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.

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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Gulmarg is...As Good as it Gets

I only learned about Gulmarg in the last couple year's but now that I know of it, I want to go.

Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country’s premier ski resort in the winter.

photo courtesy of David Marchi - Globallines

With views and skiing that looks like this combined with an incredible cultural experience how can you go wrong?  

Wondering how you might get there?  Here is just one idea for you... Extremely Canadian owned by Peter Smart and Jill Dunnigan whose home mountain is Whistler, offers guided skiing world tours and will be in Gulmarg Feb. 5-12 of 2011.   Speaking from experience having skiied with them many times, they are really good guys/gals who are top notch and offer amazing experiences. 

photo courtesy of Extremely Canadian 

You can also learn a little more about Gulmarg via B4Apres  through their cultural documentary as seen through the eyes of skiers. They traveled into the mountains surrounding the Gulmarg Ski Resort in order to capture the aesthetic beauty of the landscape and the livelihoods of a people eager to dispel the stigma that Kashmir is a dangerous place to travel.

photo courtesy of David Marchi - Globallines

If you get lucky enough to go to Gulmarg let me know, in the meantime it's on my list of places to go in the next few year's.