Category: Hiking

Categories
Hiking

Join the #365Mile Challenge for 2018!

I’ve discovered in the last 4 months that significant milestones bring about the opportunity for change. There were many things that we’d wait and “start in Hawaii” and then “when we got back to Idaho”. Somehow knowing we had that change of location coming up gave us the motivation to start new goals, ideas, or projects. I told Rachel that’s why I enjoy Airstream travel so much. We are constantly in flux and I just feel that my energy and motivation stay at an all time high. Its fabulous!

This year I’m working with an amazing group of women to head up the 365MileChallenge. Our goal is to get participants outside on 365 self propelled miles over the course of 2018.  Sound impossible? It’s totally not. On average it takes a person only 20 minutes to walk a mile. Easily doable over a lunch break, or you can rack up miles in a weekend on a longer hike, paddle, snowshoes, or ski trip.

As outdoor bloggers and busy mothers, we’ve learned firsthand the benefits of spending time outdoors every single day. We know that there’s joy in just taking a few minutes every day to walk, run, cycle, snowshoe, or cross-country ski but sometimes we need a little nudge getting out the door.

If you want to know the truth…those precious minutes keep us sane.

We think that small distances done over a long period of time also have massive results. They create healthy habits and build self-discipline and the simple act of getting outdoors to move every single day is beneficial to the mind, body, and soul.

We’re also believers in the power of community.

We know that a supportive group of friends, even friends met online can make a huge difference in how motivated we are to accomplish a goal. And when you’re on a journey together it’s sometimes good to be rewarded.

Sound like a challenge you’d  be interested in? We’d love to have you join us! Head over to 365MileChallenge.org to register and we’ll get you added to the private Facebook group where you’ll be encouraged by over 900 other members this year as we all complete our goals together!

Categories
Hawaii Hiking State Parks

Ka’ena Point Hike & Bird Sanctuary – Oahu

We’ve desperately been missing hiking (well, at least Sam and I are) so we decided to drive to the dry side of the island and check out the Ka’ena Point Trail. You can hike two different ways to the point (from the south or Farrington Hwy) and while I’ve heard the south trail is preferable it was also an extra 45 minutes away. So north it was.

Our poor little beach car has seen better days (the passenger side window is no longer rolling up, and the the driver’s side won’t open from the inside) so we rented a car through the university Car Share program and drove a Nissan truck out there instead. Let’s just say we a) liked being back in a truck and b) immensely enjoyed the air conditioning.

This was a 5 mile return trip with most of it being a long a 4×4 dirt road. We were…disappointed. I think maybe if we had lowered our expectations or done a little more research we would have been better prepared. There were a lot of people driving vehicles (I’m pretty sure you have to have a permit or code to get past the gate) for some 4-wheeling and quite a few fisherman set up along the coast. We were ready for some “wilderness” and didn’t really get that.

Still, we explored the coast a bit on the way out and loved watching the waves. The weather over there is definitely more dry and we even saw a CACTUS! I can’t tell you how in heaven I was. It felt a little like a combination between the Oregon & Northern California coasts. As winter approaches the north shore waves are getting bigger and they are pretty spectacular.

At the end of the road we arrived at the Seashore and Albatross Sanctuary. The are is enclosed by a large black fence to keep out predators (and NO dogs), but its easy to open and slip through the gate once you’ve cleaned off your shoes. We were surprised to run into a ranger (the fact that this was part of a state park somehow eluded me) but she was super friendly and knowledgeable about the area. She even let us step off trail to see a baby wedgetail shearwater chick hiding in the bushes. The parents come to land and lay one egg and then once it hatches take turns flying out for food. This chick is almost fully grown and when they are this size the parents will leave for up to two weeks! It was pretty curious about us (thinking maybe we were mom with some food?) so we didn’t stay too long.

The trail through the sanctuary was more what we expected. Combination of rocky and sandy turning to sand dunes once we got out to the point. Kind of cool that you can look back towards the islands and see both the north and south shores at the same time.

After arriving and taking in the view we sat on the concrete base for the old lighthouse and dug into  our @trailfoody bags for some snacks. We are really loving the Nut Butter Nation peanut butter/cracker combination we learned from these guys!

Depending on the time of year, there are hundreds of albatross that come and nest out here on the point. They typically lay their egg in January so were were a bit early. There’s also usually Hawaiian monk seals laying around but either they blended in *really* well with the rocks or they were absent. Instead we inspected the coral and climbed some rocks while taking in the view & sunset.

We hiked the loop inside the sanctuary and then had to book it back to the truck so we could get home on time. We made it in just over an hour which for 2.5 miles is a pretty decent pace! Overall, I’d say we enjoyed ourselves. We love hiking with the kids as it gives us a chance to move our feet and spend quality time together. I love the random topics we discuss – lots of programming between Sam and Rachel, while Cara & Andrew prefer anything Minecraft related.

It was nice to explore a different part of the island. This hike has zero shade so if you are going in the summer definitely take a hat, sunscreen and lots of water!

As we reached the parking lot, the sky decided to put on a show for us. Bold move, Hawaii. Bold move.

Categories
Biking Hiking Outdoor Gear

Gear Review: SHREDLY Women’s Mountain Bike Clothing

SHREDLY Clothing was born when founder Ashley Rankin wanted to spice up the world of women’s mountain biking clothing. Not only did she want clothes that looked good, she wanted clothes that were comfortable and maintained technical performance while they were at it.

I ran into her clothing while I was searching for something a little more comfortable to ride in. I wanted shorts, not just a chamois (like I had been wearing while road riding) and a jersey that didn’t exactly look like a jersey. I love having the back pocket for cycling specific clothing, but also didn’t want to look out of place if I had to run to the grocery store afterward.

SHREDLY has been perfect. I’ll admit that the short patterns were initially a little bold for my taste but they’ve grown on me. I love getting “nice shorts” compliments while I’m out riding, and while mountain biking at Outessa there was more than one of us sporting the SHREDLY style. Instant friends.

I’ve been wearing the JANA Women’s MTB Long shorts, the YOGOCHAM Women’s Cycling Chamois & the CARGO Women’s Teal MTB Jersey for a few months now and have been super impressed with the quality and comfort.

JANA Women’s MTB Long Shorts

The shorts all have thigh vents, and they are fabulous for when you are pedaling uphill and working up a sweat. Opening those up allows air to flow through, but you can zip them back up on the downhill or when you head to the grocery store.

I love the length on the Long shorts – they come down to just above my knee which is my preferred length. They are 3″ longer than the regular MTB short which is great for those of us with long legs.

All the pockets have snap closures or zip so nothing will fall out!

These shorts are versatile, and I’ve worn them hiking in addition to biking. Great all around short!

photos courtesy of SHREDLY

Two improvements for the shorts:

The side pocket is not quite big enough for my phone. I don’t necessarily keep it in there while riding, but for out and about its my go-to pocket.

In chatting with Ashely via email she mentioned that for 2017 the shorts will have bigger pockets. Hooray! With bigger phone sizes becoming the norm, she’s updating her line which makes me super excited!

The waist feels a little big for the size. The waistband is adjustable (like many kids’ pants), but I have to cinch it really tight and then I have the excess hanging around on the inside. Not a deal breaker but slightly annoying.

Ashley also mentioned the shorts are designed as low riders. They should sit low on the hips and your hip bones should be right in the middle of the waistband.

YOGOCHAM Women’s Cycling Chamois

The chamois liner is perfect for these shorts. The right about of coverage, they fit great underneath, and don’t move around. I’ve never had them rub me wrong or feel uncomfortable while I’ve been riding. Exactly what you want in a chamois.

If you’ve never tried riding with padding, I *highly* recommend it. So much more comfortable and you definitely are less saddle sore – especially on longer rides!

CARGO Women’s Teal MTB Jersey

I love the soft fabric on this jersey. I also love that its not a front zip. It feels more like a hiking shirt which means that it can be dual purpose. I’d never go out hiking in one of my other “real” jerseys, but I’d have no problem in this one.

SHREDLY sells an all-in-one zippered back pocket, or this two pocket shove – it style. Since I like to keep my phone separated from my snacks, I prefer the two pocket version. They are deep enough that I’ve never worried about anything falling out.

The cut is flattering, and I love having the v-neck as its my preferred collar style anyway!

photos courtesy of SHREDLY

One improvement for the jersey:

I like my clothes extra long (I’m 5’11”) so I’d prefer the jersey to be another inch or inch and half in length. Maybe they could sell a long version of this as well? I just wear a cami underneath to give me a little more coverage. Mostly a personal preference.

Overall I’ve been incredibly happy with my purchase of SHREDLY clothing. They do run rather pricey (shorts, chamois, and jersey can run $200+) so buy them in phases or just stick to the shorts if you’ve already got a jersey you love and a chamois.

Although Ashley has rad ambassadors to help spread the love (of which I am not one), she did give me a discount on my purchase in exchanged for a review. As always I never post about anything we don’t absolutely love!

SHREDLY will also do gift cards, so if you have someone you think would love a Holiday Gift but you’re not sure how bold they want their clothing this is a great option. SHREDLY also has some great tech tees, and leggings which maybe I’ll have to invest in once I have a bit more closet space!

See more outdoor gear & inspiration on Pinterest!

Categories
Hiking Oregon

9 Family Friendly, Adventure Stops Along the Oregon Coast {Plus a Few Bonus Activities}

Planning a family vacation to the Oregon Coast? This beautiful piece of the country is not to be missed! Check out our post for road trip ideas and discover tide pools, crabbing, flying kites and other things to do with your kids while you are there!

For anyone that hears “coast” and immediately dons their swimming trunks, the Oregon Coast may come as a bit of a shock. There are beautiful beaches, but the vibe is definitely more rugged than its southern California counterpart.  Crashing, intense waves, cold water, and wind can make swimming a less than ideal activity, but no fear! There are plenty of other activities to keep you busy.

We’ve been along the Oregon Coast twice now. The first time was in October of 2014. We had just completed a loop of the California Coast, Crater Lake, Portland, Vancouver BC, Olympic National Park, and Whidbey Island. Our goal was to do head down entire coast, but we made it to Lincoln City around Halloween and decided we’d have enough rain and headed inland.

This year we skipped the California Coast and headed north for the stretch of Oregon between Brookings and Lincoln City to fill in our missing gap. We timed the weather a bit better in August when it was slightly warmer and less wet. The Oregon Coast is a good 20 degrees cooler than other cities inland (100 degrees in Medford, 65 at Cape Blanco). We were happy to don our sweatshirts and beanies and enjoy the cooler, dry temps!

We also wanted a repeat of our crabbing experience and our kids needed no other reason to head up the coast! Even though we overlapped on some of the cities, we picked different places to stay just to mix things up.

In our recap, I’ll go south to north and detail some of our favorite spots. Hopefully you can work some of these into your next adventure trip to Oregon!

Camp & Explore Cape Blanco State Park, Port Orford

This state park is hands down our favorite along the coast. While rugged and beautiful, I also felt it was one of the quieter parks we visited. This could be due to the smaller campground (only 50 sites compared to over 200 at some parks), or that the largest nearby city is Port Orford which is, in fact, not large at all.

dscf6626

This park has beautiful views of the coast, a quiet campground, lighthouse tours, and a beautiful sandy beach perfect for an afternoon of playing in the sand.

Fly a Kite at South Beach State Park

South Beach State Park was a little overcrowded for our liking. The state park has a huge campground and its very popular (busy) during the summer and weekends in the fall. However, we had a fantastic evening of kite flying and lounging on the beach watching the sun go down. The beach is so large that we were able to carve out a little, sandy spot and thoroughly enjoy ourselves.

dscf6753-edit

There are kite festivals up and down the coast. The vast open beaches and windy afternoons just beg for kite flying. Pre-travel my dad gifted me a stunt kite as a birthday present and we’ve packed it in the truck ever since. We’ve had some epic kite flying on the Oregon Coast both years we’ve been there.

dscf6710

If a stunt kite isn’t your speed, we also recommend this Prism Bora 2 Single-Line Kite on Amazon. Its great fun and super easy to fly!

dscf6735-edit

Tidepooling at Yaquina Head Natural Area, Agate Beach

Tidepooling is an outdoor family adventure that all ages can enjoy. Most state parks will have a tide schedule, and you’ll just want to time your visit with low tide. The ocean recedes, leaving pockets of water among the rocks where you can see all sorts of ocean life. Wear good shoes (often the rocks are sharp), or some good sturdy sandals in the event of getting wet.

Not to be confused with Yaquina Head State Park, the Natural Area is run by a branch of the NPS which means your annual pass gets you in for free!

dscf6703

We parked at the Visitor Center as we were warned the parking lot near Cobble Beach fills up quickly. It was a short, yet beautiful walk on a paved path then down some stairs to the beach.

Cobble Beach is aptly named as its compiled of round basalt rocks that are actually quite difficult to walk across. With the tide out we were able to see small crabs, orange sea stars, purple sea urchins, and green anemones. There were volunteers walking about the pools available to answer questions.

dscf6702

Hike Cascade Head, Lincoln City

Remember all the rain I mentioned back in 2014? Yeah. We desperately needed a hike and when the weather forecast looked even remotely dry, we hit the trails. We found a 6 mile round trip trail to Cascade Head and headed out. Our efforts were rewarded with a muddy, damp, trail, lots of elk, and amazing views. Full blog post here.

Cascade Head Hike_04

Lincoln City also has a great children’s section in their public library, and the community center pool had a rope swing. Epic.

Cape Trail at Cape Lookout State Park, Pacific City

dscf6790

This was another hike born out of desperation to hit the trail. The weather was not ideal, but for the Oregon Coast we managed with what we had. We pulled rain shells over our puffy vests and set out prepared for mud.

Ideally you’ll hike this trail on a sunny day and have absolutely amazing views, but our goal that day was more simple: Hike more than 5 miles. As we set the bar pretty low, the fog covered coast didn’t bother us. In fact, it was magical in its own way.

Play Games on the Beach, Pacific City

We stayed at the Pacific City Thousand Trails RV Resort while we were in the Pacific City area. It made a decent base camp, all the state parks were booked over the weekend, and it was honestly the most “campground” like RV park we’ve ever been to. Plus, we were invited to stay for free. Can’t really beat that.

dscf6884

One of my favorite parts about staying there was that the beach was just a short walk away. The kids, however, decided it would also be fun to drive out so one night we took some games and spent a chilly evening playing in the sand. There are a lot of games that are great for the beach – two of our recent favorites are this backpacking Bocce set from REI (we bought it), and the OgoSport OgoDisk Set on Amazon (we were sent one to test out).  Both are fun with kids and totally beach compatible!

Crabbing at Kelly’s Brighton Marina, Rockaway Beach

dscf6825

Our first experience crabbing back in 2014 was so epic-awesome its forever become one of our favorite experiences. When we were route planning and considering the Oregon Coast this hit pretty high on the to-do list. We are not associated with Kelly’s in any way, but they are hands down the best place to crab. Where else for $100 can you rent a boat, crab traps, and bait for 2 hours, then have them cook anything you catch? I dare you to find a more friendly, helpful bunch than the guys that work here.

Dune Jumping at Nehalem Bay State Park, Nehalem

The wind along the coast creates some pretty spectacular dunes. Fortunately for our kids, dad is an excellent dune jumper and loves to show them how its done. The kids also hauled out the sand toys and snuggled down between a couple of dunes to play for an hour.

img_20141021_173225

The campground is also well done. They have quite a few walk-up sites so if you get there mid-week you have a good chance of snagging a spot. Our kids loved to the climb the gnarled trees all over the campground, the playground was decent, and the little field in the middle of the park was great for frisbee and kicking around a soccer ball.

The dunes do a great job of sheltering the campground from the wind. We were totally fine, even though it was crazy windy next to the water.

Explore the Wreck of the Peter Iredale, Astoria

Astoria is a great city, and nestled nearby on the peninsula is Fort Stevens State Park. With a large campground, we easily found a site in the off season and settled down in the fall rain.

img_0793-edit

There is a paved trail from the campground out to the beach where you can see the wreck of the Peter Iredale, a four-masted steel barque sailing vessel. It ran ashore in 1906 and was abandoned. The shipwreck is one of the most accessible along the coast so its a popular tourist spot.

On our third attempt to see the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale, we finally had decent enough weather to brave the beach without getting blown over. While smaller than we expected, the shipwreck back lighted by the sunset was quite a sight!

Nearby there’s also Lewis & Clark National Historic Park (earn those Jr. Ranger Badges!) and the Astoria column (check out our video). We also ate great pizza at Saraha Pizza in downtown.

Bonus Tourist Stops:

You can’t go hiking EVERY day (unfortunately) so mixing up a few of the “must sees” around shredding the trails are a good idea. Here are 5 of our favorite tourist stops as an added bonus:

Join the Slug Club, South Beach State Park

dscf6799

It really is a thing as crazy as its sounds. In order to join the slug club, you need to LICK a banana slug. Take a photo and send it to the rangers at South Beach State Park as they have a whole wall dedicated to this craziness!

Cape Blanco Lighthouse Tour

dscf6667

Many people hit the Oregon coast to see the beautiful lighthouses. We loved the lighthouse at Cape Blanco and the tour was very informal, but informative. Volunteers are stationed inside the main room and at the top where the light is. They entertained us with history and facts about the Fresnel lens, the keepers, and the area. This lighthouse is the farthest west on the coast as well as the oldest operating light.

Double check the hours before you go, but they are generally April – October and cost $2 per adult. Kids 15 and under are free.

Taste of Hawaii Food Truck, Florence

img_20160823_133143985-01

We timed our drive north from Cape Blanco to hit this food truck for lunch. It was so worth it. Fabulous Hawaain pulled pork & the kids downed their fish and chips in record time. We actually ordered too much food (had to get some Sushi too!) so we ate the rest for lunch the following day. The parking lot was plenty big for our rig and we could wait inside out of the cold until our food was ready.

Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport

img_20160824_172047581-01

We had a mix-up on this one – make sure you don’t Google “Aquarium near Newport” or you’ll end up with tickets for the one in Kentucky. No joke. Oops. The employees at both Aquariums said it happens all the time so it all turned out okay. Its not the largest or fanciest aquarium (and its rather pricey) but it was also Andrew’s birthday so we splurged.

We really enjoyed watching the puffins swim, and the otters were just so darn cute it was impossible not to love them. They also have a fantastic shark tunnel and a great touch-pool.

Tillamook Cheese Factory

Its not my favorite factory “tour” but it is interesting. There are basically large windows overlooking the factory area with plenty of videos and information boards. If you want to see the factory in action, just make sure you go during business hours. We went in the evening and there wasn’t much going on. Total bonus is the cheese sample line – feel free to do laps while you are there!

dscf6809

Two years ago we just ate ice cream (a definite must!) but this last time we also had dinner. We started off with cheese curds, and fries, then Sam and I split a New  York Pastrami Melt, while the kids chowed down on Tomato Soup and their Turkey Pesto sandwich. It wasn’t the cheapest meal but it was definitely delicious! We went light on dinner as we also ate ice cream afterwards.

Eat Salt Water Taffy

Lincoln City as a fantastic outlet mall, and one of our favorite stops is Sweet Delights. They make the most AMAZING hand pulled, salt water taffy. This stuff tastes real and they have quite the selection of flavors. Hard to pick a favorite.

dscf6772

Its definitely not an exhaustive list, but this will give you a good start! We love the Oregon Coast and plan to travel back many more times. Have you been? What’s your favorite spot?

Categories
Backpacking Biking Hiking On the Water Outdoor Adventures Rock Climbing Utah

Summary & Review of REI’s Powder Mountain Outessa Summit

outessa-jcurren-day-1_18We turned up the winding canyon road and our excitement mounted with every foot of elevation we climbed. We turned off the main rode and drove the last few hundred feet up a dirt road to the very top of Powder Mountain Ski Resort. We crested the final hill and were in awe of the view that would be ours for the next 4 days. This was truly going to be a spectacular weekend.

Partnered with REI, the brains behind an all women’s outdoor adventure summit went all out. From amazing REI guides and teachers from all over the country, world class food, national championship level athletes, prominent vendors in the outdoor industry, and a full schedule, they worked to cover every detail to create a one of a kind event.

outessa-jcurren-day-1_01

After checking in, receiving my welcome packet (an Osprey day pack will all sorts of goodies inside!) I was led to the spot where Camp Outessa was being formed. I opted to bring my own camping gear and stake it out in the temporary camp, but immediately became aware it wasn’t going to be easy. We were set up in a parking lot at the top of the hill, and naturally, the ski resort uses a hardening agent in the dirt so the entire top of the mountain doesn’t slide off when the snow hits. It also makes it really hard to stake in a tent. Outessa had laid out fresh sod over the dirt which helped the stake situation (we angled all our stakes in practically sideways) and also provided a soft surface to sleep on. I was extremely grateful to not have dust and dirt in the tent area! We had some resourceful people helping us try to get our stakes in the ground, and resorted to a lot of sandbags, rocks, and sharing  of large tent stakes so we could have at least one corner staked down well.

outessa-jesscurren-_81

Thinking I was set up as well as I could be, I met back up with my friend and we explored the REI village where vendors were setting up. There wasn’t really anything going on that evening, just mostly checking in and getting set up. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized meals weren’t provided until the following day, so by the time dinner rolled around I was one of quite a few hungry people hanging out. We snaked protein bars, almond butter, and a few other snacks laid out for the weekend, and after chatting on the deck and watching the sun go down we headed to bed excited and ready for the following morning.

outessa-jcurren-day-1_12

Then the wind picked up, the temperature dropped, and nobody slept.

I swear it was the worst night’s sleep I have had in my entire life and I’ve been pregnant three times. Not being able to fully stake my tent fly out it was flapping loudly all night long while consistently hitting me in the head. It was also bitterly cold. I woke up around 2am and donned almost every single piece of clothing I had brought. Layered up I still slept fitfully with the noise and wind chill.

Miserable, angry, and feeling utterly defeated I woke up at 6:45am the next morning and grumbled my way out of the tent to attempt a sunrise photo. I wasn’t feeling it and I’ll admit I had some not nice thoughts going through my head. I was hungry, cold, tired, and not sure how I was going to manage a full schedule of outdoor activities on little sleep and no real food. Breakfast was light (tofu burritos) and I longed for oatmeal, eggs, or anything that could help give me a boost for the day.

At this point I had a choice. I could suck it up, change my attitude, and purposely strive forward knowing that nothing is perfect. Or, I could give in to the demons in my head, pack up and head for a hotel later that day where I knew I could get a good night’s rest.

I chose the former option and am so glad I did.

My first class wasn’t until 9am, so I went back to my tent determined to fix the fly problem. There were some helpful men running around with large hammers, more rocks, and helpful attitudes. We managed to stake my fly out a little better and I also found the Big Agnes camp hostesses walking around with ear plugs and hand warmers to help both the noise and the cold. Bless their souls.

Buoyed by this success, I started my classes and had a fantastic day. I made my own ProBar, tortured myself with a Trigger Point foam rolling session, conquered an overhang in an intermediate rock climbing class, and headed out on a mountain bike for a trail ride. I loved being surrounded by passionate women who excelled in their sports and were there to encourage and support us in whatever we were willing to try!

outessa-jesscurren-_09

outessa-jesscurren-_30

Thankfully there was very little wind Friday night (I fully attribute that to all the prayers that I’m sure were being said all day!) and woke refreshed and ready to pound another day.

Mountain Biking Tight Turns, SUP, Backpacking Cooking, and an amazing, travel photography workshop with Chris Burkard kept me running on my feet until dinner. Perhaps my schedule was a bit packed (I did manage to squeeze a few minutes to sit in the ENO hammock lounge) but I thrive on doing all the things. With so many options it wasn’t difficult to keep busy.

outessa-jesscurren-_62

Saturday night we hiked a mile to dinner as a group where we were treated to a crab boil! I ate salad, cornbread, seafood, and potatoes amidst some great company, and a charged, positive vibe from the group.

outessa-jesscurren-_85

Afterward we retired to the campfire and sat huddled against the cold laughing, talking and enjoying each other’s company. To top it off we were served grilled peaches, pound cake, and whipped cream while we watched the sun sink on the horizon.

outessa-jesscurren-_90

Although I wasn’t in the mood to run, I knew that if I ditched my headlamp run I would forever regret it. Despite the fact that were were full of crab, there were 5 of us that set off on a short 2 mile trail run around 8:30pm. Decked out with Salomon running shoes we made our way down the hill and back up again. Lit by our headlamps underneath the moon and stars it was probably one of the most peaceful things I’ve ever done. Mid-way we stopped to just stare at the night sky full of stars.  Proud of myself and warm from the run I crawled into my sleeping bag and slept easily until morning.

outessa-jesscurren-_91

Sunday dawned bright and crisp and after a quick breakfast of yogurt, muffins, and fruit I got dressed in my mountain biking gear and headed for my most anticipated class: Mountain Bike Skills – Wheel Lifts. After attending my skills class the previous morning I was dying to add this class and the night before a spot opened up. The instructor for all the MTB classes was Cindy Abbot-Wood – the Senior Instructor for the REI Outdoor School in Austin, TX and one amazing pro-level mountain biker.

outessa-jesscurren-_94

You guys – I didn’t know you could take mountain biking skills classes and I was hooked. I seriously wanted to just drink everything in.

outessa-jesscurren-_102

outessa-jesscurren-_100
Demoing her awesome skills to the class, our group of instructors including pro athletes Sarah Kaufmann, and Rebecca Rusch, and me learning how to balance while doing a wheelie.

If there was anything I got from attending Outessa, it would be the passion, desire, focus, and motivation to follow my dreams. Cindy and I chatted after class (and my amazingly awesome wheelie!) about life, what I could do to certify as an instructor, and how to continuously improve my skills and even get into the racing scene. She could tell I’ve been bit badly by the mountain biking bug and absolutely encouraged and empowered me.

outessa-jesscurren-_123
Julia Mallon(co-founder), Cindy Abbott-Wood (REI Guide), Bart Davis (co-founder)

On a total high from my class and chat with Cindy, I skipped my stretching session and opted for a moment or two in the hammock and time to just breathe before taking the shuttle down to the reservoir for kayaking with OruKayaks. The instructors decided to throw in a little origami while we were at it.

outessa-jesscurren-_124 outessa-jesscurren-_126

Even though I was dying to go ride with the group on the afternoon trail ride, at this point I was feeling pretty spent and knew that 2 hours on the trail might just kill me. Instead I opted to check out the Leatherman class (and got a free Skeletool!) and ended the day with Yoga at 5pm.

outessa-jesscurren-_142

My entire experience was a completely packed 3 days, but there were so many other classes I could have taken. Plenty on hiking, photography, campfire cooking, taking care of your body, meditation, or even map & compass. It was great to gather at meals and see what classes other women had taken and how they felt about it. So many felt enabled after taking an Intro to Backpacking, or Rock Climbing class. Many had sports or activities they had always wanted to try but never felt they could get into on their own. Taking a class, learning about equipment and being able to ask questions was just what most of these women needed. No egos, no judgement, just encouragement from all sides.

Outessa is all about empowering women in the outdoors. They encourage us to nurture our passions and feed our curiosities. I came home fueled up, filled, and completely ready to tackle whatever life throws at me. Was the event perfect? Of course not. From a less than ideal camping situation, to dinner on Thursday night, or even shuttle schedules, I know that the brains behind Outessa are working on solutions. For a first time event however, I completely feel Outessa knocked it out of the park. They were so aware of us, our needs, and what they could do to make our experience even better. Just as we learn from the obstacles thrown in our path you can bet Outessa is already hard at work hammering out details to make next year even better than this one and I can’t wait to be there.