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An Epic Climb of Mount Rainier via the Willis Wall
Nearly 400 people have been members of The Mountaineers for 50-years or more. Together, they share 20,000 years worth of outdoor memories: exploring, learning, and conserving in our wild places. I have the privilege of learning about their stories on a weekly basis....
Extreme Fun for Turns All Year: Month 81
Get into the car wearing nothing but a tank top, shorts, ski boots, and tutu (duh). Go on a five minute ride. Walk 30 seconds, on snow, to the top of a flat landing and click into your skis. Sloosh your way down for 750ish vertical feet on perfect, skier-groomed corn....
How To Plan A Surprise Wedding
How to plan a surprise, secret wedding in 10 easy steps: Get engaged. Tell no one.Decide you don't want to plan a wedding and opt for a secret, surprise backyard ceremony instead. Make it a western themed pig roast, because you are from Montana and he loves to roast a...
Turns All Year: Month 80
I'll admit it: I'm getting a little tired of Turns All Year. It's not TAY, it's me. I feel like this ridiculous endeavor has introduced me to amazing people and jaw-dropping places, and if I can be self-indulgent, first-world-problems for a minute I'll admit that I'm...
Turns All Year: Month 79
Two years ago, I adulted hard by buying a townhouse to celebrate birthday #32. I spent the month painting (a mountain mural!), boxing, and moving. Not so much with the birthday celebrating.Then, a year later, my boyfriend bought a house and we once again spent my...
Turns All Year: Month 78
When you've been skiing for 78-months in a row, it's easy to lose track of days and months. I like to compare it to your mid-twenties in terms of aging. At some point, you just forget how old you are. Skiing every month for as long as you can remember and as long as...
The Volcano Conundrum: Summit or Skiing?
Volcano Season in the PNW is a special time for backcountry skiers. This magical season from April-July is full of opportunity and the prospect of sunshine, summit celebrations, and slaying corn. It's our annual harvest, with each trip promising a rich bounty for...
The Backcountry Tutu Is Dead
No one is saying anything. It's as if this pink, pouffy, tulle-tastic monstrosity is not adorning my waist. Do you not see me? Or are you pretending not to see me so you can avoid saying hello you passive-aggressive, Pacific Northwestern, son-of-a-bitch?!I have been...
Ski Mountaineering Through The Five Stages of Grief
The depth of my anguish as measured by the disappearance of my chin. Photo by Peter Dunau.My shoulders ache, my hip belt is digging in to my fleshy bits, and I think I have a rock in my shoe. It's the middle of the summer and I've once again strapped my skis to my...
