I also know that hunger disproportionately impacts Black Americans who make up nearly 30% of SNAP recipients. So why would I celebrate cuts to a program that is a lifeline for so many people?
Read MoreBuilding a home gym is a monumental task! Once the climbing wall is built, you’d think the biggest hurdle is over. But a safe landing area is just as important, and can be just as overwhelming. There are many options for foam and foam coverings, making it difficult to know which is right for a climbing wall. I spent weeks reading about foam, cold-calling foam companies, and driving around to different fabric stores learning about vinyl coverings. Here is my journey of building a safe landing!
Read MoreI can either enjoy my life doing what I love, or sit at home worried about getting assaulted or worse. I choose to take common sense precautions, trust my gut, and hope for the best. But that doesn’t mean I’m never afraid.
Read MoreThe climbing stories you hear at base camp or around a campfire just might save your life. That’s why it matters who gets to tell stories of danger, joy, and survival. Too often the loudest voices don’t look like us. But for Sachi Koide, Sof Petros, and Theresa Silveyra—three accomplished women and genderqueer climbers of color—mountaineering is more than technical knowledge. It’s about community, power and courage.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreWorking full time with a toddler, five 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. This is what I learned.
Read More“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.”
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreEsther Park is on a mission to help women in skydiving fit in–literally.
She left a comfortable job in scientific sales after a life-changing skydiving accident. Since then, she founded a company, Girls in Sky Places, to help women find correctly-sized gear.
Read MoreIf your outdoor plans routinely struggle to make it out of the group chat, that’s okay. I’m still finding my own comfort with the outdoors. Nature can feel intimidating, but it gets easier when you know what to expect. So let’s explore five of my favorite urban green spaces to help you get outside this summer.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreSummer 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!
Read MoreOver the past five days, we shared our anxieties and fears about this moment. Not one of us could say that we felt absolutely confident in our abilities to get to the top. However, I remembered the one promise we all made each other. “If you keep going, I will, too”.
Read MoreDo 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.
Read MoreTravel 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.
Read MoreI’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.
Read MoreRecently, 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!
Read MoreBut don’t worry!—you can always rent from a private equity firm. Because their goal is to maximize short-term profits, they can be terrible landlords. Many raise rents, skip maintenance and avoid long-term upgrades or improvements.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreHaving 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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