Outdoor Bunnies

Andrea with the Tetons

So here I am, living in Jackson, WY, an outdoor recreationalists’ dream-come-true. I have national parks and national forests within a few minutes walk or drive and 10,000′ and higher mountains surround me. I moved here in 2007 from Philadelphia (what a change!) to take advantage of that beauty and the accessibility of those trails and mountains. I was also seeking a challenge in my outdoor pursuits. I find that I am the happiest when I am challenged and pushing myself to achieve goals, even if it’s just getting to camp for the night.

But here in Jackson, I’m surrounded by pro- outdoor athletics, semi-pros and wanna-be-pros…the most common thing to hear mumbling around the tables or bars at restaurants here in Jackson is, “what did you do today?” Translation: “What did you climb; What did you ski; What did you ride?…” Everyone here is an outdoor-enthusiast, or so it seems.

Although I like to challenge myself to achieve goals, I’ve never been one to be driven by competitiveness. I’ve never really been in any competitions, other than my 6^th grade spelling bee and if you consider countless stressful piano recitals. I don’t find my love for the outdoors to be based upon peak bagging, fastest climbs or most laps done, either. I enjoy the simplicity of nature—the sights, smells and sounds. To me, a trail is a completely different trail when it’s dry or when it’s raining—each affords a variation to the senses. But that’s not to say I’m a “stop and smell the roses” kind of person, either. I push hard and that’s because it makes the relaxing so much more enjoyable and well earned. Some of the most beautiful places on earth are ones that you have to strive just a little harder to get to.

But my comfort and enjoyment in the outdoors didn’t start at a young age for me. Not until I attended college near the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, did I gain an appreciation for “the woods.” A boyfriend introduced me to backpacking and rock climbing. It was a small sampling, but as soon as I was gainfully employed and on my own, I decided my first vacation would be to travel West—somewhere I had never been before. I visited some friends from graduate school and had a spectactular visit to Olympic and Mt. Rainier National Parks, Seattle and Portland. I fell in love with mountains, wildflowers, meandering creeks and the blue sky backdrop of it all. Although I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I ventured off on my own backpacking into those national parks.

A short while ago I was looking through some old journals of mine, and happened upon the one from that trip. It’s hard to believe my ignornace and naivite. I had borrowed a tent, stove, cooking pots, a fleece jacket from my boyfriend back home in New Jersey. I had an old pair of hiking boots (practically high top sneakers). Everything else was cotton. I think one night a group of guys at a nearby campsite had pity on me and offered me some of their already cooked ramen noodles, which I gladly accepted. I got a good kick out of that—looking back at how I’ve changed since then. Thank god it didn’t rain or I’d probably never gone backpacking again!

But alas, my adventures turned to bigger ones, and I quickly sought to find a community of others who might be able to encourage me to get into the outdoors, have someone to learn from and meet other people who also enjoyed the mountains. That’s when I joined the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Looking back on the past 15 years of my life, I can say that the AMC has had a big impact on who I am today. My interests in the AMC quickly took off rapidly and I went from being a workshop participant to a volunteer, to an activity leader, chapter chair and involved on committees at the national level. I never imagined I’d find myself at the top of Kilimanjaro, biking Tuscan hills, kayking rivers in Patagonia, doing a 14-er in Colorado, or watching the rain from the deck of a New Zealand backcountry hut and all the while sharing my experiences with others who love adventure just like me. What a wonderful opportunity

That’s why I believe in groups that encourage, support and just give a reason to socialize with others while enjoying the outdoor world. I hope that you find Outdoor Bunnies’ resources offer encouragement, support and assistance in finding others to socialize with. Women tend to be more “socializers” than men, and as such we find a lot of comfort and self-assuredness in our female friends and their encouragement. I have conducted introduction to backpacking workshops specifically for women, and they have been well-attended. With backpacking being somewhat of a technical activity, women often are intimidated by men who often learned camping skills when they were young boys (although many of them were taught improper methods and are now embarrassed to admit they don’t know the details of Leave No Trace nor would consider lightweight gear to enable them a more comfortable trip). What a wonderful setting to learn in, make mistakes and share the comaraderie of our new achievements! I still remember one workshop when all the women were showing full team-spirit to put up a bear bag rope. They were pulling on the rope and pushing at the bags with all their might. After a good hard struggle, we succeeded in getting the rope high enough and the food and toiletries properly stored for the night! There was a big cheer, high fives and a great sense of accomplishment at that moment.

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoors-woman, one who has dabbled in it, or someone eager to begin, we can all use a bit of motivation to help us get out there more, enjoy and get better at what we do, whether from a physical or technical standpoint, or from an educational and understanding of the ecology angle—there is so much to learn and be insprired by.

I’ve had men criticize some of my “women-only” outings and workshops and call them “sexist” and biased, and yes, they are. But there’s nothing wrong with that. I know some women who don’t do well in a women-only environment. I’ve been in women-only workshops myself that have had unsupportive and rude women in them. Just like women-specific gear doesn’t always fit all women, women-only activities might not be for all women, either. My guess if you have come to Outdoor Bunnies in search of an outdoor community, then you are not that rude, unsupportive woman.

I’m still not as “athletically fit” as half the people who live and visit Jackson, but that’s not the point for me. The point is to enjoy what I’m doing and to get out and do it and feel a wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment. I continue to explore the new trails here in Jackson Hole and revel in my short commute to be immersed in nature.