Adventurous Women Blog

Check out Our New Look!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Adventurous Women Blog has had a makeover! If you're used to visiting us through an RSS feed or if you bookmarked our looong Blogger address, you're missing the new stuff. Click on over to our blog on The League of Adventurous Women website or visit us here:

http://www.leagueofadventurouswomen.org

See you real soon!

We're Getting a New Look!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:43:00 +0000

We're excited to announce that the Adventurous Women Blog is getting a make over. In the next few days we'll unveil a brand new look and some fresh new features.

Stay tuned!

My Interview with Stacy Allison

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

By Shannon Goff

This past week I conducted my first adventurous-women interview. To make things more nerve-racking, the woman I interviewed was the amazingly accomplished Stacy Allison: the first American woman to successfully summit Mt. Everest and Russia’s Pik Communism. Other than climbing many notable mountain ranges, she is also an accomplished mother of two, published author, president of Stacy Allison General Contracting, and Chairperson for The Oregon Lung Association’s largest fundraiser Climb for Clean Air. Needless to say, I was anxious as I called to interview her on Monday morning.

However, as she picked up the phone and we began speaking, my nerves melted away. Once we started talking I also found out she is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. When I mentioned she was my first interview and that I was a little intimidated, she laughed, congratulated me and proclaimed that she “was honored.” Beaming and becoming way more at ease, we delved into the interview, which was filled with giggles and funny stories.

Me: You began major alpine climbing at the age of 21, which is how old I am, and that definitely encourages me to get off the couch and do more. It also makes me wonder what encouraged you to start climbing?
Stacy Allison: So I began climbing, and it was a fluke, a total fluke. Another student in the dorm, actually the RA, put a notice on the bulletin board that he was going to Zion National Park over Spring Break, and he was just looking for someone to share gas money with. So a friend of mine, Evelyn Lees, who is a phenomenal climber, and I thought it would just be a great adventure. We went down to Zion National Park and he taught us the very basics of climbing and that was it. That’s when I knew that this was what I was meant to do. I had no idea people could climb sheer rock cliffs. I grew up in Oregon, and we skied on Mt. Hood every weekend, so I knew people obviously climbed Mt. Hood and I thought, ‘One day I’ll climb Mt. Hood,’ but I just didn’t know. With that said this was a long time ago – 1977 – and there wasn’t that much rock climbing going on.

Me: How did you prepare or what kind of training did you complete in order to successfully reach the top of your first mountain, Alaska's Mt. McKinley?
Stacy Allison: Well, actually that wasn’t my first mountain. I started rock climbing, and then the first mountain was a winter blizzard ascent of a very small mountain here in Oregon, Mt. Washington. Again, it was my friend Evelyn and I, and we went with two guys who had been climbing for 10 years. So they had the experience, but it was ice climbing mixed with rock climbing mixed with snow climbing. And it was awful, (laughs) it was a blizzard, it was freezing. My hands got so cold – you know how when your hands get so cold and then warmed up and it causes severe pain, have you ever experienced that? You just want to cry, (laughs) and I did (laughs). We had to cross country ski to the mountain and then obviously ski back out. I was so exhausted I felt like if I fell over, I would never get up. What that experience taught me is that I had what it took- this was a conscious thought process- I can just keep going, and going and going and move beyond what I thought I was physically ever capable of doing. I actually progressed really quickly because my friends were experienced climbers who had been climbing for years. After that I did small peaks in the northwest and then went to Alaska and climbed some other peaks, and then climbed in Canada and then, then I climbed Mt. McKinley. But I had to learn the skills and, speaking of which, I never really allowed myself to dream bigger than the skills that I had. So, I had to learn the ice climbing skills, the rock climbing skills, the snow climbing skills in order to say, “If I can do this why can’t I do that?” When I climbed McKinley we actually did one of the hardest routes on the mountain. But that was after a lot of failures and a lot of not making it to the top of mountains and having to take a good hard look at myself and say, “If I want to climb these hard routes, these big mountains, what do I need to do?” Obviously it was getting in better shape and working on my skills. Just to let you know, when I stood on top of McKinley after doing this incredibly difficult route, I sat up there and I thought, ‘if I can climb McKinley, well why not Everest?’ I was so embarrassed by that thought. I actually remember looking at my climbing partner, hoping that he couldn’t read my mind because it was like who do I think I am, to think that I can ever climb Everest? Sometimes, we give up on our dreams not because of ourselves, but because of what we think others may think of us. So I kind of just tucked that thought away in the back of my head. However, after McKinley, I actually did go to Nepal to climb with a women’s expedition. We were the first women to climb Ama Dablam, Nepal’s Matterhorn.

Me: How do you pick which mountain ranges and peaks you want to climb?Stacy Allison: I look at a mountain and the beauty of the mountain is what inspires me. It’s like I want to climb on this mountain, I want to be a part of this mountain for however many weeks it takes, or days it takes, or hours it takes. You don’t conquer mountains, you work with the mountain.

Me: So you've bested many different peaks and ranges and you're the first American woman to conquer both Pik Communism and Mt. Everest. These are all insanely incredible accomplishments, but in your opinion what is your biggest accomplishment so far in your lifetime?
Stacy Allison: (laughs) Well you’re not there yet, but any parent will tell you that the biggest accomplishment is getting their kids out of high school, and into college and then hopefully giving them the foundation to be happy, healthy, productive citizens. I-I haven’t accomplished that yet, but that is my goal right now, [with] a sophomore in college and a senior in high school.

Me: I know that you’re an author and a mother of two; how do you find balance between the demands of motherhood, achieving your climbing goals, and also being a writer? I feel like I would be so overwhelmed but you seem to achieve everything flawlessly.
Stacy Allison: It’s not flawless, and if anyone ever tells you there’s balance,
there is no balance. You have to pick and choose and timing is everything. I stopped climbing big, dangerous mountains when my kids were born. First of all, having children is a conscious decision, it’s a huge responsibility and my children need me alive, and they need me present. When you’re climbing these big mountains for example, you’re gone for a month, two months, sometimes three months at a time, and that’s no way to raise a family. During these past years, and from when they were born up until they graduate from high school- it’s not about me. It’s been about raising my two sons. I will say, in light of that, I still climb. I don’t do big dangerous mountains, but I still climb, and rock climb. My kids love to rock climb. As a family we white water raft and kayak, we mountain bike ride and we travel extensively. We try to leave, it’s a little different now, but we try to leave the country at least once a year, if not twice a year, and we travel to developing countries. So, traveling is something that’s very, very important to me so my kids have traveled very extensively. I also run and I do marathons and half marathons. Now that my kids are older I actually spent 3 weeks climbing on the border of Canada and Alaska this past summer.

Me: Well, knowing how dangerous climbing is would you endorse your kids following in your footsteps? Or would you tell them no way you’re not doing it?
Stacy Allison: Well let me just tell you they have absolutely no interest in following in my footsteps (laughs).

Me: Oh well then you don’t have to worry about it.
Stacy Allison: Well it is interesting because, my older son, this last summer (my younger son had shoulder surgery so he could not go with us) but my older son and I, just the two of us, went on a white water kayak trip. I found myself really watching over him, and tried to just keep my mouth shut and let him do what he needed to do, but I’ve been a little mother hen at times. When we’ve been on river trips, and mountain biking I’ve been known to, be the first one going downhill, telling my sons they must stay behind me. I’m very slow going downhill! You know he can go as fast as he wants up hill, but downhill...we do single track mountain biking. It’s like ‘you have to stay behind me’ because I get so nervous. That’s one thing I struggle with because I know what the dangers are in all these sports, and I’ve had friends who have died in just about every activity. But, whatever my children [want to do], as long as it’s healthy, I will work very hard to zip my lip and support them in their choices.

Me: I would like to know what caused you to become interested in general contracting and how was the transition for you between crazy adventures and expeditions to owning and operating your own company?
Stacy Allison: My first husband was a builder and architect and that’s when I was introduced, at a very young age, to building, and I really like it. I don’t do new construction; I do all historical renovations and restorations on old houses. I love older architecture. My job is to bring houses back to life. I’ll tell you the biggest thing, and it’s not that climbing taught me this, it was my mother who taught me this: to take risks, and I’m not afraid to take risks and to fail and fall flat on my face. And I have done that. I’ve been totally humiliated before. But the key is to be able to go ahead and cry about it and then pick yourself back up and learn what you need to do so it doesn’t happen again. I’m very comfortable taking risks, and I’m not talking about taking physical risks. I mean emotional, and mental, and risking starting a business.

Me: So I know you also serve as a Chair for the American Lung Association of Oregon's largest fundraiser, Climb for Clean Air - would you like to tell a little bit more about the fundraiser and all that it entails?
Stacy Allison: It’s the Mountain Pacific Chapter of the American Lung Association, our fundraiser is Climb for Clean Air, and we include Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams in Washington, and Mt. Hood in Oregon. Our participants sign up for one of those three mountains and then have to raise a certain amount of money in order to participate. What’s great about this program is we take them through and help them with their fundraising. We have training hikes starting in February every single weekend in order help them to get into shape. We help them prepare every step of the way. Many of our climbers have never hiked in their lives and most of them have never climbed anything. We hire guides to lead the climbs safely, and we help our participants in achieving their goal. The reason I got involved and have been involved since its inception is because it’s a chance for me to give back to the community and use my skills. It’s really wonderful also for our participants because it’s a way for them to give back to the community and also do something healthy with their lives. Moreover, with the Lung Association, the educational aspects and the policy aspects of the organization are what I really support.

Me: As we bring this interview to a close, do you have any advice for young women who are aspiring adventurers or are currently trying to chase their goals and dreams?
Stacy Allison: Don’t be afraid to fail. Embrace failure and learn from it. Pick yourself back up and try again or figure out what you want to do. Once you can embrace failure you can embrace taking risk in your lives. People need to figure out what is important to them and not be so concerned with what everyone else wants and is doing. Once you figure that out, that’s what brings happiness. At this point in my life, I don’t have time to impress people, take it or leave it. Life’s too dang short. You gotta have fun. You gotta LAUGH!

Seven Most Inspiring Olympic Women

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

By Shannon Goff

In honor of the 2014 Olympics at Sochi, I’ve listed seven women I found most inspiring throughout the Games. These women have proven to be outstanding athletes, competitors, and humanitarians and they are the embodiment of the Olympic spirit.

7. Svetlana Zhurova, Russia, Mayor of the Mountain Olympic Village

Russian speed skating champion and former Olympian, Sveltana Zhurova was more than enthusiastic about being Mayor of the Mountain Olympic Village. There are three Olympic Villages for the 2014 Sochi Games: the Coastal Village for athletes competing at indoor events, the Endurance Village for athletes competing in cross-country and biathlon, and the Mountain Village, the largest of the three, for athletes competing in all other mountain events. Each village is its own little community, complete with shops, dining areas, laundry services, fitness centers, a library, relaxation areas, a religious center, banking services, and health clinics. Zhurova, a four-time Olympian and 2006 gold-medal winner, took a lot of experience into her new position. She knew what athletes want and she planned to give them all that she could. She has dedicated her time, talents, and efforts and has said that serving has given her an opportunity to remember and relive the experiences she had during her time as an Olympian.

6. and 5. Lanny and Tracy Barnes, USA, Biathlon Women’s Individual

Earlier this year, Tracy Barnes qualified for a place on the US Olympic team, but her sister Lanny, a former Olympic biathlete, missed her opportunity due to illness. However, Tracy recognized that her sister had been in better form throughout the season and sacrificed her own spot on the team to Lanny. These two biathletes, and twin sisters, were awarded Fair Play awards by the International Fair Play Committee for acts of undoubted selflessness.

4. Eva Samkova, Czech Republic, Women’s Snowboard Cross

Eva Samkova won the women’s snowboard cross gold medal but what stands out is her carefree attitude and her funny good luck charm. Before every race, Samkova paints a moustache on her face for luck, which may have helped her beat Canadian Dominique Maltais, who was ranked number one in the world. Samkova started using this superstitious ‘stache in 2011 at her first World Championships in La Molina where she came in fifth--her best result at that time. She decided to keep using the moustache, and in Sochi she was ranked number one after the time trials. She then led from start to finish in all three final races, proving that her “silly” habit may not be so silly after all.

3. Julia Lipnitskaia, Russia, Women’s Figure Skating

It goes without saying that 15-year-old Lipnitskaia is an impressive competitor; she is also the youngest Olympic gold medalist in women’s figure skating history. Beginning training at the age of four, she has won countless competitions and became the youngest woman to win the European championships in January. At Sochi 2014, she won both the short and long women’s program and received the gold for Russia’s figure skating inaugural team event. Lipnitskaia has been given Russia’s highest sporting tribute, the Honored Master of Sports award.

2. Lydia Lassila, Australia, Freestyle Skiing Women’s Aerials

You may have heard about Lydia Lassila’s amazing feat during women’s aerials. Lassila, one of the world’s top aerials specialists and a reigning Olympic champion, was trailing rival, Alla Tsuper of Belarus. Tsuper pulled off a breath-taking triple-twisting triple somersault and earned an impressive score. Knowing she needed to pull out all the stops to beat Tsuper, Lassila attempted something that has never been successfully completed by a female aerial skier: the quad-twisting triple somersault. She completed a full-twisting somersault, then a double-twisting somersault, and finished with another single-twisting somersault in the air but lost her balance on earth and landed on her back, which, cost her points and the coveted prize. What’s so inspiring is that she stood up smiling and blowing kisses to the crowd, then embraced her rival, Tsuper, who did win the gold. For Lassila, the loss didn’t matter as much as the audacious arial accomplishment that will be part of Olympic history. She later revealed that she’s wanted to try that trick for 15 years and finally got her chance in the super final. Lassila pushed the limits and her big risk paid off personally as she becomes a role model for the next generation of women aerial athletes.

1. Noelle Pikus-Pace, USA, Skeleton Women

Noelle Pikus-Pace has endured her share of disappoint and bad luck as an Olympian. She was favored to win gold at the 2006 Turin Games, but a bobsled accident shattered her leg, forcing her to withdraw from competition. During the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, she made a mistake that cost her a tenth of a second and the bronze medal. The event crushed her spirit and left her in tears after the race. Two years ago she miscarried at 18 weeks during her third pregnancy. Saying she had a rough decade would be an understatement. However, her husband, Janson Pace, convinced her to return to the bobsled track after the miscarriage, knowing it was what she needed to pull through. Noelle didn’t want to leave the family but the two compromised: the family went on tour together and Noelle got back in the game. Despite vision problems and a slight case of vertigo, this bobsledding wonder woman finished second in Sochi this year, winning the Silver Medal, as well as the hearts of the crowd who know her story.

7th Annual World Sword Swallower's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 19:47:00 +0000

Today is World Sword Swallower's Day and there are events happening around the globe! Click here for more information. If you're a sword swallowing fan you'll be happy to know this is an annual event co-sponsored by Sword Swallowers Association International and Ripley's Believe it or Not! in conjunction with National Swallowing Disorders Month.

Every Adventure Counts, No Matter How Small

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Commentary from guest blogger Shannon Goff

When I was fifteen I was always down to try exciting new things and go out of my comfort zone to find whatever thrills I could. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina, so challenging myself and exploring new things was the only way I could get over the boredom and monotony of my rural upbringing. One day my friend Donnie asked if I wanted to go ride some mountain bike trails in our local park and I eagerly agreed to go. Little did I know it was going to be one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.

My dad dropped my bike and I off and I joined Donnie, helmet in hand, to set out on the rough terrain of the closest trail. I had been riding bicycles since I was five or six so I wasn’t scared and felt more than up to the challenge of trying out mountain biking for the first time. We started pedaling and within ten minutes disaster struck. I found myself taking a sharp turn down a rough trail riddled with trees and gnarled roots. Suddenly, I lost control of my bike and began picking up a scary amount of speed. I was paralyzed with fear, thinking, “this is it, I’m going to drive my bike off the side of this hill and die.” In a snap subconscious decision that must have been pure reflex, I turned my handlebars and ran straight into a huge oak tree to stop myself. Ouch. It took me a minute to realize what was going on around me. I was on my back, looking up, shocked and confused. From a distance I could hear my friend Donnie shouting expletives and running down beside me to pick me up off the ground. But he stopped short as I sat up. I looked down and saw why – blood was pouring from my face. The helmet probably would have protected my head but it couldn’t have prevented me from smacking the bottom of my chin into the rough bark of the tree. It didn’t hurt until I touched it and realized what was happening. I immediately started freaking out and going into hysterics. I called my dad who was still close by and we sped off to the closest Urgent Care. He handed me a Veggie Tales towel, unfortunately the only thing in the car that we had to stop the bleeding, and finally said, “I hope you didn’t break any teeth, we paid a lot for those braces you just got off.” Wow, thanks dad, so sympathetic.

Turns out I hit so hard that I tore the skin and muscle all the way to my jaw bone. I ended up getting two stitches to repair the muscle underneath and five stitches to sew up the surface. Moreover, I hit so hard that I ended up receiving treatment from a chiropractor a couple years later who said the impact caused my neck and spine to drastically shift out of place and claimed that by looking at my x-ray one would think that my neck “was on backwards.” Needless to say, I never again rode a bike. That is, until a few days ago.

Since my senior semester has just started, I have very little time to go on an adventure unless it’s something local. With the cold weather, my options are even more limited. So, I decided a big adventure and huge milestone in my young adult life would be facing my fears and getting back on a bike for the first time in six years.

Early one morning before my afternoon class, I borrowed my roommate’s bike (and helmet) and shakily started pedaling down the street. I imagine I looked similar to a baby giraffe trying to ride a unicycle. It was a rough start. I gradually started picking up speed and confidence. I kept telling myself, “I’m 21 years old, I’m an adult and this is a bicycle, stop being silly, I’ve got this.” It wasn’t long before my fears started slipping away and I was riding like I used to pre-accident. With every push of the pedal I could feel my body and mind becoming stronger. My heartbeat, pulse, and happiness increased and I ended up losing myself and riding for two hours – much longer than I could have ever imagined.

Obviously this isn’t what many people would consider an exciting and life-changing adventure, but by facing my fears and doing something as simple as riding a bicycle I realized things that I had definitely forgotten. I had lost the feeling of empowerment that challenging oneself can bring. Before my bike ride I felt afraid, nervous, and silly. Afterward, I was more confident and mentally and physically stronger. It was absolutely incredible. This was a small-scale adventure but a huge risk and challenge for me, and the first step to opening my mind to larger explorations.

Next up, skydiving.

The Importance of Adventure in Society

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Commentary from guest blogger Shannon Goff

When I was a child, all I did was run outside and climb my grandmother’s weeping willow or huge apple tree. My friends and I spent every minute we could out of the house, and we thought it was just wild to run through the woods and play hide and seek for hours and hours in the yard. The thing is, these memories are the ones where I remember being truly happy and carefree.

My adventures helped me understand myself; they gave me a true image of what I could accomplish and what I could push my mind and body to do. I gained immense satisfaction and a positive sense of self-worth by setting and achieving goals for myself through adventurous activities.

Unfortunately, it seems like so many people today prefer staying indoors instead of exploring the outside world. Many kids and adults would rather stay safely locked away in their houses, attached to their phones or computers or video games. However, the need for adventure is inherent in everyone; and it’s time to revitalize it.

As women, it is important to be the explorers of today and inspire others to follow suit. We can recollect memories of being outside romping around as a child, but for today’s youth those experiences are much rarer. An article from The Guardian cited a 2008 study by Play England,

“70% of adults had their biggest childhood adventure in outdoor spaces among trees, rivers and woods, compared with only 29% of children today… [the] majority of young people questioned said that their biggest adventures took place in playgrounds.”

I was shocked when I read this. Adventure is a crucial element of a successful and full life, and less than 50% of those children surveyed had ever had a real outdoors experience other than a jungle gym. This is insane. Now more than ever, we must stand up as strong, female members of society and motivate today’s youth to find their own adventures. Having explorations and adventures from a young age creates resilience and a strong sense of independence, which are qualities I believe every female, even every person, should acquire and maintain. Furthermore, another British study found that “around 55% of girls and young women questioned agreed there is a lack of strong aspirational women in general.” This is absurd. Let us be those women that change their minds. Strong role models in local communities and in society in general show girls and young women that they can achieve great things. Young girls need female role models that are confident, courageous and adventurous.

This doesn’t mean that we have to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, or bike across America. By simply going outside of our comfort zones and doing things that bring risk and change to our daily routines, we are creating adventurous lives and leading others by example. There are plenty of things we can do, whether it’s going bungee jumping or learning how to kayak. The important thing is that we go out there and live life, for that’s how we can show ourselves and others exactly what we’re made of. Everyone has the ability to inspire others, and we need to take advantage of this fact and become positive role models for the rest of society. We must become the driving force that moves others, both younger and older, toward a more active future.

Yummy Snacks for Your Next Big Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Adventure Bars for on-the-go snacking

A big adventure needs fuel and The League of Adventurous Women test kitchen has a tasty treat for the next time you head out the door for fishing, cycling, skydiving or even a road trip. These Adventure Bars are packed with protein and carbs for energy.

Adventure Bars

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup sugar

¾ cup reduced fat peanut butter

4 cups Grape-nuts cereal

1 ½ cups dry roasted peanuts

1 ½ cups whole almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped*

1 cup Oatmeal (optional)

½ cup Coconut (optional)

1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, etc.)

Line 13x9 pan or jelly roll pan with parchment allowing parchment to go up the sides of the pan (or use foil and spray lightly with no-stick cooking spray).

Combine cereal, nuts, oatmeal and fruit in large bowl. Set aside.

Microwave corn syrup, sugar and peanut butter in large microwavable bowl on HIGH for 2-1/2 minutes or just until mixture boils, stirring every minute (time will vary depending on the strength of your microwave).

Add cereal mixture to peanut butter mixture. Stir to coat well. Press firmly into lined pan (you may have to press with a little piece of parchment to keep the mixture from coating your hands). Cool. When mixture has cooled completely, pull entire rectangle out of pan by pulling on parchment. Cut into bars. Wrap bars separately for travel or store in an air-tight container.

* toast whole almonds at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Let cool and chop into large pieces.

Want to Explore the Milkyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:55:00 +0000

Fun Citizen Scientist News from the Zooniverse Team:

The original Milky Way Project (MWP), which asks citizen scientists like YOU to help measure and map our galaxy, launched three years ago. Since then more than 50,000 individuals have contributed millions of drawings of objects in our galaxy. The new MWP is being launched to map data from different regions of the galaxy in a new infrared wavelength combination. It’s very exciting! There are tens of thousands of images from the Spitzer Space Telescope to look through. After a bit of training, volunteers record what they see in this infrared data and Zooniverse scientists can better understand how stars form.

Get involved now at www.milkywayproject.org

In other awesome news: The Zooniverse has been named as one of six Google Global Impact Awardees for 2013. This award will allow for a platform that can support hundreds or maybe even thousands of new and exciting citizen science projects!

Adventure of a Lifetime: Author Michelle Pugh talks about completing the Appalachian Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Author/Hiker Michelle Pugh

The Appalachian Trail (the AT for short) stretches across 2,184 miles of mountain, meadow, and occasionally asphalt from Georgia to Maine. Some intrepid adventurers begin at one end, usually Georgia, and hike every inch of the AT in one trip, until they summit Mt. Katahdin in Maine. These people are known as thru-hikers and only 10% of the people who attempt the trail this way are successful. Other hikers, called section hikers, do the trail a piece at a time. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says the number of thru-hikers has grown steadily from the early days. Only 5 people completed the journey during the first three years the trail was open, 1936-1939. Compare that to 2010-2013 when 2,203 hikers made the trek -- about 25% of those adventurous souls were women.

Michelle Pugh not only hiked the entire AT, she met and fell in love with her (then) hiking partner, Souleman, and captured her story in her memoir Love at First Hike: A Memoir About Love & Triumph on the Appalachian Trail.

I met Michelle, an energetic and bubbly woman, following an AT Conservancy membership drive in Washington, D.C. She was kind enough to share some of her incredible story through a Q & A. Naturally, my first question was…

AWB: Why?

MP: I heard about the trail when I was about 12 years old. My summer camp group was on a backpacking trip and we met a man who started telling us about the Appalachian Trail. The more he told us about the trail, the more I wanted to do it. I thought about it for years but didn’t start making plans until I was a sophomore in college. My junior year I finalized my plan and then I spent my senior year reading, researching gear, and getting serious.

AWB: Did you go on this grand adventure alone or with a bunch of friends?

MP: I had planned to go by myself and I went to Georgia on my own. , But I had met other thru-hiker hopefuls on one of the Internet sites where people talk about gear. Six of us agreed to meet in Georgia and at least start the first day together. We had no commitments past day one. When you start in Georgia, you register at Amicalola Falls State Park as an attempted thru-hiker and the rangers take your picture for the record book. The seven of us started on March 15 and we called our group The Ides of March. While we all started together, we traveled at different paces and didn’t stay together very long. In the end, I only hiked with one other person. He was actually from that starting group. Our relationship grew beyond hiking partners – at least for a while – but you have to read my book to get the full story!

AWB: Was the AT what you expected? Did anything surprise you?

MP: I’m a very type-A person. I spent a lot of time preparing and doing research because I didn’t want too many surprises. After all of my preparations, I was pleased with my gear choices and didn’t encounter the gear problems of some other hikers. Some of the hike was what I’d expected --I had imagined summiting mountains, walking though beautiful areas, and bonding with other hikers. But I hadn’t thought about the time spent in little towns and that was a wonderful part of the experience. Hikers bonded in Laundromats, eating in small restaurants, and staying in crowded hotels. I also loved meeting locals and being able to patronize small town businesses. We went through so many charming little towns that I might not have ever seen otherwise in my life.

AWB: Was there anything you wish you wished for while you were on the trail?

MP: One thing I ended up adding to my supplies was duct tape. I wrapped it around my hiking poles to use for random things. I had blisters and found it was the only thing that actually stuck to my feet.

If anything, I got rid of stuff. My pack was much lighter at the end of the trail than it was at the beginning. One thing that surprised me was that I thought I would carry a book. I’m an avid reader, but I had no interest in reading on the trail. In retrospect, I think that’s partly because the first half of the trail I had mono (which I didn’t know until later), and was too tired to do anything but go to bed after hiking all day.

AWB: I can’t imagine that! How could you hike through mono?

MP: I was exhausted but I didn’t tell anyone because I thought everyone was that tired. After all, I was hiking 10 to 20 miles a day up mountains while carrying 40 pounds on my back. I just thought being exhausted was part of it. I’ve never been a great sleeper, and I was amazed that I could barely lie down before falling asleep each night. In the mornings it was all I could do to wake up -- and that was after sleeping 10 or more hours. But since I thought everyone felt this way, I just kept going.

AWB: So how did you realize you had mono?

MP: It is a really long story. I had been hiking with serious pain in my feet for hundreds of miles. This was pain to the point that I could barely stand up in the mornings, and I often cried for the first couple of miles of hiking. I went to an ER on the trail because I had a UTI and needed antibiotics. While I was there I asked the doctor to look at my feet. He diagnosed me with a bilateral case of severe plantar fasciitis, which affects the thick tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your toes to your heel. Carrying extra weight and walking long distances was aggravating it. The doctor suggested I quit hiking so I could heal. I wouldn’t accept that, so I returned to the trail. After another 100 miles, conveniently exactly at the half way point of the AT, I realized I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore.

With many tears, I stopped hiking and returned to my parents’ house in Massachusetts to tend to my feet. I did physical therapy, wore night casts, and stayed off of my feet as much as possible. I was in a lot of pain and I missed hiking. But, strangely, even without the physical strain of hiking large mileage, I was incomprehensibly tired. I eventually went to a doctor who did blood work. A few days later the doctor called and told me I had mono. When I went in for my follow up appointment, the doctor came into the exam room and said he’d heard I’d hiked 11 miles recently. I said, “no” and he said he thought that had sounded like a lot. Then I told him I hadn’t hiked 11 miles; I’d hiked 11-hundred miles. He was speechless for a bit. Then he told me that mono causes your spleen to be inflamed and that I was lucky I hadn’t died with all of that physical exertion. I was ordered to be on bed rest – which was particularly miserable when I was used to hiking outside all day, every day.

AWB: How long did you have to wait before you could hike again?

MP: I spent almost a year getting to the point that I could walk normally again. During that time, my hiking partner and I got engaged, planned a wedding, got married (on the AT), and almost exactly one year after leaving the trail, we went back to finish the trail for our honeymoon! So technically I completed the trail in two 1,100 mile segments. I’m sad that I didn’t make it in one season, but I know it was out of my control. In a weird way, having injured feet may have saved my life, since hiking with mono could have killed me.

AWB: Were you ever really afraid?

MP: Only once having to do with other people. We ran into a man who gave me the feeling something wasn’t right. He was wearing denim overalls but carrying a children’s backpack with a blanket tied to the bottom. He was leaning on a tree watching us. He said he spent a lot of time in the woods and asked where we were going. I gave him a very vague answer. I tried to keep walking and he asked if I knew how to get to Angel’s Rest, a place just a mile up the trail, even though he claimed to know the woods well. We hiked faster and faster away from him, looking back often. We ended up hiking more than five extra miles and camping in the middle of the trail and spent the night watching for him. We found out a few days later that he was arrested for harassing hikers.

Other than that, I’d say some of the extremes were more extreme than I anticipated. I had the clothes, the gear and the knowledge. But there were times when I had to remind myself that I chose this. No one was making me do this. I was scared when we had to walk across a bald in the middle of a lightning storm, and then there was the time I had hypothermia in Tennessee and I had to be helped off the trail. The other hikers got me to a hotel and warmed me up. It wasn’t until later that I realized how serious the situation had been. I had many of the symptoms of severe hypothermia, including confusion, clumsiness, lack of coordination, and decreased energy. It took me a good four days to recover my energy, but I was out of danger in a few hours.

AWB: You clearly went through some big challenges, what was the best part for you?

MP: The obvious answer is being in love while being on an adventure like that—it was a non-stop endorphin high. It was the happiest I can remember being. A shared experience is different – sometimes better, sometimes harder, but always different.

A less obvious answer was seeing myself overcome a lot of challenges successfully. It proved my determination and strength to me. Another of the highlights was the ability to see so much of the natural world. People say the wilderness is disappearing but not along the AT.

AWB: You must have met some interesting people out there. Who was the most fascinating person you met?

MP: I met a couple in their mid 70s who were thru-hiking for the second time. They had retired and become permanent nomads. Their whole marriage they had saved money to go from dream to dream and now they were living their dreams. After the AT they were going to Utah to a skydiving school and then to Canada for ice fishing. I still get Christmas cards from them every year and I enjoy seeing what they’ve been up to.

AWB: What was the weirdest part of your experience?

MP: The inherent trust in strangers. Getting in a stranger’s car, sleeping in the house of someone I just met. You just do it. I think back now and I’d probably do it again on the trail, but I don’t live like that in real life. I work as an EMT and I see some of the bad decisions people make and the way they lie and hurt each other. I’m glad I had the trail experience early in my adult life, because I think it helps me balance giving people a chance to be trusted and being weary.

AWB: Is there anything you’d like to say to the women who are reading this interview?

MP: I want women to know that they can be feminine and tough at the same time. They don’t have to choose. I am delicate and strong. I am equal parts skirts and jewelry and hiking clothes. I wear pink and play in the mud. I’d also tell women they shouldn’t put off an outdoor ambition because someone else doesn’t understand it.

Michelle has a BA in philosophy and currently works as an emergency medical technician (EMT). You can find her Appalachian Trail memoir, Love at First Hike, on Amazon.com.

Her next long distance hike will be the 215-mile John Muir Trail in California’s High Sierra next summer. She has a different (and surprising) hiking partner this time. She hopes you will read her second book (which is already in the works) to learn about that adventure!

Adventure in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:06:00 +0000

Are you a science buff looking for a VERY cool (but free) space adventure? Do you love looking at those incredible shots from the Hubble Space Telescope? This, Ms. Citizen Scientist, is for you!

Last year Zooniverse (the amazing citizen science organization) launched the Andromeda Project and asked the public to help locate star clusters in our nearest neighbouring galaxy: Andromeda (M31). The project was a phenomenal success and in less than three weeks volunteers had classified more than a million images. This week Zooniverse wants to try and do it again! They just released a whole new batch of data into the Andromeda Project and they're calling this Round 2.

The data you'll see are amazingly detailed images from the Hubble Space Telescope, which has peered deep into Andromeda as part of the PHAT survey. The aim of the Andromeda Project is to the locate all the star clusters and background galaxies found in PHAT and to build up the most complete map of any spiral galaxy anywhere. This is amazing science that can only be done with the help of citizen scientists.To join the Andromeda Project visit http://www.andromedaproject.org/

Image from Dreamstime

Win a League of Adventurous Women T-Shirt!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 20:23:00 +0000

T-Shirt Give Away! Just like us on Facebook by midnight on October 31 and you might be sporting our caped adventurous women logo in November.

Three winners will be chosen at random to receive a stylishly-purple League of Adventurous Women T-shirt. Our must-have fashion accessory features The League logo on the front and Helen Keller's famous quotation on the back, "Life is either a great adventure or nothing."

You'll be the hottest cool chick in town!

(P.S. You can also like us by visiting our web site, LeagueofAdventurousWomen.org)

League of Adventurous Women Launches Web Site!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:00:00 +0000

It's official! The League of Adventurous Women web site is online and ready for visitors.

The new easy-to-use site will help you find a women's adventure group in your area or get tips on starting a group of your own. The site helps organizations as well by connecting potential new members with groups and increasing an organization's exposure in the community. There's a snazzy League widget that organizations can add to their own web sites (see the FAQ page).

The League of Adventurous Women network includes educational organizations like Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, groups focused on a single activity like fishing, sailing or cycling; as well as "bucket-list" organizations that offer a wide variety of opportunities.

The League doesn't cater to women of a particular age, income level or ability, The League helps all women leave their comfort zones, break their routines and pursue their dreams.

Drop by the new site an give it a test drive: www.leagueofadventurouswomen.org.

Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Sept 21 & 22

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Sandy Point Lighthouse, MD

Are you looking for an enlightening experience this weekend? Well look no further, the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge has everything you need. This two-day event offers lighthouse enthusiasts a chance to visit 9 lighthouses and 1 lightship while collecting complimentary souvenirs and enjoying some history. You can see the lights in any order but you have to visit all 10 to complete the challenge and claim your special prize.

But that's not all! This year's challenge offers three bonus lighthouses (including one in Virginia) and a cruise. A list of lighthouses, driving directions, fees and schedules can be found here.

All the fun is sponsored by the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society and is intended to remind us all that lighthouses are an important part of our maritime heritage and remain treasured keepsakes of a by-gone era.

If you aren't in the Chesapeake Bay area and want to know more about lighthouses in your local waters, click here.

Celebrate National Yoga Month with FREE Online Classes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:23:00 +0000

September is National Yoga Month and Athleta has three online classes that will let you try yoga for free. What have you got to lose? Click here for your (very calm) online adventure.

Inspiring Words from Diana Nyad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:25:00 +0000

On Monday, 64-year-old Diana Nyad accomplished her 36-year old dream: to swim the 110 miles between Havana, Cuba and Key West, Florida without a shark cage. This was her fifth attempt and will remain in the history books as one of the most amazing moments in endurance sports. Diana has done numerous interviews and has shared some inspirational messages with her listeners.

To the crowd on Smathers Beach in Key West,
"We should never, ever give up...You're never too old to chase your dreams."

In an interview with Diane Sawyer:
DS: Let me say for Baby Boomers everywhere, 'You rocked it'!
DN: Well, let me say back to all my fellow Baby Boomers, 'You can all rock it'! ...The clock is ticking fast and 60s is not too late to grasp on to even charished dreams. Dig down into that potential. I can't tell you how alive it makes you feel!

In an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America
"I really do believe that endurance grows and we can never discount, in any sport, the mental. How many athletes do you know, John McEnroe is one for sure, who say that they wish they could have played at the world-class level in their 50s and their 60s? Because the powers of concentration and the perspective of what it all means and what you're capable of are infinitely higher at this age than when you're a young twenty-something..."

"...You know, I decided this year to use a mantra and I think a lot of people can relate to this in their own lives, whatever they're pushing through...the phrase I decided to use was, 'find a way.' If something is important to you, and it looks impossible and you're up against it, just step back for a minute and say, 'really, do I have the resolve to think of every nth degree to get through this?' And most times we do. People give up too quickly--and I said that on the beach when I came out. I didn't have much energy for talking too long but the first thing I said, I looked around 'cuz those people weren't from the world of swimming, they didn't care about the world record, it wasn't an athletic event, it was a moment of human spirit and I said to people, 'never, ever give up.'"

7th Annual Women's Fish Camp to be held in Northern WI

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 01:10:00 +0000

WI Women Fish will be holding their 7th annual Fish Camp September 13-15, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Attendees can participate in a variety of classes and clinics: from musky fishing to fly casting. Cleaning and smoking fish, boating basics and all about crank baits are some of the classes to be offered.

In addition to the classes, Fish Campers will be able to get on the water and fish the Moen Chain, a class A musky lake in Northern WI. This year's special guest is mystery writer, Victory Houston, whose stories are set in the North woods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing – fly fishing as well as fishing for musky, bass, bluegill and walleyes.

Whether you are a beginner angler or a tournament participant, you are welcome to join the group. We have several classes for new anglers so don’t feel like you need to be an expert angler to attend. We welcome all skill levels. All supplies for the classes are provided and included with the Fish Camp Fee. More information can be found at www.wiwomenfish.com/events/fish-camp

Pedaling to Portland: Grand Finale!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 02:05:00 +0000

Julie and teammates celebrate by dipping their front tires in the Pacific

Julie and a group of young adults have been biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The team has covered 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's final report.

Note: When the team left Baltimore, they began their journey by dipping their bikes' rear tires in the Atlantic waters.

Two days ago we arrived on the Pacific coast! We dipped our bikes [front tires] in the water at Cannon Beach and celebrated our accomplishment of making it across the country.

Today, we arrived in Portland! It's hard to believe that it's already been 70 days! I remember day one like it was yesterday. I got to the [overnight] host really late that day and it was what felt like the hardest day ever. But when I got to the host, my teammates welcomed me with smiling faces and applause. That was the moment that I realized that with a super awesome and supportive team like mine, I would be able to make it! Now that we're in Portland and we've all gone our separate ways, it feels weird to not have my 4K [that's miles not kilometers] family with me. I will miss them all and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to have spent my summer with. Summer of 2013 is definitely one to remember!

Well done Julie and team! Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment!

Julie is in the front row, 4th from the left, just above the 4K

Backcountry Adventure Opportunity in Vermont

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 15:32:00 +0000

Vermont Outdoors Woman Fall Doe Campers

Vermont Outdoors Woman is holding a three-day educational retreat with an impressive variety of classes. Situated in Caanan, Vermont -- moose country -- the Fall Doe Camp offers 35 courses ranging from Marksmanship, Mountain Biking, and Maple Sugaring to Kayaking, Birding, Self Defense, Wilderness Survival, Hunters Ed, Pickling and Panning for Gold.

Fall Doe Camp is September 26-29, 2013. For more information about classes, lodging, and pricing, visit www.voga.org/fall_doe_camp.htm

The event is sponsored in part by Jackson’s Lodge, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association.

Did I mention the Moose BBQ on Saturday evening?

Pedaling to Portland: Day 57

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 01:26:00 +0000

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The team will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 57:

We went to Yellowstone on our rest day in Wyoming. Now, we are in Idaho and there's not much to report. Last state before Oregon!!

Pedaling to Portland: Day 40-42

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 14:12:00 +0000

Julie Crosses the Continental Divide: elev. 11.990 ft.

Day 40-42:

Colorado: Day 40 was our first day in the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies and I have a love/hate relationship because I love how beautiful they are but the climbing is a killer. We ended up taking the harder route from Boulder to Idaho Springs but it was worth it when we had about 8 miles of downhill and didn't have to pedal at all at the end of the day. During that downhill stretch, I reached a maximum speed of 45 mph!

Day 41, we got up at 4:30am so that we could set out early. We climbed Loveland Pass and at the top was the Continental Divide. It was the highest point of the entire trip at 11,990 feet! We were hit with some bad weather in the afternoon and after climbing the first mountain I was beat so I was vanned to our overnight host location.

Saturday (day 42), was a fairly easy route that was mostly downhill. We went through Glenwood Canyon on a trail that was awesome! Tomorrow we should be back to climbing so wish me luck!

Glenwood Canyon, CO

Pedaling to Portland: Day 33-35

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:07:00 +0000

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 33-35:

For the Fourth of July, we were in Arapaho, NE. We had really good BBQ and watched fireworks. The next day was a rest day and we went shooting at a local gun range. We shot pistols, rifles and trap. The trap shooting was really cool because I had never shot at moving clay pigeons before. This morning, we left Arapaho at 6am and rode 103 miles. We finished in Imperial, NE at around 2:40 and I am exhausted.

Note: The team is heading into Colorado now and their route will take them through Yuma, Ft. Morgan, Boulder, Idaho Springs, Vail, Carbondale, Hotchkiss & Fruita. If you're in the area, be sure to give them a cheer.

Pedaling to Portland: Day 28 - 32

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 03:02:00 +0000

Julie and a bunch of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 28 - 32:

Over the weekend, days 28 and 29 of the trip, we were in Omaha, Nebraska, which was really fun. I think Omaha has been one of my favorite stops of the trip so far. We had our first home stay, which means that we all stayed in houses of people who live in the area. I was with three other girls from the team. The house that we went to had a mom and dad (Robin and Curtis), three boys (Mike and John are twins and James is younger), and a dog (Murphy). It was so nice being in a home because I really did feel right at home. The boys felt like brothers and the parents felt like parents. This was good for me

The boys and dad

because I had kind of been missing home. The first night in Omaha we went to a restaurant and we all got steaks for dinner, which was awesome! After dinner we went back to the house with Mike and John for cookies that Mike made and ice cream that John had to go get. Our host mom made all her sons give up their beds so that we had somewhere to sleep and they took the air mattresses. I had the best night's sleep there for the entire trip so far. In the morning we got up and had french toast made by our host mom. After breakfast, the family went to church and dropped us off in The Old Market [an arts & entertainment district] where we went on slides and went into the shops. That night, there was a cookout-pool party at our host's house that was a lot of fun! Leaving the next morning was hard because it was almost like leaving my real family at the beginning of the summer.

Today, day 32, was a century -- 100 miles or more -- but I didn't ride the entire thing because at mile 25 I blew my tire and needed a new one. The water van had to drive me to the water stop at about mile 40 where the food van with the extra tires met us and gave me my replacement. I changed [my tire] and finished the day in Franklin, NE. Tomorrow is the fourth and we should have a pretty easy day ahead of us!

The girls with their host "mom"

Pedaling to Portland: Day 20-23

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 14:12:00 +0000

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR this summer to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 20-23:

(Note: The group has overnight hosts who allow them to spend the evening in a sheltered location. Most of these hosts are churches)

Three days ago we biked into Chicago and got caught in a storm when we were about seven miles from our host. We stopped at a gas station for cover for about 15 minutes then finished our ride when the rain let up a bit. On Day 21, we had a rest day in Chicago and it was amazing! We went to see The Bean in Millennium Park and went shopping at some of the biggest stores I've ever been in. For lunch we went to my first Thai restaurant ever and it was good! We took the L back to our host, which was pretty similar to Washington's Metro.

We all take shelter from the storm

The next day (Day 22), we road from Chicago to Mendota, IL. Leaving the city was a lot easier than any of us thought it was going to be--I guess because it was a Sunday morning. This caused the bike trails to be very crowded, however. While on one of the trails, I was riding behind another rider and failed to see a short pole, which hit me and caused me to fall over. The person behind me also fell off his bike. We both fell into a creek and laughed about it for the next five miles. Later that day, when we were about 18 miles from our host, a fierce storm came out of nowhere. We took shelter in an abandoned farm and waited out the storm for about an hour then finished strong. That night, we stayed in a fire house, which was pretty interesting.

This morning (Day 23), we woke up to yet another storm so we had no choice but to ride in the van to our next host. During the drive, we got a tornado warning and got stuck in one of the craziest storms yet! We're all hoping for better weather in the days to come!

The 4K visits The Bean

Bike the Gap!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Fun news from the Washington Post:

Long-distance cyclists, we know you're out there. If you're up for an adventure, you can now ride all the way from Washington to Pittsburgh. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) rail-trail, which runs 150 miles between Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh, has opened its final segment between Homestead, Pa., and Pittsburgh. In Cumberland, the GAP trail connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, which leads into Washington. For more information, visit www.gaptrail.org.