting for! We intentionally keep the race cap low at 550 women to create a fun, festive, yet intimate racing environment. Great goodie bags, one of our biggest expos of the year, a ton of raffles, and a completely closed race course are just some of the highlights.
For more information on upcoming events in your area, visit our website & click on the calender!
www.womensadventure.com WOMENSADVENTURE
» 07
health
gear
Honeydrop Tea
WOMEN’S ADVENTURE
PICK OF THE YEAR
The New “Bees Knees” of Energy Drinks
VIBRAM KOMODOSPORT LS SHOES
Honeydrop Beverages is introducing three new flavors to its natural line of teas and juices! Green Tea, Lemon Tea, and Lemon Ginger Tea are joining the line of beverages. Cold, refreshing, and powered by honey, they will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you hydrated this summer. Not only does Honeydrop taste good, its creation was inspired by the health benefits of honey. After a battle with cancer, the founder, David Luks, built the brand around the wholesome qualities of honey and on the “Living from the land, not the lab” value. Available at natural grocers nationwide, you can get your own tasty health benefits in a bottle for as little as $1.99! honeydrop.com. BY JILL WIGAND
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Position two oven racks in the center of the oven. Grease two cookie sheets.
2. Place the cereal, coconut, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.
3. Place the almond butter, honey, ma-
G-O-R-P! FAST & EASY BY MELISSA MCLEAN You may find it difficult to find snacks that fill you up, and provide you with good nutrition. If you’ve been around hiking and backpacking long enough, you’ll recognize GORP as old-school trail mix. GORP was originally the acronym for “good old raisins and peanuts.” It is a high-energy food, which is designed to be very portable, allowing people to carry it on hikes and trips for a quick burst of energy. This is the new-school, gourmet version, with whole nuts, seeds, and coconut. It will keep you going all day. It’s perfect stowed in a backpack or briefcase, or served with milk and fresh fruit as a breakfast granola.
08
«
MARCH 2013
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups gluten-free crispy brown rice cereal 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes 2 cups whole almonds 1 cup whole walnuts 1 cup whole pecans 1 cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup sunflower seeds
ple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a slow boil, whisking continually, for about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
4. Drizzle the warm wet mixture over the dry mixture and gently stir to incorporate. Make sure the sauce coats the dry ingredients evenly.
7. Let mixture cool completely and
1 teaspoon gluten-free pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
PER SERVING (1/2 cup): 335 calories; 25 g fat; 23 g carbohydrate; 9 g protein; 4 g fiber
add the raisins and/or chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
NEW BALANCE N4 HEART RATE MONITOR $70, WWW.NBWEBEXPRESS.COM
6. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until be-
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
$80, MIZUNOUSA.COM For some of us, spring hasn’t yet sprung where we live. Lucky for us, this running top isn’t your average thermal. The Mizuno Women’s Breath Thermo 1/2 Zip features Mizuno’s new Breath Thermo technology that actually absorbs moisture from your body to generate heat. The anti-microbial (and, thus, deodorizing) fabric even changes moisture absorbed from the body into heat through its mysterious “exothermal” properties. The running top also has a back zipper storage pocket with enough room for more than just a key. And don’t worry if you forgot gloves on those cold, windy days, the Mizuno Breath Thermo boasts an extended cuff with thumb holes.
on the prepared cookie sheets.
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup honey
MIZUNO BREATH THERMO HALF ZIP
5. Spread out evenly in a single layer
ginning to brown. Remove, stir, and switch the cookie sheets from their respective rack to the other. Bake for another 6 to 8 minutes, remove, stir, and switch again. Bake until golden brown. The total baking time should be about 20 minutes. Watch carefully as GORP can overbrown quickly.
1/3 cup almond butter
$110, VIBRAMFIVEFINGERS.COM If you haven’t tried out a pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes in the outdoors, now is your chance to check out a new style geared for indoor training. Named for the Komodo Dragon, a deceptively strong and versatile athlete of the animal kingdom, the Vibram KomodoSport LS is designed as a health club fitness shoe that can transition to running if you so choose. It’s a good style to wear while you’re lifting weights, doing a CrossFit class, interval workouts, group fitness classes, or any kind of functional fitness training that mixes weights and more cardio moves.The shoe has a 2mm footbed to reduce friction—since you don’t wear socks—plus heel and instep hook-and-loop closures to secure the stretchy nylon upper to the contours of your foot. A thin Vibram rubber outsole provides the grip and protection needed for a variety of cross-training activities. Available in an array of colors for women: grey/black/pink, grey/yellow/black, and violet/light violet/grey.
SPRING 2013 GIVEAWAY BROOKS WOMEN’S PUREGRIT 2 Seize every run with these radically light and flexible turn-huggering Brooks Pure Project shoes, designed to align your stride for a more natural ride. It’s all made possible with the development of five unique technologies, plus an awesomely new upper design that wraps the foot for a next-to-nothing feel.(BrooksRunning.com)
Easy to set-up and use, the pearl white New Balance HRM is small, sleek, and feminine which made it a favorite for Women’s Adventure testers, especially more casual athletes who appreciated the easy set-up and simple functionality of this unit.This model offers all the basic HRM functions needed for training and basic fitness and automatically estimates your maximum heart-rate (209 – (0.7 x age) and sets three heart rate zones, light, medium, and heavy intensity and has optional alarms to help you stay on track. HR values are frontand-center in all display modes, which makes it easy to monitor visually. WOMENSADVENTURE
» 09
reviews
tips
Red Reel Releases 23 Feet on DVD Have you seen it? If not, never fear. It’s available on DVD as of today! by jennifer olson Remember the small crew of women packed into a 1970 Airstream and hit the road with the aim to learn from people living simply in order to pursue their outdoor passions? Lisa Montierth’s feature article 23 Feet in WAM’s summer issue illustrates their lessons learned during the 2,600-mile road trip. And her companion Allie Bombach’s film (also called 23 Feet) documents a colorful cast of dirtbag climbers, surf-
ers, and soulful adventurers. This year, the crew toured the nation to share their film, mostly streaming it on the side of their Airstream in our backyards and at our local outdoor theaters. Have you seen it? If not, never fear. It’s available on DVD as of today! Simply put, 23 Feet is about a community of people who have made the conscious choice to live simply in order to do what they love outdoors. The DVD includes 5 videos from the tour, including clips from a critical mass bike ride in Durango, musicians met along the way, and stories of the people who attended the screenings. For a taste, check out this video about a serendipitous event in Big Sur that led to a show at a strawberry farm in Santa Cruz. To order your copy, please visit their merchandise page. And for more about Red Reel, visit redreelvideo.com
Media Reviews: Books for Fall Three reads that dig into different psyches.
by molly sprayregen
Soul on Snow
GABI VITERI’S PLAYLIST
by jennifer olson
Behave Yourself – EP, Cold War Kids “It’s not a super pump-up song, however it has a groove that gets me fired up to throw down.”
During every medal-winning ride—Torino in 2006, Vancouver last winter, and likely the X-games or Dew Tour later this season—snowboarder Hannah Teter has been plugged into her tunes. “I can’t imagine competing without music,” says the 23-year-old who’s as well known for throwing front-side 900s— that’s two and a half rotations— above the rim of a half-pipe as she is for her philanthropic streak. Since 2006, Hannah’s donated upwards of $200K in prize winnings to a non-profit that she started to bring clean-water infrastructure to a Kenyan village. And this year, she and fellow Burton boarder Gabi Viteri launched a line of “panties with a purpose” called Sweet Cheeks that donates 40 percent of net profits to Children International. “You need variety to keep the fire fueled,” she says about her riding and philanthropy, but the same could be said for this upbeat mix that she hopes you’ll take to the snow.
1. AUDIENCE
2. FAREWELL RIDE Guero, Beck “Perfect for the chairlift, it’s chill but it has a cool beat that puts me in the moment.”
3. TIGHTROPE Dark Was the Night, Yeasayer “While I’m hiking the pipe, this one is good.”
4. JANGLIN Up From Below, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros “It’s so funky, I love the unordinary style.”
5. ART ISN’T REAL (CITY OF SIN) War Elephant, Deer Tick “This is a new song for me, but it’s uplifting and I’ve been rocking out to a lot of Deer Tick lately.”
stem
saddle
brake lever
head tube
shifters
top tube
brake caliper
seatstay
fork
seat tube
down tube
front derailleur cassette
Hell on Two Wheels
10
A Blistered Kind of Love: One Couple’s Trial by Trail
My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir
Author Amy Snyder provides an astonishingly well-reported story a group of athletes who face sleep deprivation, hallucinations, heat stroke, respiratory problems, neck failure, and so much more in the Race Across America, a competition to be the first man or woman to reach Maryland from the Pacific Coast. Only 200 racers have ever made it to the end of the 3,000 mile, 12day course. This is more than just a race - it’s an unforgettable allegory about the human experience of pain and joy and self discovery.
On a 2,655 mile trek through rugged and beautiful scenery, a young couple discover nature, push their limits and test their commitment to one another. The miracle of Angela and Duffy Ballard’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike came not from their completing the journey but instead from the fact that, after five months, 6,300,000 steps, 1 knee injury, 36 blisters, a marmot attack, 528 ibuprofen doses, and countless arguments, they were even more in love than when they began.
After losing her job as a fast-paced blogger, Noelle Hancock decided it was time to change more than her occupation. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” So, for 365 days, Hancock did just that. From karaoke to shark diving, Hancock chronicles her discovery that, by embracing and understanding her fears, she can dominate them. And by intertwining her own story with that of Eleanor Roosevelt, Hancock adds fascinating depth to an inspiring tale.
(TRIUMPH BOOKS, $15.79)
(MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS, $18.95)
(HARPER COLLINS, $25)
«
MARCH 2013
hub spokes
chainstay rear derailleur
crankset tire
rim
A Bike’s Anatomy suspension fork link rear shock disc brake caliper
When your bike mechanic tells you it’s time to replace your cassette, she’s probably not talking about how you listen to music. Check out this bike anatomy guide from Trek and have all the lingo down the next time you pay a visit to your bike store. WOMENSADVENTURE
» 11
lifestyle GRAB YOUR HIKING BOOTS AND YOUR FAMILY AND HIT THE TRAILS AT THESE GREAT HIKING SPOTS!
BEST PEAK VIEW
BEST WILDLIFE
BEST WILDFLOWERS BEST WATERFALL
BEST SCENERY BEST RIVER
WAM’S
STAFF
PICKS
HAPPY TRAILS!
POPULAR SMARTPHONE TOOLS FOR ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS There are so many ways apps can entertain and assist us in our outdoor endeavours. We investigated some of the best ones available for the Apple iPhone and iPad, (particularly as these are our own weapons of choice), and we came up with the following recommendations we felt could help to enhance the overall experience for the app generation.
GEOCACHING
STARWALK
A free real-world outdoor treasure hunt, where players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches.
Enables you to identify the stars, planets, galaxies, constellations and even satellites you can see above.
GOTOAID
CAMPWHERE
Provides a full disaster preparedness section on what to do before, during and after a disaster.
Helps you locate the amenities you want and reserve public campgrounds all over the US and Canada.
CYCLEMETER GPS
ACCUWEATHER
The ultimate biking companion. Map your outdoor bike rides with GPS. Record your time, distance, and speed.
This full-featured app provides updated forecasts every hour, day and night forecasts for the next 15 days.
MOUNTAIN PROJECT
GPS TRIP JOURNAL
The definitive resource for & comprehensive database of rock climbing areas and mountaineering routes.
The ultimate travel app to track, record, document, and share your travels with friends and family.
RUNTASTIC
MAPMYHIKE
Helps tracks your cardio workout progress and uses GPS to map your sport and fitness activities.
Lets hikers log their treks, get elevation information, create hiking journal & share details via social media.
ACCUTERRA
SKI & SNOW REPORT
Find your next adventure! Explore millions of miles of terrain from the palm of your hand.
Brings you current snow conditions reports at more than 2,000 ski areas around the globe.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
COMPASS LT.
12
«
MARCH 2013
SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE
CAMERA BAG 2
MYNATURE: TRACKS
LEAFSNAP WOMENSADVENTURE
» 13
AT H L E T E S P OT L I G H T
Sasha
DiGiulian YOU PROBABLY WOULDN’T EXPECT TO FIND AMERICA’S BEST FEMALE ROCK CLIMBER TAKING NOTES IN A LECTURE HALL AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, HER FINGERNAILS PAINTED WITH PINK POLISH, BUT SASHA DIGIULIAN HAS NEVER LIKED STICKING TO EXPECTATIONS—AT LEAST NOT WHEN IT’S POSSIBLE TO EXCEED THEM. THE 20-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN HAS WON THE PAST THREE U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, LAST YEAR’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND MANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, PROMPTING THE WASHINGTON POST TO DESCRIBE HER AS “ARGUABLY THE BEST FEMALE ROCK CLIMBER IN THE WORLD.” HERE SHE TELLS US WHAT MAKES HER SUITCASE SO HEAVY, WHY SHE LOVES HEADING TO SPAIN, AND WHAT SCARES HER WHILE SHE’S CLIMBING.
Q & A INTERVIEW
»
DIGIULIAN, ORIGINALLY FROM ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, HAS BEEN TURNING HEADS SINCE SHE STARTED CLIMBING AT THE AGE OF SEVEN. IN A GAP YEAR BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE IN NEW YORK THIS FALL, SHE MADE HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN TO CLIMB THE 80-FOOT PURE IMAGINATION IN KENTUCKY AND THE 140-FOOT ERA BELLA IN SPAIN, BOTH AT GRADE 5.14D. NOW HER CHALLENGE IS BALANCING LIFE AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AND A FULL-TIME STUDENT. DESPITE HER RIGOROUS ACADEMIC LOAD, SHE SAYS SHE STILL FINDS TIME TO TRAIN THREE HOURS A DAY.
Q: DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY, FROM
motivated climbers there; and the lifestyle is positive
DAWN ‘TIL DUSK. WHERE WOULD YOU BE, WHO WOULD YOU MEET, AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
and relaxed. No pasa nada; the Spanish know how to
A: I wake up at a reasonable hour, probably 8 or 9 a.m.
gion. I think they go there both because of the Mecca
I have a leisurely breakfast including lots of bold coffee and steamed milk. After breakfast, my friends and I hike to the crag. The sky is a crystal clear blue, the sun warms the ground, and there’s a slight breeze. The colorful autumn leaves flutter from the ground. Next I have my harness on, and I’m tying in to the end of the rope
live! I first visited Cataluna in 2008. There was just so much limestone and so many strong climbers in the reof rock, and because climbers like Dani Andrada and Chris Sharma are there, establishing hard, world-class routes. I usually spend two weeks at a time there, and I’ve gone about six times. Hopefully I’ll be back in January if it’s not too cold!
with my good friend standing there, ready to belay me
Q: IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANY AD-
on my latest project. We climb all day and eat lots of trail mix and fresh Honeycrisp apples. At the end of the
VENTURER, EXPLORER, OR ATHLETE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
day when the sun is setting, we walk back down from
A: I would have lunch with Reinhold Messner because
the crag and have a warm hearty dinner over laughs
he’s such a charming, humble pioneer. I first met him
and red wine. Then we have cookies to celebrate our
last year at the winter trade show for the Outdoor In-
day’s hard sending. We look down at our hands and
spiration awards, and he’s also on Team Adidas. He has
compare the day’s battle wounds.
accomplished so much, yet he remains interested in the present and is so modest about his past.
Q: IF YOU COULD TRAVEL SOMEWHERE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?
Q: WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU CAN’T TRAVEL
A:
Greece is at the top of my bucket list because the
A: This is 100 percent materialistic, but my iPhone, be-
whole ambiance seems incredible—amazing climbs to
cause I’m constantly using it to check my email, take
try, rich culture, tremendous food, and a tranquil envi-
pictures, and keep in contact with my friends and fam-
ronment. Many of my friends have traveled to Greece
ily. I also often travel with my blender, a BlendTec, be-
to climb at Kalymnos, though I don’t have any particu-
cause I love fresh juices and smoothies, although it
lar climbs in mind; the entire area just sounds and looks
does get a bit bulky to carry. At three horsepower, it’s
amazing. Also, Greek food is my second favorite cui-
a monster.
WITHOUT? AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT?
sine next to Japanese, so I’d be sure to eat lots of yogurt and fresh honey.
Q: WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT A NEW DESTI-
Q: WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER
NATION, WHAT’S USUALLY FIRST ON YOUR AGENDA?
VISITED? WHAT MADE IT SO SPECIAL?
A:
A:
Typically if it’s for a climbing trip, and it basical-
One of the best places I’ve ever visited is the Cata-
ly always is, I’ll read a climbing guidebook and decide
luna region of Spain because the amount of rock to
where I’d like to go climbing. I also like to eat the cuisine
climb is endless; there is always a plethora of strong,
that’s local to the destination.
Believe in yourself and the
Q: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AS A PROFESSIONAL ROCK CLIMBER?
possibility of realizing any overarching dream that
A:
I’m motivated to push my own personal limits and
see what I am capable of. I’m also inspired to get other people passionate about climbing because what I feel when I climb is unparalleled to any other feeling I’ve experienced—it’s simply cathartic.
Q: AS A CHILD, WHAT WAS YOUR DREAM
you dedicate yourself to.
JOB? IF YOU GAVE UP THAT DREAM, WHEN AND WHY DID YOUR PLANS CHANGE, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS?
A:
My dream job was to professionally climb, to be
honest. I first fell in love with climbing at the age of seven, and that was all I wanted to do, so I guess I never really gave up on that dream. Prior to that I wanted to be an author/illustrator because I loved to read books and draw pictures. I still enjoy writing and doodling, and I love keeping a blog.
Q: WHEN AND HOW DID YOU FIRST START ROCK CLIMBING?
A:
I first started climbing in 1999 after my brother’s
birthday party at a local climbing gym. My brother is 14 months older than me. At this party, I was seven. It was all boys from his ice hockey team there and me. I wasn’t scared at all—I was exhilarated by moving higher and higher up the wall. I loved the feeling of defying gravity. The party walls were about 40 feet, so not very high, but high to me at the time. Climbing isn’t pure strength—I was a little girl who happened to love playing on the monkey bars and had good strength-tobody weight ratio in my favor. I excelled past the phys-
“
Believe in yourself and the possibil-
ity of realizing any overarching dream that you dedicate yourself to.
ically stronger and more athletic boys in the birthday party. I think being better than my brother prompted my interest, too.
Q: WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO AN ASPIRING PROFESSIONAL CLIMBER?
A:
Believe in yourself and the possibility of realizing
any overarching dream that you dedicate yourself to. Don’t be fixated on grades—they are just the guiding spectrum to mark progress, nothing else. Climb what inspires you and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and to fall ... a lot.
Q: HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY ROLE MODELS OR MENTORS? DESCRIBE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND WHAT HE OR SHE TAUGHT YOU.
A:
My friends are my greatest inspiration. I look up to
the individuals who surround me because I believe everyone has a unique characteristic and some attribute to learn from. For example, my friend Andrea Szekely works incredibly hard. I grew up climbing with her and her brother, Gabor, and their mom, Eva, an Olympic gymnast. Andrea currently goes to Stanford, and she values education and climbing. She trains harder than basically everyone else I know—she just works so hard. This is inspiring.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A LIFE PHILOSOPHY? A: Be yourself and be confident in who you are and what you want. If you do that, you’ll be successful because you’ll be happy.
Q: HAVE YOU EVER MADE A MISTAKE OR EXPERIENCED A NEAR ACCIDENT WHILE CLIMBING THAT MADE YOU THINK TWICE ABOUT GOING OUT AGAIN?
A: I have injured my ankles a lot while bouldering, and that makes me hesitant sometimes about falling from high points because I don’t want to land poorly and reinjure myself. With bouldering, when you fall you land on a crash pad (like a gymnastic pad), and as long as you land well, you’re absolutely fine. The way to overcome my fear, which I’m still overcoming, is to do exactly what scares me: falling.
Q: IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT CAREER, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
A: I would be involved in sports and the outdoors still, but maybe I’d want to be a professional athlete of another sport; I used to figure skate and I still think it’s a beautiful sport, so maybe I’d try that. Or, since ideally I’d still like to work in conjunction with climbing, maybe I’d have a role in marketing and media communications involving fitness and the outdoors. I strongly believe in the benefits of exercise and the necessity of living a healthy, active lifestyle, so I’m really interested in advocating this belief to others.
Q: NAME THREE THINGS YOU STILL WANT TO CROSS OFF YOUR LIFE BUCKET LIST.
A:
Bolt and climb my own route. Travel and climb in
Greece and Thailand. Become president. Just kidding. Bake an apple pie that turns out as amazing as my grandma’s pies always do.
“
I’m motivated to push my own personal limits and see what I am capable of.
”
THE HIKER
jennifer pharr davis In July, Jennifer Pharr Davis of Asheville, N.C. set the overall world record for hiking the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia. She completed the 2,181-mile trail in 46 days, averaging just under 47 miles a day.
WARRIORS
Âť
Here we salute a special pride of lionesses— the 4 women who’ve impressed us with their brave stands, bold plans, daring artistry, and hardcore commitment to being superstars!
THE HIGHLINER
emily sukiennik
After becoming the 4th woman in history to complete the Lost Arrow Spire highline, Emily has since completed more than 60 lines and many on her first try. She has walked the longest longline (413 feet), and landed on the podium in numerous slack- and highline competitions.
THE ULTRARUNNER
lizzy hawker
Champion trail ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker is seen here running through the mountains surrounding Chamonix, France, days before running — and winning — the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc for the fifth time, a feat no man or woman has accomplished ever before.
THE HUMANITARIAN
shannon galpin
Shannon Galpin travels miles by bike to bring attention to women’s rights in Afghanistan. She’s mountain biked 140 miles across the Panjshir Valley, and has worked through the country’s most volatile periods to bring humanitarian aid to the region.