It has been 30 years since my best friend, climbing buddy and amazing outdoor leader extraordinaire died on a tragic winter climbing ascent in the North Cascades. I have carried Kathy Phibbs in my heart and through my work as an outdoor professional supporting women and girls in the outdoors in celebrating being spunky, brave and curious. Miss Dish Lives On! For more information on Kathy and her legacy, click here: https://www.opb.org/news/article/mothers-day-climb-mount-st-helens-kathy-phibbs/ —— Kathy Phibbs was a prolific and talented writer. Here’s a piece she wrote to me just before…
Category: Women and Girls Outdoors
All topics related to women and girls adventuring outdoors in the mountains and ocean.
Gorge Downwind Championships: Highest Female Race Participation on the Globe
On race day this year, westerly winds howled up to 30-35 mph, churning up frothy waves on the Columbia River Gorge. Perfect conditions for the 2018 Gorge Downwind Championships, a 13 mile paddle race, attracting over 750 racers, including top notch elite athletes from around the world. A ride, it was, flying eastward along fast moving wind waves from Home Valley to Hood River. As I surfed my outrigger canoe, I scanned ahead for the next set of waves to drop into for the next ride while I kept my…
California 100 – Going the Ultradistance
Below is an article I wrote, published in Sea Kayaker Magazine in October 2013. This 100 mile paddle race, will be hosted again in 2019 under a new name, the California River Quest. For me, the past five years have been a huge learning curve in training for paddle endurance races. The keys to improvement and progress are to be consistent, set goals and keep it fun. Introduction The California 100, California’s first paddle sport ultramarathon, is a 100-mile paddling race on the Sacramento River from Redding to a takeout…
Motivation Tips for an Active Life
Today, a good friend who wants to be more active, asked me, “how do you stay motivated with training?”I responded with this reflection. Five years ago, you would not have found me rising by 5:30am to get an early morning work out before going to work. I would do it later in the day and sometimes skip it because I was too tired after work. Now I do get up early and prioritize my workout that I regard as self care. Currently, almost everyday, I start my day with either…
Adventures Beyond Cookies: Crumbling the Girl Scout Stereotype
“In the late 1960s, as a school-age girl and tomboy, my experience with Girl Scouts was short lived. My troop leader was interested in teaching us crochet and macaroni art when I wanted to get outdoors, camp, hike, and do what the boys were doing. I was seeking “something with a little swagger in it.” I crossed the bridge from Brownies to Cadets to never return until surprisingly, decades later, after having pursued a long career in outdoor adventure education. In 2011, I arrived at Girl Scouts of Northern California…
Girl Scout Adventures-Bold Not Bossy-part 1
My Girl Scouts are bad-ass backpackers who are motivated, skilled and a high functional group. I met my Scouts at the Chilnuaina Falls trailhead to begin an eight day trip to Chain Lakes, an alpine basin located in the SW corner of Yosemite National Park in July. This Backpack Interest Group is a year round, girl led and volunteer adult supported backpacking program. Once a month, throughout the year, they go backpacking to build their outdoor skills and fitness, preparing them for their summer expedition, “The Miler”. Every summer, I…