See Her Outside: Stories From Women Who Adventure

The hands that built Melissa’s entire sport, business, and life were taken from her in an accidental instant.Her story explores what came next: the mental tools she invented to survive, the small triumphs that felt enormous, and the athletic determination it took to find her way back to the rock.Melissa's memoir, Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing and Second Chances, is also the spring pick for Grit Lit, our adventure book club. Join by May 7th to get Melissa's book in your next box.Melissa Strong is a sponsored rock climber, writer, and restaurant owner based in Estes Park, Colorado, and El Paso, Texas. She's the founder and owner of two acclaimed Estes Park restaurants, Bird & Jim and The Bird's Nest, and together with her husband owns Wagon Wheel Co-op, a guiding concession in Hueco Tanks State Park. Melissa and Angie talk about:Finding rock climbing at 26 after realizing she couldn't run half a mileBecoming a sponsored climber in an era before climbing gyms were on every cornerThe near-fatal accident that severely burned her handsSeeing a forest and tunnel during her near-death experienceThe "closet of boxes" self-coaching tool she invented in the hospitalHaving her arms literally sewn together for three weeks to rebuild skinTapping into her athlete's mindset to push through recoveryWhy women need to stop shouldering everything and give themselves a breakSee Her Outside is partnering with⁠ Western Colorado University's Outdoor Industry MBA⁠ — a remote degree program built for people who want to lead, build, and create in the outdoor space. If you've ever thought about building a career or business in the outdoor industry, WCU's Outdoor Industry MBA was made for you.📚 Join the Grit Lit Adventure Book Club to read Melissa’s book this spring and enjoy other woman-created goodies!Check out these resources:📖 Melissa’s book - Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing and Second Chances🏔️ Melissaisstrong.com✨ Melissa on Instagram➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 Become a Trailblazer📅 Summit Scholarship Foundation🎓⁠ Western Colorado University Outdoor Industry MBA⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the⁠ Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.Share this episode with a woman in your life who has a wild business idea she hasn't acted on yet.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don't miss a story!⁠Follow on Spotify⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠Listen on:⁠ Amazon⁠,⁠ Pocket Casts⁠,⁠ iHeartRadio⁠,⁠ other platforms⁠

Have you ever chalked up gear discomfort to your body being the problem: the chafing, the shoulder pressure, the hip belt that just won't cinch down far enough?It's not you. It's the gear. Sarah Berkeley (trail name: Mellow!) is the founder of Symbiosis Gear, an ultralight backpacking gear company designing packs and accessories that actually fit women's bodies. Sarah went through three backpacks on the Pacific Crest Trail before she decided to stop waiting for someone else to solve the problem! She founded Symbiosis Gear, an ultralight backpacking gear company built specifically for women's bodies.See Her Outside is partnering with Western Colorado University's Outdoor Industry MBA — a remote degree program built for people who want to lead, build, and create in the outdoor space. If you've ever thought about building a career or business in the outdoor industry, WCU's Outdoor Industry MBA was made for you.Sarah and Angie talk about:The heavy backpacking and camping gear Sarah started her outdoor adventures withThru-hiking the Vermont Long Trail solo and running into gear problemsSarah’s journey to ultralight gear after meeting other hikersTips for solo hiking after experiencing urban assaultGoing through three backpacks on the PCT and finally deciding to build her ownGear and safety: The moment she fell through a snow bridge in the Sierra and had to make a fast callWhy the outdoor industry isn't designing for womenHow Symbiosis Gear fits differently: curved straps, adjustable sternum, and a waist belt that fits every body sizeLessons from building a product-based business and what’s aheadCheck out these resources:🌐 Symbiosis Gear📱 Symbiosis on IG📱 Sarah on IG➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 Become a Trailblazer📅 Summit Scholarship Foundation🎓 Western Colorado University Outdoor Industry MBALike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyondBecome a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a woman in your life who has a wild business idea she hasn't acted on yet.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don't miss a story!Follow on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsListen on: Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, other platforms

When Colleen was a kid, her mom read her a story about a family stranded in a storm on Kilimanjaro. Most kids would have been scared. Colleen thought: “I have to go there.”Colleen MacDonald is a mountaineer and ultrarunner specializing in 50 and 100-mile ultras. Her unshakable grit and love of flying down technical descents has led her to many adventures and advocacy projects (which you can hear about in our past two episodes together!).In 2025, that focus took Colleen to Mt. Kilimanjaro, where she set an FKT on a route she and her partner established. She turned this adventure into an advocacy project to raise thousands of dollars for women’s wilderness scholarships.Colleen and Angie talk about:Years of planning this high mountain adventure, with logistical challengesHow a childhood fascination with the mountain led her hereTurning her FKT attempt into a fundraiser for women’s wilderness scholarshipsThe FKT recap: 62 miles and a new routeBTS of Kili: guides, porters, female leadership, and support from her partnerThe ascent and descent play-by-play, then health effects after the featFinding a voice in advocacy and representation for women outdoorsGetting comfortable with visibility and speaking up for othersOther conversations with Colleen:Spring 2025: DNF’s, Post-Race Blues, and Competition for Collaboration: Colleen’s Ultrarunning StoryWinter 2026: Athletes are Advocates to Speak Out Against Fascism: Tips for Speaking Up Even When It’s ScaryCheck out these resources:📱 Colleen on IG: @m_cmacdonald➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 Become a Trailblazer📅 Summit Scholarship FoundationLike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Join our book club, Grit Lit.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don't miss a story!Follow on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsListen on: Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, other platformsBrought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Kat Schaumberg heard the conventional advice to prove her worth by climbing high mountains – but she ended up ditching the toxic culture to pursue true leadership instead.Kat began her career in outdoor education at 18 and went on to work as a mountain guide, instructor, and logistics coordinator for many outdoor organizations. She’s spent hundreds of days on expeditions across Alaska, Yosemite, Patagonia, Ecuador, and Nepal, and has been featured in Climbing Magazine writing about the vulnerabilities of being a female guide in a male-dominated space.Kat and Angie talk about:Getting hired at guiding companies and feeling treated as less competent than male coworkersWhat it meant to be a "marketable female guide": the pressure to be strong, charismatic, likable, and professional all at once — while suppressing her personal selfA trifecta of traumas that ended her full-time guiding career and sent her toward healingBringing bodywork and somatic awareness into expedition guidingThe menstrual cycle and outdoor adventureCo-founding a forest school and completing a two-year, 10,000-mile sailing journey: "always lead with the lungs, follow with the feet"Check out these resources:🌐 Kat's massage therapy website🎬 Kat and her fiancé's sailing vlog on YouTube📱 Kat on IG: @alpine_kat➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 Become a Trailblazer📅 Summit Scholarship FoundationLike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don't miss a story!Follow on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsListen on: Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, other platformsBrought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Grab the workbook: How to Use Your Adventure for Your Career GoalsIf you went to summer camp as a kid, you get it. The bats at dusk, the swim across the pond, the feeling of being someone slightly new for a week... Those memories don't fade.And if you worked at summer camp, you also know that the skills you built there — troubleshooting on the fly, managing 300 kids and 65 staff, keeping everyone safe and fed and having fun — are some of the most transferable skills you'll ever develop. Mary-Jane Strom is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern California, a lifetime Girl Scout member, and a Gold Award recipient whose project focused on increasing access to outdoor spaces for all girls and women. Mary-Jane is also a competitive swimmer working toward completing open water swim events in all 50 states.This conversation is for anyone who's ever felt like their outdoor experience doesn't "count" on a resume.Hear about:Why summer camp is a powerful growth environment for youth (and adults)The business of summer camp: 8 weeks or 3 days?Mary-Jane's career path from camper to lifeguard to camp director to CEOHow to translate outdoor leadership experience into resume-ready skillsMary-Jane's 50-state open water swim goal and how camp swimming started it allWhat the media gets wrong about Girl ScoutsMary-Jane on LinkedIn | Girl Scouts of Northern California camp info | @gsnorcal on InstagramSend this episode to your friend who LIVED for summer camp.Check out these resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🥾⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📅⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app. Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Do you remember running sprints as punishment in soccer practice, or the stress of the dreaded PACER test? Many of us equate running with suffering. But that doesn't have to be the case. Emily Holland is a runner, rock climber, and Partnerships Manager at HydraPak, where she builds collaborations that fuel adventure and strengthen community across the outdoor industry. This story is a reminder that we’ll probably continue to take in toxic messaging in running media, but with care and thoughtfulness we can always come back to feeling strong and happy in our bodies. And, we can create our own media to shift the greater running culture.Hear about:Our early running exposure, which was typically sports team punishmentExperiencing body image challenges as a child and adolescentDiffering cultural norms in different sportsThe negative effects of over-exercising and under-fuelingMoving to Boulder, CO and rock climbing and trail running thereLearning how to fuel for distance running and listening to her bodyRunning the Gorge Waterfalls 50k and the Grand Traverse in 2025Juggling goals in different outdoor sportsEmily's storytelling through "Jacked and Chill" and finding joy in strength training⁠Emily on LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Emily's Substack⁠ | ⁠Emily on IG⁠Send this episode to a friend who wants to set a running goal!Check out these resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠🥾⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📅⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app.Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Viv Serrano is a mountaineer who progressed from local trails to the summits of Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Rainier, and Hood—and she's just getting started.But what sets Viv apart as an athlete is her honesty. She navigates bipolar disorder, manages stabilizing medications, and still shows up for the kind of training that demands a lot from both mind and body. Hear about:Climbing Kilimanjaro on an all-women’s team as a Summit Scholarship recipientDeciding to climb Aconcagua, then getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder while trainingWhy Viv almost quit mountaineering and the words that kept her goingTraining modifications and medication considerationsWhat the outdoor community needs to talk about more: medication, therapy, and mental health acceptanceSupporting women by becoming a Trailblazer with The Cairn ProjectMisconceptions about mood disordersRead Viv’s blog post: 5 Things I Did to Train for Aconcagua as a Person Who Struggles with Mental Health IssuesSend this episode to a friend who loves real talk about mental health in outdoor adventure!Check out these resources:📱 ⁠⁠@Viviautumn18 on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠⁠⁠🥾⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠⁠⁠📅⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app.Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

The courage you use in your outdoor adventures is the same courage you can use to resist fascism.This is an unpolished but urgent bonus episode, in light of recent events in Minnesota and within the USA government.Athlete Colleen MacDonald joins Angie Lake to talk about why athletes and outdoor enthusiasts need to be using their voices right now to counter fascism and discrimination in the United States.If you've ever thought "I'm just an athlete" or "why does my voice matter?", this episode is for you, and we hope you share it with your network as an important conversation starter.We talk about:Why outdoor athletes are uniquely positioned to advocate for justiceThe parallels between athletic discomfort and advocacy discomfortHow to use your voice even when you don't have all the answersWhy brands and sponsored athletes staying silent is so damagingThe importance of small businesses taking stands over corporate PR statementsPractical ways to take action: calling senators, donating, storytellingHow to show up imperfectly and keep goingWhy everything, including your sport, is politicalPlease share this conversation with your peers, friends, and fellow athletes.Resources mentioned:☎️ 5 Calls - links + scripts for calling your elected officials: ⁠https://5calls.org⁠ Find Your Senators:  https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htmFind Your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representativeChop Wood, Carry Water: Substack of updates and small daily actions (+ scripts) for standing up for democracy : https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.comImmigrant defense project: news, printable cards, resources to help you be a good community member and help your neighbors : https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.orgImmigrant legal resource center: education, training and resources for community: https://www.ilrc.org  ICE Rapid Response: local numbers, connect with a rapid response team in your area  https://icerr.com⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠ @thecairnproject⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠See Her Outside episode with Alex GarciaLike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Ever put so much work into an adventure or creative project that you feel a bit sad when it's over?Lauren Delaunay Miller is the editor of "Valley of Giants: Stories from Women at the Heart of Yosemite Climbing," and also a producer and award-winning audio reporter."Valley of Giants" features 40 stories of women and rock climbing, going all the way back to the 1930s.We talk about:The challenges and beauty of editing a rock climbing anthologyParallels in imposter syndrome between writing and outdoor sportsThe unglamorous side of creative projects and authorship and managing expectationsThe "adventure blues" and post-publishing bluesThe strengths of women in climbingTips for aspiring writers and creativesLove adventure books like Lauren's?Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠⁠ to join and get a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.More info:Grit Lit: ⁠https://cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠Lauren's work: https://www.laurendmiller.com/ Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Summit Scholarship applications close on Jan. 31, 2026 andThe First 50k Sisterhood applications close on Jan. 10, 2026!Paula Murray didn't start backpacking until she was nearly 60 years old, and now she can't get enough.Paula lives in the Wasatch Mountain Range in northern Utah and has been a professional machine quilter for 31 years. She and her husband, Tom, have six children and 12 grandchildren. Paula's story is an inspiring example of living an adventurous life no matter your age.Paula and Angie talked about:Her first backpacking trip through the Paria Canyon and how it "blew open a door"Tips for women who want to solo backpackMenopause and relearning what her body was capable ofThe beauty and freedom that comes with agingHow being self-employed helps her prioritize adventureTips for raising kids who love the outdoors from day oneTraining for the rest of life, not for one eventShare this episode with a friend you want to go backpacking with!Check out these resources:📅 Summit Scholarship Foundation (Applications close Jan. 31)🏃‍♀️ First 50k Sisterhood (Applications close Jan. 10)➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 Become a TrailblazerLike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

First 50k Sisterhood applications open Dec. 27, 2025!Curious about running a trail ultramarathon?Host Angie Lake shares nine tips for running your first ultra, covering how to prepare your body, train your mind, and embrace what we call "the Spirit of the Wild Woman."Plus, learn about the First 50k Sisterhood, a new scholarship program that will help 15 women train together for their first 50K at Wild Woman Trail Runs in June 2026.Angie shares about:The 80/20 training methodStrength training as a non-negotiableEating carbs without guiltReframing hard momentsSetting process goals instead of just time goalsGiving problems time to get betterFinding community in ultra runningSigning up because it's hardYour own running story mattersGet ready to submit your application to the First 50k Sisterhood! Applications open 12/27/2025 through 1/10/2026. Learn more here.Check out these resources:📱 ⁠⁠Wild Woman Trail Runs website🏃‍♀️ Wild Woman on IG⁠⁠⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠⁠⁠🥾⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠⁠⁠📅⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠⁠🎙️⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Share your story on this podcast! Submit for Field Notes here.⁠⁠⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Summit Scholarship applications open on Dec. 15, 2025! Here’s the story of one of our past recipients.Brittain Noel is a storyteller whose practice began in childhood and followed her through foster care, to Tibet, across Asia and into the mountains she climbs today. Navigating an upbringing by adults with mental illness, Britt found nature and climbing as a way to heal. Her work blends documentary texture with a deep interest in how people find belonging, courage and humor in the moments that feel hardest.Britt and Angie talk about:How Britt broke into professional productionMoving to Tibet and making decisions to travel the worldThe inaugural Adventure Lens Grant processHer mentorship from Savannah CumminsThe Peruvian Andes: Ishinca & Tocllaraju trip recap and what it was like to both film and climbCreating “Vamos a la Playa,” the film from the tripTips for aspiring creative professionals in outdoor mediaGet ready to submit your application to the Summit Scholarships! Applications open 12/15. Learn more here: https://www.summitscholarship.org/summit-scholarship-2026Check out these resources:📱 ⁠Britt on IG🎥 Britt's film: Vamos a la Playa⁠⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠⁠🥾⁠ ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠⁠📅⁠ ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠🎙️⁠ ⁠⁠Share your story on this podcast! Submit for Field Notes here.⁠⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Dream about starting your own adventure club, community, or membership?Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure went from just a wild idea to a thriving community of over 6,000 women who love to spend time outside!Hear the LVWoA story and take away tips for building and growing your own outdoors community.We talk about:Why women need their own outdoor spacesThe challenges of going from 100 to 4,000 members in weeksMember-created events: how to scale community without burning outWhen and why to incorporate as a nonprofitVetting, waivers, and insurance: the unglamorous but necessary partsWhy passive engagement matters tooHow "unfamiliar faces" push us in new ways and the power of hiking with strangersThanks to Jackie Seidman, Cathy Nelson, and Allison Young for sharing their stories and advice.If you’re inspired by group adventures and want to join us in the Grand Canyon in March for a Rim to River to Rim hike, there are a couple spots left! Sign up now: https://cairnproject.org/grand-canyon-rim-to-river-to-rimCheck out these resources:📱 The LVwoA Facebook Group💻 LVWoA Website⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG⁠⁠✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter⁠🥾 ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠📅 ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠🎙️ ⁠⁠Share your story on this podcast! Submit for Field Notes here.⁠⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

We have just 3 spots left for our Grand Canyon team adventure in March 2026! Get a rare guided Rim to Rim hike, but with a Get Out, Give Back twist. Free packing list and training guideCurious about hiking Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon? Let us help you start planning! Listen to learn:The types of trails and different route options to hike in the Grand CanyonVariations of a Rim to Rim hike and length estimatesTraining tips for a Rim to Rim hikeGear and water considerationsHow hiking into the Grand Canyon is like time traveling!Our October 2025 team adventure in the Grand Canyon fundraised about $12,000 for gender equity AND wildfire relief. Congratulations to Tana, Lorri, Lisa, Ritzy, and Mary for completing an epic Rim to River to Rim hike!Join us in March 2026 if there’s still space: https://cairnproject.org/grand-canyon-rim-to-river-to-rim Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

Lucy Westlake started mountaineering at 7 years old through a highpointing project. In 2021, she set the record as the youngest person to summit the highest points in all 52 United States, including Denali. At 18, she set a record as the youngest American woman to climb Mount Everest (at the time).Angie and Lucy talk about:Being a competitive athlete starting in elementary schoolTransitioning from running to mountaineering through highpointingHighs (and lows) of climbing the high points of the USABehind the scenes of mountaineering and setting recordsWhat it’s like when other people break your recordsWhy she decided to put aside a Seven Summits and Explorers Grand Slam goalLucy’s research on glaciers in college while being a mountain guideThe impact of ageism, mentorship, and women in mountaineeringSend this episode to a teen who would be inspired by Lucy!Check out these resources:📱 ⁠Lucy on IG⁠➡️ The Cairn Project on IG✨ The Cairn Project's newsletter🥾 ⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠📅 ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation🎙️ ⁠Share your story on this podcast! Submit for Field Notes here.⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the⁠ ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

You can join Trailtober TODAY and still get a chance to win trail shoes, electrolytes, gear patches and more – sign up now! 🍂The mountains themselves might be unbiased, but the systems we live in are not.Kelly Fields is a rock climber, certified climbing guide, and owner of Athena Rock Climbing, a nationwide guide service with a specialty in multi-pitch trad climbing and a primarily all female guide staff. Kelly’s been building a career around climbing since 2004 and took part in a historic Baffin Island expedition with a team of all women in 2025.Angie and Kelly talk about:Why Kelly left college to pursue big-wall climbingThe sexism she faced (and still faces) as a guideHow she built Athena Rock Climbing from a desire for ownership and communityWhy women make excellent climbersThe physical and emotional dynamics of a 42-day all-women expedition in the Canadian ArcticInternalized misogyny and how we unknowingly carry it into the outdoorsInviting men into conversations about gender equity outdoorsJoin Trailtober for a chance to win trail prizes and to help close the gender gap outdoors: https://cairnproject.org/trailtober-2025-challengeCheck out these resources:🔗Athena Rock Climbing🧗‍♀️ Athena on IG📱 Kelly on IG🥾 Become a Trailblazer📅 Women of Mountaineering Calendar🎙️ Share your story on this podcast! Submit for Field Notes here.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.

(Psst -- Win trail prizes during Trailtober: a trail challenge supporting gender equity in October! Learn more here.)Heather Anderson has hiked over 50,000 miles — including completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail multiple times, and often faster than anyone before her. Heather shares why writing a memoir could feel as vulnerable and difficult as hiking alone for months. We talk about the mindset needed to write about your life (especially when it doesn’t follow a classic narrative arc), the challenges of maintaining a public presence online, and her tips for aspiring authors.We talk about:Heather's early book and outdoor experiences (personal pan pizzas anyone?)The challenges of writing memoirsSelf-identity after setting trail recordsThe impact of social media on authorsBalancing media consumption and writingTips for aspiring authorsLove adventure books like Heather's?Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠⁠ to join and get the fall 2025 box, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.Join the trail fun of Trailtober, our October community challenge to spend time on trail, connect with others, and win trail shoes, electrolytes, gear patches and more! https://cairnproject.org/trailtober-2025-challengeFind Heather on Instagram or explore her website. Make sure to read Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Sarah experienced anaphylactic shock while trekking in the Denali wilderness. Her nervous system regulation practices were an important part of healing – and you can learn how to use them, too!Sarah Histand is an Alaskan adventurer, a somatic nervous system educator, and a mental health-informed fitness trainer through her business, Mind & Mountain.Angie and Sarah talk about:Sarah’s anaphylactic reaction deep in Denali and how she navigated it using regulation toolsWhat nervous system regulation actually means and why it matters outsideHow adventures like the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic shifted Sarah’s outlook on lifeDifferent eras of adventure, from our 20’s to 30’s and 40’s and beyondHow lessons transfer from nature to at-home life, like fertility challengesHow to handle flashbacks and fear after a close call in the wildOrienting, recognizing resources, bilateral stimulation, and co-regulation with natureCheck out these resources:🧘‍♀️ Try Sarah’s free co-regulation with nature audio guide🏞 Learn more about Sarah’s seasonal fitness and somatic programs🎃 Join Trailtober, our October challenge to spend more time outdoors!🎒 Join our March 2026 Grand Canyon adventure!Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the ⁠See Her Outside Podcast⁠ so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Have you been censoring yourself? 🤔If you've ever softened your language, felt imposter syndrome, or kept quiet when you had a message screaming inside of you, buckle up for a pep talk.We're breaking down 5 common self-censorship blocks in adventure storytelling and how to break through them, including:“I don’t have a good ending yet.”“I’m afraid I’ll change my mind later.”"I need to soften my language first.”“I don’t think society is ready to talk about this.”“An expert could share this better than I can.”Angie shares how our volunteer Trailblazers are using their voices for change, and offers experiments so you can practice what she calls "using your outside voice."Ready to use your voice for the cause? Join us for Trailtober, an October trail challenge to spend more time outdoors while supporting other girls and women!https://www.classy.org/campaign/trailtober-2025/c718566Or, submit a personal essay for Field Notes, our episodes featuring your stories about how nature changed you. Email [email protected] with your topic idea.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠.Get the storytelling and fundraising skills to make an impact on the sport you love.Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Carlie’s running the Oregon Cascades 100 mile ultramarathon on August 23, 2025! Cheer her on (you might get your name on her race shoes) by supporting her fundraiser to get more girls and women outside: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6540872Carlie Graham lives in Seattle, where she's pursuing a career in finance while staying deeply connected to the outdoors. Carlie led the climbing team at UC Irvine in Southern California and remains passionate about making outdoor recreation more financially and socially accessible through community based groups.Angie and Carlie talk about:How athletic passions both fueled and healed mental health challenges growing upChallenges and wins of restructuring the UC Irvine Climbing ClubCarlie’s biggest lessons in building an adventure-centered communityA (failed) Fastest Known Time attempt of Pico De Orizaba’s Infinity LoopAn experience with assault while seeking rock climbing mentorshipNew adventure fundraiser: The Oregon Cascades 100 milerReciprocity in outdoor sports scholarships and volunteeringMentioned in this episode:Carlie on InstagramCarlie's Adventure Fundraiser⁠Become a Trailblazer like Carlie!⁠Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

How do you juggle chronic illness, unconventional work, and personal adventure challenges?Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, joined us to talk about body challenges on trail, behind the scenes of writing and sharing books, and her company, Rugged Outdoorswoman Publishing.We talk about:Adventuring with POTS, a form of dysautonomiaSelf-publishing and the journey to writing a bookBalancing adventure with businessPublishing an anthology of stories: BLOOD SWEAT TEARSRealities of menstrual periods when on big adventuresLove adventure books like Christine's?Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠ to join and get the fall 2025 box, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.More info:Grit Lit: https://cairnproject.org/grit-litChristine on Instagram: https://www.ruggedoutdoorswoman.com/Rugged Outdoorswoman books and publishing: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

You’re invited to our free Trail Talk on July 31: Injury Prevention in Outdoor Adventure with Rachel Lee Boim, DPT. Bring your questions about pain, strength training, recovery and more. RSVP at cairnproject.org/trail-talks!Rachel Lee Boim is a record holding endurance athlete and Doctor of Physical Therapy who has set Fastest Known Times on iconic routes like the Kilimanjaro Summit Circuit, Aconcagua, and the trail from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp.Rachel began her mountaineering journey at age 33. Since then, her on- the-go lifestyle has led her across six continents to compete in ultramarathons and high altitude ascents. Rachel's also a volunteer Trailblazer at The Cairn Project, blending her passion with philanthropy so other girls and women can experience the magic of time outdoors.Angie and Rachel talk about:Rachel’s recovery from disordered eating and body dysmorphiaHow her sister’s cancer diagnosis inspired Rachel to explore scary goalsThe difference between pain and discomfort in outdoor adventureThe emotional cost of being a sponsored athlete and how she found joy againWhy women of all ages deserve to chase big goals (and how to start)Adventure lessons from Nepal, Bolivia, and beyondJoin us at the July 31 Trail Talk to ask Rachel questions about staying strong and healthy in outdoor adventure!Mentioned in this episode:Free Trail Talks - cairnproject.org/trail-talksThe Pink FundBecome a Trailblazer like Rachel!Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

When 6 in 10 women struggle to name an outdoor female role model, how are girls supposed to know they belong in adventure spaces?Cheri and Aubryanna were two of the young adults selected for the Summit Scholarship Foundation's 2024 Mt. Baker youth climb.Spoiler alert: This all-women’s rope team didn’t reach the physical summit of Mt. Baker. But they gained something just as powerful.Angie sat down with Aubryanna and Cheri to talk about ambition, fear, belonging, and what it means to come together in sisterhood on top of a glacier.We talked about:Data from a 2017 REI study on women in the outdoorsWhat it was like to apply for a Summit Scholarship as a teenThe story of the climb and the AWExpeditions team and guidesThe decision to turn around and not reach the summitBiggest lessons from their first mountaineering experienceThe difference between all-women's and coed wilderness tripsSend this episode to somebody who you think should turn their adventure into a force for good by becoming a Trailblazer!Mentioned in this episode:Summit Scholarship Foundation. Applications open in late 2025.Become a Trailblazer! Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.AWExpeditions: AWE organizes mountaineering and remote adventures for women, by women.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

🎙️ Introducing: Field Notes, a series featuring your written and read stories.We're now accepting submissions from our community, and we’d love to feature your voice in the mix.We’re looking for personal essays set in the outdoors. Think friendship, change, healing, ridiculous encounters, anything that captures a moment where the outdoors shifted your perspective of the world or yourself.Find guidelines and how to submit your story at cairnproject.org/podcast.✏️ Field Notes | Caught in the Current: Lessons from Surviving a Flash Flood in the Grand CanyonIn 2023, Angie got a life-changing opportunity to spend 21 days rafting through the Grand Canyon. On Day 13, a handful of mistakes led her group to be trapped in a side canyon during a flash flood. Hear about:How a group of 16 boaters unexpectedly found themselves in a flash flood in ArizonaThe self-rescue attempts and successes to safely get the group out of Havasu CanyonAngie's personal experience as a woman in a more experienced groupThe heuristic traps that led the group to make mistakesHow being caught in the current gave Angie a new perspective on what it means to spend time on the riverSend this episode to a friend who has an adventure story that should be featured on Field Notes by See Her Outside!Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Think you need alpine access, fancy gear, or a mountain town zip code to train for a major expedition? Think again. Rachel Fagiano is an avid hiker, mountaineer, rock climber and ice climber based in New York City.They have a career background in racial justice, and now their work focuses on creating safe and welcoming environments and improving access to the outdoors for communities that have been traditionally excluded in those spaces.We talk about:How a climbing Groupon led to a community of mentors and a new careerWhat it’s like training for a 22,000+ foot peak from a sixth-floor walkup in NYCThe mental edge urban training built for high-altitude expeditionsWhy they turned their Aconcagua expedition into a catalyst for career changeHow they’re now guiding across the U.S. and helping diversify the outdoor industryTangible ways to practice resource and power sharing, no matter your location or meansSend this episode to somebody who you think should turn their adventure into a force for good by becoming a Trailblazer!Mentioned in this episode:Rachel on InstagramSummit Scholarship FoundationBecome a Trailblazer!By the way, it's not too late to sign up for the June 100 Challenge!Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

✨3 Adventure Opportunities:Join the June 100 Challenge! Combine outdoor movement with storytelling and giving back. We’re uniting 100 women to accept the challenge and will give prompts for accountability and storytelling tips throughout the month of June! This is free to join and a wonderful way to make an impact through spending time outside.RSVP for our free May 28th Trail Talk with registered dietitian Claire Shorenstein! Get your endurance and adventure nutrition questions answered. Sign up for free here.Looking for a fun way to kick off the summer season? Check out the Wild Woman Trail Runs! The all-women’s 50k, marathon, half marathon, or relay team is a blast AND a perfect way to host an Adventure Fundraiser without having to plan your own adventure. June 21 in Washington State. Learn more here.And for today’s See Her Outside guest…Sharing an adventure with a friend can be an incredible experience, but that doesn't mean it comes easy!Natalie Warren, author of Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic, joined us for a peek behind the scenes of her life as an adventurer, author, and parent. We cover:Her adventure paddling from Minneapolis to the ArcticTips for finding and having a great adventure partnerHow canoeing can be a fascinating way to observe societyHow writing about an adventure far in the past can be challengingThe transition to motherhood and raising adventurous childrenGrit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠ to join and get the rest of the boxes this year, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

📢 RSVP for the free Trail Talk⁠ on May 28: Adventure Nutrition and Q+A | ⁠Sign up for the June 100 Challenge!⁠🎧 Gunjan Utreja is a first-generation Indian immigrant to the United States who earned a master’s degree in engineering and built an 18-year corporate career. A journey to self-care led her to co-found the HikeQueen Buddies community, which inspired the creation of MyTrailPals—a mobile app designed to integrate outdoors into everyday existence.Angie and Gunjan talk about:Growing up in India and moving to the United StatesHow early morning hikes with a friend spiraled into a large, active hiking community: HikeQueen BuddiesThe importance of "third spaces" for women outside of work and home dutiesWhy Gunjan's creating the MyTrailPals mobile app to encourage community in the outdoorsManaging self-care as a parent, entrepreneur, and outdoor enthusiastTips for women looking to build their own community groupsSend this episode to a woman who you'd love to go on a hike with.Mentioned in this episode:Gunjan on LinkedInMyTrailPals app and InstagramHikeQueen Buddies and Hiking Buddies of BayRSVP for the free Trail Talk on May 28: Adventure Nutrition and Q+ASign up for the June 100 Challenge!Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Storytelling is a key element in closing the gender gap, outdoors and in. But it’s not always easy to speak up!We’ve spoken lately with women who’ve said:“I’m not an elite athlete. Why would anyone care about my story?”“There are people doing cooler adventures than me, so mine isn’t a big deal.”“If I put myself out there and speak up, people will think I’m silly.”Angie shares a heart-to-heart for any woman who loves the outdoors but is hesitant to turn up the volume on their own voice, including:How YOU sharing your story can change the worldWhy we need diverse perspectives and voices in the outdoors, from trip reports to scholarshipsWhen Angie realized that her personal adventures could positively impact the outdoor communityCountering the common mindset traps that women face when sharing their storiesVisibility isn’t the same as vanityFinding your voice and mining for personal storiesHow The Cairn Project can support you as you begin to share your storiesSend this episode to a friend who you believe has an amazing story that the world needs to hear.(And follow along with Angie’s Adventure Fundraiser here and on Instagram! $5 goes a long way to the cause.)Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a 2025 Trailblazer.Get the storytelling and fundraising skills to make an impact on the sport you love.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Processing grief brought Carly to the mountains. Community gave her a reason to stay.Carly Dykes is a mountaineer, University of Washington student, and 2024 Summit Scholarship recipient who climbed Mt. Baker in Washington last June.Just before Carly turned 18, her dad died from cancer. Carly shares how she found solace in the mountains, why she decided to climb Mt. Rainier in his memory, and the life-changing experience of an all-women’s expedition up Mt. Baker through the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Carly and Angie talked about:Grief, growth, and the healing power of the outdoorsWhat it’s like to climb Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker as a beginnerWhy all-women’s climbing teams matter in a male-dominated sportHow Carly is paying it forward by helping more women get into mountaineeringBaker recap: a birthday summit, glacier school, and mountain sisterhoodCoexisting with rather than conquering the mountainSend this episode to a friend who you want to climb a mountain with this year.You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:⁠Become a 2025 Trailblazer⁠. You can make scholarships like Carly’s possible.Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Is 2025 the year you shoot your shot and get out of your comfort zone? 💪Colleen MacDonald is an ultra and trail runner specializing in the 50 mile and 100 mile distances. Based in Colorado and Minnesota, Colleen is known for her unshakable grit and love of flying down technical descents.Colleen and Angie talked about:Why competition is a positive aspect of sportsHow running helped her adjust after living and working abroadIdentity, self-worth, and ego in ultra runningWhy athletes need white space in training and lifeColleen’s attempts at the challenging Superior 100 in MinnesotaPost-race blues and processing race performancesWhy YOU should go shoot your shotSend this episode to a friend who loves to run or who has a race in 2025.Follow along Colleen's adventures: https://colleenmacdonaldathlete.com/Want to join Colleen as a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project and turn a 2025 adventure into a campaign to get more women outdoors? Learn more at cairnproject.org/trailblazers.You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a 2025 Trailblazer. Like Colleen, you can make a difference for girls and women who want transformative outdoor experiences.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.

✨ Order your Grit Lit adventure book club box by March 30th!Do you ever get pushback from others about your adventures?Caroline Van Hemert, author of The Sun is a Compass, joined us to share about the feedback she's gotten as a writer and adventurer.She also shares about...⛵how she combines her passions of adventure, biology, and writing⛵sailing around the oceans with her awesome kids and raising an adventurous family⛵maintaining clear communication in a partnership where adventure is a value⛵managing personal needs and mental health on big adventuresand more!Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book! 📚Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to cairnproject.org/grit-lit to join and get the rest of the boxes this year! 🔗

Lindsay Kocka is a professional yoga instructor, natural movement coach, mobility specialist, meditation teacher and myofascial release practitioner. Lindsay blended her personal and professional skills with her passions for fly fishing and working with outdoor athletes. Through Wade Well, Lindsay offers functional mobility, fly fishing instruction, and retreats for anglers.We spoke with Lindsay on the See Her Outside Podcast.Lindsay and Angie talked about:The challenges women face when growing a businessHow Lindsay merged her passion with entrepreneurshipWhen perfectionism gets in the way of growthThe therapeutic effects of fly fishing and mindfulnessInclusive representation in the outdoor industryMoney mindset and dealing with finances as a business ownerLindsay’s adventure with The Cairn ProjectTips for women who want to start a businessLearn more about Lindsay at https://www.lindsaykocka.com. Episode photo credit to Gloria Goñi.Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a 2025 Trailblazer. Like Lindsay, you can make a difference for girls and women who want transformative outdoor experiences.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!Follow on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/01x4PI8OoMRS1Rx64OXsTf Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/see-her-outside/id1794910016

Alex Garcia is an engineer, writer and outdoorswoman based partly in western North Carolina and partly in Puerto Rico, where she grew up.Alex’s ongoing personal project called Difficult Pursuits involves progressively more difficult outdoor challenges that she focuses on year to year.As a founding board member of the Summit Scholarship Foundation and a former Trailblazer at The Cairn Project, Alex blends her adventurous passions with advocacy work to shape a more inclusive outdoors.Alex and Angie talked about:- The cultural difference of “adventure” in Puerto Rico vs. mainstream media- Why Alex left Puerto Rico and the culture shocks that came with the move- The challenges of moving to the mainland USA and Alex’s complex relationship with Virginia- The role of outdoor adventure and Difficult Pursuits in personal growth- Alex’s FKT of the Veredas Noreste in Puerto Rico- Approach advocacy work that matches your unique interests and talents- How major challenges in work, life, and adventure made Alex even strongerYou can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a 2025 Trailblazer. Like Alex, you can make a difference for girls and women who want transformative outdoor experiences.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.

When Danielle started rock climbing, she saw the need for increasing safe spaces for women and Latinas to be introduced to the sport.As a Ladies Climbing Coalition ambassador, she started the Atlanta Chapter which has grown to hundreds of local women who love climbing. She’s also a PhD in Pharmacology and MD.In 2024, Danielle was a Trailblazer and held an Adventure Fundraiser of climbing Mt. Stuart to raise funds for the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Danielle and Angie talked about:- Women in climbing history who also influenced medicine- How Danielle got into climbing after not knowing anybody else who climbed- Pushing through the barriers of entry to the sport- How climbing helps Danielle in medicine, and vice versa- Danielle’s experiences of mentorship, both as a mentor and mentee- Giving back to the women’s climbing community by becoming a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project- The strengths that women uniquely have in climbing- How YOU can blend your passions to make a positive impact on your community You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond: Become a Trailblazer. Just like Danielle, you can make a difference for girls and women who want transformative outdoor experiences. Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation. Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Isabelle Riddle is a Bozeman-based woman who spent over 75 days on wilderness adventures in 2023.In 2024, Isabelle was a recipient of the Summit Scholarship Foundation, giving her the opportunity to climb Mt. Baker in an all-women’s climb.Isabelle and Angie talk about:- The gap between outdoor industry inclusivity statements and actual inclusivity in outdoor adventures- How Isabelle’s experiences as a woman with Native American heritage shape her relationship with nature- The difference between all-women's expeditions and mixed-gender expeditions- Self-advocacy and the feeling of being tokenized on an adventure team- Managing the feeling of being the “weakest link” on a team- How Isabelle’s vision limitations affect her climbing on steep terrain- “Breath before steps”: a reminder for mountaineering and life- Team dynamics on Isabelle’s women’s Mt. Baker climb- Supporting adventurers with chronic illnessLike this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for adventurers like Isabelle.Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Gender equity in outdoor adventure isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s something that benefits everyone, including men. Diverse perspectives drive better problem-solving, enrich group dynamics, and create safer, more collaborative environments. But right now, there’s a gap. Women face barriers that prevent them from participating fully in outdoor adventure, achieving recognition, or feeling like they truly belong. The GEA Alliance's programs-- The Cairn Project and The Summit Scholarship-- aim to close the gender gap by facilitating transformative outdoor experiences and sharing stories of women, girls, and gender-diverse adventurers. Episodes are biweekly and can be found on your favorite podcast platform. Subscribe or follow now to not miss the first episodes!