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.

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.