Summer 2012 Women's Adventure Magazine by Women's Adventure Magazine

How To Ride wHeelieS, TRain BeTTeR, TRavel RiGHT

SUMMER 2012

SUP Queen

Nikki Gregg

On Paddling Like a Pro page 52

73 GeaR eSSenTialS foR

Packing Light Summer Camping Road Cycling

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Why Try

Crossfit Training adventure Racing a women’s Retreat

Panic in Patagonia,Thrive on a Surfboard, Glitz and Glam in Chile

Redemption Ride

A life-list mountain biking trip to Patagonia forced Jayme Moye to face her anxiety and acknowledge her fears.

The Damn Wave

Woman-to-woman instruction is just what Hannah Nordhaus needed to master surfing. At a women’s camp in el Salvador, she finetuned her skills and discovered the details that helped her catch those damn waves.

All that Glitters Isn’t Gold

Skier Brigid Mander found what she sought in Chile’s high-fashion cities and powdery slopes, but never lost perspective on true glitz and mountain glamour.

aspire

wonder

58 STeve ZDAWCZYNSki, JuSTiN bASTieN, ROb LeggieRO, beN ThOuARD COveR iMAge: JeNNiFeR guLiZiA, gORge-uS PhOTOgRAPhY

10 Discuss Stuff You Should know 40 14 Book Club Prodigal Summer 42 16 Trends Strappy sandals 43 18 Tech Talk Wellness at Altitude 44 20 Tech Talk Skin Care 46 24 Tech Talk Fitness Apps 26 Hotel Homebase enchanting Adventures 30 Travel Pro A Naturalist and guide 32 Travel Gear Packing Light 34 Travel Trends Adventure expedition Cruises 36 On the Map Find Your Own Adventure

travel

I’m Proof That... This Ain’t Your Mama’s MS Dream Job Costa Rican Outfitter Try This Wheelies Advocate Life After A Stroke Camps Learning Self-Trust

Gear

Can’t-live-without road cycling essentials, packs for every purpose, and camping necessities, no matter your outdoor living style. Plus, a compilation of our summer gear faves.

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Contents

Features

64 66 68

Sport Standup Paddleboarding

78 79 80

Marketplace

Skill Wilderness First Aid Mix It Up CrossFit

Partnerships It’s Personal Not A Damsel

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Contests

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On the Web Click your way to adventure.

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TOOLBOXES

Packed with how-to tips, fun videos, and inspiring stories, our better-than-ever Toolboxes will equip you for every pursuit from running, cycling, and hiking to snow and water sports.

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STAy, SOAk & PLAy – ENTER TO WIN an ADvENTuRE PAckAgE with ThESE fINE PARTNERS!

Glean tips from the Adventure Moms, be entertained by the newbie blogs, and even submit your own stories.

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At Women’s Adventure, we practice what we preach and really geek out about gear. Check out reviews of our favorite gear online every Tuesday.

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AnnA PAloVCik/AMeriCAn SAFAri CruiSeS

Discover the season’s top destinations for family, solo, or girlfriend getaways —always with an active, adventurous twist.

contributors 4

Chris Kassar As a conservation biologist, guide, and writer, Chris has a reverence for nature and a thirst for adventure. She’s most at peace in the outdoors and considers a successful year one in which she spends more nights sleeping under than stars than under a ceiling. When not writing, Chris can be found teaching yoga and acting as a champion for Chilean rivers, via an organization she co-founded called Rios Libres (rioslibres. com). She’s happiest when running in the mountains, skiing through the trees, drinking dark beer, baking cookies, and following her dreams.

Why do you love exploring outdoors with girl friends? EditoriAL

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Editor-iN-CHiEF JENNIFER C. OLSON

Less ego = more fun!

Jill C. Wigand Women’s Adventure intern and adventurous senior at the University of Colorado, Jill loves the outdoors, traveling, and writing. Inspired by nature, she hopes to work to preserve the beautiful land we live off of after she graduates.

Brigid Mander A Long Island, NY, native, Brigid discovered that skiing was the perfect gateway to adventures above and beyond skiing powder—without losing sight of that goal, however. Currently based in Jackson Hole, WY, she has traveled and written about skiing, adventures, and characters from the fjords of Norway to Chile’s volcanoes. Her work appears in Backcountry Magazine, Powder, Mountain, ESPN.com, Skiing, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.

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The universal language of sharing a good piece of chocolate when reaching the apex of a long hike.

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[

Web director Susan Hayse

Cycling girl friends don’t mind in-depth saddle sore discussions.

travel Editor Gigi Ragland Copy Editor Mira Perrizo

[

Girl friends have like physical abilities and the conversations are more entertaining.

[

...because the boys

Contributing Writers Camrin Dengel, Meadow Didier, can’t keep up! Chris Kassar, Katie Levy, Sonya Looney, Adventures in nature build bonds between sisters that Brigid Mander, Jayme Moye, Hannah transcend time, distance, and Nordhaus, Irene Thomas It’s the closest I’ve ever everything else. Editorial interns Jill C. Wigand

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gotten to having a sister.

We deepen our friendship by embracing what we love together!

Contributing Photographers Leslie Anthony, Justin Bastien, Dan Breckwoldt, Kathleen Brennan, Jeffery Chow, Camrin Dengel, Justin Doran, Wendy Griffith, Michael DeYoung, Jennifer Gulizia, Matt Hage, Dan Herscovitch, Wendy Holt, Chris Hunter, Michael Lampi, Abram Eric Landes, Rob Leggiero, Ryan Lopossa, Anna Palovcik, Redtown Photography, Patrick Selvage, Ken Schuh, Julia Schweiger, Kemi Vernon, Steve Zdawczynski

SUBMiSSioNS For contributor’s guidelines, visit www.womensadventuremagazine.com/contributors-guidelines Editorial queries or submissions should be sent to edit@staff.womensadventuremagazine.com Photo queries should be sent to photos@womensadventuremagazine.com Women’s Adventure is always looking for new and innovative products for women. For consideration, please send non-returnable samples to 3360 Mitchell Lane, Suite E, Boulder, CO 80301

Key Accounts Sue Sheerin

A professional mountain biker living in Boulder, CO, Sonya grew up in Albuquerque, NM, running, hiking, playing tennis on a very competitive level, and eating New Mexican food. She discovered cycling when she grew tired of constant overuse injuries from running and was hooked instantly on mountain biking. She has many loves, including singletrack, high alpine mountains, laughing, yoga, trail running, coffee, beer, red wine, and food! Sonya also has a love for music, being a flute player her whole life and, in more recent years, a singer/songwriter with the acoustic guitar. Sonya says she loves mountain biking because it forces the mind to focus on the present moment, and she feels pure bliss on the trail.

They’re on my level—the “scream and giggle while shredding as best you can” level.

Art director Rebecca Finkel

PUBLiSHiNg

Sonya Looney

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I live with three boys—my husband and two children. I need the female energy!

sue@womensadventuremagazine.com 303 931 6057

Account Manager Lisa Sinclair

lisa@womensadventuremagazine.com 970 556 3279

Multi-tasker Extraordinaire Meghan Maloney

meghan@staff.womensadventuremagazine.com

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MAY THE PLACES YOU EXPLORE BE THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL T H I N G T H E R E.

Michele Carter loves riding. And her skin. From the seat of her motorcycle she created this naturally derived skin care to protect against extremes. Like 65 mph winds. Blistering sun. And mile after mile of grime. So if it can work out there it can work anywhere you go and everywhere you love to explore. Biker-tested. Thrill-seeker approved. goAdventuress.com

Subscriptions!

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SPRING 2012

Why Krissy Moehl feels “completely lucky to be living this life.“ page 32

Farming for More than Food Building Libraries (and Uniting Villages) in Nepal Exploring Africa’s Okavango Delta on Horseback

How to

Run Ultra Marathons Bicycle Commute Cross Train Using TRX

The Complete Package:

Mountain Bikes, Kayaks, and All the Essentials to Match

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Title IX: Run, Play, and Ride Like the Guys (Only Better)

SPRING 2012 Display Until June 1

93 Ways to Play Harder, Travel Smarter, and to Go Farther

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HOW TO BE AN ACTIVE ADVOCATE

WINTER 2011/12

Happiness Is

Fresh Powder Blue Skies Friends

Why is

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a Wild Thing? See page 32

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Great Tips for Solo Trips Make Tracks to a Backcountry Hut

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Skate Skiing, Avalanche Awareness, Snowshoes, Snow Biking, and More!

FALL 2011

Yes You Can

Climb Jump Fly

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left a trail of sweat on a high desert mesa last week. Once, I lost my way, turning left where I should’ve turned right. (That intersection always bewilders me.) I figured I’d just follow the stink back down the hill—Hansel and Gretel-style—if I truly did get disoriented. Mostly, I run in shadier mountain climates and with at least one friend. But, running alone in the bare desert is a different experience. It forces me to detach, exercise independence, and reflect, as my mind has time and space to drift.

It was a Sunday. I left my phone in the car, wore no watch, and carried no water. I distanced myself from the trailhead and climbed a steep enough trail that I didn’t encounter anyone else. It was just my lime green shorts, my favorite trail runners (see page 76), and me out there. I took a familiar route, tucking my shirt into my bra to keep cool and, at the top, leaving a sweaty stamp of my butt and legs on a rock outcrop, where I usually break halfway—either catching rays or resting in the shade of the overhang. I don’t remember much about the hour-long run down, except for the moment when I noticed a group of mountain bikers under a tree and quickly pulled my shirt down over my belly. The rest of the afternoon was blissful. Hot, yes. But that run both relaxed and invigorated me. I felt strong, happy, clear-headed, and inspired. It’s a feeling I only get from being outdoors, challenging my body, and disconnecting completely. It’s nice. And that sort of muscly, empowering experience is the focus of this issue. Many of the women you’ll meet in this magazine regularly take time out, scheduling hours to build their skills, strength, and confidence, and give themselves space to think and be. Nikki Gregg, whose smiling face you see on the cover, spent four hours a day standup paddle surfing when she discovered the sport. She worked it into her lifestyle and introduced her friends and clients to it, sharing SUP with others and now sharing it with us (page 64).

LONDON 2 LONDON BY BIKE AND BOAT

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To overcome her bike- and wind-related anxiety, Jayme Moye booked a mountain biking trip to über-windy Patagonia (page 48). While she didn’t realize the expected outcome, she did ditch the shame she once suffered over her disorder and came home with a fresh perspective. Brigid Mander took time out from a Chile ski expedition to shop for and splurge on a designer dress (page 58), while Hannah Nordhaus spent time in El Salvador mastering her surf skills in the company of women sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm (page 54). Karin Linner, who had a stroke at age 34, is spending this year riding across the country to educate about stroke recovery and prevention (page 44). Her love for triathlon fuels her recovery while her commitment to the cause comes as a result of focusing on her own needs first. Wendy Booker, after being diagnosed with MS, also took life by the horns and is finding ways to reach the world’s highest summits and re-invent the standard of success (page 40). This issue offers countless ways you can take care of yourself—from your skin (page 20) to your spirit (page 46). And, online, Women’s Adventure offers more tips and avenues to embrace and nurture your inner adventuress. The Women’s Adventure book club, for example, is an enjoyable excuse to make time for you but also an opportunity to share that and other experiences with female friends.

Good things happen when we women take time for ourselves, spend time alone with nature, and allow our own health and goals to take precedence. When we’re good to ourselves, we’re refreshed and enthused, more creative and stronger, ready to take on the outdoors and thrive in the wild!

Jennifer C. Olson 6

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womensadventuremagazine.com

Jeffery Chow

Whether through travel, outdoor exercise, skills clinics, a new piece of gear that helps you push your boundaries, or local exploration, I urge you this summer to allow yourself time to cultivate strength, grow your energy, and develop fun and useful skills—like riding wheelies (page 43)!

wonde

“I think the key is for women not to set any limits.” —Martina Navratilova

A woman looks out over Portage Lake in the Chugach National Forest in southcentral Alaska. Remnants of Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns, and Shakespeare glaciers can be seen today in Portage Valley—a 14-mile isthmus connecting the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. The Chugach National Forest’s 5.4 million acres of wilderness and water make it a natural adventure destination.

Matt Hage

Discuss

1,000-Mile

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Run and Record Attempt Ultra running phenom and all-around amazing woman Diane van Deren doesn’t let distance get to her. She’s won 100-milers, completed 260 miles of the Iditarod pulling a 42-pound gear and supply sled, and run 430 miles as part of the Yukon Arctic Ultra. What’s up next? Going after a speed record to run the 1,000-mile-long Mountains-ToSea Trail in North Carolina. Her goal? 22 days or less. She should be finishing up the trail expedition June 2. Find out how she did at mstendurancerun.com.

American Hiking Society

Recovery on Water (ROW) On June 15th, Recovery on Water (ROW) founder Jenn Gibbons will depart Chicago in an attempt at the first 1,500mile solo row around Lake Michigan to support her breast cancer recovery team. She founded ROW on the idea that exercise reduces the reoccurrence of breast cancer by 50 percent. She hopes to raise awareness by completing this adventure, visiting port towns around the lake, and educating communities on the important role exercise plays in fighting breast cancer. Follow Jenn and support her cause at row4row.org. —Jill C. Wigand

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The Young and the Wilderness Outdoor Nation’s youth summits and youth-led projects aim to help “reconnect young adults with the outdoors” and empower young outdoor champions and change makers in the communities. This exciting program offers youth the opportunity to take leadership positions and compete for spots in the youth summits. Education and outdoor activities will highlight this program, allowing young adults to become ever close with the natural habitats in which they reside. —Jill C. Wigand

womensadventuremagazine.com

Courtesy of the North faCe, KeN sChuh, redtowN PhotograPhy

If you love nature, hiking, or even just the beauty of the environment, get out and give back this summer! Take a Volunteer Vacation with the American Hiking Society, where you will work to rebuild trails all over the country. This opportunity is open to anyone, from the inexperienced to experienced, who wants to give back to the environment they so much enjoy. The only cost is the $275 registration fee, making the American Hiking Society a cheap and beneficial way to travel this summer. americanhiking.org —Jill C. Wigand

Ragnar Relay

Courtesy of ragnar relay, Courtesy of nature Valley trail View

It’s 2:14 a.m. You’re being dumped out of a van on the roadside, wearing a neon reflective vest, running shoes, and a headlamp. Your eleven closest buddies yell, as they slam the van door, “See you in a few miles,” and drive into the night. By early afternoon the next day, all twelve of you are crossing the finish line of a Ragnar Relay together, smiling and aching from all the miles you ran, ready to party with other

runners that evening—after a nap, of course—and start planning next year’s relay. Limit-testing Ragnar Relay events take place all around the country and in beautifully scenic locations. Choose to run on a 12-person crew or get together an ultra team and suffer with six of your closest girlfriends. Each team member runs three legs of varying distances and difficulties to complete the 200-mile overnight relay. Try one of this summer’s races, including the challenging Wasatch Back course from Logan to Park City, UT, on June 15-16. Costumes, pranks, and smiles encouraged. ragnarrelay.com

Master cameraman Brandon McClain digitally captured and documented all three parks for the Nature Valley Trail View platform using a 360-degree backpack camera.

Nature Valley Trail View Preserving nature is at the top of the to-do list for Nature Valley, maker of the famous granola bars. “As a brand that loves the outdoors, Nature Valley’s goal is to inspire consumers to enjoy all that nature has to offer, especially our national parks,” the company explains. With this vision in mind, the company captured hiking images on trails all around the United States’ national parks and created the Nature Valley Trail View digital platform, which provides 360-degree views of the parks on NatureValleyTrailView.com. Camera crews hiked endlessly, collecting footage for the initiative, founded on the hope to inspire people to enjoy the parks in person and ultimately preserve them. Through ongoing exploration by users, Nature Valley Trail View technology will evolve and continue to educate and excite people. The site features beautiful footage from the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone. NatureValleyTrailView.com —Jill C. Wigand

Yellowstone National Park’s Mt. Washburn, as seen on NatureValleyTrailView.com. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Discuss

Her Own Two Wheels The poor will remain in poverty if not given the chance to access healthcare, education, and economic development. World Bicycle Relief works to tackle the issues poverty brings, particularly addressing the lack of access to transportation. With a mission to provide people in need with access to independence and livelihood through the power of bikes, the company enters Sub-Saharan Africa and changes the lives of thousands. Children without bikes can often not get to school on time and are exhausted when they arrive after long walks. Parents have trouble supporting their families, because they can’t reach potential customers. Families don’t get the medical attention they need, because caretakers can’t visit more than a few homes a day. The bicycle changes all this. Now, with World Bicycle Relief bikes in their hands, children can arrive to school on time, parents can expand markets and generate income by reaching more customers, and families can get the healthcare they need in a timely manner. More than 60,000 bikes have been provided so far to people in need, and this number continues growing. Grants, microfinance loans, and work-to-own programs provide these people with the bicycles that change their lives. Through generating income, markets can begin to be created, and more people can receive all they need to succeed. We at Women’s Adventure magazine are especially pleased to see that young girls are now becoming a top priority and receiving the opportunity to

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get an education and change the path of their lives. A girl choir at a Zambian school sings the lyrics, “A girl child can do what a boy child can do as long as she’s given a chance.” A chance sometimes comes in the form of a bike, as these girls and the founders of World Bicycle Relief believe. With bikes, they are no longer late to school and tired from their long walks. They finally can succeed in their classes because of the extra time to study that they have gained through bike riding, rather than walking. The power of the bike must not be downplayed. We have the chance to truly change lives through supporting the World Bicycle Relief and give transportation to thousands of poverty-stricken youth and adults. worldbicyclerelief.org —Jill C. Wigand

womensadventuremagazine.com

Breast Cancer Vaccine? This year, 230,000 women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer; 50,000 deaths will also be attributed to breast cancer. Over the last two decades, the number of cancer patients grew, but the number of deaths decreased. Half of that decrease is thanks to early diagnosis, while the other half is due to better and more specifically targeted treatments than were available in the past. If cancer is caught early, patients can receive early treatment and will most likely survive. But 25 percent of women who’ve been diagnosed and received treatment will have a recurrence. That’s where NeuVax—a vaccine preventing recurrence of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers—comes in. The drug seeks out to eradicate those cells in the body that cause breast cancer with the aim to prevent recurrence. After patients receive treatment in the form of Rosemary Mazanet, M.D., Ph.D. is the oncologist leading surgery, chemo, Galena Biorpharma’s efforts to or radiation and evaluate NeuVax cancer vaccine for FDA approval. are in remission, it’s a waiting game. “At that point, patients consider themselves cancer survivors,” says Rosemary Mazanet, M.D., Ph.D., the oncologist leading the company’s efforts to evaluate NeuVax for FDA approval. “But, until you’re five years out, your physician won’t consider you a survivor. You’re on your own until you hit that five-year birthday. This is a hard time emotionally, and women want to go back to their lives, get back to being active.” So, Galena Biorpharma’s NeuVax cancer vaccine, which originally came out of MD Anderson, actively combats recurrence while in that five-year period. It’s a non-toxic treatment, given with boosters for three years following original treatment. About 700 women worldwide are taking part in this NeuVax Phase III

“The cancer vaccine is designed to spur immune attacks on HER2/neu-positive cancers, accounting for about 20% of breast cancers.” FDA trial in breast cancer, and phase II clinical trials are also underway. We won’t get into the deep science of it, but here’s a surface-level summary of its effect: The cancer vaccine is designed to spur immune attacks on HER2/ neu-positive cancers, accounting for about 20% of breast cancers. For more than a decade, people have worked to characterize this protein and its expression on cells. Over-expression translates to a cancer diagnosis, and it’s the same protein on the cells of everybody who has this type of cancer. Giving this protein under the cell, along with an immune stimulator, provokes an immune response that goes throughout the body. A week or two after giving the peptide and immune stimulant, doctors can measure it in the blood and know it is circulating. Presumably any place where there are tumor cells, the immune response kicks in to eliminate them. Cancer is coming from little tiny tumor cells so, while the immune system probably cannot successfully fight a large tumor, it could fight tumor cells if they’re small enough. The logical assumption then is that the immune system is fighting the tumor cells. While NeuVax is still in testing stages and won’t be ready for commercial use for a couple years at least, women interested in getting the vaccine now can enroll in the trial at the National Cancer Institute. Visit clinicaltrials.gov for info about the trial.

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Book Club

Women’s Adventure magazine Book Club on Facebook

We invite you to join us as we read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver in the upcoming weeks.

his spring, we read Be Brave Be Strong by Jill Homer, and Jill joined the conversation.

“I believe I have the same drive to succeed as most everyone else,” Jill wrote. “It’s just that the goals I want to achieve are not the most common goals.” Speaking about her 2009 Tour Divide experience, Jill said, “I really had the best of both worlds in my race [with racing buddy John around for support], but at the same time it would be the ultimate personal challenge to see what I can achieve on my own. If I raced the Tour Divide again, I would make an effort to go solo—if nothing else just to know exactly what I’m capable of on my own.” She also said she’d waste less time the next go around. “It’s difficult to create a plan with all the variables of this race, so my strategy would be to continue beyond towns whenever I felt good, and stop in towns only when I felt I had a good reason. I still believe it’s important in a race this long to continue to have fun, but my race in 2009 involved several instances of down time that were not well spent,” Jill wrote, adding, “Of course this is easy to say from the comfortable perch of hindsight.” Since the Tour Divide, Jill has taken up the “hobby” of ultra running, and we’re eager to see what her future writing reveals about these runningrelated adventures.

Eco Adventure Racing

et-course triathlons challenge but bore me. I was over 5k runs years ago. Trail running and mountain bike races keep me smiling. But, I enjoy races with extra interesting elements, like navigation and, lately, trash pickup. Adventure racing, while still not a mainstream sport, is gaining popularity. But, is treading on these wild places (trekking off-trail to find checkpoints or letting GU tube flaps

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he next book club read, My Year of Living Fearlessly: A comedy about facing my fears by Amber Karlins, was less of a hit. But, we still learned a lot about each other during our discussions. Natasha Cusiel confessed: “I have a fear of heights so, for my 30th, I did a tandem-skydive, bungee jump, and acrobatic flight in an open-cockpit plane. It solved my fear for about a day, but I still have that fear.” Sharry Miller mentioned she’s facing one of her fears by spending three days alone in Bangkok before joining a 10-day bicycle tour in Bhutan. “I’m terrified of those three days!” she admitted to us. Lyndsey Clark said stretching her comfort zone wasn’t as difficult as she expected. “I have a fear of ‘being the slowest’ but last year I joined a mountain bike club and this year am going on a guided holiday in the French Alps. I am the slowest on club rides and probably will be in the Alps but it’s not as bad as I feared.” As we read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, Jennifer Lu’Becke led the discussion, asking us all what we thought of Cheryl’s seemingly fearless approach to her thru-hike. JoAndra Parsons Proia connected with Cheryl’s story and fear in a deep way, sharing: “I think her desperate need to break out of the horrible rut she was in overpowered her fear of the trail; she knew innately that if she didn’t do something different to change the course of her life, she’d really have something to fear. I related so much to her and I am so in awe of her courage to tell her story, unedited.”

fly from our packs) doing more harm than good? I think, probably not. Engaging in this intimate way with forests, deserts, and waterways connects me more closely with nature, ultimately spurring me to preserve its beauty.

with most of the races they organize, going the extra mile to judge and find sponsors for the trash pickup competitions. They named this effort BMARE, Big Mountain Adventure for the Environment. Plus, as a competitive team, the four organizers carry trash bags with them on training runs.

The Big Mountain Adventure Racing folks see it similarly and host a cleanup competition in conjunction

Modeling the competitions after their own habits, they give each adventure racing team a trash bag

for collecting garbage throughout the race and have spare bags on hand in case teams fill theirs up between transitions. The two winning categories for these BMARE competitions: the amount of trash collected by weight and the most creative display of trash collected. Heck, trash pickup competitions are not just fun; they add another of those challenges I love and present a new way to win! bigmountainar.com/bmare.php —Jennifer C. Olson womensadventuremagazine.com

Timberland,

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Trends

Strappy Sandals Whether exploring trail, foreign streets, or your local park, you’ll probably find a fit among these strappy sandal styles. Each comfortable design suits active, outdoor women with eco-conscious lifestyles. Merrell Henna Cute and comfortable, these sandals are just strappy enough and will snugly hug your foot on any adventure. Bonus: the straps’ microbe-coated shield helps control odor and resists stains and deterioration. $100; merrell.com

El Naturalista Sassi N140 Natural and beautiful, this vegetable-tanned strappy leather sandal speaks class and creativity on any summer day. $145; shop.elnaturalista.com

Patagonia Bandha Criss-Cross Sandals Made partially from recycled materials, these beauties go elegantly from comfortable on the street to sophisticated in nature, leaving a minimal impact on the environment. All styles feature some recycled materials. $110; patagonia.com

Timberland Women’s Earthkeepers Katama Strappy Sandals These cork-soled shoes prevent slippage and minimize sweat and stink on hot summer days. $120; timberland.com KEEN’s La Paz Wrap Just barely there, this casual style features thin straps and a rubber sole that will keep you comfy all day. A hydrophobic mesh lining keeps water and stinky bacteria from storing in the straps. $70; keenfootwear.com

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Sasha DiGiulian isn’t your average climber. Actually, she’s more like a budding superhero. Owner of the hardest women’s sport climb on Earth (“Pure Imagination,” 5.14d), she’s also the youngest collector of four different 8c+ ascents and the overall gold medal winner at the 2011 World Championships. Oh, and one other thing: She’s only 19 years old.

Sasha DiGiulian is Built to Send. What are you built for? BEhIND A PAIr OF NAtIvE SOlOS, SAShA EyES hEr NExt mOvE ON “mIND CONtrOl” IN OlIANA, SPAIN.

Follow Native on Facebook and share your story: facebook.com/NativeEyewear

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Tech Talk

Rise Above A Primer on Staying Well at Altitude By Chris Kassar

A little knowledge and extra care can keep you feeling like you’re on cloud nine, even if you really are on, well, cloud nine. Follow these guidelines from Colleen Glyde Julian, PhD,a Research Scientist at the Altitude Research Center, Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver. Take your time acclimatizing. Acclimatization

is a slow process that can take days or weeks.

hether trekking in the Himalayas, climbing a 14er in Colorado, or searching for powder at a Utah ski resort, you’re in for an awesome adventure. There are certainly challenges associated with being active at altitude, but don’t let this deter you from exploring the beauty that awaits up high. Here, Women’s Adventure teaches you how altitude may affect your body and how to stay well no matter your elevation, so—armed with this knowledge— you can pursue safe, successful, and enjoyable journeys to higher ground. What’s the definition of high altitude? The Institute for Altitude Medicine (IFAM) at Telluride reports that physiological changes begin at 5,000 feet, where the body notices a difference in available oxygen and compensates by increasing the number of breaths you take per minute. This is why, if you live in New York City and fly to Denver (5,280 feet), you’ll probably be short of breath and may have a mild headache. Your symptoms may be even more noticeable if you immediately head to the mountains in Aspen (roughly at 8,500 feet). What happens to your body at altitude? An anonymous and very wise climber once said, “Altitude is the great equalizer.” As you climb higher, you will quickly come to understand the truth of this statement. Everyone experiences some normal

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

physiological changes, including shortness of breath during exertion, overall increased breathing and pulse rate, increased urination, and interrupted sleep. These are all part of acclimatization, the process your body goes through as it adjusts to having less oxygen available. If all goes well, your body develops a more efficient response to altitude as you acclimate. Over time, you produce more red blood cells and capillaries, plus your lungs increase in size. However, not everyone responds the same way; each person acclimatizes differently and unpredictably. Regardless of fitness level, previous altitude experience or age, increased elevation may wreak havoc on one body while being merely a nuisance to another. What can you do to stay well?

Headache. Nausea. Vomiting. Loss of appetite. Fatigue. Dizziness. Light-headedness. Difficulty sleeping. Doesn’t sound fun, does it? Being ill at altitude can turn the trip of a lifetime into a holiday from hell pretty quickly. But, don’t fret. Why does this happen? Is there really less oxygen in the air? It’s not really that there’s less oxygen in the air; the percent of oxygen at all altitudes actually stays the same: 21%. However, because the atmospheric pressure drops as you go higher, the volume of air drops. So every breath contains fewer and fewer molecules of oxygen and you have to breathe harder and harder to get the same amount of oxygen into your lungs as at lower elevations.

Ascend slowly. It is the best way to remain healthy.

If you’re flying to a high-altitude destination to ski or climb, then stay a few nights at nearby moderate altitude locations before hitting the slopes or mountains. If you’re mountaineering, avoid ascending more than 1,000 feet per day above altitudes of 10,000 feet. Before continuing, be sure everyone in your group is doing well. Climb high, sleep low. It’s the mountaineering motto. If you’re making a large ascent, climb high to allow your body to acclimatize, then return to lower altitudes to sleep for recovery. Respiratory rate decreases during sleep, so sleeping high will increase the likelihood of developing acute mountain sickness. If you’re skiing at a high altitude location, find a hotel nearby but at a lower elevation. You’ll avoid crowds and feel better. Train. Being in good shape won’t prevent altitude

from affecting you, but it will better enable your body to deal with other stresses (i.e., weekend warrior-hood and high altitude do not mix well). For one, exercising regularly teaches you to recognize what your body feels like when you’ve reached a level of exertion that is maintainable, and when to back off. Listen to those signals. Secondly, a healthy version of the same body performs better anywhere—including at high altitude. Take it easy. Focus on doing light activity for the first few days.

womensadventuremagazine.com

Hydrate and eat right. It’s actually a good sign if your urine output is greater at high altitude than at low altitude; this is part of the normal acclimatization process. It also means that you have to replenish what you lose, so drink more water. Urine should be clear. Technically, you don’t use more energy for a certain activity at high compared to low altitude, but you’ll likely be less hungry. Have snacks. Eat them. Even if you don’t want to. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Bring the right gear. As a general rule, bring a little bit of everything—clothes for warm and frigid weather, and everything in between. The key here is to layer. Avoid overheating in the daytime. (Remember the time you went for a run then sat around for hours in the same clothes, freezing? Don’t do that.) Protect yourself from the sun. Solar radiation increases with altitude, so be sure to wear sunscreen (reapply it often), sunglasses and a hat.

“The key lessons here are: When in doubt, descend. Don’t go up until symptoms diminish. Plan ahead so that you’re prepared. Many people experience acute mountain sickness. It’s okay to get it. But, it’s not okay to let it develop into something worse.” —Dr. Colleen Glyde Julian Take meds as a last resort, if necessary and after consulting your doctor. If you’ve had altitude sickness in the past, or have no option but to make a rapid ascent (e.g., a flight from sea level to 14,000 feet), talk to your physician. Ibuprofen, dexamethasone, and Diamox have all been shown to be effective in preventing acute mountain sickness, but, as is the case with any drug, the benefits are also accompanied by risks. n

AMS—What is it and what does it look like? According to the Altitude Research Center in Denver, altitude sickness, also called Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a combination of symptoms that are present when your body does not adapt to its current altitude. The most frequent symptoms of AMS are headache, queasiness, tiredness, and trouble sleeping.

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WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Tech Talk

Skin Deep Skin Care for Active, Outdoorsy Women By Jennifer C. Olson

n a nutshell, sunscreen and antioxidants are the most crucial components of an outdoorsy woman’s skin care regimen. And, while smooth and healthy skin is not quite that simple, getting (and keeping) a radiant complexion doesn’t have to be—and in fact shouldn’t be—complicated either.

An outdoor woman’s skin needs extra attention. Your outer shell gets a beating as you play in the sun, wind, and dirt every day. “An outdoor woman’s skin is pushed to the limit,” says adventure enthusiast and motorcycle chick Michele Carter, who founded Adventuress Skin Care, a line inspired by and created around her on-the-road lifestyle. Michele goes on to say, “If a woman spends a lot of time outdoors, her skin may be drying and is in danger of premature aging: sun spots and wrinkles. Because she’s exercising, her skin could be irritated by fragrances and synthetically derived ingredients, too.” Michele hired chemist Mosoomeh Wake—formerly a liaison between core scientists and marketers for brands like L’Oréal, Chanel, and Estée Lauder— to develop the line. “I knew which claims were bullshit and which had science to back them,” says Mosoomeh, who gave us the no-B.S. version of a good skin care regimen. An active woman should focus on cleansing, protecting against sun and wind burn, and repairing damage via antioxidant vitamins C, D, and E. Look for a cleanser that doesn’t strip away your skin’s natural fatty acids. “Consumers have been taught that if their skin is squeaky clean, then they’re really cleaning,” Mosoomeh says, emphasizing that many people’s perceptions are misguided. “If we’re working with really mild cleansers, we have to add something that creates a bit of foam to satisfy the customer, even though foam doesn’t necessarily up the product’s effectiveness. It’s good to use really mild surfactants that remove makeup and oil but not natural sebum.”

The most effective chemical exfoliants are AHAs and BHA. Alpha hydroxy acids—such as glycolic, lactic, malic, and citric acids—are naturally found in fruits, milk, sugarcane, and molasses. Beta hydroxy acid (or salicylic acid) has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties so it works well on blemish-prone skin. “For them to be operative, they have to have a PH of about 4. The PH cannot be any higher though, as it would unbalance the skin’s natural PH,” Mosoomeh says, delving into the science of AHAs and BHA. “Natural fruit acids are phenomenal for skin. Some of these synthetic acids are atrocious.”

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Races like the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run (August 14-19, 2012) can wreak havoc on your skin. Women’s Adventure shows you how to prevent and repair damage.

Dr. Neal Schultz, who’s been practicing dermatology for 30 years, agrees: “Glycolic acid is the gold standard of chemical exfoliants, as it’s clinically proven to give results of exfoliation without the harsh side effects.” After cleansing and exfoliating, moisturize. Choose a moisturizer with antiaging ingredients—such as carrot extract (with beta-carotene), green tea, or olive oil—and SPF to protect from damaging rays that cause sunburn, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, freckling, and skin cancer. It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: If you do nothing else in the way of skin care, at least wear sunscreen.

womensadventuremagazine.com

Chris hunter/hunterimagery.Com

Routine exfoliation is also necessary so products apply evenly, stay on longer, and are more effective. One major skin care debate: chemical versus mechanical exfoliants (scrubs). Both operate on the surface, but chemical exfoliants also go into the pores. If the grain of mechanical exfoliants is the wrong size, it may not do any good. In fact, it may only irritate the skin.

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Tech Talk

“If a woman spends a lot of time outdoors, her skin may be drying and is in danger of premature aging: sun spots and wrinkles. Because she’s exercising, her skin could be irritated by fragrances and synthetically derived ingredients, too.”

Use mineral-based sunscreens and avoid chemical products. A sunscreen’s active ingredients either absorb the sun’s UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the deeper layers of the skin, or reflect UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens usually absorb UV radiation, allowing it to pass the surface of the skin but preventing it to reach the deeper layers, while mineral sunscreens reflect the UV radiation, blocking it from entering the skin at all.

Guard against the effects of harsh wind and sun with a solid protective layer. “If your skin has already been exposed, it is sensitive, so applying a chemical sun factor is not the way to go,” Mosoomeh says. “You also have to create a physi- Products that block UVA and UVB radiation cal barrier for the wind. That’s why we use waxes.” will be labeled as offering broad-spectrum (or full-spectrum) protection. OM-cinnimate found Use topical antioxidants to prevent signs of aging in many chemical sunscreens absorbs UVA and and precancerous DNA breakage, and even reverse UVB radiation to provide broad-spectrum protection, but most mineral sunscreens will contain early skin damage. A serum with vitamin C to Zinc Oxide and Titatium Dioxide, which are the repair damaged skin is the most effective and most effective ingredients available. easiest to come by. It also adds some minor sun protection, so it’s perfect for daytime wear. At Other ingredients you may see in sunscreens night, apply an anti-aging vitamin A serum, enhance the products’ staying power and boost but never wear it during the day, as vitamin A the skin’s overall health. Bees wax or plant wax increases sun sensitivity. In terms of age-erasing in lip balm and stick-sunscreens adds a protecproducts, women who are pregnant or trying to tive and moisturizing layer. Bees wax and cocoa get pregnant should avoid retinol. butter both contain long chain molecules that Don’t fret if that routine sounds too laborious; you help sustain sunscreen on the skin for longer lasting protection, while Shea butter filters UVB can make it work. “Busy people want to use fewer radiation, promotes cell renewal, and increases products,” Dr. Schultz says. “To use fewer, you need more combination products. In the morning, circulation to help repair sun damage. Coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba oil offer use a moisturizing sunscreen. If you’re active durmoisture and contain antioxidants like vitamin ing the day, reapply sunscreen. Reserve exfoliants E, which neutralizes free radicals that cause cell for before bed, when you have more time.” damage after UV exposure. Sunflower seed oil Now, it’s only a matter of choosing the right also is high in beta-carotene, which can reduce products and deciphering the ingredient lists of sun sensitivity. the thousands of options on the market.

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Nutrient-packed and anti-inflammatory aloe not only relieves sunburn but also protects skin from sun damage and eliminates free radicals. Another anti-inflammatory ingredient with antiseptic and analgesic (pain killing) powers that proves effective after sun or wind exposure: tea tree oil. Lavender is effective in after-sun lotion for its antibacterial properties used to treat burns. While the above ingredients are worthwhile, others may do more harm than good. “Most ingredients in commercially available products are safe,” says Dr. Schultz. “Some have a bad rap though. Parabens, for example, are not going to be in high enough concentrations in any product that their alleged estrogen effect will harm.” But that’s up for debate. Nicolette Wilson, a MyChelle Dermaceuticals esthetician, says, . “We took an effective chemical product and took out all the bad stuff.” Our research finds parabens being easily lumped into that “bad stuff ” category, along with other chemical preservatives (like ureas), foaming agents, and synthetic fragrances. Avoid parabens (the most common preservatives in skin care products), PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid, often used as a sunscreen because it can block UV radiation), petrolatum (or petroleum jelly,

womensadventuremagazine.com

We recommend For bike tours:

Adventuress Skin Care Collection and travel case, which includes Naturally Liberating Cleanser, Boldly Nourishing Moisturizer, Vividly Restorative Skin Purifier, High Performance Sunscreen, and Fearlessly Refreshing Facial Wipes. $85; goAdventuress.com

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For playing in the waves:

Kiss My Face Natural Mineral SPF 40 (3 oz.). $16.99; KissMyFace.com For every day:

Coola Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30 (cucumber or unscented). $32; coolasuncare.com

Take the road less traveled.

For all over:

“We took an effective chemical product and took out all the bad stuff.” as it suffocates the skin), triclosan (often in antibacterial cleansers), isopropyl alcohol (which strips your skin of natural proteins and oils causing lasting and harmful effects), and phthalates (fragrances). Artificial colors and fragrances can be irritants. In the mainstream skin care industry, people choose products largely based on the smell. “It’s not good for you,” Mosoomeh says. “Natural fragrances [without all those harmful chemicals] get channeled into expensive boutiques that are super pricey.” The ingredient “fragrance” is often a concoction of several (maybe even hundreds) of ingredients, most of which are often synthetically derived.

Joshua Tree Skin Care Organic Sun Care Sunscreen with Aloe SPF 15 ($16) or 30 ($18). jtreelife.com For special occasions:

Try EcoLips EcoTints to get a little pop of organic mineral color on your pout. EcoLips EcoTints. $4.49; ecolips.com For post-adventure repair:

Joshua Tree Skin Care Lavender After Sun Lotion. $12; jtreelife.com For 24/7 repair:

MyChelle Perfect C Serum. $41.79; mychelle.com

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In summary, gently cleanse and exfoliate, moisturize and protect, and repair or replenish your skin with fragrance- and chemical-free products. n

Ready for Adventure AvAilAble At RetAileRs such As:

How safe (or hazardous) are the products you use? Find out at ewg.org/skindeep. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Tech Talk

Fitness Apps and Gadgets S

o you’ve heard of Strava and maybe even have joined the craze, conquering segments all over your local trails. Perhaps you’re more of a Suunto Moves Count girl and like sharing workouts with friends. Or maybe you’re into precisely tracking every change in speed, altitude, or location, mapping your distance across a variety of sports, improving on your workouts next time, and studying the data between training sessions. (Heaven forbid you just listen to the rhythm of your body and gauge your running, riding, hiking, and swimming efforts accordingly.) Whether you’re a gadget geek or a nature lover who just enjoys tracking your active lifestyle numerically, these tools— scratch that, toys—could make all the difference in how you train—scratch that, play.

Ultimate Adventuress Training Tool Suunto Ambit. Tough, specialized, and ultraadvanced, the Ambit’s training, outdoor, and exploration functions would intimidate if they weren’t so darn easy to use. This intuitive gadget in a sophisticated interface is rightly considered “the GPS for explorers” and will leave even the most number-obsessed gadget gal out there drooling. From $500; suunto.com

Garmin Forerunner 910XT. Effortlessly and mightily transitioning with you between open-water swims and mountain bike rides or trail runs, this water-resistant GPS-enabled watch Dedicated Devices for the tracks your distance, Moderately Obsessed pace, and heart rate then Magellan Switch. If you’re a runner who sends it wirelessly to your dabbles in cycling or swimming, the new computer. Offering extensive Magellan Switch ($229) is the crossover GPS swim metrics, even measuring your swim efficiency, watch for you. It helps you set the pace, track the Forerunner 910XT also works well for other water your course, and save your workout data in a sports. Its Virtual Racer feature allows you to compete simple and versatile interface. You can use it against yourself, guiding you toward improved PRs. Its in conjunction with social fitness websites like on-board barometric altimeter offers improved elevation MapMyFitness and Strava. Try the fully loaded data, while included hardware allows you to move it from Switch Up ($299), if you’re truly a multisport your wrist to your handlebar mount easily and quickly enthusiast. magellangps.com for comfort and accuracy. $449; garmin.com/multi 24

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Apps for All Athletes Garmin Fit. A buck doesn’t buy much these days, but it does buy a training tool by a specialty company that works on your smart phone so you don’t have to own an expensive device. $0.99; garmin.com Working with Garmin devices, the Edgewise Cycling Companion app provides an iPhone-centric view of your detailed ride history after you’ve uploaded it to Garmin Connect. $2.99 in the iTunes app store. Strava. Founded on the idea that camaraderie and friendly competition drive you to train harder, Strava (via your smart phone or GPS device) helps you track your own workouts and compare them against others on the same trail or piece of road. It essentially allows you to “race” without paying race fees or attending a crowded event, so you can hit the trails whenever you want, and pursue a top slot as often as you like. A basic subscription is free. strava.com BikeBrain. Pair this free cycling computer app with BioLogic’s weatherproof and shock-resistant handlebar mount for your iPhone or Android. Its analog-appearing dashboard is anything but old school, as it tracks your rides with accuracy and style. $50; thinkbiologic.com Wahoo Fitness. Spend zero to a few bucks for a running or cycling app and pair it with a no-fluff heart-rate monitor or bike mount for a system that’s only as simple or as complex as you need it to be. Or choose a complete system, like the Wahoo Fitness Bike Pack, which works as a bike computer with GPS and wireless speed and cadence sensors. $149; wahoofitness.com

The bottom line: Athletes who train with gadgets learn to recognize their threshold and can train according to their RPE (rate of perceived exertion). But, sometimes, they aren’t completely necessary. “You just have to freaking work hard,” says one anonymous but—we assure you—expert source. Still, we say, “Work hard. Play harder.” womensadventuremagazine.com

LiV For AdVeNtUre KAtie Spotz, Liv/giant AmbASSAdor

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become a fan on facebook.com/LivgiantUSA

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

travel

Taos, New Mexico HoTel HoMeBAse

A cozy abode in a vibrant town, village or city with an authentic sense of place that offers easy access to explore a range of adventures directly outside its doors.

Michael DeYoung

By Gigi Ragland

WAM â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER | 2012

womensadventuremagazine.com

A Why visit? Participate in special events celebrating the 2012 “Year of Remarkable Women of Taos.” CulTuRe

Southwest meets mountaineer meets artist. OuTdOOR SPORTS

Mountain biking, road cycling, whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking, rock climbing. landSCaPe

Situated along the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, amid the arid desert’s sage-covered mesas, with a colossal rift cutting through the valley, known as the Rio Grande Gorge. TOWn elevaTiOn

6,967 feet. HiGHeST POinT

Wheeler Peak, at 13,141 feet, is the tallest mountain in new Mexico. TeMPeRaTuRe

July average is 87/50 °F. ClOSeST MaJOR aiRPORT:

albuquerque international Sunport.

t the mention of a desert location, many of us envision a vast bone-dry landscape of never-ending sagebrush, cactus, and flat mesas. But the enchanting high country of northern New Mexico is different, where the eclectic setting of Taos has charmed many an artist and traveler to set down roots over the centuries. The town—named after its 1,000-year-old neighbor, Taos Pueblo—rests at the foot of the Taos Mountains, a sub-range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Stretching to the west extends the desert plateau, punctuated by a deeply carved gorge with the Rio Grande trickling through its bottom. The San Juan Mountains loom farther west.

This dynamic landscape has fueled artists from the likes of Georgia O’Keefe and Catherine Carter Critcher of the Taos Society of Artists, to modernists like Bea Mandelman and Agnes Martin. And, just as the vistas inspire many female artists and writers, they also motivate a number of women to preserve Taos’ great outdoors. Their work doesn’t hang in a gallery, but you can experience the legacy of their achievements via the trails and waterways of the mountains, rivers, and desert plateau of Taos. For example, as the first woman supervisor of the Carson National Forest (headquartered in Taos), Kendall Clark strives to connect people to the local forest lands. She and her trail crew can be credited for the new Wheeler Peak Trail, one of the premier hikes in northern New Mexico. She is just one of the accomplished women featured in the “Year of Remarkable Women of Taos.” Throughout 2012, Taos will celebrate the “Year of Remarkable Women of Taos” and pay tribute to the legacy of adventurous and creative women who have been instrumental in sustaining the community from past to present. You can enjoy celebrations, workshops, and events, ranging from special art exhibits to guided women-led outdoor excursions. taos.org/women WAM • SUMMER | 2012

travel

Use one of our hand-picked favorite lodging choices as your “hotel homebase.” Front entry to Hacienda del Sol’s four buildings, with the original built in 1804.

Flamenco performance at Taos inn’s Adobe Bar.

The Historic Taos Inn National Historic Landmark Hotel wo “Year of Remarkable Women of Taos” award recipients are responsible for sustaining the vitality of the Historic Taos Inn, considered the “hearth of Taos.” They are the inn’s founder, Helen Martin, who had the hotel built in the 1930s, and Carolyn Haddock, the current owner. Since its start, the inn has always been a gathering place abuzz with artists, writers, and travelers discussing news and events of the day. Definitely, the Taos Inn has always been more than a bed to rest your head.

Hacienda del Sol Bed and Breakfast Inn erhaps the charming adobe inn should be renamed “House of Friends” instead of “House of Sun.” Sit down at one of the southwestern linen-topped tables for your cooked-to-order breakfast with other guests and come away with new friends, stories, and tips of what to do in the area. The warm and friendly atmosphere just seems to be a natural component of the house, once owned by legendary art patroness Mabel Dodge Luhan who entertained artists and writers in the hacienda during the 1920s.

mtn biking

With stunning views of Taos Mountain rising directly across from the inn’s back door, the grounds adjoin Taos Pueblo land and, at 1.2 acres, that’s a big backyard to enjoy. After a day of exploring, retreat to the outdoor hot tub for an evening soak under the stars. Rates from $165; taoshaciendadelsol.com

South Boundary Trail #164 (22 miles point-to-point for the whole enchilada): Considered the most “epic” mountain bike ride in the Taos area, it’s got a little bit of everything that advanced and strong moderate riders enjoy. The trail begins at 10,400 feet and boasts a dynamic elevation profile, as it’ll take you across ridges, valleys, and several peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A singletrack smorgasbord, it winds through forests and rocky sections with kamikaze descents. Although the trail is primarily

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Contemporary comforts of the Cowgirl guestroom offer authentic southwestern details.

Backyard view of Taos Mountain

downhill, plan on doing some pedaling. Try it in early fall, when the aspens are turning. Gearing Up offers a shuttle to the trailhead at AngelFire, which is a good option that’ll leave you finishing the trail at El Nogal Picnic Area, three miles from town. But, there are several possible start points, so check with Gearing Up to figure out the best trailhead for you. We recommend traveling with a map or GPS, as many trails and old fire roads crisscross the area. Truly an epic ride, with good trail and views.

Walk into the central lobby that adjoins the Adobe Bar on any given evening and you might be treated to a flamenco performance, live jazz, blues, or Native American music. Welcoming and working with the community has always been a part of the inn’s modus operandi. So, if you want to go where the locals go, head to the Taos Inn. Spanish Colonial and Taos Native decor blend together to create unique design elements in each of the four buildings that house the 40 guestrooms and suites. Rates from $105; taosinn.com

Rift Valley Trail (9-mile loop): This easy twisting singletrack that borders the Gorge is known by the locals as the Taos Overlook Trail for its amazing views down into the Rio Grande Gorge. Built by a local band of volunteer kids, the trail twists around on sagebrush plains and up and down gullies. Avoid on windy days and during the heat of the day. The trail surface is relatively smooth with a few rocky sections to boot. To get there from Taos, travel south on Highway 68 for a couple of miles; the trailhead will be on the west side of the road.

Horsethief Trail (12-mile loop): A moderate singletrack trail that winds through sagebrush, then piñon forest, with about 1,000 feet of climbing and views of the Rio Grande Gorge. Best ridden in a counter-clockwise direction, this quintessential New Mexico trail leads you along arroyos, where you can glimpse ancient petroglyphs on the walls and nearby boulders. The trailhead is hidden off a dirt road north of Taos on 522, just past Arroyo Hondo, so it’s best to ask a local for directions. The trail

womensadventuremagazine.com

COURTESy OF HACiENdA dEl SOl; COURTESy OF THE HiSTORiC TAOS iNN

Casa Gallina Four Vacation Casitas tay in one of these thoughtfully crafted adobe casitas (little houses) and you may never leave. You get all the comforts of home surrounded by the natural beauty of the grounds, colorful flowers, and the organic vegetable and fruit gardens tended by the owner. Casa Gallina is committed to supporting locally crafted and handmade products from local artisans, farmers, and businesses. Bring a big suitcase because you will be tempted to bring some casita goodies back home with you.

Perfect for families or girlfriend getaways, the casitas can accommodate two to six people, with one to three bedrooms. Each casita is kitted out with all the latest in technology, but you won’t notice it because of the intimate ambiance of your abode. All of the artisanal, handmade furnishings and artwork were handpicked by the owner. Kitchens are stocked with Fair Trade Certified and Certified Organic products and ingredients. Rates from $175; casagallina.net

KATHLEEN BRENNAN, BRENNAN STUDiO

The Taos inn’s courtyard fountain and greenhouse.

surface is smooth and rolling with several areas of loose babyheads and smaller kittenheads. Be careful because of the trail’s major exposure in a few spots, where one wrong turn means you’ll drop 1,000 feet into the Rio. Also watch for rattlers and cactus. After your ride, enjoy the natural, undeveloped Black Rock Hot Springs, down in the gorge. A short drive from the trailhead, this free hot spring is a half-mile hike from the lowest switchback on County Road B-007, outside Arroyo Hondo.

Siesta time in the hammock.

Devisadero Loop Trail 108 (5.7-mile lollipop loop): Close to town, this moderateto-advanced singletrack is technical, with rock steps, loose rock, and some steep climbing from trailhead to summit. Ride this loop before the heat of the day and in a counter-clockwise direction for the best flow. Avoid the big rock steps on your way up but enjoy the abundant wildflowers. Once you reach Devisadero Peak (at 8,304 feet), you can relax on rock-slab chairs to enjoy the view. Devisadero actually means a “lookout” point or place. To the west, you’ll see Taos, the Rio Grande,

and San Antonio Mountain. Looking north, you’ll spot Taos Pueblo and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area. To find the trailhead, follow Highway 64 three miles east from Taos and park at the El Nogal Picnic Area. West Rim Trail (18 miles out-and-back): This easy, slightly rolling singletrack trail borders the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge and offers stunning views of the Gorge Bridge. The trail only has a few technical rocky sections, as the route switches between single and doubletrack. There

are many options to link together other dirt and paved roads to get more miles. The trailhead is at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Visitor Center on U.S. Highway 285 north of Taos. continued next page See more adventure options at taos.org/ outdoors or check out Taos outfitters that offer a variety of tours and gear rentals. Located near Taos Plaza, Gearing Up Bicycle Shop offers bike rentals, including a new fleet of 2012 Specialized fullsuspension mountain bikes, including 29ers. 575-751-0365; gearingupbikes.com WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Taos Ski Valley Climb (35.2 miles out-and-back): An advanced road ride from Arroyo Seco (about 9 miles from the center of Taos) to the top of Taos Ski Valley. With a total elevation gain of 2,300 feet, you’ll deserve a scoop of organic ice cream at the Taos cow in Arroyo Seco, where they serve up unique-to-new-mexico flavors in a quaint setting. The Enchanted Circle (85-mile loop): This classic ride will have you climbing over two passes, topping out at nearly 10,000 feet on Bobcat Pass, and enjoying northern new mexico’s rich landscape over the course of a day. ride out to Black Lake, through Angel fire, and over the Gorge Bridge to make it a complete century. The yearly century ride on this route (September 9) starts in nearby red river.

check Gearing Up Bicycle Shop’s website for group ride of the day. gearingupbikes.com

rafting

Taos Box: class iV (17 miles, full-day trip) Los Rios River Runners offers half-day, full-day, or overnight rafting adventures. 800-544-1181, 575-7768854; losrios riverrunners.com

EASY La Vista Verde Trail (2.5 miles roundtrip): A great route for views of the rio Grande Gorge and the river below. find the trailhead at the north side of nm 567, midway between the Taos Junction Bridge and the Gorge rim. for more mileage, hook up with the West rim Trail. MODERATE Williams Lake Trail (4 miles): The trail begins from the ski village of Taos Ski Valley at 10,191 feet and climbs up to 11,142 feet within a few miles. The steep climb makes it intermediate but otherwise it is easy with great lake views. STRENUOUS Wheeler Peak (16 miles): from Taos Ski Valley Village, park adjacent to Twining campground. At this point you will be at 9,200 feet and will eventually summit above treeline. Begin at the wilderness trail signs and follow Bull of the Woods meadow Trail. When you get to the meadow at about 2 miles, consider stopping for a snack to admire the summer

wildflowers before traversing up to the summit of Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in new mexico (13,161 feet). elevation gain for the hike: 3,961 feet.

explore more

Hondo-Seco Cruise (25.1-mile loop): An intermediate road ride through the countryside just outside of Taos with gentle climbing along moderate grades. You’ll pass by small, charming towns that reflect northern new mexican character.

The Pilar Racecourse: class ii/iii (5 miles, half-day trip)

hiking

road cycling travel

Blueberry Hill Scramble (17.3-mile loop): An easy cruise around the perimeter of town, meandering near art museums and adobe churches. Tack on more miles by exploring one of the side road options, branching off the loop, for a two-wheeled tour of Taos Pueblo or the rio Grande Gorge.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, just a 40-minute drive from downtown Taos, is well worth the visit. Hike or mountain bike the recently mapped adjoining trails of BLm and national forest lands, then have lunch at the Artesian restaurant. Take a yoga class, and follow it all up with an all-day spa and soak package. for an extra treat, try the newest spa therapy offering: Ancient echos massage. Or, just enjoy the 10 hot spring pools bubbly with sulphur-free, geothermal mineral waters. 800-222-9162, 505-583-2233; ojospa.com

Wild Earth Llama Adventures guides unique, educational, and fun wilderness llama treks in the Sangre de cristo mountains and the rio Grande Gorge. Great for families and groups. Options include a day hike, overnight pack trip, and 3- or 4-day wilderness adventures. 800-758-5262; llamaadventures.

Nitakuwa Barrett

“Naturalists are all cut from a different cloth, with the common thread being enthusiasm and passion for the natural world,” explains Nitakuwa Barrett, naturalist and expedition leader for American Safari Cruises. With a degree in Biology and Communications, Barret embarked on a seafaring career directly after college as a guest science teacher working for the Maui Ocean Center and onboard day-trip vessels. Eventually she landed a job with American Safari Cruises in 2004 as a steward, worked her way up the ladder to expedition leader and even earned her captain’s license (Masters 100 ton).

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

WAM: Have you gained new skills to share with guests?

NB: A big part of working on the small vessels is being comfortable in even smaller vessels—kayaks! A female friend of mine is a whitewater guide and scuba instructor, and she taught me how to handle the kayaks, as well as handle people who are kayaking for the first time. The job often allows you to develop outdoor skills and sports, such as swimming and free diving, and standup paddleboarding [Hawaii and Alaska]. I am an avid runner and I believe it’s important to be fit enough to handle emergencies on the trail and in the water. WAM: What have you learned as a naturalist and an adventure guide?

NB: You absolutely never know what surprise nature has in store for you, what you might see or experience that day, and so being in the present as

much as possible is key. To be present while kayaking, skiff riding, snorkeling, hiking takes practice. Often people get focused on the activity itself, rather than what the activity exposes you to. It’s great once it all clicks, when people are absolutely happy to be in nature for nature’s sake. WAM: What advice or tips do you have for women who would like to train as guides? NB: Working with

the public is key. The more you interact with people, the better you understand how they learn, process, and experience new things, so the more prepared you are to guide them in unfamiliar settings. There are many volunteer opportunities! Find out more about American Safari Cruises/InnerSea Discoveries’ other female captains and crew members at innerseadiscoveries.com/crew. n

womensadventuremagazine.com

AmericAn SAfAri cruiSeS

Q & A with expert Naturalist and Expedition Cruise Leader

Featuring Mary Osborne

Maui Jim Ambassador and Professional Surfer

Women’’s Women

ADVENTURE series n unforgettable weekend of surfing and yoga. omen of all ages and surfing abilities are welcome.

Go to womensadventureseries.mauijim.com to sign up today!

2012 Dates & Locations: May 18-20, Melbourne Beach, Florida June 22-24, San Diego, California July 20-22, Newport Beach, California August 24-26, Ventura, California September 27-October 1, Maui, Hawaii

For more information vist womensadventureseries.mauijim.com or call 309.683.2074 WAM • SUMMER | 2012

travel

Gear to Go

Double Duty Essentials for Traveling Light This Summer Sherpani Shuttle LE The Possibilities:

Tired of hauling a computer and all your clothes in a backpack for a long weekend getaway? Backpacks have their place but they’re less than ideal when careening around in an airport terminal, especially if every nook and cranny of the pack is full to bursting. That’s when the Sherpani Shuttle LE transfers the load off your back and into the compact bag that’s labeled as a lightweight wheeled travel briefcase. We think it’s the perfect carry-on. Unzip the front section to reveal the mobile office compartment with a padded laptop sleeve. Unzip the sizable back section to reveal the clothing department. Then, you’ll zip around the airport without a hitch. The Goods:

Eco Vessel AquaVessel UltraLite The Possibilities:

Aqua Vessel looks like the kind of water bottle you’d take to the gym, a music festival or even exploring city streets while on vacation. Yes, Eco Vessels are perfect for all that, but what makes this one a cut above the rest of the bottle brigade is a nifty hydration system that can filter water from streams and lakes, making them perfect for all outdoor pursuits. We like the fact that this simple piece of gear does double duty. A plant-based filter attached to the straw top cleans water of the nasty gunk—like toxic chemicals, heavy metals, microscopic pathogens, chlorine, sediment, and dirt—with every sip. The Goods:

25-ounce Aqua Vessel is 100% recyclable, BPA-free and made of non-leaching materials. Tested to remove 99.9% of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. $25.95; ecovessel.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Smaller than your average carry-on and bigger than your average backpack, the Shuttle LE measures 17” x 15” x 8” and weighs 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Stylish but environmentally friendly, it’s designed with components made from recycled aluminum and nylon with non-toxic dyes. $189.95; sherpani.com

Carve Designs Lucia Tankini The Possibilities:

Go figure, finally. Full-figured sporty women can fill up this top and swim at the same time, without spillage in key places. The “gals” will be comfortably secure in the new Lucia Top or the Tankini, designed to support a full bust. Those of us who seek sports swimwear that functions well without sacrificing style can pick and choose from Carve Designs’ broad range of mix-and-match options, including bottoms cut to perfectly fit aboveaverage curves. The Goods:

All the tops and bottoms are sold as separates with 50+ UPF protection in the nylon and spandex fabric blend. The Lucia Tankini (shown) is designed to support a full bust, has built-in underwire bra, gathers at the chest, and hits at the hip. The Lucia Bikini Top supports a full bust with underwire and an adjustable tie at back. Lucia Top $52, Lucia Tankini $58, Rodeo Reversible Bottom $46; CarveDesigns.com

womensadventuremagazine.com

Eagle Creek Lightweight Pack-It Specter The Possibilities:

Some of us are ultra-organized, but others of us—not so much. Get some assistance from Eagle Creek, a travel-focused company that offers some of the best packing systems on the market. The new ultra-light Pack-It Specter cubes come in a variety of sizes, great for arranging in all sorts of luggage and backpacks. The Goods:

The Pack-It Specter comes in many shapes and sizes and is made from translucent, waterresistant nylon ripstop fabric with antistaining properties. $14-32; eaglecreek.com

Ibex Women’s Balance Lite Bra and Brief The Possibilities:

Wool underwear in summer? Crazy as it sounds, they could be the most comfy pair you will ever wear. Ibex knows wool, and the seamless stretch wool used to make Ibex briefs and bras is ultrasoft and ultra-light. Plus, the wool is naturally odor-free. Sweat a lot? No problem. The wool draws the moisture away from your skin so it can easily evaporate to keep you dry and comfortable. The Goods:

The bra, best for A- and B-cups in low-impact activities, has a V-front and adjustable straps with convertible racerback. The full-coverage briefs and bra are seamless and made from Ibex’s exclusive, superfine merino blended with a hint of Spandex. Balance Lite Bra $40, Balance Brief $30; shop.ibex.com

ExOfficio BugsAway® Paisley Bandana The Possibilities:

Tie the bandana around your neck for a bit of fashion flair, use it as a hankie to wipe away the “glow” while hiking, or wrap it as a headband or headscarf. The true versatility factor comes into play when mosquitoes and their kin invade your space with wanton disregard. The bandana also repels ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums). Trust us, you won’t leave home without it—whether you are trekking to the neighbor’s backyard barbecue or exploring the muddy

paths of a rainforest. Even Fido would probably appreciate one. The Goods:

The best part of the pre-shrunk 100%-cotton fabric is the Insect Shield that repels pesty pests and lasts for 70 washings. Added bonus: The fabric is UPF Sun Guard 30+. $15; exofficio.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

travel

Trends

Discover “Aloha” with an Adventure Expedition Cruise

he water slapped against the kayak while my partner and I paddled the playful waves. We bounced along riding the small rolls laughing and chatting as intermittent puffs of ocean spray wet our faces, providing natural airconditioning in the hot Hawaiian sun. Our craft, along with a pod of five other kayaks bobbed near the blackened volcanic coastline of the Big Island, where we were treated to close-up views of lava tubes and rocky caves. Our expedition leader gathered us close, then regaled us with stories of ancient Hawaii, enlightening us on the volcanic history of the islands and explaining how “wai,” the Hawaiian word for water, was so instrumental to the people. Was there a better classroom for this enrichment session? Our guide was the Pied Piper—we would have followed him anywhere. After a few hours, he signaled to our group that it was time to get back.

This was not the first time I was enchanted by Hawaii’s stunning beauty. Previous trips were all land-based, where I looked out onto the water from the beach enjoying ocean sunsets before walking back to a rental car or hotel room. However, this was the first time I discovered the islands’ secret treasures by cruising the waters aboard a small expedition ship. Hesitant at first, I balked at the idea of being stuck on a cruise ship without the freedom to explore the many outdoor options each island offers. But the word “expedition” gave a clue. These ships are built for adventure and exploring remote places where the mega-ships can’t go because of their size and because the greater number of passengers could possibly overwhelm sensitive areas and smaller communities. Some of these locations are only accessible by sea, which was the case with most of the water excursions I enjoyed while aboard the Safari Explorer, a 36-passenger luxury yacht on the “Hawaii’s Traditional Shores” American Safari Cruise. ASC ships feature full-beam swim steps that allow for easy access into the water, so guests can launch kayaks and hop on standup paddleboards directly from the ship. Usually, it is just you and your shipmates enjoying a secluded cove for kayaking, standup paddleboarding, or snorkeling that day. ASC is the only small-ship expedition company offering adventure cruises in Hawaii. You can take day trips or cruise the islands on a mega-liner, but the ability to travel for a full week, point-topoint by ocean waterways, is a rare thing.

Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Hotel Options Hand-picked for their selection of outdoor adventure possibilities to get your body moving before or after the cruise The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii Luxury Resort Hotel and Spa A sampling: Pilates, ocean aerobics, seaside yoga, petroglyph hikes, surf lessons, standup paddleboard, snorkeling, canoeing, or kayaking.

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

WAM Favorite: Floating Yoga “Flo-Yo” is practiced on a standup paddleboard on calm water at a cove, just steps from the hotel’s secluded beach. 808-885-2000; fairmont.com/orchid

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui Luxury Resort Hotel and Spa The highly acclaimed Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program is offered at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, and is available for guests and the public to enjoy. This program’s origins grew in part from JeanMichel’s father, Jacques Cousteau, who said, “People protect what they love.” Like father, like son. Jean-Michel realized later: “We can’t protect what we don’t yet understand.” Program excursions enlighten guests by demonstrating how the city of the sea connects to the larger global systems. The tours aim to help people connect with nature. A sampling: snorkel/under-water photography, tide pool exploration, rainforest hike, whale watch excursions. ritzcarlton.com/kapalua

womensadventuremagazine.com

AnnA PALovCiK/AMERiCAn SAFARi CRuiSES; AMERiCAn SAFARi CRuiSES; FAiRMonT oRCHid, HAWAii; CouRTESY RiTz-CARLTon

We dug our paddles into the waves carving a turn that put us on course toward the small ship anchored in a cove, our home while exploring Hawaii for the week.

One of the most special offerings is a visit to Moloka’i and into the breathtakingly beautiful Halawa Valley, to hike with locals. On the Big Island near Kona, another eye-popping experience offered is a chance to snorkel at night with giant manta rays gracefully gliding below you in search of their evening meal. Don’t worry, mantas munch on plankton, not people. And they don’t bite or have stingers. The adventures are not always discovered off the ship though. One especially balmy evening while anchored at sea, with a full canopy of stars overhead, a female Hawaiian voyager discussed celestial navigation and spun bedtime tales of Hawaiian mythology. Another night, hula

dancers performed special dances, explaining their meaning and traditions. The crew aboard the Safari Explorer does a great job in communicating and sharing the attributes of such a special place like Hawaii. For those who An expedition cruise is for you if you like... • Small boats sized for small groups. • No big shows, no big productions, no casinos. • A support staff of expedition leaders, naturalists, guest lecturers. • Classes with titles like “Fish identification sessions before and after snorkeling.” • Small ships that might change course due to weather or wildlife (whale & dolphin) sightings. • Group activities divided into ability levels, like moderate and advanced hikes onshore or varied-length kayaking outings. • A skiff “wet landing” (meaning you jump over the side and into the water then wade to shore). • You like nature and being outdoors more than you like shopping. • Dressing up to you means changing out of your swimsuit and into jeans and a blouse. • Preparing for an excursion means you put on sunscreen instead of makeup.

Solar Eclipse

have actively traveled much of the islands of Hawaii, cruising aboard the Safari Explorer will enhance your repertoire of experiences tremendously. And, for those who have never been, taking a small-ship adventure cruise is a great way to start. n Thinking of taking a small-ship expedition cruise? We recommend: American Safari Cruises/InnerSea Discoveries. Destinations: Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Washington & British Columbia. innerseadiscoveries.com EcoVentura Cruises. Destination: The Galapagos Islands. ecoventura.com International Expeditions. Destinations: Amazon River, Nile River. ietravel.com Orion Expedition Cruises. Destinations: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Antartica, Borneo. orionexpeditions.com Adventuresmith Explorations Expedition Cruises and Wilderness Adventures. Destinations: North America, South America, Central America, Polar Regions, Europe, Asia-Pacific. adventuresmith explorations.com

Kilimanjaro

Marathon/Half Marathon

Half Marathon & 5K

Port Douglas on Great Barrier Reef, Australia

November 8 - 19, 2012

ANNA PAlovCIk/AMERICAN SAFARI CRuISES

BASIC TOUR INCLUDES:

Feb. 21 - Mar. 5, 2013

10 Nights/9 Days Marathon Port Douglas, Australia Great Barrier Reef & Daintree Rainforest Sydney 3 Night Accommodations in the Rocks Area with views of the Sydney Bridge & Opera House • 1st Class Hotels, Daily Breakfast, Special Meals as Noted in Itinerary, Awards Dinner, Event Entry Fee. From $5735 (sharing double room) (international air not included/air quote upon request) Optional Tours to Ayers Rock & Sounds of Silence Dinner And 5 Nights in Sydney.

BASIC TOUR INCLUDES:

13 Days / 10 Nights • Game Safari in Tanzania including famous Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park Choice of Camping or Deluxe Safari Lodges Most meals, Run Fee, Pasta and Festive Farewell Dinner Optional Balloon Safari Est. $5880.00 (sharing double room) from east coast (other US cities available), plus air taxes and fuel surcharge Optional 6-day trekking extension to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro

PLEASE CONTACT:

Kathy Loper Events 619-298-7400 www.kathyloperevents.com

CST# 20807450-40

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

On The Map

On the Map Opportunities to create your own adventure this summer Julia Schweiger

July and August is “killer whale” watching season. Don’t be alarmed, killer whales—also known as orcas, the largest members of the dolphin family—eat fish, not people. In the summer, they come into Johnstone Strait, a sheltered passage inside Vancouver Island in British Columbia, to feed on salmon moving through there to spawn. At this time, you can see them up close and personal and kayak beside them! Sea Kayak Adventures (seakayakadventures.com) offers kayaking expeditions in British Columbia Johnstone Strait in July and August. —Jayme Moye

Nancy Metz, Sea Kayak Adventures

Whether you’re an expert standup paddleboarder or have never heard of SUP, you’ll enjoy the festival surrounding the OXB SUP Race at Paddle Palooza. The non-traditional race takes place in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, June 1-3. Hatteras Island boasts miles of gorgeous beaches, which you can see from offshore, while exploring on your SUP. obxpaddlepalooza.com

Washington Oregon

Idaho

North Carolina

Elevate your recreational kayak or canoe rowing habit to the big times: The Lake Samish Salmon Roe Paddling and Rowing Race. Try the nontraditional sport of paddle racing for this fun, open-water competition on September 22. Set up camp on the lake and lick your lips in delight at the event’s salmon fry when you finish racing. salmonrowandpaddle.com

Craft and Raft. River rafting and craft beer are a perfect pairing. Spend three days paddling calm pools and actionpacked whitewater on the Rogue River, staying in cozy riverbank lodges with private bathrooms. Each evening, gather ’round the campfire for dinner with the owner of Ninkasi Brewery in Eugene, who serves his ales, stouts, and porters. Ginger Johnson, the founder of Women Enjoying Beer (womenenjoyingbeer.com) comes along and coaches the group on everything from food pairings to flavor deconstruction. July 21-23, $1,039 all-inclusive; rowadventures.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Have you always wanted to do a triathlon but worried you couldn’t finish all three parts in one day? Well now is your chance to complete each of the three parts of a triathlon in three months! The TriSandpoint competition in Idaho this summer offers the opportunity to complete a one-day 80-mile or 150-mile bike ride on June 2, a 1.76 open-water swim on August 4, and a scenic 13-mile half marathon on September 16. TriSandpoint.org

womensadventuremagazine.com

Dan Breckwoldt

Italy

Courtesy of Fuji Mountain Race

How does hiking town-to-town along the Italian coastline with a group of like-minded women sound? Join the Call of the Wild: Cinque Terre & The Italian Riviera hiking adventure to experience some of Europe’s most gorgeous scenery. This eight-day trip is sure to bring you back to nature while you enjoy the company of other active, adventurous women. The trip is designed for easy to moderate hikers looking to apply their hiking skills while experiencing the beauty of Italy. July 7-14, $3395; callwild.com

Turkey Japan

This July 27, Mt. Fuji hosts the hardest uphill race in Japan. The 65th Annual Fuji Mountain Race, open to experienced foreigners and locals alike, has two courses: One is a 21-kilometer course that climbs to the summit of Mt. Fuji, and the other is a 15-kilometer course that climbs halfway to the top. www.city. fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp/div/ english/html/race.html

If you’re like us and trying to test your limits this summer, look no further than the Run Fire Cappadocia (July 7-15),which will test your endurance as you compete in an ultra-marathon through Turkey’s breathtaking landscapes. runfirecappadocia.com

Courtesy of Adventure Boot Camp

South Africa

Adventure Boot Camp for Women Trying to kick it into gear this summer? Get into shape at Africa’s Adventure Boot Camp for Women. Join like-minded women this summer in Southern Africa to participate in a boot camp of a lifetime. With exercise training in everything from core-construction to hiking and short distance running, this program is sure to tone your every muscle. Think boot camps aren’t for you? Think again. This boot camp provides beautiful African scenery, making you forget about all the hard work your body is doing. With dates and locations all around South Africa, you are sure to find a camp that is right for you. Indulge in something fun and good for yourself this summer. July 9-Aug. 3, $590; adventurebootcamp.co.za

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Sisters and teammates Ashley and Cynthia Arnold leap with their race buddy, Tracy Garneau, during the 2011 GORE-TEX TransRockies Run, a 6-day team run from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, Colorado. Tracy and her teammate Nikki Kimball took first in the Master’s Women’s category, while Ashley and Cynthia took first in the open women’s category, finishing with the fastest overall women’s time. Try the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run (or at least watch out for coverage) this August 14-19. transrockies-run.com

Chris hunter/hunterimagery.Com

—Charlotte Brontë

aspir

“I would always rather be happy than dignified.”

I’m Proof That...

I’m Proof That…

Our Choices Deﬁne Us A diagnosis can be a new lease on life. It doesn’t have to restrict or define you. By Chris Kassar

to meet her diagnosis rather than collapse under its weight. Shortly after finishing Boston, Wendy learned about a team of people with MS who were going to make a bid for the summit of Denali (Mt. McKinley). She had never climbed a mountain before or even “slept anywhere more than 10 feet from a bathroom,” but after a year of hard training, she found herself trekking through knee-deep snow on the flanks of North America’s highest peak. Weather thwarted the team’s efforts, but not Wendy’s resolve. She returned in 2004 on her own and became the first person with MS to stand tall at 20,320 feet. “At the summit, I remember thinking: Life is never going to be the same again. I knew that I had done something most of my family and friends thought impossible, not to mention the MS world.” This experience spurred an ambitious quest: to reach the highest point on each continent. Wendy pursued these peaks to push back at her own diagnosis and to raise awareness about MS. “I wanted to have an impact on the MS and medical world and to show people what is possible even with an illness like MS or any disability. I also wanted to set the goal high to encourage anyone living with a challenge to step outside of their box.”

oments of impact come in all forms and usually hit when we least expect them. Regardless of the shape they take—a phone call in the middle of the night, a sweet glance from a stranger, a plus sign on a white stick, a job offer in a foreign land, a collision with a semi-truck— these blips in time and how we respond to them can irrevocably alter our lives.

Doctors told Wendy that MS was unpredictable; it progresses and manifests differently in each person. They explained that scientists were making breakthroughs in drug therapy, but they also alluded to the likelihood that she would end up in a wheelchair. They started her on a daily injection of disease-modifying therapies and told her to avoid heavy exertion and overheating.

Wendy Booker’s moment came 14 years ago when a doctor diagnosed her with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an extremely variable autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves).

Wendy spent some time curled up in a ball on her couch, but she didn’t let this last long. “I thought, if I’m going to be in a wheelchair and I don’t have a lot of time left, I need to do something dramatic and out of character so I decided to run Boston.” Wendy, a novice runner, asked her neurologist about the marathon, but he suggested she find something less taxing to do with her time. “Being told I couldn’t was a big challenge,” Wendy says. “What do you mean I can’t? I think I can and I feel okay. So I did it anyway, and that’s really where all of this started.” (She has run 10 marathons since her diagnosis.)

At the time, 44-year-old Wendy lived in the suburbs and worked as a full-time mother of three and a part-time interior designer. “I was going along, doing what I was supposed to do and living a rather boring life,” she admits. “But, when you get a diagnosis like this, your lifeline starts slipping. I saw the sand moving quickly through the hourglass and realized: I don’t have much time to live the life I thought I was going to live....”

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

The “all of this” Wendy refers to is the extraordinary life she has lived since 1998 when she rose

Despite the fact that climbing often made symptoms flare, in only four years Wendy became the first person with MS to successfully climb six of the Seven Summits. Amidst a rigorous training and expedition schedule, Wendy traveled widely as a motivational speaker. “It was important to share my story because people with MS were still being told not to push themselves too hard. I wanted to educate people about what MS is and what it has become. Things have changed and I like to tell people: ‘This ain’t your mama’s MS!’” Wendy’s appearance proves this. She is a tall and vibrant blond bombshell with an infectious laugh, who moves with grace and finesse over ice, rock, and snow. If you were standing next to her, you would never know that she’s sick. “I am the face of MS, and I’m proof that it doesn’t have to restrict or define you. You can still do what you want and you decide how you want the illness to affect you,” she explains. “I was not a pro athlete; I was a stay-at-home mom who took jazzercise! I want people to look at me and think—if she can fight this, so can I.”

womensadventuremagazine.com

Rob LeggieRo

name:

ag e :

Wendy Booker

h o m e tow n :

Born in Rye, NY. Lives in Beverly Farms, MA.

Ins p I r atIo n : People like Ernest Shackelton and Amelia

Earhart inspire me. As for contemporaries, I recently participated in an ice-climbing clinic run by a group that gets people of all abilities and disabilities out climbing. The folks at Paradox really inspired me and humbled me, and I enjoyed listening to their stories and watching them climb. What fortitude and what guts! “Find Your Own Mountain!” What I mean is that any challenge feels like a mountain to most people. Mountains are a true metaphor for what facing a challenge head-on is really like and your summit can be anywhere. You don’t have to reach the real summit but you’ve already made it to the top just by virtue that you tried. Q u ot e :

Mt. Vinson because it’s Antarctica and hardly anyone gets there. You are getting to touch and feel part of infinity because that snow has been there since the world started! Favo r I t e o F t he s e ve n s u m mIts :

h ow do yo u FI nd pe ac e ? I love to run, but I also get a lot of peace from hanging out on the beach with Cada, the 60-pound Lab-Shepherd mix I adopted last year. I’m totally in love … w hat I s yo u r b I g g e s t accom plI sh ment so Far?

My continued work with the fourth graders at the Donald McKay School in Boston. I’ve been working there for 6 years and I go out of my way to get to see these amazing inner city kids who face real educational, physical, social, and emotional challenges. Each year I take a group to climb a mountain in New Hampshire, and—though it may be small—a mountain is a mountain and it will always present you with more than you have. The Polar Trilogy, which consists of skiing to the North Pole, the South Pole and across Greenland all in one year. Wendy reached the North Pole in April 2011, the South Pole in January 2012 and plans to traverse Greenland later this year.

a dv e n t u r e I n p rog r e s s :

In 2009, Wendy set out to complete the Seven Summits by tackling Mount Everest. However, at 23,000 feet, altitude proved too problematic. Undeterred, she returned to the Himalayas in 2010 but again decided to turn around after reaching advanced base camp. Altitude is an added challenge on any climb, but on Everest, the prolonged lack of oxygen was too much for Wendy. “You’re above 17,000 feet for two months and, because MS is a disease of the central nervous system, if you don’t get enough oxygen to the brain, symptoms become pronounced. This is what made me turn back,” she explains. “It was a tough decision, but I knew it was time to call it. Making an egodriven decision to continue would have been horrendously dangerous not only for me, but also for the guides, my Sherpa, and my team.” Although she speaks calmly about it now, Wendy admits that she returned heartbroken. “When I came off of Everest, I went back to that fetal position on the couch where I was when I first got diagnosed. I thought: I’m a total failure and a fake. How can I tell people with MS to challenge themselves and set their bar high when I couldn’t even do that? It was devastating.” After a few short weeks, Wendy picked herself up and regained her path. “I used to say ‘failure is not an option,’ but Everest taught me that everybody fails. What matters is what we decide to do when that happens.” Wendy realized she didn’t have to give up her goal; she just had to redefine it. “I made a choice. I was humbled by not summiting Everest, and I didn’t let it stop me from getting to the top of the world.” In April 2011, Wendy became the first person with MS to ski to the North Pole, the geographic top of the world. “I loved everything about this adventure, but I really did it to show that although there may be an element of failure to our pursuits, it doesn’t have to be the end. Everything goes back to the choices we make. You can lie on the couch and feel sorry for yourself or make the choice to live

life despite your challenge. Being immobilized is not a choice, but forward momentum is. So I say, if you can’t get to your goal, find a different way and get there!” This message resonated with audiences and her “failure” on Everest bonded her to audiences in a way that a successful summit never could. People have approached her after appearances to say how profoundly touched they were to hear from someone who didn’t achieve something they set out to do, but still found a way to realize the big objective. “[Not summiting] Everest proved that I am a regular person and that has helped me connect with more people as a result,” she says. although she may seem like a super-woman,

Wendy admits that sometimes things get hard. “The fact is, I do have MS and things can go south at any moment. There are days when I push too far and on these days, I wonder: Am I being a weenie or is it the MS? It’s humbling when I have to stop and cry or walk home, but sometimes I just can’t do it. No matter what, I make sure to always say I’ll try again tomorrow.” What’s next for the woman who has already done so much? Nothing short of epic adventure, of course. She admits that she may not be finished with Everest for good, but that it’s on the backburner for now. “I recently secured sponsorship to train and race the Iditarod in 2014! Isn’t that cool?” The Iditarod is a historic 1,150-mile dog-sled race through the Alaskan wilderness. “When people hear this, they ask, ‘What do you know about mushing dogs?’ What did I know about climbing mountains when I started? I intend to learn!”

Wendy

multiple sclerosis at-a-glance what is ms? MS is a chronic disease that damages the nerves in the spinal cord, brain, and optic nerves. Myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds and protects our nerve fibers, also helps nerves to conduct electrical impulses. MS occurs when myelin is missing in certain areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. what are some symptoms? MS manifests in different ways depending on the severity and type of MS that is diagnosed. It may result in a variety of symptoms that can include fatigue, severe vision problems, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems. Gains in research and science mean that this does not have to be the dehabilitating disease it once was. how to you treat it? Although there is no cure, “disease-modifying therapies” can reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks, plus can result in less damage to the brain and spinal cord over time, slowing the progression of disability. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Dream Job

meet

Cynthia Crummer

By Irene Thomas

A native of Santa Cruz, California, Cynthia had never worked in the adventure or recreation industries before, but she has built her slot canyon rappelling adventure travel company, Pure Trek Costa Rica, into one of the premier businesses of its kind, with 33 employees. Some 13,000 visitors a year, from 4-to 85-years old, come to Pure Trek to have the biggest thrills of their lives. Crummer is dedicated to giving back to the community and feels like a true “tica” (the local term for a native). 50

La Fortuna, Costa Rica, and Santa Cruz, California J O B: Founder, Pure Trek Costa Rica STO M P I N G G ROU N D :

hy did you launch this business in Costa Rica?

When I first visited Costa Rica 15 years ago, I felt something I had never before felt about a place I visited on vacation. It pulled and tugged at me after my return to San Francisco. I spoke no Spanish, but since I was single without kids, I decided I would just follow my heart and DO IT. I had no idea what I would do to make a living in Costa Rica, but wanted to do something in the adventure business since that’s where my passion was [and obviously still is]. Whatever I chose, I did know that I was going to go for it and make it work! So every day I learned a little bit of Spanish and stayed focused on what I wanted, even though sometimes it seemed impossible. Was it difficult to leave the U.S.?

It was exciting yet daunting, more emotionally than physically. At first it was very difficult because we did not have Facebook, Skype, or cell phones, only e-mail to stay in close contact with friends and family. I am very close to my family, and I had their support 100 percent. I was scared, nervous, and determined. When I arrived, I called my mom for guidance, and I will never forget her advice, “Stay for six months and

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

see what this is all about.” Now, after 15 years, I feel the people of Costa Rica have taken me in completely as one of their own. I return often to visit family and friends and even keep a home in Santa Cruz, but Costa Rica fills my heart with joy, passion, and strength. Fortunately, all of my friends and family come to visit me. Pure Trek is like a big family and I trust every one of my wonderful employees.

“Pure Trek not only takes people on an adventure of a lifetime, but also helps and gives back to our community in Costa Rica.” How outdoorsy were you before starting Pure Trek and how much of an adventuress are you now?

I grew up in California and loved the outdoors, but never thought I would be taking people rappelling down waterfalls in a rainforest slot canyon in Costa Rica. I always traveled a different road than my friends, most of whom got married, worked in corporate jobs and had children. I decided to move to Costa Rica and went in a totally different direction. Building an

adventure company in another country with another language has allowed me the opportunity to become more confident, strong, and free. I feel that starting Pure Trek has made me a better person, as I have the opportunity to give back to this wonderful com-munity in ways I never would have dreamed. Describe your vision for Pure Trek.

I see Pure Trek as a company that gives people of all ages the opportunity to see themselves as strong capable

people. This transforms one’s whole life, and my goal is and has always been to make a huge difference in the lives of others and the world. Pure Trek not only takes people on an adventure of a life-time, but also helps and gives back to our community here in Costa Rica. I believe that my actions and the experiences people have with Pure Trek are like stones that are thrown into a lake—the ripples that result extend to places one would never expect, affecting others in positive ways. n

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WENDY HOLT

AG E :

Try This

Wheelies

Do tricks, improve your skills

By Sonya Looney

How to...

find your balance. Falling will be inevitable, but it doesn’t have to hurt. First, find a flat park with soft, green grass. Grab a couple friends and your helmet. Put some flat pedals on your bike and drop the seat by 1 or 2 inches. It’ll make it easier to get your weight farther back on the bike. It’s not about pulling the front wheel up with your arms; it’s about shifting your weight back and letting your legs torque on the pedals to lift the front end. To bring the bike back down, touch the back brake.

• Put the drivetrain in a big ring in the back and the middle or big ring in the front. • Put your stronger foot at 2 o’clock. • Keep fingers on the back brake at all times. • Pedal to get a little bit of speed and then coast.

Sonya rides a wheelie.

AbrAm eric lAndes

t the Transylvania Epic stage race in Pennsylvania, a seven-day mountain bike race on the best trails in the state, I had one little problem—I was not doing very well. I thought I’d be able to ride a bunch of back-to-back races, but my zest for racing got the best of me … once again … and I was slogging through each day with little to show in the way of results. Even though I was having a great time and really enjoying the trails, I needed to be more competitive. I thought I had the chance to redeem myself when the organizers announced that there would be a bonus stage: a wheelie contest. That skill was already in my quiver—I’ve popped wheelies while riding over rocks many times. Then I found out the contest was to see who could ride a wheelie the longest distance. I had never ridden a wheelie! I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I forced myself to get out there and try. Each competitor had a couple attempts, and I definitely fell down in front of a lot of spectators. But a great thing happened—I nailed it and I won! I had my front wheel off the

ground and was moving forward. How did I do that? Would I be able to do it again? Risk is an art, but with risk comes reward. The risk of popping the front wheel of your mountain bike off the ground is surprisingly minimal. Trying your first wheelie seems scary but, with a little practice, you’ll improve your riding ability on technical terrain, impress everyone with your skills, and possibly win a contest or two! Maybe you’re a both-hands-on-the-handlebars, two-feet-on-the-ground, and a two-wheels-onthe-trail type of person; daring is not in your vocabulary. Trying new things is what enables us to grow with the task at hand, and gives us the courage to try new things in other places of our lives, too. The time has come to learn to wheelie! Maybe “sweet jumps” aren’t in your vocabulary, but popping a wheelie is easy as long as you can relax your mind and are willing to practice. Who knows, maybe you’ll be ready to jump it next! n

• Bend your arms and get your chest low to the handlebars. Push off of the bars while simultaneously shifting your weight back on the bike. You will likely fall off the back the first couple times if you’re doing it right. In fact, practice jumping off to get comfortable with it. Keep a hold on the handlebars, bring the front end up, and then slide off the back of the bike. • Continue pedaling when you get the front wheel off the ground. Momentum is your friend. • Pull up slightly with your arms once the front wheel comes off the ground. If your front wheel isn’t getting very high off the ground, lean back a little more.

don’t

• Get frustrated. It’ll take some practice to hone your new skill. • Transition to hard ground until you are confident. • Take your hand off the rear brake. • Forget to laugh at yourself. • Go without a helmet or gloves. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Advocate

An Active Lifestyle to Combat Neurological Disorders Stroke victim Karin Linner shares about life after a stroke

More than 600 neurological disorders exist each year in the United States. Globally, 10.8% of all deaths per year are caused by strokes. In the United States, strokes are the number three leading cause of death. Outdoor Mindset—a non profit aiming to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors—works to educate people on neurological disorders and to give support to survivors. Their mission is founded on the fact that social connections positively influence health and that being active outdoors helps people recover from and prevent these disorders. This year, Karin Linner is teaming up with Outdoor Mindset to create a documentary of her forthcoming bike journey from Boulder, Colorado, to New York City. She hopes to inspire, learn, and educate along the way about the stroke she had two and a half years ago. Her aim is to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, inside and out. We interviewed Karin to get the full scoop on the documentary and to learn how she came back from a life-threatening illness.

karin is all smiles at ironman Zurich.

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

We asked Karin to shed more light on the cycling documentary, set to begin in late April. “I decided to start a Documentary Film Project and educate others about stroke. What do we know about it? Who are the faces of stroke? What do leading professionals have to say? How do we recognize stroke and what measures should we take? To what extent can we prevent it from happening?” The documentary will follow her cross-country ride, during which she’ll ask Americans what they know about stroke and also talk to stroke survivors and family members.

Karin hopes to learn about recent trends in stroke from medical professionals she interviews along the way, and discover what, if anything, women can do to prevent stroke. “Hopefully I’ll convince some of the people I meet to join me in making pedal strokes for the cause!” Karin also wants to spread the message that having a stroke, or life-threatening illness, is not the end of the road. She works at the Colorado Athletic Club five days a week and also runs a massage therapy business out of her home. An extremely active woman, Karin’s bike is her only form of transportation; she doesn’t own a car. “I typically get groceries on my ride home, put them in my backpack, and go home to work on clients. I also just started climbing and, sometimes, I go to the climbing gym. Overall, my days are pretty active back and forth.” Even with her busy lifestyle, she makes time to train for her upcoming bike ride for the documentary. But, the question lingers as to how she got the strength and courage to get back on her bike after all she’s been through. According to the National Stroke Association website, “Recovery from stroke is a lifelong process. For many people, recovery begins with formal rehabilitation, which can restore indepen-dence by improving physical, mental and emotional functions.” Karin says, “Recovering from my stroke was just about reclaiming myself. I had my stroke and I was in the hospital and I regained my physical abilities—like my motor skills—quite quickly. At first, I couldn’t speak at all, was extremely tired, and had no energy. The problem was that I still thought I was going to do triathlons.” Before Karin’s stroke, she was training for an Ironman. When the doctors said that she could never get back to that level of training and racing, that what she had been doing was just too risky, Karin thought of it differently. “From then on, it wasn’t even about whether I could physically do it; it was about the risks involved for my vascular system. Racing was a huge part of my life, so I was devastated.” Determined to not give up, she went back to her original neurologist. “Although I couldn’t actually ‘speak’, the doctor really listened and

womensadventuremagazine.com

patrick selvage

t age 34, healthy triathlete and cyclist, Karin Linner, suffered a severe stroke. Karin was close to losing her life but, through sheer determination to not give up, she is alive to tell her story today. “I kept saying, ‘Don’t die’ in my head. I was so scared,” says Karin. After completely losing her ability to speak and communicate, she has since recovered and is now back to training for triathlons. She’s also working to educate Americans about stroke prevention, recognition, and the importance of early action.

By Jill C. Wigand

“Recovering from my stroke was just about reclaiming myself. I had my stroke and I was in the hospital and I regained my physical abilities—like my motor skills—quite quickly.” heard what my friends told her, too,” Karin says, explaining that she had to re-build endurance and test her abilities. “It started with: ‘Okay you can go running for 10 minutes, slowly.’ After 6 or 7 months of stationary biking at my house, I took an easy ride through the park and was so happy! After many tests, I finally determined that the risk involved is not worth ditching my bike and sitting on my couch. Now I am back on my bike and I love every minute of it, I don’t know what else to say.” After having suffered a stroke, the most important lesson Karin took away and wants people to learn about a stroke is how to recognize its signs. “I want to talk about what actually happened with my stroke and how I came out so lucky. It had to do with me recognizing what was happening; it is so important to recognize a stroke, because they are so common.” She says that’s another takeaway from the documentary and that she hopes everyone will walk away with emergency tools. She offers the acronym FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) as an easy-to-remember formula for recognizing and handling stroke symptoms. Face refers to the face being contorted in any way: Is one side drooping down, or is it difficult to show and control the emotion in your face? Arm refers to the weakness of one or both arms. Try lifting one arm at a time; if this is hard to do, it’s likely a sign of a stroke. The speech element means check whether the speech is impaired in any way. Is it slurred or confusing? Finally, Time expresses that time is everything with a stroke. Don’t waste any time at all in getting immediate help. Call 911 immediately. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website says, “The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the damage. Immediate treatment can save people’s lives and enhance their chances for successful recovery.” Karin and Outdoor Mindset are not only working to educate on how to recognize a stroke, they are also informing people on how to prevent one. The National Stroke Association says, “Up to 80% of all strokes can be prevented.” Ways to decrease your risk of a stroke include: knowing your normal blood pressure, identifying atrial fibrillation or an abnormal heartbeat, stopping smoking, knowing cholesterol levels, controlling diabetes, managing exercise and diet, and treating circulation problems. Now that Karin is healthy and back on her bike, we wondered what she learned through her stroke recovery. “A lot!” She says, “Anything can happen at any moment, and you can’t be too prepared. I mean, I was perfectly healthy yet, just out of the blue, I could have lost my life! I have learned to live the life you live for and love the life you live. Don’t take anything for granted.”

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Finally, Karin wants people to know that having a life-changing event, injury, or disease is not the end of the road. “Your normal might have to change, and it might not ever be the normal you’re used to. But the new normal can be more fabulous than before because you know how to appreciate it. Your life is your life, so get the help you need and do what is important to you—even if reading karin’s story has inspired you to get if you have to change involved, check out Outdoor Mindset online at how you do it.” n

outdoormindset.org. You can also support the documentary by karin and Outdoor Mindset at pedalstrokedocumentary.com. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Camps

Vail to Peru A Journey of Self-Trust By Meadow Didier

reetings from Arequipa, Peru! As I walk down the dusty hillside from another fulfilling day working with underprivileged children, I marvel again about how lucky I am, and how strange the path was that led me here. My mind flashes to the Women’s Empowerment Workshop that I attended in Vail last September. This nature adventure retreat quite literally transformed my life, leading me from an unsatisfying job to the experience of a lifetime.

While the entire workshop helped give me the tools I needed to make this change, the most meaningful moment for me occurred as I clung to the side of a black granite wall— blindfolded. I had approached my first couple of climbs on that beautiful autumn day the way I approached everything—from a highly rational perspective. The wall was an obstacle, and I knew how to surmount obstacles: listen to the instructions, look for the best way up, and then follow that planned route, step by measured step. This was a well-proven method, and I had already breezed through a few climbs when the instructor suggested that I try climbing blindfolded. I wasn’t at all sure about my ability to go up without my sight, the most important sense for finding the next handhold or foothold, but I figured I could just go halfway, and the ropes would catch me if I slipped. But then the unexpected happened. As I reached up tentatively, a shift happened within me. Intuition and instinct took over and instead

WAM • SPRING | 2012

Throughout the workshop I continued asking myself, “Where else in my life…?” and every experience worked to pry me gently from that stuck place. of trying to see the next step, I found that I could feel for it. Without my eyes telling my body that step was too big for me, or that handhold too small, I suddenly became a better climber, flowing up the rock with a fluid grace unlike any of my other climbs. I trusted myself in a new way, and this trust awakened something inside me. Later, sitting in the shade of a pine tree, I journaled, asking, “Where else in my life am I constrained by my mind and not listening to my heart?” I knew that I had been stuck in a rut in life for quite some time, afraid of leaving a comfortable job and not knowing what I wanted to do instead. Yet, my capable mind had not been able to imagine the next steps and, instead, just took me in circles. Throughout the workshop I continued asking myself, “Where else in my life…?” and every experience worked to pry me gently from that stuck place. One session at the workshop, called Women’s Inner Wisdom, reinforced the lesson that it is okay not to see what my next twenty steps will be. I can keep moving forward even if I don’t have the answers—sometimes asking the questions and following my heart and instincts are enough. Rafting and kayaking helped me practice navigating life without being able to control every wave that hit the boat. I witnessed mothers and daughters deeply supporting each other, and I felt the same infinite support from my sister, who was having her own workshop experience as she connected to horses and explored stress relief skills. With clarity from renowned author, speaker, and coach, Dr. Joan King’s miraculous

womensadventuremagazine.com

Wendy Griffith

Other Women’s Workshops life coaching sessions, profound explorations in nature, and the supportive circle of women, I filled my mind and heart with both new and rediscovered wisdom.

Courtesy Women’s empoWerment Workshop

A few months later, using this wisdom along with renewed confidence and self-trust, I finally silenced my doubting, fearful mind, listened to my heart and instincts, and moved

my career to where I’ve always wanted to live, South America. I’m a project manager in a nonprofit organization serving underprivileged children. It is hot and dusty here and there is so much to do, but I am alive with the work of serving these children, revitalized by the joy of hearing my heart sing, and so grateful that I attended the Women’s Empowerment Workshop! n

Becoming an Outdoors Woman. Available nationwide and serving more than 20,000 women through about 80 workshops each year, these skills camps introduce women to activities like hunting, shooting, fishing, canoeing, and camping. This is where newbies become empowered through learning to set up a tent or tie a fly. uwsp.edu/cnr/bow Run Wild Trail Running Wellness Retreat. This four-day “Run Well, Be Well” getaway promotes stress reduction, reconnecting with nature, and improving fitness through trail running and yoga. Run Wild Retreats founder Elinor Fish says, “We provide practical tips to become an injury-free, life-long runner, but also foster an understanding of how running serves you in other aspects of life, such as reducing stress and inspiring you to make positive change in other areas, such as career, family, or spiritual.” It’ll be held August 16-19 at Avalanche Ranch near Carbondale, Colorado. Also watch for the dates of this year’s Seven Summits Trail Running Adventure in Rossland, British Columbia. Learn more at womensadventuremagazine.com/running/runwild or runwildretreats.com.

MOMENTUM 34 DAILY COMMUTE

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WAM • SPRING | 2012

Redemptio Ride 48

WAM â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER | 2012

womensadventuremagazine.com

A former road racer returns from a cycling hiatus with ambitious intentions By Jayme Moye Photographs by Steve Zdawczynski

t was not one of my better moments. Instead of continuing to push the mountain bike up the

too-steep-to-ride part of the trail, I’d thrown it off the trail altogether. Literally threw it. I don’t remember what I yelled at that bike, but I’m sure it wasn’t civilized. At the sound of my hollering, my boyfriend stopped riding and looked back at me. Steve didn’t speak, but I imagined him thinking, Now what? I stared back up at him, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. It was our second day mountain biking in Patagonia, and things were not going well for me. The irony was that this trip was supposed to be a success story. When I’d planned it six months earlier, I’d envisioned biking Patagonia as a redemption ride. I thought it would be a meaningful way to reclaim the

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

sport of cycling after quitting three years earlier when I was diagnosed with panic disorder. I’d been off the medication for six months, hadn’t had a panic attack all year, and felt encouraged by Steve, a former pro mountain bike racer, to give it a try. I chose the Magellan region of Patagonia to knock one off my life list, but more so for the scale of the landscape. It’s big sky country times one hundred. Everything is size XL—9,000-foot granite spires, 10,000-foot Andes peaks, thousands of lakes and inlets, and some of the most gigantic glaciers in the world. The only thing not massive in size or quantity is humans. There are said to be more sheep than people in this southern-most section of South America, where a single ranch can span a whopping 400-square miles. It is a place so vast, so big, that it made my panic disorder seem small. Or so I’d hoped.

“I can’t do it,” I yelled up at Steve. “Not with your bike lying on the ground,” he yelled back.

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womensadventuremagazine.com

I glanced at my Specialized hardtail tossed chain-side-down and sighed. He had a point. Besides, hike-a-bike segments are common in mountain biking, not something to cry over. So why was I nearly in tears? Because I knew that what I was feeling wasn’t normal—it was panic. When I quit riding three years ago, I was the top-ranked female road racer in my category in Colorado. A car accident changed all that. I was going 80 mph on the highway when I ran over a piece of metal. It pierced a back tire, causing a swerve I couldn’t steer out of. I crashed into the median and went airborne, flipping twice. The car was totaled. Somehow, I walked away without any physical injuries. Mentally, it was a different story. Afterward on my bike, I would tense up in high winds. I told my coach I felt afraid. She said that everyone struggles with crosswinds and that, with practice, I would get used to it. I knew it was more than that. Riding a bike in gusty winds felt just like that swerve on the highway, the one where I lost control. The harder I tried to “push through it,” the worse it got. I finally went to the doctor after spring training camp in Moab in 2009. I’d started hyperventilating during a routine ride. The high winds at the start had spooked me, but I’d gone ahead with the ride anyway. On the final descent I felt claustrophobic, then frightened. I told the others to go ahead. I stopped the bike and took a deep breath to steady myself. My exhale came out as a scream. I stood on the side of the road and screamed into the wind. I didn’t stop until I’d lost my voice. The diagnosis: panic disorder, one of the six kinds of clinical anxiety. About 40 million people in the U.S., almost the same number with high cholesterol, have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to experience panic attacks—which is what happened to me in Moab—but we don’t talk about them because we’re ashamed. At least I am. Maybe it would be different if the organ that wasn’t working right was my pancreas, like in diabetes. But it’s my brain. And I don’t want anyone to know. The doctor said it would be best if I took some time away from biking. Riding had become a trigger for panic, he explained. I lied to the team—told them that my work schedule no longer permitted the necessary training hours. I stepped down as captain and hung my race bike up in the garage. It was the right thing to do, I told myself. But I still felt ashamed.

On our first day in Patagonia, I was optimistic. Steve and I took the bikes out for an easy test ride on the trails around Tierra, the lodge where we were staying. A guide named Jose joined us. The shrublands around the lodge were golden-green and spongy. Dark brown singletrack, cut by the hooves of 50,000 sheep, zigzagged wildly across the terrain. “Sheep go where they go,” Jose explained. Besides being a bit schizophrenic, sheep singletrack is also narrower than what I was used to. I kept hitting the thorn bushes Jose called “Mother-in-Law Cushions” growing beside the trail.

“I stepped down as captain and hung my race bike up in the garage. It was the right thing to do, I told myself. But I still felt ashamed.” WAM • SUMMER | 2012

“If you stare at something long enough, you’re going to run into it,” Steve said, after I’d pinballed off yet another thorny “cushion.” I gritted my teeth, then lifted my gaze. He was right. My ride went much smoother when I focused on where I wanted to go, not where I didn’t. I wish I could say I found another focus after my throw-the-bike-off-thetrail-meltdown, that the next day I was able to turn away from panic and see the beauty of the trail winding through Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. But I didn’t. Instead, I dropped my gaze and let the tears come. I suddenly felt exhausted and on the verge of a panic attack. Perhaps I’d been beaten down by the wind, as that region is incredibly windy much of the time. My old nemesis had kicked up during our three-hour ride earlier that morning, leaving me shaky and unpredictable. Perhaps it would have turned out this way regardless of the weather. Maybe panic disorder would always find me, no matter how ginormous a landscape I tried hiding in.

“I wish I could say I found another focus after my throw-the-bike-off-the-trailmeltdown, that the next day I was able to turn away from panic and see the beauty of the trail winding through Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. But I didn’t.”

Standing next to my cast-off bike, on the trail I’d hoped to ride through the national park, I was forced to confront my limitation. “I’m done,” I told Steve. He watched me collect my bike and walk it toward him. He was disappointed, I was sure. I was too. But in that moment, all I cared about was getting back to the lodge. But the van was waiting at the other end of the trail, which meant I had to finish it out. When panic takes hold, I can’t think straight and I can’t rationalize. But I can follow, like a sheep. I slowly rode behind Steve, walking my bike up and down the steps. And I cried.

Back at the lodge, I struggled with the fact that this wasn’t shaping into the story I’d wanted to tell.

Getting There LAN Airlines (lan.com), Chile’s flag carrier, offers direct flights to the capital city of Santiago from either Los Angeles or Miami. From Santiago, it’s a 3.5-hour direct flight to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Stay at Tierra Patagonia (tierrapatagonia.com), a new all-inclusive lodge and spa set on the shores of Lake Sarmiento, just outside Torres del Paine National Park. Specialized (specialized.com) mountain bikes and helmets are provided. Bring your own shoes and pedals.

I’d imagined it as a redemption tale, a victory. Instead, I’d cried like, well, like a girl. Sulking in the great room watching the sunset over Lake Sarmiento, I felt painfully detached from my original hope. My one consolation was that I hadn’t had a fullblown panic attack on the trail. Outside the window, the setting sun ignited the clouds around the Torres del Paine peaks into a cotton candy pink. The grasslands went from golden-green to pure gold. I could even make out the narrow bands of sheep singletrack weaving between the Mother-in-Law Cushions. They got me thinking. … Maybe I’d been focusing on the wrong thing. What if I’d been staring at panic so long that I couldn’t help but run into it?

The sun dropped into the mountains, subduing the sky into a purple-orange. Maybe it wasn’t about being able to get back on the bike without triggering panic. Maybe it wasn’t about panic at all. I felt a little bit calmer. In those last rays of sunlight, I decided my redemption ride should be about letting go. Not of mountain biking, no, I would try that again the next day. I wanted to let go of the shame—the shame of “crying like a girl,” the shame of quitting the team, the shame of having a mental illness that I felt I needed to hide. I did not overcome my anxiety in Patagonia. But, as I had hoped, I found a path, one to letting go. And it really didn’t matter if I walked it or biked it. n

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“The sun dropped into the mountains, subduing the sky into a purple-orange. Maybe it wasn’t about being able to get back on the bike without triggering panic. Maybe it wasn’t about panic at all.”

WAMWAM • SUMMER • SPR | 2012 2011

Damn Wave the

Thriving

(not just Surviving)

on a Surfboard

By Hannah Nordhaus

Brent had surfed since he was a kid and, while he was patient and kind while guiding Heather and me into the whitewater and shouting encouraging phrases—like “Go!”—he was not terribly clear in his explanations. For Brent, the idea of steering a fiberglass board through oncoming whitewater, and then turning it around and standing up and making turns on that fluid force, was second nature. He didn’t have a verbal explanation to break it down for someone who had never done it before. And what’s more, he was a guy—the kind of laidback guy that doesn’t do a lot of explaining.

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Here’s how a typical session went:

Silence.

“Hey Brent?”

A few minutes, a few poundings later, I’d try again. “Hey Brent?”

“What?” “When you’re standing up on the wave, do you jump up with your front or back foot first?”

“What?”

“Both.”

“I don’t know. Just catch the wave.”

“How?”

And then he’d do just that, and I’d wallow around in the whitewater, waiting

“Just paddle into the wave and get up.”

“Do you paddle with your hands deep in the water, or shallow?”

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All imAges justin bAstien

ere’s how I learned to surf: My husband Brent and I flew to Panama with two shortboards and a friend named Heather. We disembarked in Panama City, rented a jeep, and headed for the coast, where Heather and I flailed around for a week in what seemed like monstrous, insurmountable swells. At night, I dreamed of tsunami-sized waves bearing down on me, although I’m told they were only a couple of feet high.

“I’d wallow around in the

whitewater, waiting for some saltwater

wisdom to magically soak through my pores so I could learn to surf.”

shortish board and turn a bit. But I still missed four or five or ten waves for every one I caught, and, when I was finally riding down the line, I didn’t really carve—it was more like wiggling my butt and flapping my hands and pretending to turn. And I still sometimes couldn’t resist asking Brent technical questions, and I still couldn’t help but be disappointed when he told me, for the millionth time, just to “catch the wave.” for some saltwater wisdom to magically soak through my pores so I could learn to surf. It didn’t get any better from there. Brent simply didn’t have the words. In fact, our worst fight— ever—involved me getting frustrated with surfing, and Brent not adequately feeling my pain, and then me threatening to go find a man who would teach me how to surf, and then neither of us speaking for a couple of days. We made up and eventually got married, but I had to come to

terms—as I hear many women who marry surfers do—with the fact that Brent wasn’t going to be my surfing sage. I would just have to get out there, like he said, and catch the waves—or try to—and learn through hard and frustrating trial and error.

So I finally took action and learned to surf better: Last fall, after I heard that Alison Gannett— pro skier, women’s-camp guru, organic farmer, and climate activist—would be hosting a surf camp in El Salvador, I decided that a new teacher might do me some good.

So that’s what I did, and with time I improved. I could paddle out and survive, if not thrive, in fairly large and treacherous conditions. I could recognize when I did and didn’t want to be out in the water, and I could ride down the face on a

There are lots of surf camps, many of them designed for women—who seem to need more explaining and coaxing in the water than their male counterparts. Alison’s appealed to me because I knew she was an athlete and liked to help

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other athletes take their games up a notch. I’ve twice attended her Rippin’ Chix Steep Camps in challenging destinations like Crested Butte and Silverton, Colorado. Her camps don’t cater to mushy intermediates who want to ski a bumprun here or there; all the women in my group were great skiers who wanted to be even better— they were climbing guides and former racers and all-around rippers. We worked on catching bigger air and skiing steep, technical chutes without falling back on bad habits, and I came away with a number of technical pointers that I’ve carried with me in terrain easy and difficult—a wristtweak here, a hip-tilt there—all explained in a way that we detail-oriented women like to learn. If tips like that could improve my skiing, I figured, imagine what I could learn on a surfboard!

“After a decade of vague pointers, I was parched for guidance of the specific variety.”

process of catching waves in the same methodical way she explains the nuances of skiing. Mexicobased photographer, pro surfer, and veteran surf instructor Kemi Vernon and Mary Osborne, longboard champion and Patagonia surf ambassador, worked with more advanced surfers. Each student received group lessons each day, along with one private session. My lesson started on the beach, where Kemi—a trim, fearless and aggressive surfer who has traveled all over the world riding waves—schooled me in the basics. Then we headed out to the break.

So I went. Last December, we set up camp in the Casa De Mar hotel, where each spacious room had a magnificent view of the right-hand point break just a couple hundred yards in front of us, and where there was a burly, benevolent gatekeeper to take our surfboards when we came in from the beach and wrap us in a warm-towel bear hug. When we weren’t in the water we could sit in the shaded, breezy outdoor restaurant next to the pool, sip licuados, watch people ride the waves, and discuss surfing technique, form, and etiquette.

“Because you’re picking shitty waves. That was just a little hump. You need to look down the wave and see a shoulder holding up all the way across.”

Out in the water, Alison focused first on the beginners and never-evers, breaking down the

“Oh.” And, on my next wave, I rode it down the line for 30 seconds.

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Here’s how it went: “So Kemi, why wasn’t I able to ride that wave through?”

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It went on like that. Remarkably, fantastically, Kemi had words—lots of them—to explain all the important little things that were folded into Brent’s Zen-like maxim of “catching the wave.” Words to describe how to pick a good wave; how to paddle aggressively to the right place and in the right direction to catch it; why not to dangle my feet in the water when I paddled; how to plane my board and decide which direction to go after standing up; and how to drive with my hips and shoulders and turn with my feet and knees to move the board from edge to edge. It was a lot to absorb, but after a decade of vague pointers, I was parched for guidance of the specific variety. Within a day, I was carving real turns and cutbacks on the wave. In that same day, I learned more than I did in years of asking my well-intentioned but beleaguered husband detailed questions and hearing the same infuriatingly vague answer time and again. Finally, I could catch the damn wave. n Next year you can join the fun at the KEEN Rippin’ Chix Surf Camp with Alison Gannett in El Salvador, Nov. 25–Dec. 1, 2012. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

All that Glitters

Isn â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Gold Glitz and Glam in t he Sout her n Cone By Br igid Mander Glass skyscr apers glitt er ed abov e squat, old, plas t er buildings lining a road chaotic wit h trucks, cars, people, and busses. F rom a dis tance, t he snow capped Andes tow er ed ov er t he scene.

he image cast a spell. It was exactly what South America meant to me: grit, glamour, and big, snowy mountains, side by side. I stared out my cab window until my mind, groggy from the overnight flight from L.A. to Santiago, Chile, started to awaken.

WAM â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER | 2012

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“Cuarenta mil pesos,” the cabbie had said when I asked the price for a ride from the international airport to the bus station. I sleepily agreed. But now I was awake, and 40,000 pesos equaled approximately $90. For a 15-minute cab ride. Twenty minutes, an argument in broken Spanish, and 10,000 pesos later, I got out at the bus station, pulling my gear from the car while the cabbie glowered at me. Clearly, this was the grit side. This was a solo adventure to Chile and Argentina to ski, meet up with friends, and complete another little side mission. Skiing was the focus, but South America’s legendary capitals of Santiago and Buenos Aires are famed for their style and glamour… and I needed a dress for a big event the day after I returned to the U.S. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see what the designers in this part of the world had to offer. All I needed—in between climbing and skiing some big mountain lines—was to slip into one of the many trendy, artsy boutiques, and to secure a thick bag to protect my purchase from ski edges and crampons, then mission accomplished.

“Skiing was the focus, but South America’s legendary capitals of Santiago and Buenos Aires are famed for their style and glamour… and I needed a dress.”

LesLie Anthony

This, however, was proving more difficult than I thought, and while standing in Santiago’s Estación Central, upscale shopping was the farthest thing from my mind. From here, buses left for all corners of the Andes. The station, a huge, open-air maelstrom of humanity, teemed with travelers, vendors hawking trinkets, and an overwhelming amount of noise, colors, and possible destinations. I stood still, arms hooked through my bags to deter thieves. I literally had made no plans beyond showing up in Chile. Choices for skiing were wide open. The first ticket booth in sight had a sign for Chillan, about 8 hours away, leaving in 15 minutes. I recalled that the ski area there, Nevados

de Chillan, had been getting tons of powder this season, so I headed that way. A week later, I was back on the bus, equally exhausted, heading back to Santiago. The Chillan sidecountry and ski hill had offered knee deep powder for days of great skiing, followed up by me tagging along with a crew from Casa Tours south to Curaucatin, for a weather-thwarted attempt to climb and ski Volcan Lonquimay. It was a perfect powder and adventure fix for week one. My entry back to bustling city life was abrupt, with another 6 a.m. arrival at the grimy bus station. I was meeting some of my respectable, non-dirtbag friends at Santiago’s sleek Hotel Aubrey. A fivedollar cab ride (price settled beforehand) dropped

me in the city’s trendy Bella Vista neighborhood, worlds apart from the chaotic bus station. At that point all I could think about was a shower and sleep, but with only a day and a half to kill in the sunny capital city, visions of sashaying around boutiques and selecting from racks of amazing garments danced in my head. Wisterias perfumed the morning air, and somewhere in this neighborhood would be the perfect vestido. Bella Vista, though filled with stylish Santiaguinos, didn’t give up its shopping secrets to me. Tiled sidewalks, cafes, eclectic old Spanish architecture, and gorgeous design inspiration were everywhere. It was easy to dress in the one presentable urban outfit I had with me, but it was harder to get into the material acquisition mindset. I finally realized that I just wanted to get back to skiing, dirty or not, and I wasn’t feeling the city vibe at all. I gratefully kicked the shopping mission to the curb the next morning as we headed up to the nearby Valle Nevado ski resort, where we

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Club Andino Bariloche’s famed ski and climbing hut, Refugio Frey.

“It wasn’t the traditional definition of glamour, but to journey so far for something so beautiful and amazing was worth every dirty, sleepless bus ride.” planned to do some ski touring in the backcountry. We spent the week climbing amazing, stark ski lines that we had all to ourselves, and basked on sunny après-ski decks drinking cervezas and checking out the bustling international schussing scene—my very definition of South American glamour. All too soon, the brief foray into the land of regular showers, meals, and skiing powdery couloirs with my well-heeled friends was over. Like the week had never happened, it was back to the grimy bus station on my own, this time with Argentina in mind.

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After another cramped night on a bus, I arrived in Mendoza feeling like I had wrapped myself in my greasy ham and cheese wrappers from a post-customs, 3 a.m. snack. With 20 hours to kill before catching my next bus south to Bariloche, I stashed my gear in a luggage depot and wandered into the streets. By this time, my jeans were so dirty and stretched out that they hung like someone else’s pants. In the city center, Argentines—true to their reputation—wasted no effort in their appearance. Stylish hipsters and elegantly dressed business people rushed about their business in the centuries-old, yet modern city.

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The homeless chic look was clearly not a trend in Mendoza. So I revisited the seemingly doomed style quest. The first few stores had beautiful clothes, but nothing perfect. That was good, because the sales ladies were avoiding looking at me, and probably hoping I wouldn’t touch anything.

brigid Mander

Trudging into yet another shop, I noticed gold silk hung from a hanger in the back corner, simple and sleek. I put the dress back on the rack, not really wanting to touch it. It was beautiful, and I was, well, a dirty ski bum. Dejected, I wandered off. Instead of aimlessly loitering in Mendoza, I passed the time for the rest of the day in plazas and little sidewalk cafes in the thin sunshine, people-watching and thinking about skiing. As darkness fell on the way back to the station, the little shop with the gold dress was suddenly irresistible. Breezing inside to the salesgirl’s chagrin, I headed to the dressing room with the gold dress.

It fit like a glove. Perfectly hugging my waist and swathing my chest, it had a unique, low-draped neckline, a high back, and a flowing knee-length hemline. The shopkeeper finally mustered up some enthusiasm. “That is Laura Rodriguez,” she told me, “a dress designer from Buenos Aires.” The design looked like it had come out of the movie Evita—simple elegance with just a touch of modern flair. I was sold. Soon, the beautiful dress was crammed into my ski bag, and it was back to skiing. I arrived in Bariloche to see my friend Huere Darquier. We had met as competitors on the World Freeskiing Tour about seven years ago, but she had since stopped competing and moved from Whistler, British Columbia, back to her native Bariloche. The plan was to ski into Club Andino Bariloche’s famed ski and climbing hut, Refugio Frey,

but I couldn’t resist showing off my find. Huere suggested one addition. So the next day, navigating the piles of ashfall on the city streets from the recent eruption of Chile’s Puyehue Cordon-Caulle volcano, we found a boutique in downtown Bariloche. Inside was the perfect pair of earrings to finish off the quest—big red slivers of stone. The final days of the trip were spent among the towering rock spires and steep, snowy chutes that make up the terrain near Frey. We climbed and skied all day each day on incredible terrain in breathtaking beauty. It wasn’t the traditional definition of glamour, but to journey so far for something so beautiful and amazing was worth every dirty, sleepless bus ride. I realized that every time I wear the gold dress that people will see Buenos Aires glitz, but I’ll be thinking of snowy mountain glitter and adventure’s inherent glamour. n

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aster 62

WAM • WINTER | 2011

Kemi Vernon

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all —Jane Austen our lives.”

This isn’t just another walk on the beach for these women in El Salvador. They’re wave-hunting, strolling the coast in search of surf-able rollers. Mexico-based photographer, pro surfer, and veteran surf instructor Kemi Vernon captured the camaraderie and support felt at Alison Gannet’s Rippin’ Chix Surf Camp. As Kemi says, “Surfing is something one can master. The ocean, however, is something to be respected. The two go hand in hand.” Discover how you can attend and learn more about surfing in “The Damn Wave” by Hannah Nordhaus (page 54).

Why SUP? Why wouldn’t you try it? “SUP has so many avenues: fitness, yoga, race, downwinders, surfing, cruising, recreational. Make it as extreme or mellow as you want,” says WAM’s cover girl and SeasonFive SUP pro, Nikki Gregg. “You can explore everywhere, anywhere. It never gets old.”

Nikki Gregg G E T R I P P E D Area of SUP expertise: Fitness and surf

ikki Gregg “grew up in a gym” and has worked in the fitness industry for 12 years. She discovered standup paddleboarding while living on Oahu’s north shore and, before she knew it, was standup paddle surfing twice a day, spending four hours a day on the water. She became a better surfer, dropped pounds, and toned up. “My gym clients asked what I was doing differently,” Nikki remembers. “I said, ‘I’ve been trying this new sport called standup paddling.’” Nikki ultimately created SUP boot camp, which spread to the mainland in 2009 as SUP became mainstream. “It’s weird claiming it, but I’m considered the first lady or queen of SUP fitness,” Nikki admits. “I was the first girl to run a river on an SUP and run a waterfall. I got into it early and therefore have lots of firsts.” Now, champion SUP pro and a SeasonFive athlete, Nikki is the new editor of SUPPIE magazine and offered us her SUP fitness expertise. nikkigregg.com

fundamentals

Standup Paddleboarding

m Skills

Keep your lower body loose and upper body centered. Absorb choppy water with your knees. When you take your first few strokes, loosen your lower body. Take a deep breath, keep the knees soft, and take a few strokes. Don’t look straight down when you’re paddling. Look ahead and relax.

Safety • Make sure you’re able to go out in the current conditions. • Check the boating laws in your area. • Wear a leash, especially in sketchy conditions, and a PFD if you feel unsure about your swimming ability.

Key skills… In choppy/windy conditions: Use shorter, quicker strokes rather than long, deep strokes. Get on your knees in extreme wind. Or lay down, put the paddle on your chest and paddle. But, firstly, remember to bend your knees and stay low.

“If you’re not falling, you’re not learning.” –Nikki Gregg

80%

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of people getting into standup paddling do it to get in shape.

In rivers: Go first with someone who knows what she’s doing in the river, and start with class I rapids. Practice ferrying, upstream at an angle. Kayaking skills apply to standup paddling, except class II is like class IV on a SUP—unbelievably harder. Make sure you have the protective gear you need (i.e. butt pads under your dry suit, knee pads, and shin guards). The chance of you connecting with a rock is high. On waves or in surf: Take a surf lesson and learn surf etiquette before heading out into surf. If not, at least go somewhere where nobody is around. “People think standup paddlers hog the waves, because they can get onto them faster,” Nikki says. “New SUPers don’t understand what it’s like to be a surfer, laying down, paddling into waves, having someone stand over you.” Hit the waves head-on, not at an angle. If paddling out, get your speed up, get in a low squatting position (Nikki calls it “crouching tiger”), and paddle as quickly as you can over the wave.

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Rachel Brathen n a m a s T e Area of SUP expertise: Yoga

R Ta k e i T T o T h e n e x T l e v e l

Jenny Kalmbach

Area of SUP expertise: Training and racing

awaii-based C4 Waterman athlete Jenny Kalmbach has raced since 2007. She won the inaugural Battle of the Paddle in 2008, was the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Champion in 2009, and was voted Female Paddler of the Year at the 2011 SUP Awards. “I love being in open ocean,” Jenny says, and channel crossings are her favorite. The documentary film about her 2010 channel crossing in Hawaii to raise awareness about plastic pollution was released this spring. “Standup paddling is an easy sport to pick up, so you can quickly enter your first race,” Jenny says, encouraging WAM readers and instructing us all how to best train, race, and win. jennykalmbach.com

Equipment matters. If you’re looking to compete, have a race-style board—as opposed to a beginner (or a fitness) board. Find and enter a local race. “It doesn’t matter how you do. You’ll learn, get a feel for what needs to be done, and come away with a strategy for the next race,” Jenny says. Chat with other competitors to gather racing tips. “We’re all still learning,” Jenny says, “so ask.” Go for the goal. Set up a training program; work on your technique; and up your general fitness by paddling 2-3 times a week and cross training the rest of the time. “The key is having a strong body, then mastering good technique. Intervals are a good way to do that.” Jenny develops SUP workouts each week for Garmin. Check out this example and find more through jennykelmbach.com. Race. First race or two, get a good start. Go out quickly and try to maintain that pace. Don’t set out thinking I’ll get faster as I go. Go out hard and find a comfortable rhythm that you settle into. Listen to your body and push yourself hard in the beginning, then try to maintain a pace that’ll work for you. You’ll learn. As with any sort of race, make sure you’re well hydrated and properly fueled before, during, and after. Drink water; replenish with electrolytes. Just have fun. “At the end of the day, the best part of the race is hanging out on the water and with good people,” Jenny says. “Make a goal, train hard, and enjoy it when you get there.”

BIC 10'6" ACE-TEC SUP Wahine. High performance and lightweight, this versatile board is geared toward women standup paddlers of all skill levels. $1,049; bicsport.com

JennIFeR GULIzIA/GoRGe-US PhoToGRAPhY, RYAn LoPoSSA, CoURTeSY RACheL BRAThen

achel Brathen used to stay on the beach, practicing yoga, while her boyfriend surfed. One day, she took her practice out on the water and did a 90-minute session. As the yoga director at an Aruba resort, she says, “My life is one big long yoga retreat,” and feels privileged to teach SUP yoga now, too. “People visit purely to do yoga in the Caribbean,” says SeasonFive athlete Rachel. SUP yoga isn’t just for resort settings though; Rachel offers Women’s Adventure her best tips for successful SUP yoga anywhere. facebook.com/rachelsyoga Focus… on the breath. “Cues that your yoga teacher tells you in regular class are especially important in SUP yoga,” Rachel says, describing yoga on the board as super meditative. “Stay in the moment. Follow the flow of the breath, every inhale and exhale. Keep all awareness on what’s happening in the board.” Be playful. If you fall off, it’s not a big deal. “Just smile and come right back to where you were,” Rachel says. Balance. Spread body out on board as much as possible, and it’ll be easier to stay stable. Most standing poses, we modify a lot. It takes strength to balance on the board, so staying active through the abdomen helps.

Gear Hydration is key, especially in races. Try the Camelbak BAJA LR vest made from quickdrying, non-metal and non-corrosive materials to support the most epic SUP treks. $120; camelback.com If you’re paddling whitewater, don’t forget your helmet! Nutcase water helmets. $75; nutcasehelmets.com Paddle: Make sure the paddle faces in the right direc direction. Since the paddle is angled forward people think they need to use it like a shovel. Learn the difference between the powerface and the nonpowerface. Choose a paddle with a rib down the center (called a dihedral) to limit flutter and lend more control as you pull the blade through the water. A combo selected from the Title9 Real Deal swimwear collection will keep you covered and cute. Chameleon Board Short $65, Real Deal Tankini $57, Real Deal Bikini $49, Real Deal Bottom $44; titlenine.com Costa Caye. $199; costadelmar.com PFD: Invest in a self-inflating waist belt that’s easy to wear every minute you’re on the board. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Respond to a Wilderness Emergency It’s day three of a week-long backpacking trip in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness. You’re having an incredible journey through this remote and pristine landscape, but then your hiking partner trips, hits her head on a rock, and tweaks her leg so badly that you can see bone. You are hours, probably days away from the nearest road and you haven’t seen anyone since you started your hike. What would you do? No one likes to dwell on the possibility of a situation like this actually occurring, but the reality is that accidents do happen. If you spend enough time playing outside, at some point you’ll find yourself wishing you had the skills to handle a wilderness emergency. We don’t want to scare you, but we do want to prepare you, so here’s a primer on how to stay cool when trouble strikes in the backcountry.

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Know Before You Go—Get Certified

deally, if you spend any amount of time recreating in the outdoors, you’ve taken a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or First Responder (WFR) class. “People learn about first aid from their friends, grandmothers, blogs, and ridiculous television shows, but none of it is verifiable truth,” explains Sawyer Alberi, a lead instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) and a flight medic with the Vermont Army National Guard, who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Taking a class erases the uncertainty and gives individuals the confidence to do the right thing at the right time, and that’s huge.”

Providers across the nation offer a variety of classes and, because no backcountry situation is the same, these courses not only provide you with concrete skills but also help you develop critical thinking skills so you can make smart decisions. “Backcountry medicine—where definitive care is delayed— is very different than street medicine,” says Sawyer. “We teach you to quickly assess: Is this person sick, not sick, or really sick? Are they going to get worse or not? Can I fix it here or do I have to evacuate? This is the critical thinking piece that allows you to solve the problem, not just go through the motions.”

An Ounce of Prevention... More often than not, planning and common sense can prevent accidents in the backcountry. Here are some basic things you can do before leaving your doorstep to ensure that you and your friends return home unscathed.

e d u c at i o n

Smarts: Choose a route and terrain that Once you’re on the trail, is suitable for your skills and comfort what can you do to make level. sure your first aid kit stays buried in your pack? “Good Navigation Know-how: Learn how communication with your to read a map and use a compass. hiking, riding, and climbing The Right Stuff: Pack gear you have partners is key,” explains tested, you know works, and will suit Sawyer. “If you don’t talk the conditions. about an issue, then it beBack-Up: Tell someone your itinerary. comes worse and can turn Discuss what they should do if you miss into a problem.” A few other the agreed upon check-in time. ways to head off trouble:

• Stay well hydrated, fed, and rested. • Build in more time than you think you’ll need for your activity. • Use common sense. • Stick to your itinerary.

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ALL PHOTOS COUrTeSy WILDerneSS MeDICAL ASSOCIATeS

By Chris Kassar

Wilderness First Aid

m Skills

When You Need To Act

ometimes, even when you’ve done everything right, you’ll need to help someone out. “Regardless of how much care you take, you are going to run into unprepared people,” says Sawyer. “It’s a good thing to be confident in taking care of whoever you come upon.” When 911 is not an option, your brain is the best piece of equipment you have, so stay calm. In addition to training, the most important thing you can bring to a wilderness emergency is common sense, a clear head, and knowledge of the resources available to you. It will also help to follow these key steps to effectively handle any emergency: 1. Make sure the scene is safe. You don’t want to complicate matters or make a bad situation worse by creating another victim, so look and listen before approaching anyone. 2. Assess the situation. Decide if you can handle it on your own or not. Sawyer explains, “One of the biggest decisions in the woods is: “I know I can’t fix this, I need to go.” 3. Act accordingly. Do what you can, given your training and the resources available. Treat any life-threatening conditions if you know how. If you are in over your head, the best thing you can do is set things in motion to get outside help. Although we always hear about the big accidents in the news, Sawyer says that more often than not, we will encounter illness in the backcountry. “This is where training comes in. It’s easy to recognize when someone is broken, but hard to recognize when someone is sick. Minor injuries or illness can get worse if not treated appropriately, so early identification and action is important. If you don’t have the proper training, you need to get it.”

A Note on First Aid Kits We asked the experts what basics should be in every first aid kit. But, rather than list a few essentials, they told us to follow these basic principles in designing first aid kits. • Build a different kit for each activity. “Your first aid kit should be as specific as the type of shoes you wear for a particular sport,” says Sawyer. • Consider what you’re doing, where you’re going, who you’re going with, and how long you will be out. • Remove anything you don’t know how to use. • Re-pack your kit every time you re-pack your pack.

“This is where training comes in. It’s easy to recognize when someone is broken, but hard to recognize when someone is sick.”

Adventure Medical Kits Ultra Light— Watertight.7 kit. $27; adventuremedicalkits.com

Take a Class Wilderness medicine classes last anywhere from three days to a month depending on the level of training you desire. Sign up for a class with one of the following top providers: • Wilderness Medical Associates; wildmed.com • Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS; nols.edu/wmi • Stonehearth Learning Opportunities (SOLO); soloschools.com

The Bottom Line.

Although it may sound silly or seem unlikely, you could end up making a huge difference in someone’s life by using your wilderness first aid skills. “So many people underestimate the importance of first aid,” explains Sawyer. “If you are the first person on the scene and you do basic first aid, you could tremendously increase your patient’s quality of life. Your actions could mean the difference between a person ending up in a wheelchair or not remembering her kid’s names for the rest of her life and making a full recovery.” WAM • SUMMER | 2012

By Katie Levy

CrossFit: The Sport of Fitness

m Skills

CrossFit is an intense fitness program based on functional movements that are designed to mimic everyday physical goals like running, climbing, jumping, throwing, and lifting. Whether your task is to run a 5k as fast as you can or throw 100 pounds over your head as many times as you can, the goal behind CrossFit is to be prepared for anything—a perfect workout strategy for adventure athletes. speak crossfit

Important Terminology

Why You Should Try CrossFit

irst and foremost, CrossFit is a great way to get functionally fit. By practicing movements you use in everyday life, you won’t just burn calories, you’ll get stronger in a way that will translate to activities like climbing, biking, even mountaineering. For those with a short attention span, doing CrossFit means you get to try a different workout every day. And who doesn’t like a little friendly competition? As you learn, you’ll compete with yourself, with the rest of the athletes in each class, and with the clock.

Most of the WODs (workouts of the day) include a strength component. For women, lifting heavy weights can have significant health benefits when it comes to things like preventing osteoporosis and increasing lean muscle mass. If you’re still worried about weightlifting, or any part of the sport, remember that one of the most appealing things about CrossFit is the universal scalability of the workouts. Can’t do four rounds of ten pull-ups? Can’t imagine bench pressing your bodyweight? That’s okay. There are plenty of ways to scale all of the movements in CrossFit depending your individual fitness and experience level. One of the most important benefits that comes with CrossFit is the confidence you’ll build as you get stronger. You’ll advance to lifting weight you didn’t think you could lift and completing movements you didn’t think were possible. And you’ll do it with a group of hard-working, motivated friends. The community atmosphere fostered at most CrossFit affiliates is something only achievable through “shared suffering,” continuing growth, and genuine support. Plus, it’s a lot easier to get to the gym when a group of friends are there to work out with you.

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The CrossFit community preaches about the Paleo diet. Melissa Hartwig, author and founder of Whole9, says it is so prevalent in CrossFit gyms because it works. “Eating [Paleo] is ideal for maintaining a healthy metabolism and reducing inflammation within the body. It’s good for body composition, energy levels, sleep quality, and mental attitude.” Discover what else Melissa says about the Paleo diet at womensadventuremagazine.com.

If you’re eavesdropping on a conversation between two CrossFit enthusiasts, there are words you’ll hear and acronyms they’ll use that will make your head spin. Learn the list below and you’ll be practically fluent in CrossFit. Affiliate: An officially recognized CrossFit gym. Box: If you’re in the know, this is what you’ll call a CrossFit gym. WOD: (pronounced “wahd”) Short for workout of the day, either programmed by a coach or available on crossfit.com. Most CrossFit programming includes a warm-up, a strength component, then a conditioning component. MetCon: Short for metabolic conditioning, it’s a key element of CrossFit training and essentially combines strength (anaerobic) and conditioning (aerobic) components during an intense workout. It’s particularly beneficial because—unlike long, slow, “cardio” based workouts—metabolic conditioning training helps you increase strength while also increasing endurance and speed. Rep: Repetition, as in, “complete 21 reps.” Rx’d: Doing a WOD as prescribed without any adjustments or scaling. AMRAP: Short for “as many reps (or rounds) as possible.” If you see this as part of a WOD, it will usually have an assigned time frame, i.e. 10 minutes AMRAP. Tabata: A method of interval training you can apply to just about anything! Do as many reps of any exercise—push-ups, pull-ups, squats, anything—for 20 seconds with your absolute all-out maximum effort, and then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat the interval eight times for a total of four minutes.

womensadventuremagazine.com

What to Look For in a CrossFit Gym tart by visiting crossfit.com to find a licensed CrossFit affiliate, or ask a friend to recommend one for you. If you’ve never tried CrossFit before, you’ll want to find an affiliate with an On Ramp program (CrossFit intro classes) or with personal training sessions available so you can learn basic movements before you jump into a workout. Learn how to do the movements correctly and efficiently—particularly the Olympic lifts, which can do more harm than help if done incorrectly— and look for coaches who emphasize form over

Unlike typical fitness routines that focus on isolating muscles and specialized training, CrossFit

speed. Avoid over-eagerly trying to lift ambitious amounts of weight though. There’s a significant potential for injury associated with lifting too much too soon. Most affiliate websites will have bios for their coaches; be sure that coaches have at least a CrossFit Level 1 certification. It can also be helpful to work with coaches who have credentials in Olympic lifting, nutrition, and sport-specific skills like CrossFit Endurance.

Key Movements to Master Front Rack Position: The front rack is key, as it translates to a number of movements including the front squat, thruster, clean and jerk, and push jerk.

athletes practice a variety of universally valuable exercises at high intensity. This helps you improve aerobic fitness while burning a lot of calories in a short period of time. The bottom line? CrossFit will get you in shape. It’ll improve your

endurance for mountain biking, your speed for trail running, your leg strength for backpacking, and your overall fitness for any sport you’re pursuing.

JusTin Doran, Dan HersCoviTCH

Sample WODs

CrossFit is designed to push you out of your comfort zone, but on your first day, even during your first month, pay attention to the atmosphere and how the gym feels. The workouts should be intense, physically exhausting, and mentally tough, but there’s no better feeling than pushing past your preconceived limits with a group of encouraging friends. When it comes to choosing an affiliate, you want to feel comfortable with the coaches and supported by the other athletes. If it doesn’t fit you, don’t hesitate to try another affiliate.

Wall Ball Shots: Power is incredibly important in CrossFit, especially when it comes to wall ball shots. Keeping the medicine ball at chest height, spot your target on the wall, drop into a full squat and explode, pushing the ball upward.

Overhead Squat: With this movement, shoulder mobility, strong core stability, and balance are key. Warm up your shoulders before you begin. Take a wide grip on the bar, and, while it is overhead, constantly think about pulling the bar apart and make sure your arms are locked out.

Toes to Bar: The origination of movement for many CrossFit-specific exercises, including kipping toes to bar, comes from the hips. But for toes to bar, you’ll need a strong core, a strong grip, and a strong back. This exercise is an advanced version of hanging knee raises and knees to elbows, both of which can be used in place of toes to bar until you have the movement down.

Though each day will be different at your CrossFit affiliate, there are a number of benchmark WODs every CrossFit enthusiast comes to know and love. Dubbed “the girls,” these staple workouts will challenge you and can help you measure your performance over time. As you’re starting out in the sport, being able to complete them as prescribed is a great goal. You can find all of the benchmark workouts by visiting crossfit.com. • Angie: For time, complete 100 pull-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 situps, 100 squats. • Karen: For time, complete 150 wall ball shots. • Cindy: 20 minute AMRAP: 5 pull-ups, 10 pushups, 15 squats.

Bench Press: There’s a lot more to it

t than meets the eye. Lying on the bench, keep your feet flat on the floor and far apart, pull your shoulder blades together, and externally rotate your shoulders by pretending you’re trying to break the bar in half. WAM • SUMMER | 2012

A collection of the top cycling gear and apparel to get any woman feeling, looking, and riding fast—and in comfort—on the road this summer.

gear

Road Cycling Trek Lexa SL. Trek’s Heather Henderson describes the Lexa as “a lightweight, performance beauty that inspires confidence with every pedal stroke.” Designed-for-women geometry combined with female-friendly components result in a race-ready but predictpredictable and stable bike.

GORE Bike Wear POWER LADY Bibtights. Props to GORE Bike Wear for making the most functional and flattering cycling bottoms yet! These bibs are just one of our favorites from the collection. $110; gorebikewear.com

Louis Garneau W’s Kat Skirt. The inner shorts’ comfy chamois is disguised under cute coverage. $70; louisgarneau.com

The aluminum frame is outfitted with Shimano Tiagra components, a 50/34 compact crank (or a triple, if you so choose), and a carbon fork. The Trek Lexa proves well-suited for club riders and competitive racers alike. $1,210; trekbikes.com

Castelli GDP Rain Jacket. Storm-proof and stylish. Enough said. $250; castelli-cycling.com

For a casual, relaxed look but soft, natural performance, don this colorful light wool jersey. $120; ibex.com

Bontrager RL Road WSD shoe.

Hydrapak Wooly Mammoth Insulated Bottle. Like a puffy for your water, this bottle’s Primaloft Insulation packed between the double walls keeps liquids at a consistent temp. BPAand phthalate-free. $16; hydrapak.com

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Ibex Women’s Indie Freeride jersey.

Lazer Sport Helium helmet. The best-fitting and easiest-toadjust helmet we’ve tested. $230; lazersport.com

Louis Garneau Super Light jacket. The honeycomb pattern and neon trim adds attitude to this jacket’s extreme (but compact) functionality. $80; louisgarneau.com

Light, tight, and stiff (thanks to mesh panels, a super adjustable buckle, and a carbon sole), this women’s road shoe is race-ready but at a more beginnerfriendly price. $180; bontrager.com

womensadventuremagazine.com

gear

Road Cycling

Giro Monica glove.

Capo Modena Donna Knicker. A cycling capri designed well (with a very forgiving—and comfy—wasitband) and at a price we can spring for. $130; capocycling.com

Castelli Women’s Promessa Jersey. Wicking and stretchy fabric plus roadiefunctional features come together is this flattering Italian-inspired design with a just a hint of glitter. $80; castelli-cycling.com

Padding in all the right places distributes pressure comfortably; an exceptional fit provides blister- and chafe-free riding even after long hours in the saddle; and feminine details finish off this glove, making it irresistible. $39; giro.com

Giro Women’s Classic Racer Cycling Socks. Nothing says old-school class like vintage-inspired cycling socks. $13; giro.com

Icebreaker SS Viva Jersey. Featuring super light merino wool, reflective piping, and grippy details at the hem on the backside, this may be the most functional riding jersey for any season. $130; us.icebreaker.com

Specialized Women’s S-Works Road Shoe. Science backs up the fit on this lightest-weight road shoe, built for efficiency and comfort. $360; specialized.com

Louis Garneau Energy (Endurance) Gel. Smooth and tasty, this gives you the long-lasting kick you need to power through a speedy group ride! $35/box of 24; louisgarneau.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

gear

Backpacks

Wenger Onex 20L Day Pack

Ultimate Direction Grind MTB Pack Looking for a sturdy but still fairly minimal pack that can hold your biking gear while you ride? This is the pack for you. With pump and tool pockets and a perfectly molded back panel for stability, this pack boasts a 96-ounce reservoir in a streamlined design. $119.95; ultimatedirection.com

Made for all-day comfort and convenience, this pack includes gear loops for anything from trekking poles to climbing gear plus pockets for your camera and iPod. It’ll shed water and snow, holding up in the elements. With a molded back panel and a doubly cushioned waistbelt, you will certainly not feel all the weight you are truly carrying. $134.99; wengerna.com

Sierra Designs Summit Sack Perfectly small and designed to roll up for easy storage in your larger pack, this is the pack peak baggers take to the top! Water repellant with a large front pocket, this pack is just big enough to fit your food and extra layer while you trek to the summit. $49.95; sierradesigns.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

Black Diamond Onyx 65 Backpack Made only for women’s bodies, this pack is also offered as a 55L or 75L pack, all with an array of pockets, dividers, and straps plus a zippered front panel for easy organization and access. Top-loading and waterproof all over, the Onyx is great for carrying gear in unpredictable or varying conditions. The Onyx includes a pivoting hip belt for an ever-adjusting fit that allows freedom of movement as you hike and climb, transferring the weight off your back so you can climb without the pressure of normal packs! $259.95; blackdiamondequipment.com

womensadventuremagazine.com

gear

Backpacks

Kelty Rally 45 Multi-day Backpack This pack—designed to keep you cool and comfortable—is just the right size for your big summer backpacking trip. With cushiony and breathable shoulder straps plus lumbar support that will comfortably transfer the pack’s weight straight to your hips, the Rally makes the load feel lighter. Weighing in at 4 pounds, 1 ounce, this durable backpack boasts a frame built for a woman’s back and a suspension system that also suits female proportions. $174.95; kelty.com

Gregory Freia 38 Designed specifically for women, this minimalist daypack holds your gear while fitting comfortably. Including a reverse opening, waist straps, and attachment loops, you can easily store your trekking poles, climbing shoes, or a pair of sandals while you hike. $149; gregorypacks.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

gear

Camping Turn your air mattress into a high-backed chair with the Therm-a-Rest Compack Chair Kit ($49.95).

KEEN Springer Backseat Pack. A durable day pack that doubles as a camp chair—finally! This one also includes an internal sleeve for a 100-ounce reservoir or a 15-inch laptop. $100; keenfootwear.com

Jetboil Sumo Group Cooking System. This setup allows you to cook faster and save fuel, in cold or hot environments. Add a three-piece Companion Bowl Set for $20 and a CrunchIt butane canister recycling tool for $6 to complete the system. $130; jetboil.com

Perky Jerky. Low-fat, low-carb, and low-calorie, a whole bag of turkey jerky is fewer calories than a 100calorie snack pack, $2.99; perkyjerky.com

UCO Long-Burn Matches. Starting a nice fire shouldn’t be any tricker than necessary. These matches will burn for up to one minute, five times longer than regular matches. $2.49; industrialrev.com

Liquid Solution Bio Cup. True Fusion —a new line of BPA-free drink ware comprised of bio-degradable and recyclable materials including bamboo, corn, and rice—is 100% biodegradable and will biodegrade within one year of being placed in a compost bin, yet is durable and dishwashersafe. Plus, the cups come in a variety of colors. $10 (7-ounce 4 pack), $11 (15-ounce 4 pack). liquid-solutions.com

Kelty LumaSpot Rhythm. This camping lantern also plays music from your phone or iPod. It illuminates with white or col colored light, doubles as a 160-lumen spotlight, and is the light of the party at any campsite, thanks to the colored LEDs you can set to disco mode in sync with your jams. $64; kelty.com

Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof Concentrate. Dilute and spray, brush, or sponge on your tent, packs, or duffle bags to block UV-rays that break down your gear. It also revives water-repellency and, overall, doubles the life of your gear. $13 (150ml pouch); nikwax-usa.com

GSI Outdoors Wine Glass Gift Set. Sneak your wine into the backcountry, a music festival, or your postendurance race campsite with this neoprene wine tote that stores the included wine carafe. Another zippered pocket holds two Nesting Wine Glasses. $40; gsioutdoors.com

GSI Outdoors Titanium Kung Foon spork. $17; gsioutdoors.com

GoalZero Guide 10 Plus Mobile Kit. Working in conjuction with the Nomad 3.5 (a 3.5-watt mono-crystalline folding solar panel), the Guide 10 charges handheld electronics and AA or AAA batteries in three to four hours. $129; goalzero.com

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

womensadventuremagazine.com

gear

Camping

Therm-aRest NeoAir Jembe Seat Kit. Working with your camp mattress, this 3.8-ounce punctureresistant stool mimics a stump for sitting on while telling campfire tales. $40; cascadedesigns.com

Platypus GravityWorks Filter System. Using natural forces, this durable filter cleans four liters of water in two and a half minutes but also stores up to eight liters of fresh, clean water handily for whenever you need it. $110; cascadedesigns.com

Easton Mountain Products Hat Trick 2P. Goes up in two-minutes flat (I’d know. I’ve done it in wind, rain and pitch-black darkness), is super lightweight, and packs neatly. With large doors, protective vestibules, and a gear loft— not to mention a canopy and rain fly—it has all the bells and whistles without paying the price in weight. Plus, it’s the roomiest two-person tent we’ve ever enjoyed so there’s plenty of room for gear on bigger outings and maybe a tiny kiddo when car camping. $525; eastonmountainproducts.com

Stoic Somnus 30-degree down sleeping bag. Durable and light-

Princeton Tec Bot and Byte. Small but mighty, the Bot LED headlamp for kids ($10) is great on night hikes. The Byte is for grown-ups. They also offer a custom headlamp program so you can create a one-of-a-kind design for their Fuel ($35) or Remix ($45) styles. Visit spectrum.princetontec.com

The DivaCup. Because who wants to cart around tampons in the woods? The DivaCup offers 12 hours of leak-free protection and is re-useable. $40; divacup.com

weight, simple yet fully loaded—the Somnus is our new go-to for summer camping and backpacking. Compressible 850-fill down insulation in vertical torso baffles keeps you cozy, while a front center zipper prevents you from getting twisted up or trapped in the bag. It’s made even better thanks to the foot water bottle pocket and Pertex Quantum shell fabric that adds extra durability. Also available as a 15° F bag. $299; backcountry.com

MSR NeoAir Xlite. You’ll be hard pressed to find a camping mattress lighter and warmer than this sup supportive and comfy one. It comes with a repair kit, so you oughtn’t worry about being stranded with a useless mattress in the backcountry. $160; cascadedesigns.com/msr

Blizzard Survival Sleeping Bag. REI Women’s Serrana. Wiggle room, a women’s fit, and an 18.7° F temperature rating. $239; rei.com

Keep this on-hand in case a lost hiker wanders into your campsite. Or in case you ever become that lost hiker. $40; blizzardsurvival.com WAM • SUMMER | 2012

gear

Staff Picks

thinkThin Bars

Po Campo Six Corners Wristlet and Logan Tote Finally, a bike bag with some personality! Maria Boustead, owner of Chicago’s Po Campo, has been making beautiful bike-compatible handbags since 2009. Spring 2012 sees some fresh new fabric choices for the Po Campo collection—cute sunny yellow and minty green botanical prints, in addition to their subtle brown-waxed canvas versions. I got to try out the Six Corners Wristlet—big enough for a wallet and a few necessary items—and the generous-sized, redesigned Logan Tote—large enough for a 13-inch laptop and maybe even a change of clothes. All the sturdy, flexible connecting straps are cleverly integrated in the visual design of the bag and secure to handlebars, rear racks, even top tubes, with an easy D-ring and clip system. Both bags

are vegan and feature plenty of inside pockets for securing small items and all the fabric choices are water- and fade-resistant. Why I like it: Utility without bike-geekiness. If you didn’t watch me strap it on to my bike, you’d never know it was a bike bag. On the bike, it’s adorable. Off the bike, it’s adorable. These bags are steel magnolias—beautiful and tough. As a year-round bicycle commuter living in Chicago, I’ve owned many, many bike bags, almost all of them black and boring. I’m tickled pink that I can join my Sunday morning coffee ride with a bag I actually want to carry around on the street. Thank you, Maria Boustead! Logan Tote $94.50, coated poly prints, $98.00; Four Corners Wristlet $52.50; pocampo.com —Susan Hayse

Trek Bontrager Turbo Charger WSD pump Oh, so simple to use— slide the valve right over the top of a Presta or Schrader stem, pull the lever up to lock it in place, and start pumping. It has a nice wide base for stability, a raised gauge for easy viewing, and pumps up to 160 psi (wow!). And it even comes with a needle to pump up your basketball. $80; trekbikes.com —Mira Perrizo

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With more than a dozen flavors these treats are just that—real treats! These “weight management bars” are packed with protein, have no sugar, and are blissfully gluten-free, with all natural ingredients.“I discovered them nine months ago and have had one almost every day since then. They help stave off afternoon hunger pangs and satisfy my sweet tooth, despite their 0 grams of sugar. I don’t allow sugar into my diet and exercise routine in general, but I have been stricter lately and lost 20 pounds so I feel great when I run. Now, if I could only combat that arthritis in my toes…” $1.69 per bar; thinkproducts.com —Linda Doyle

Pearl Izumi W Peak II trail racing shoe

Topeak MTX Beam Rack I did not want to put a fixed rack on any of my bikes, but I do want to commute. I hate getting sweaty with a backpack, though, so looked to Topeak for a solution. The sturdy and simple-to-use quick release clamp mount on this rack allows me to easily attach it to the seat post and slide on the MTX Office Bag, which holds my laptop, papers, and lunch. $60; BAG $130; topeak.com —Sue Sheerin

The tiny Colorado flag accenting the tongue and constraining the laces on these stiff-lugged, no-fluff trail racing shoes caught my eye first. But when I laced them up, their sturdy yet minimalist construction proved their value, offering me the cushion and protection I need on rugged and hilly trails. A toe cap and forefoot protection plate work to ensure I won’t tear up my feet on spiny rocks plus add durability. Seams [in my socks and shoes] often get the best of me, as I would almost rather run with a sprained ankle than a chaffed toe. So, I pair these seam-free interior trail shoes with some seamless merino socks for a fit I enjoy for hours at a time on-trail. $120; pearlizumi.com —Jennifer Olson

womensadventuremagazine.com

gear

Staff Picks

KEEN Brooklyn II Travel Bag So many pockets! The interior easily organizes trip necessities—passport, boarding pass, wallet, and Women’s Adventure magazine—making the Keen Brooklyn YN II Travel Bag an explorer’s best friend. The fabric is very durable, made of recycled aluminum components, and comes in several colors. An adjustable shoulder strap can be either worn over the shoulder or across the body. I can’t wait to take this on my summer trip to France. I will be stylish as well as safe and organized! $60; keenfootwear.com —Rebecca Finkel

Mountainsmith K-9 Dog Bed and Bowl Scooter, my elderly Golden Retriever, snoozes in luxury and stays well-hydrated on the trail now. $60; mountainsmith.com —Lisa Sinclair

Carhartt Women’s Waterproof Breathable Jacket Finally, Carhartt came out with a women’s outerwear line using its age-trusted sturdy material. This lightweight and versatile rain jacket is perfect for any season. The burly nylon fabric treated with a waterproof breathable finish is sure to keep you dry and at a comfortable temperature, no matter what conditions you’re in. With versatility in the hood, a drawcord at the hem, and a burly, pocketed design, it’s not only a functional but also a good-lookin’ jacket. As soon as I put on my cute Carhartt rain jacket, I fell in love. It suits me well for both my adventures and for day-to-day wear. I love that I can just remove the hood when the sun is shining and quickly replace it when the monsoon clouds roll in! $140; carhartt.com —Jill C. Wigand

Skirt Sports Adventure Girl Skirt The Adventure Girl reminds me of my childhood days when my mother made me wear shorts under my skirts. It allowed me freedom to pursue my tumbling tomboy actions no matter where or what I wore. Perhaps this dual-purpose quality is why I love wearing skorts now. The Adventure Girl skirt is appealing for the lightweight, breathable but utterly un-destroyable fabric and the stretchy inner shorts. While running and hiking, I was pleased with the “stay put compression” (no riding up!) of the shorts. The shorts have a small pocket on each leg, while the skirt features a draw-cord waist. Its hidden zipper pocket is big enough for keys or an iPod plus includes a Music Portal for headphone cords to pass through. $70; skirtsports.com —Gigi Ragland

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

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Partners

turn your passion into your profession Join Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition at these events and network with peers in the outdoor industries.

The Breast Cancer Fund is working to protect you and the environment you play in from toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer. Together we can stop this disease before it starts.

www.oiwc.org

June 13 Portland & Salt Lake City

special thanks to:

June 26 Bay Area, Boulder,

Prevention Starts Here.

Northeast & Seattle

www.breastcancerfund.org

Oct 11

Boulder/Denver, Northeast

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SUMMIT FOR SOMEONE

™

JOIN US AND CLIMB THE PEAK OF YOUR DREAMS!

This is the year to live your dreams while making a difference. Your Summit for Someone climb instills critical life skills in underserved urban youth through Big City Mountaineers wilderness mentoring expeditions. Beginner or advanced, take your pick of 11 epic peaks, a professionally guided climb, and a mountain of free gear. Top Climbs include: - Mt. Rainier - Grand Teton - Kilimanjaro

P r e s e n t s o u r a n n u a l

Climb for Life

2012 s e r i e s

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MENTORING URBAN YOUTH OUTDOORS

SUMMITFORSOMEONE.ORG 303.271.9200

Learn more about BCM at bigcitymountaineers.org

June 22-23 July 14-15 September 14-16 April 2013

6th Annual Climb4Life Colorado – Boulder, CO 7th Annual Climb4Life DC – Washington, DC 11th Annual Climb4Life Utah – Salt Lake City, UT Climb4Life Boston – Boston, MA

We climb. We hike. We fight ovarian cancer one step at a time.

www.herafoundation.org

SFS climbs are conducted by AMGA certified guides with permits and approval of their respective land management agencies. ©2011 BCM. All rights reserved. Summit for SomeoneTM is a fundraising program owned by and to benefit Big City Mountaineers.

WAM • SUMMER | 2012

It’s Personal

Screwed Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites By Camrin Dengel

e were thinking you’d be the one to hitchhike. You’ll probably get picked up quicker than us.” I looked over at Matt and Rowan, the two guys pulling on their drysuits, both muscly fellas I met freshman year of college. I smiled and knew they were right. Matt looked over at me and asked, “Do you find that to be an advantage?” “What? Being a woman?” I laughed. “Well, yeah,” he said, hesitating.

I’d experienced my fair share of chivalry, even as a river guide in Alaska. When it wasn’t chivalry, it was simply men underestimating my ability as a woman to lift beefy double kayaks or unscrew tight lids on thermoses. But these guys weren’t that way. They respected me but didn’t feel the need for gentlemanliness, knowing it wouldn’t get anyone anywhere on a swollen river, chock full of debris. We joked over stories while we prepped our boats and pulled gear out of my car. After heading to the takeout, it took me all of two seconds to hitch a ride back to meet the boys. Less baggage? Less threatening? For whatever reason, I did hitch a ride more quickly. I don’t know why, and I don’t really care. The river was pumping. We were dropping into a run that is class three at lower flows. Today we were running it at 15,000 CFS and it was easily class four, maybe even four plus in one place, which was a new challenge for the three of us and more than a little out of our comfort zone. Rocks that were usually markers of familiar rapids were completely underwater, and logs bigger than our kayaks were charging down in abundance.

My arms struggled to do the move. They weren’t working. I tried a few more times, closer. I was running out of my keep cool attitude and I was running out of air. I gave it another go. No dice! One more time and I inhaled … a few inches below the surface. I began to panic feeling the water invade my body. Abort! I pulled my spray skirt, flooding my boat with water and breaking my safe, dry seal that keeps me secure and inside my kayak. I kicked my way to the surface, sputtering and coughing, my head came above the water. I struggled to breathe as Matt yelled to me. The waves curled back and dunked my head under, forcing more water into my mouth. I’m a good swimmer. I’m a great swimmer! But I couldn’t get anywhere. Somehow I found the back of Rowan’s boat and he helped me get to shore. Standing up, shaky and nervous, I watched my friends head downriver chasing my boat. The current was so quick that it wasn’t long before they were out of sight. I stood there stunned and began to crawl down the river through the trees and pokey vines in hopes of seeing them eddied out below. What seemed like half an hour later, the guys showed up on the road above the other side of the river. They cupped their hands around their mouths and yelled over the roaring whitewater. They had bailed on my boat when Rowan had nearly swam himself on one of the rapids farther down. I knew the current was too strong for me to swim across, and I felt helpless and embarrassed. It wasn’t long before a few more cars showed up and pretty soon the sheriff and some deputies, and river rangers: a group of men, arms crossed, staring over at me. I felt myself curl inward; I didn’t want to be the damsel in distress! I could see Matt and Rowan explaining the situation to the river rangers and sheriff, eventually forming a plan. The guys would later tell me they were asked if it was a female across the river, their quick and full of attitude response was, “Yes! And she’s solid! She’s totally capable and fit!” It was apparent to them that it could have been any one of us over there. Two hours later a raft arrived from upstream and I climbed in next to three more men. They smiled at me and assured me that this wasn’t the first time and that they themselves had lost boats on this river. As I crawled up the rocks to the road, the guys wrapped their arms around me with big hugs and Matt peeled a tick off of the side of my face. A few hours later, after we’d thanked the rangers thoroughly, we headed home, with one less boat on the roof of my car. I am a girl and at times love a good dose of chivalry, but I am not a damsel! I can hold my own and, as a woman in the outdoor world, I know that Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites. When you climb into your boat, tie in your figure eight, or click into your skis, there isn’t any chivalry involved—just toughness, resilience, passion, and grit. n

WAM • SUMMER | 2011

womensadventuremagazine.com

Camrin Dengel

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The three of us made it through the first few rapids, nailing our rolls, dodging hefty logs, and sticking together. We pulled into a pocket of slower moving water on the side of the river (what kayakers refer to as eddying out) just above “the slot,” which today was no longer a slot, but a massive wave that looked like it could break your boat in two. I watched as the wave tossed my friends ahead of me. We made it through, and I a let out a loud “Woot!” as Matt twirled his hand over his head signaling us to eddy out. We found a calmer spot and as I pulled into the eddy line, I over-braced, sending myself underwater. Don’t panic. Roll.

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