The Best Adventure and Outdoor Blogs for Women

After so much great feedback we've expanded the original list of best adventure and outdoor blogs for women. My new list includes blogs, websites, and companies that tailor, feature or inspire outdoor women athletes. Enjoy!

Tales of a Mountain Mama

An amazing mountain family that is really living the dream for so many- living it up with their little ones in tow!

Just a Colorado Girl

Just a Colorado Girl is a great blog that features long distance cyclying, endurance sports events, running, skiing and adventuring. Fun and inspiring!

Gear Gals

Gear Gals is a blog dedicated to reviewing and featuring outdoor gear reviews for women. Not only are their reviews helpful and insightful- but they also have a pretty spiffy dress up section too.

Crag Mama

A rock climbing enthusiast sharing her love for nature, climbing, the outdoors, and family.

Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition (OIWC)

The Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition is a group that brings outdoor industry women together through online networking, networking events, and kick ass professional development. Really a must join group for any female currently working in or interested in the outdoor industry.

Monica Prelle 

I love Monica’s blog because it is all about fun, outdoor sports, and outdoor lovin’ lifestyle. She’s not constantly pitching you products- she’s much more into posting amazing photographs, writing sharp little features, and inspiring you to shut off and get outside. Great blog!

Women's Adventure Magazine

Seriously one of my favorite sites to stop by. They have killer reader adventures posted on their blog, you can read past issue or current issues ONLINE. For reels. Amazing photograpy, writing, and inspiration for women adventurers.

Outdoor Women’s Alliance 

A great organization that is all about inspiring women to get outdoors in any non-motorized way whether it is skiing, biking, or climbing…. Their twitter feed regularly features 

Jill Outside

The amazing female adventurer Jill. Words can't describe..

Rock Climber Girl

Rock Climber Girl is a truly inspiring blog. She details her climbing adventures, provides tips and tricks on gear and climbing.

Specialized Bikes- Women

Specialized Bikes has truly expanded their women's bike selection. They're one of the few companies that really analyzes women's geometry and builds better bikes for female riders. More than that- they've got an inspiring website and have really spread out across multiple social media. Check them out on twitter or facebook. Specialized has been kicking butt in the women's specific arena- but here is my challenge for them. Remember the Specialized Trail Crew from last year? Well I think we really think we need to see a Women's Bike Crew...What do you say Specialized?

Girl Bike Love 

A passionate group of cyclists inspiring women to be involved in racing, commuting, and riding bikes. Great bike blog that I definitely recommend

Mudd Bunnies

A women's biking club out of Vancouver, BC featuring forums, tips, and teams for downhill, freeride, or cross country mountain bikers. Oh, I so wish I lived nearby!

Outdoor Divas

Outdoor Divas are based out of Colorado and feature clothing, gear, killer events and classes for multiple sports.

Velo Mom

Connecting women, bikes, and their children. Truly informative posts on biking, pregnancy and biking, and kids.

Expand Outdoors

Totally original and authentic- a life coach with a specialty in the outdoors.

Adventure Inspired

Philly based outdoor blogger Katie Levvy regularly features an array of sports, events, and reviews on her blog.

Chicks with Picks

Chicks with Picks is a site for women rock climbers and ice climbers. Their site features a blog, newsletters, and merchandise for female climbers. They also have amazing clinics all around the country for women climbers.

Hiking Lady

The Hiking Lady blog mainly features reviews and tips for women who hike or backpack. Honestly- she has some great tips on lacing your boots to prevent blisters as well as video features. A must check out blog!

Girl Mtn Biker

Girl Mtn Biker is a brand new site for women mountain bikers. Currently they feature a blog, reviews for women, and a great event section. I expect that we will be seeing more and more as this site begins to unfurl.

Terry

Terry has been making bikes and cycling gear for women before it was cool. Now they're still kicking butt and taking names in all things female and bike related.

Girls Outdoors

Girls Outdoors is a great forum for women outdoor athletes. Whether you bike, paddle, ski, or run- Girls Outdoors has tips, reviews, events, and inspiration for everyone.

Bike Shop Girl

A site dedicated to helping women handle more of the mechanics in biking, reviews on gear, and bike industry info.

Title Nine

Title Nine sells all my favorite brands and puts together an absolutely amazing catalog that is always inspiring me to get out more! I love their gear, their amazing positive can-do models, and amazing photography. First rate outdoor women’s company for sure.

Women's Wilderness Institute

Courses, news, tips, and inspiration for both the seasoned outdoors women to young girls.

See any great sites or blogs that I missed? Please comment below and we may include them in future posts!

Hiking New Hampshire's 4,000 Footers: Osceola and East Osceola 7.5.2012

The Osceolas are another set of mountains that I have climbed before and did not officially count on our peak bagging list. When we started this mission we decided that we wouldn't count any mountains we have done before. The last time I had been up on the Osceola's it was winter and it was cold and stormy. Needless to say I didn't have any views.

Wouldn't ya know the next time I climb these mountains there was no views either. East Osceola summit is completely forested so there is no views there, but I betcha Osceola has a nice view when it isn't shrouded in clouds, fog, and rain forest humidity.

Getting Outside

Do you feel like you are constantly wagging a war between life and sport/outdoors? That each day you face the choices (or challenge) of work vs bike, meals vs hikes, or worse TV vs anything? I have to admit that I am completely guilty of participating in this war- a war that should flat out not exist.

The problem is cyclical. It starts with a long day at work, followed by "what should we eat for dinner?, followed by I'm too tired/too full/too hungry to (fill in the blank- hike, run, bike). And better yet, as a female-do-everything- the heck-herself- young lady I feel the need to be great at everything for everyone.

(that's me spending my time)

See it's not enough to just work and come home and call it a day. I want us to eat healthy so I take charge of that. The dog needs to be walked. The bills need to be paid. Blah Blah Blah. Are you catching the drift here? And for all my fellow mountain girls with small children you definitely feel the pull in a thousand directions and the guilt of taking a little "me" time outdoors.

I'd love to hear from everyone on any tips, tricks, or whatevers that help them just get the heck outside more. Here are some things that seem to help me:

• Meal planning- I am so not the organized person in daily life but I do try to do a little pre-planning in this area. For me, I've discovered that an evening meal makes or breaks my outdoor time. If I have nothing planned I will eat junk and then crash on the couch. Lately I've been cooking two large pots of different beans on Sundays and refrigerating or freezing them for the week. My typical meals look something like this: black bean soup, homemade bean dip, beans and rice, stir-fry, and eggs and spinach.
• Game planning for the week- I try to take a good hard look at my week and figure out where the outdoor time is. If every night I have a commitment- I find something to let go of. Do I really need to visit that client or can I reschedule them? Can I switch something to Saturday morning? etc. I say NO a lot. I squirm out of plans.
• Organizing- I'm feeling like this seems to be a theme in this post even though I feel like it is a definite area of weakness for me. What I do for organizing is simple- I have two small folding boxes with bike gear for the week and running gear for the week. I can literally grab that box and be outfitted head to toe in under five. I waste a lot of time looking for random pieces of apparel, remembering where the heck I put my running shoes, etc. So this seems to help.
• Keep it local- I would love to hit trails that are a thirty minute drive from me. Those trails are by far better, climbs are sweeter, and of course the downhills?- killer. But during the work week I have to make compromises. I walk to local trail systems and gain another thirty minutes to spend outdoors.
• Lastly consider where you spend your time. Last week I read an article about how we all have a lot more time in our day than we think and it really made my wheels spin with possibility. If you cut technology out of the equation- time really does become more plentiful.

Updating Best Outdoor Blogs and Sites for Women

In 2011 I posted about the best outdoor blogs (and sites!) for women. I felt at the time that many amazing women, athletes, and outdoors people were blogging, but they were sometimes hard to find.

Well- it is definitely time for a 2012 update! I've intended to update this list before now, but ya' know sometimes dog walking, running in the freezing frickin cold, and hiking up icy mountains is way more important.

Anywho, know any great sites or blogs for women? Please share!!

Updated list/ blog post to come...

Best Outdoor Blogs for Women

I've been culling my list of the best outdoor sites or blogs for women. Some are by women or for women. Some of them are companies, groups, or organizations for women. It's heavy on biking blogs, but there is a little something for everyone. Without further ado- The Best of Outdoor Blogs for Women. Enjoy!

Gear Gals

Gear Gals is a blog dedicated to reviewing and featuring outdoor gear reviews for women. Not only are their reviews helpful and insightful- but they also have a pretty spiffy dress up section too.

Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition (OIWC)

The Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition is a group that brings outdoor industry women together through online networking, networking events, and kick ass professional development. Really a must join group for any female currently working in or interested in the outdoor industry.

Women's Adventure Magazine

Seriously one of my favorite sites to stop by. They have killer reader adventures posted on their blog, you can read past issue or current issues ONLINE. For reels. Amazing photograpy, writing, and inspiration for women adventurers.

Rock Climber Girl

Rock Climber Girl is a truly inspiring blog. She details her climbing adventures, provides tips and tricks on gear and climbing.

Specialized Bikes- Women

Specialized Bikes has truly expanded their women's bike selection. They're one of the few companies that really analyzes women's geometry and builds better bikes for female riders. More than that- they've got an inspiring website and have really spread out across multiple social media. Check them out on twitter or facebook. Specialized has been kicking butt in the women's specific arena- but here is my challenge for them. Remember the Specialized Trail Crew from last year? Well I think we really think we need to see a Women's Bike Crew...What do you say Specialized?

Outdoor Parent

The Outdoor Parent hasn't posted since last year, but they have a great collection of articles for parents who want to be outdoors with their family.

Mudd Bunnies

A women's biking club out of Vancouver, BC featuring forums, tips, and teams for downhill, freeride, or cross country mountain bikers. Oh, I so wish I lived nearby!

Outdoor Divas

Outdoor Divas are based out of Colorado and feature clothing, gear, killer events and classes for multiple sports.

Velo Mom

Connecting women, bikes, and their children. Truly informative posts on biking, pregnancy and biking, and kids.

Expand Outdoors

Totally original and authentic- a life coach with a specialty in the outdoors.

She Pedals Magazine

It's really pretty flipping fantastic that the bike industry has morphed enough to allow for a women's specific cycling magazine. She Pedals features reviews, industry news, and features on top athletes.

Chicks with Picks

Chicks with Picks is a site for women rock climbers and ice climbers. Their site features a blog, newsletters, and merchandise for female climbers. They also have amazing clinics all around the country for women climbers.

Hiking Lady

The Hiking Lady blog mainly features reviews and tips for women who hike or backpack. Honestly- she has some great tips on lacing your boots to prevent blisters as well as video features. A must check out blog!

Girl Mtn Biker

Girl Mtn Biker is a brand new site for women mountain bikers. Currently they feature a blog, reviews for women, and a great event section. I expect that we will be seeing more and more as this site begins to unfurl.

Terry

Terry has been making bikes and cycling gear for women before it was cool. Now they're still kicking butt and taking names in all things female and bike related.

Girls Outdoors

Girls Outdoors is a great forum for women outdoor athletes. Whether you bike, paddle, ski, or run- Girls Outdoors has tips, reviews, events, and inspiration for everyone.

Bike Shop Girl

A site dedicated to helping women handle more of the mechanics in biking, reviews on gear, and bike industry info.

Women's Wilderness Institute

Courses, news, tips, and inspiration for both the seasoned outdoors women to young girls.


See any great sites or blogs that I missed? Please comment below and we may include them in future posts!

How to Avoid the Ho-Hum

I've saved this post for hump day- because let's face it- even the most active & energetic of us outdoor peeps get the ho-hums. Late fall/ early winter tends to be when the ho-hums set in for me. I think it is a combination of darker days & cold winds that brings it on. So here are some strategies for avoiding the ho-hums:

Night Hike

When I transitioned from full-time student to full-time worker I had to start mixing up the work week. Monday through Friday is so dull. But Monday to Wednesday's Night Hike in the woods- to Friday's night hike up nearby peaks is sooooo much more livable.

Fire

Survival experts always tout the motivating, let alone warming, powers of having a fire. Well sometimes a little bit of campfire is needed to ward off the ho-hums. Give it a try- got your own backyard with a firepit? Have a nearby cheapy campground or state park with firepits? Fire em (or one) up and watch the ho-hums fizzle out.

Cartwheels

Seriously there is nothing that a few cartwheels can't cure. I cartwheel on mountain tops, walking the dog on the sidewalk, and even during hike & bike push fests.

TP Your Friends Tent

Sure it's a total waste of TP but it brings the hilarious back to camping as an adult. Plus, who's to say you can't reuse all that TP?

Biking at Night

Biking at night turns the tamest trails into something wildly fun. There is something so appealingly dangerous about limited vision while whipping through the woods on two wheels ;)

Smores on the Grill

Some nights I'm so dead on feet that I just can't gather the energy for the above jaunts. These nights I try to keep the ho-hums away by grilling up some smores on the grill. I find the best way to grill smores is to: put down graham cracker with chocolate and two marshmallows on top, heat for 3-4 minutes with cover on, remove and place another graham cracker on top. Voila! Peanut butter or nutella are nice additions too.

Favorite Things From the Summer

Some of my favorite things this summer:

photo credit

• Homemade salsa
• Night Hikes Galore- I never night hiked in the summer because it stays light so late...But due to some extra long hours and the weaning hours of light in August, we've swung back to night hiking.
• Long bike rides- No longer avoiding the hills! We moved to a very hilly area- so there is just no avoiding them now. My legs have been thanking me.
  
• Camp Chef- I am literally drooling over their goodies. While there style camping isn't my typical style- I still wouldn't mind scoring some of those cast iron skillets for some deep dish pizzas- yum!
• Outdoor Showers- This is a must when I own a home. Maybe I'll use real plumbing though...
• My Tikka- Sure I've technically had it forever, but lately it has been me, the Tikka, and Misty vs. The Skunk. Stinky little jerk has made home in our backyard. It's a constant war. Adam has decided to be the good farmer boy that he is and relocate it with a have a heart trap. This should be fun. Updates soon.
  

Outdoor Sites for Parents and Kids

Recently I've been coming across some great sites for outdoor parents and children. Thought I would pass them along:

• Discover the Forest an ad campaign brought to you by the FSDA (Forest Service) for children that includes fun ideas of things to do outside (a neat downloadable booklet here) and other great tips.
• The Outdoor Parent is a great little blog I stumbled across last week. Interesting, original articles about getting out with your children, tips, links, and even a great page for children here.
• Also, REI has a page for children which I've mentioned before. The page includes a downloadable "passport" to adventure which is essentially a nature/outdoor journal for kids. Super fun.
  

Things I love

The weekend is getting closer...I can hardly wait. In the meantime, somethings I've been loving lately:

• A&W rootbeer with aged vanilla (there is no comparison)
• Ranger Rick Magazine (did you know that RR tweets? for real)
• My new iTouch. I'm hardly ever this up with the technology. Except, maybe I'm really behind because it is all about the ipad these days...Anyone have any app recommendations? Especially anything outdoorsy/referency-ish?
• My Terry cycling knickers- I've been getting my money's worth out these lately.
  
• Ruffwear's dog blog
• Weezer's Ratitude album
• Must I mention the Safire women's mountain bike by Specialized?
• The fact that my butt is the sorest it has been in months? Sometimes sore bike butt hurts so good.
  

Family Fun Weekend

We've been out having a family fun weekend. Just the three of us- Adam-yak, Nuggets, and me.



We shouldn't have been out having fun this weekend though. I should have been doing a slew of other thing. Important things. Like these things:

• Report writing
• Vacuuming
• Cleaning the kitchen
• Making or buying things for Christmas
• Determining the fundamental frequency if given a wavelength and the speed of sound
• Ya know boring stuff like that
  

Instead here is what we did do:

• Went hiking everyday
  
• Watched Nuggets run in circles because she loves the snow
• Took photos
• Drank hot chocolate
• Watched Elf... um twice
  

And you know what? I kind of don't mind that I slacked off. All that other stuff is still going to be there, waiting for me to get to it.

Hope you all had a fun weekend!

Five Signs Your Ride May be Going Terribly Wrong

All of the following is mostly true and has mostly happened to me-- once or twice.

1. You just realized your car keys were in your bike bag, which has been open for the past nine miles.
2. The scenery is looking vaguely familiar at a place you’ve never ridden at before, indicating you’re either developing an ability to see the future or you’ve just biked in a circle.
3. You’ve just passed a sign that says private property and now you’re hearing gunshots behind you—the only direction you know how to get back to your car.
4. You just took a drink of Gatorade from your water bottle and realized you didn’t screw the cap on all the way.
5. Your bike is stuck in one gear mode and you just passed a sign that says steep grade ahead.

9 Unconventional Reasons to Bike

1. Ice cream tastes better

2. Bike tattoos

They’re painless (generally), free, and they last about a week.

3. You don’t have to match- ever

4. That silly giddy feeling of biting off way more than you can chew

Eventually you’ll think you can ride to B from point A and discover it is way further than you think it is. That is when you’ll discover your inner comedian.

5. It’s the lazy man’s way of walking your dog

6.

7. Muddy legs are sexier than legs in panty hose and a sensible skirt

8. It makes a much more interesting story to talk about your bicycle commute vs. your drive in

9. The feeling of freedom is so much better with the wind in your hair

Which Way?

How was your holiday weekend? Ours was insanely wonderful. Since June was plagued with rain, this was really one of the first nice weekends to get out. We ate, we hiked, we biked, and we visited with friends and family.

Which way through the work weekend ahead is the next question. I hope you come back here because this is what I have planned to show you this week:

• more star spangled decorations
• killer cairns
• rock chairs that are actually fun to sit in
• trekking through the mud
• mountain biking adventures

and of course you guessed it--- more!

How to Get your Girlfriend to Ride with You

Mountain biking as a couple has the potential to cause more quarrels than picking out movie rentals. Here are 9 tips that will help your girlfriend to not only ride- but to love riding with you.

Buy her cute biking clothes and equipment

Yep, I started with the cheap and easy route. Sometimes when I was pretty sure I should just chuck my bike in the woods or out the window I would look at my super cool terry bike skort/pink water bottle holder/ and/or smart looking silver helmet and say “maybe one more ride…”

Ride with us

See how we’re progressively getting harder here? Start with the buying and then go to the actual doing of something? It sounds pretty easy right? Well it is actually pretty hard to do for some guys when their girlfriends are just starting out. It seems like a lot more fun to bust out and ride with your friends up ahead, but that then leaves your newbie girlfriend to consider all the suck factors that all beginning bikers start with.

Why are there so many rocks? Why won’t my stupid helmet/camelback/pedal stay in place? If you are actually riding with her not only can rescue the day by fixing stuff but you can actually talk. Even when we say it’s okay to go ahead- stay. We want riding to be just as much a social thing as a physical thing. Go figure.

Stop giving so many tips

Sure it’s nice to get a few basic tips the first five minutes, but after that give it a rest. When we go to crank up a steep hill and don’t make it we really don’t want to hear “you need to push down more on your handle bars.” Make it just about riding and not so much about Yoda imparting words of wisdom on Luke Skywalker.

Feel free to give compliments

Examples: “you look snappy in that red helmet.” “I like how you look with mud on your face.” “You looked spectacular flying over your handlebars like that.” “That hill was way too steep huh?”

Find groups rides where she won’t always be the last person

Why? Because it sucks to be last all the time.

Get her a bike of her own

I know- you’re not sure if she’ll be into. You’re not sure if she’ll ride it. In the end though, she’ll have a much better time and will be more likely to actually like riding if she has her own bike. So many beginning riders I meet are riding their beau’s old bike which is either way too big or way too heavy to even make a feeble attempt to keep up on.

Help her find a comfortable saddle

This might be your biggest challenge of all. Having a comfortable place to sit your tush is crucial to enjoying the ride. Shop around. Remember it's as much about the shape of the saddle as it is the cushion.

Do other stuff

Not every night needs to be a ride. Especially when it’s 100 degrees out and it just rained.

Include ice cream with every ride

It’s just more fun that way.

Pending Bike Doom

In about a month I have a date with my bike and 300 miles of road up the coast of Maine. Covering roughly 60 miles a day with a fully loaded bike. Our last day we'll be tackling 85 miles. What have I done to prep myself for this haul? Not much unfortunately.



When attacking overwhelming trips or problems I can only think in bullet points. So don't mind me while I list.

• The furthest I've ridden my bike to- date is 36 miles and I did that this past Friday.
• My bike goal this year is to go further.
• I have less than a month to prep.
• I've had my road bike for about two months now. I've ridden it maybe 6 times.
• I should mention I am that type of person that plans my route around the big hill at the end, cuts rides short to hit the ice cream stand on the way back, and gotten by mountain bike racing by doing the most minimal training (if you can call it that!) possible. Sorry to come out like that folks.
• I'm considering adding some interval training from this plan.
• I just bought these Ortlieb Rear Panniers in bright yellow. I'm hoping they fit.
• I'm considering getting front panniers, but I'm afraid I'll just do what I always do with extra space. That would be- fill it with stuff.
• We've decided to have each person cook one dinner for the whole group. I'm not much of a cook and I'm concerned that not feeding the fine folks I'm traveling with adequately, may be warrant for them to ditch me on the side of the road. Camp cooking for six will be new for me! I'm thinking something with rice, beans, and salsa.

More poor training details and panicky moments to come- stay tuned!

P.S. That is not the bike I'll be using, I just thought I would try to remind myself how much I like biking while I add on the grueling miles.

Ready for take off?

Photo by So Sylvie

Are you ready to take off this weekend? I sure am. Here's the plan:

Camping
Long road bike ride (I need to do at least 30 miles- a big trip is coming up soon)
Trying this recipe
Doing a fun how to for night time camping photography

Have a Better Summer

I've been thinking a lot about my last post about being a better biker this summer.

And I think I've been bitten by the summer optimism bug. Yup, I'm geared up for a better summer and having more fun than ever. So you know what that means right? Another list baby.

Tubing down a river
Take more photos
Be a better juggler (I am currently a traditional three tennis ball juggler- maybe four?)
Get better at doing handstands
Sleep overnight in a hammock
More jumping
Paint my toenails

Being Better

"No matter what kind of rider we were last year, we'll be better this year. Come to think of it, was there ever a year when you didn't think you could be a better rider?" (Georgina, Terry cycling catalog)

Let's be realistic here, I have had one of the slowest, least active winters to date. I've sat on trains way to long, visited the gym not very often, and ridden on my bike trainer- twice, maybe three times. Yikes, by all means it may take me a whole season to even be in shape, least of all be better.

But still that bike optimism, shall we call it, has bitten me too. I think I'll be better this year, because the trails look good, my bike beacons me with it's attractive colors and my legs are dieing to be covered in mud.

So here is my Bike Better List:

Ride more group rides
Try some endurance races (Vermont 50, Hampshire 100?)
Make sport this season
Ride new trails
Try downhill

Sounds like a fun season. How is yours shaping up? Looking to find the sweetest cruiser? Want to try mountain biking? Give it a whirl.

This year- you'll be better.

Make mine a double

Add this to my list please.

Life is way too short list

With the advent of long gray string of hair that is growing directly up (not with, really up) from my head I decided there are a few things I really need to do this year. It is a short and not comprehensive list.

• Ride my bike some sick distance (that would be a century for me)
• Lobster crate race (see my previous post for more info on this)
• Enter more mountain bike races this year (last year I was at two)
• Go on vacation
• Bowl a 205
• Finish five road races this year
  

A little eclectic, but manageable. I'll keep you posted of course.