From Hawai’i’ With Love: Survival and Restoration After the Lahaina Wildfire
From Hawai’i’ With Love: Survival and Restoration After the Lahaina Wildfire

On the morning of August 8, 2023, Noelle Bali and Marina Riker received routine alerts of nearby fires. It was another dry summer and 60 mph winds rattled Lahaina, a coastal beach town in Maui.

Downed power lines sparked a small fire which soon engulfed the town, leaving 102 residents dead and thousands forced to evacuate — including Noelle and Marina. What started as a relatively normal day became one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, leaving a beloved community searching for a way forward.

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Amath DioufComment
Building a Home Climbing Wall? Here's How to Paint it!
Building a Home Climbing Wall? Here's How to Paint it!

I’m in the process of building my dream climbing wall — a 16x12 foot adjustable kilterboard. And in true @felinefavia fashion, I needed cats on my wall. I had never painted outside of art class , which was over 20 years ago. Working full time with a toddler, 5 cats and a dog didn’t leave me much time to learn a new skill. So I hired a painter, but when he didn’t show up and the welders were starting in three days. I quickly took a crash course on painting and here is what I learned.

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Favia Dubykfavia dubykclimbing wall, paintComment
Annette Diggs Is Changing the Face of Snow Sports
Annette Diggs Is Changing the Face of Snow Sports

“Self-doubt is common,” said the certified ski instructor who sits on several state-wide and national committees for snow sports. “We often question our ability levels. We wonder, ‘Do I belong here?’ Black people haven’t historically been in these spaces. We’ve all experienced feeling like the ‘other’ in certain places.” By teaching technical skills, EDGE gives women the tools to say, “Yes, I belong here. I know what I’m doing. I deserve this space.”

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Brittany WileyComment
Planning a Trip to Font? Don’t Miss These 6 Tips
Planning a Trip to Font? Don’t Miss These 6 Tips

I was recently lucky enough to make my first voyage to one of the top climbing destinations in the world: Fontainebleau—or Font. For most of my climbing career, I’d heard stories about the beautiful sandstone boulders and the flat, sandy landings. I knew I had to experience it for myself one day.

But planning a climbing trip to a foreign country can feel overwhelming and even a little scary, especially if it’s your first time. To help make your experience smoother and more enjoyable, here are some tips I picked up along the way.

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Favia Dubykfavia dubykclimbing, Font, France, boulderingComment
Rim to Rim - Grand Canyon National Park
Rim to Rim - Grand Canyon National Park

We kicked off from the South Kaibab Trailhead at 4:30 AM, in the dark, our headlamps lighting the way. The morning was cool—perfect hiking weather—and the sky was just starting to hint at the sunrise. The trail drops fast, and within minutes we weaved our way down steep switchbacks, passing early-bird day hikers and the occasional runner already charging uphill.

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Ananth Maniam ஆனந்த் மணியAnanth Maniam ஆனந்த் மணியம்Grand Canyon, Backpacking, Backcountry, Hiking, South Asian, National ParkComment
8 Ways to Get Outside for Free
8 Ways to Get Outside for Free

Summer is here and prices couldn’t be higher! Recession indicators are everywhere, federal student loan repayments are back on and rent is rising in major cities across the U.S. But you don’t want to spend all your time at home either. Here are eight ways to get outside for free (or close enough) while making friends, building community and learning new hobbies. Let’s go!

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Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsFree, Community, Third Places, HobbiesComment
DMV Hikes: North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top
DMV Hikes: North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top

Do you live in Washington DC? Are you looking for a challenging day hike within reach of the city? Then you should check out North Fork Mountain.

It’s less than 3 hrs away which means you can start and end the day at home in your own bed. But I’ll also cover camping and cabin options for people who don’t like long road trips.

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Danielle Williams, Clare BennettDanielle WilliamsDMV, Hiking, Hike, Black Hiker, West VirginiaComment
Navigating Safety as a Black Woman Solo Traveler
Navigating Safety as a Black Woman Solo Traveler

Travel safety begins long before you board the plane. If you limit your planning to scrolling through TikTok for beautiful beaches or cozy coffee shops, you may be in for a surprise. It’s important to understand the cultural attitudes of your destination, especially toward race, gender, and sexuality. In some places, you may attract curious stares; in others, you could encounter microaggressions or discrimination.

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Silver ByrdSilver ByrdTravel, Safety, black womenComment
Injured? Find a Good Chiropractor in a Few Simple Steps
Injured? Find a Good Chiropractor in a Few Simple Steps

I’ve been seeing chiros since I was 12 to help manage my Ehler-Danlos syndrome, a hypermobility disorder that makes me more susceptible to injury and joint dislocations. They have been a life saver for me and the only reason I’ve been able to maintain my athletic abilities. Since I’ve moved quite a bit over the past 25 years, I’ve had to regularly find a new chiropractor. Here are a few tips to help you find the best chiropractor for you.

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Favia DubykFavia Dubykchiro, chiropractor, injuryComment
My First Climbing Trip with a Toddler
My First Climbing Trip with a Toddler

Recently, there was a good weather window at Hueco Tanks- some cool weather in April. I really wanted to take advantage of this so I decided that my nearly 2 year old son, Hans Sven would join me! It would be our first mother-son trip. My husband was nervous to be separated from him, and wondered how would I keep him safe while climbing and hiking. Not afraid of a challenge, I made a plan and was excited to show Hans Sven my favorite place in the entire world!

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Favia Dubykfavia dubykParents, Motherhood, Climbing, ToddlerComment
Fear and Belonging on the Pacific Crest Trail
Fear and Belonging on the Pacific Crest Trail

The three of us hiked side-by-side across 900 miles of desert and Sierra Nevada. We learned how to self arrest on Baden Powell, soaked our sore feet in hot springs, screamed when we saw rattlesnakes, and shared meals, motel rooms, and late-night movies.

Our time together on the Pacific Crest Trail felt like a dream — until it suddenly ended.

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Soophia AnsariSoophia AnsariThru Hiking, Hiking, Personal Essay, Asian American, Asian Women, Women of Color, Adult LearnerComment
Don’t Call It a Comeback: How to Make the Best of Your Injury
Don’t Call It a Comeback: How to Make the Best of Your Injury

Having an injury forces us to come face to face with who we are outside of our sport. And sometimes, we don’t like what we see. When you’re sidelined, sitting in your room, staring at the ceiling, wondering what comes next, who are you then?

“This is a time when you’ll learn a lot about yourself,” Kim said. “Just keep going. And listen to your body.”

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Mike ChoMike Cho 조은상Athlete, Adventure, Skating, Skydiving, Mountain biking, Cycling, Women of ColorComment
5 Ways to Survive in a Cash-Free Economy
5 Ways to Survive in a Cash-Free Economy

Here’s a thought: So much of our future is determined by the zip code we’re born into. And for unbanked households in working class neighborhoods, it can feel harder and harder to get by in an environment that is increasingly designed to uplift middle-class transplants while denying everyone else the right to live comfortably or meet basic needs. 

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Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsGentrification, Low Income, Cashless, ClassismComment
Climbing With Conviction as a Muslim Woman and Immigrant Daughter
Climbing With Conviction as a Muslim Woman and Immigrant Daughter

Morally, I struggled to tear my focus away from the genocide in Gaza and leave my community to complete my climb. Back home, I’m met with blank stares and confusion — mountaineering being a far cry from what my priorities should be as a single 28-year-old woman. I’ve never been able to explain the passion I feel as I gaze up at the highest peaks in the world.

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Nadah FeteihNadah FeteihMuslimah Hiker, Muslimah, Muslim, Gaza, Genocide, Personal EssayComment