Outdoor Girl Nirvana

As an outdoor apparel designer I often come up with ideal pieces in my head, my latest dream need has been the desire for a svelte softshell pant.  Not the kind we generally make in the outdoor industry.  My brain had imagined a piece made from a 4-way stretch double weave softshell fabric, something that would fit and look as good as a pair of lululemon pants meeting skinny jeans, something that I can wear a skirt over the top of, something I can backpack in, instead of those not so attractive brown pants that we are always offered.  I wanted something I can fish in, wet wade in, and put underneath my waders too. Since this dream pant would be a softshell it would naturally be resistant to brush and burrs along the rivers edge, or while bushwhacking for that matter.  This dream pant would also be equally at home on the street and on the town at the end of an active day.  I wanted to take it from the river or the trail, to the bar.

Until yesterday it only existed in my head.  I went into West End Bikes to talk about riding in the rain, as we discussed getting really hot while riding the co-owner Mark took me to the back of the store and suggested that I try on this pant from Outlier.  I love Outlier, so I was intrigued, but hadn't yet purchased anything from them.

Imagine my surprise when the pant he pulled out was...my dream pant!  In fact I was so in shock at first that I didn't even really get what he was showing me.  It took a little while to sink in, maybe because they were $180 *gasp*, so I began to think about why I would pay $180, these were the dream pant, I quickly calculated that I would likely wear them a 100x (can you tell I'm excited) in just the first year that's $1.80/use, and if you factor in that they are a durable softshell, with Nanosphere, these pants are gonna last a long time, so if you average it out over say 3 years, that's .60 each time I wear them, practically a thrift store deal when you break it down properly!

So I left West End Bikes with a silly smile on my face went home and jumped into my new Women's Daily Riding Pant, still haven't wiped the smile off my face... The photos don't really do them justice, you have to try them on.  These pants are also exactly what I have been asked for by climber girls that I have interviewed for design projects too, outdoor girl nirvana has been found, I love it when that happens.

I'm dreaming of a white one, hope you are too!

Beautiful Bolivia

During my recent three week road trip, we spent one night sharing our camp with a couple of rock climbers from France.  They raved over dinner about their recent travels to Bolivia and highly recommended it as a place to visit.  They talked about how kind the people were, and that the sights were simply amazing.  This of course made me curious to learn more, see more, and well... maybe visit there too!  Take a look at a small sampling of the beauty that is Bolivia.

The World’s Largest Salt Flat is located in Salar de’Uyuni, Bolivia. During the rainy season, the water turns into the world’s largest mirror. The reflection of the sky creates a sense of infinity, like you’re walking among the clouds. It’s called the Border between Heaven and Earth.

Above photos courtesy of Carlos Diaz

As if that weren't already enough to convince anyone of a visit to Bolivia there's more, the Death Road...alternatively known as Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, El Camino de la Muerte, or Road of Death.  It is legendary for its extreme danger, one estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers are killed yearly along the road.  It seems only logical that the best way to enjoy it is via bike of course.

It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. One of the local road rules specifies that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge of the road. This forces fast vehicles to stop so that passing can be negotiated safely. Also, vehicles drive on the left, as opposed to the right like the rest of Bolivia. This gives a left hand drive vehicle's driver a better view over his outside wheel, making passing safer.  - Wikipedia


I'm fairly certain I'd love to bike this, but also certain I'd never want to do it via car or bus.

Camino de las Yungas (DeathRoad) from keksas on Vimeo.

Adventure Hiatus

One of the best parts of working for yourself in the outdoor industry is having more time and freedom for adventure.  In that spirit, SY Design will be closed May 27 - June 19 for some serious outside play time.  I'll be taking my four year old daughter, Bernese Mountain dog, and backpacking gear for a three week long adventure based out of our car.  We don't have a set plan in place of where/when just a plan to be outside playing everyday biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, climbing and whatever else comes our way.

You can follow us along in our adventures or misadventures at Meandering Mama our travel blog.  See you soon!

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Did you do Railroad Revival?

If you missed it, too late now, but if you didn't, oh what an experience the Railroad Revival Tour was.  I read about it first on Twitter, and then tickets were bought before I even knew if I could get to the event, I wanted to be there and was pretty certain I would find a way.

I think there were many things that made this event stand out: all the band members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, as well as Mumford & Sons + friends traveling via vintage railcars from venue to venue, the sweet unique tickets, and artist poster, serious artist collaboration on stage, equal billing, an event that spanned all ages and types of people, something cultural & different from everything else currently happening.  For me as a designer it was very inspiring so I thought I would share some of the images with you culled from the RRT facebook page, and from the Flickr page with fan photos from the event.  Looking forward to seeing what might happen next after the success of this event.

Tips for Living with Creative People

I read this last year on Brian Andreas' twitter feed, stumbled onto it again and had to share, he speaks the truth.

Tip #1: Don't ever think you can go behind their backs. It will backfire in VERY creative ways.  Because they're smart & creative. Duh.

Tip #2: quit whining about why they're with you in the 1st place. They CHOSE you. So, get over your neuroses. Or at least shut up about them.

Tip #3: don't expect them to think what you do is interesting. If it was interesting, they'd be doing it. Just be sure it interests you.  ( Note: If it's not interesting to you, don't tell them how it's driving you crazy. Because they'll ask Why the hell are you doing it then?)

Tip #4: DO NOT try & bend a smart & creative person to your will. It will go badly. It may take awhile, but IT'LL GO BADLY. Trust me on this.

Tip #5: Smart, creative people like presents (not always stuff) that intrigue them & say you thought about ways to make deeper conversation ( Note : If all you're doing is starting up a conversation by telling them the details of your day, you are killing them slowly)

**Tell them about the man you met who is trying to teach his canary to whistle opera. Or the lady who offered you 2 for 1 alien ray protectors.

Tip #6: Pay attention in your life. A smart & creative person is not there to entertain you. They are there to play with you. Big difference.

Tip #7. Chocolate & wine. Apply liberally. Be willing to laugh & dance & open more wine. This is the most useful tip

Tip #8: Be flexible & self-sustaining. Smart,creative people have an impetuous relationship with life, so their attention is not always on you

Tip #10: managing a smart, creative person is different than living with one...  (Note that creative people don’t always follow the rule, hence no #9)  You may THINK you can manage them. This is a delusion. The best you can do is lay it all out & ask what they want to do about it.... AND If you MUST manage smart, creative people, tell them about it up front & promise treats when they deliver. They work like demons for treats.

Back from the wild Wallowa's with Big City Mountaineers

It's already been almost a week since I returned from the Wallowa backcountry with the rest of the Backpacking Betty's, (our team's name while on the trail)

It was an amazing time, and for all of you Summit For Someone climbers and BCM supporters out there, you can know that all that hard work fundraising and climbing really does make a difference, these trips are worth it.

It was my first youth trip with BCM and the four teenage girls from Portland's YEI, a big adventure for four city girls who had never backpacked before. Their trail names where Karma, Bobcat, Branch, and Clover, these girls carried the weight of the world on their backs during our 15-16 mile, five day trip in the Wallowa's. Through highs and lows they experienced many first's like: peeing in the woods (eeeew!), digging cat holes (we're gonna hold it all week long!), learning about respect for nature and in return respect for others too, they built their first campfire (even tried using Tapatio hot sauce to start it!), skipped rocks for the first time (at Aneroid Lake), slept out under the stars (and much to their disbelief were not attacked by bugs), laughed and squealed at the sight of bats, celebrated a 15th birthday in the wild (memory of lifetime), learned to navigate the trails on their own, enjoyed the splendor of watching the moon come up and then following it's path all night (hadn't noticed that it moved before that night), and delighted in the sight of shooting stars. It was an eye-opening trip, with some amazing memories for sure.  These types of transformative outdoor experiences can only be made possible with the generous support of others like yourselves. With each trip that Big City Mountaineers is able to send out there are new hopes and dreams that are realized, strengths that were only imagined, and experiences like never before.

I'd like to finish up this journey by raising $2000 to help BCM, with the generous support of so many people already I have reached about $1850 thanks to everyone for your support, and if you have any change to spare, please give this a click for a secure donation.  


Hugs from the trail, and thanks for your support.

Introducing the Backpacking Betty's.... with photos highlighting, camp life, our summit hike to Jewett lake, hiking out of our "frozen toes" campsite, building their first campfire ever on their own, learning the fine art of skipping rocks for the first time, the value of good nature wipe, smiles for miles at the lake, and a team shot en route to Jewett lake.