Have you ever met someone who feels really *good* to be around, because it feels like they really understand what's going on - with themselves, with others, with the world at large? I'm not talking about someone who has all the right answers. On the contrary, I'm talking about someone who's asking all the right questions, someone who strives for awareness and understanding and empathy. (You'll see this come out in huge heaps in her writing.)

Whelp, that's Iyara. Add in an independent streak, a huge smile, goddess-like kitchen skills, spontaneity, and a laid-back, lighthearted attitude, and you've got an even fuller picture.

Last week, I went to see Frank Warren, creator of Post Secret, in conversation. Post Secret's a blog I've followed occasionally for years, but hearing his story and the history of Post Secret gave me a holy-wow-aha-moment reminder of the importance of giving voice to our stories.

While the postcards mailed to Post Secret are anonymous, my fave part of last week's event was when audience members stepped up to mics placed around the theater to share their own secrets.

If any of you were following along with my novice attempts to use Instagram stories on the Trail Mavens account for the past few weeks, you were flooded with photo after photo of insane turquoise lakes, mountains, and glaciers. Lest you get the impression that running Trail Mavens means I spend most of my time outdoors in places like this, let me assure you this was a unique situation.

See, I got married last August, and because the hubs and I busy people and all my planning juices go to Trail Mavens, this was our (very delayed) honeymoon. We flew into Seattle where we picked up a rental car, and spent three weeks exploring in Olympic National Park, British Columbia, and Alberta.

I learned how to row a raft before I learned how to drive, and I did so next to my sister and our friends. We were surrounded by strong, fearless women who taught us how to run rivers, ski smart, climb rocks and trees, run trails and most importantly, how to play.

After many backpacking and river trips with friends and family, I took a semester-long course with NOLS, which led to more trips and a deep distaste for backcountry falafel. I eventually started guiding in Wyoming for a river company, and met more kickass women with whom I fought the macho-guiding culture with hard work, honest tears and Whitney Houston.

What kind of woman takes matters into her own hands when she decides she wants to challenge herself and learn outdoor skills, but has no one to do it with? That'd be Katherine. 

Katherine is also a thrift store shopping, Amy Poehler quoting, marathon running, dog loving kind of gal. In short, we heart her so badly. Read on, and you will too.

You might remember Anne from an Instagram post a few weeks ago, wherein I gushed (totally appropriately) about her after spending a weekend adventuring with her in Big Sur. In writing a title for this post, I found myself at a loss for words - perhaps because there are so many that could be used to describe her: intelligent. Captivating. Thoughtful. An incredible listener. Clearly a descendant of wood-dwelling fairies (this one will make sense if you meet her). The kind of person who includes the words 'life-changing shit' in her one-sentence Trail Mavens bio. Her cookieface attempt at the end of our trip is one of the most ambitious I've ever seen (and she's gluten free and couldn't even eat the cookie).

If you've been reading this blog for the past six months or so, you know about my decision to keep Trail Mavens relatively intimate, opting for deep roots in California over national expansion. When I tell women about that decision, they say something like, "Oh! You're keeping Trail Mavens small. Small is good, too!" (When I tell men, I usually just get blank stares.)

When I hear that response as often as I do, it's easy to fall into the mindset of Trail-Mavens-is-just-a-little-itty-bitty-thing. And then, sometimes, I step back, get perspective, and realize things like: Trail Mavens has run more trips in the past two months than in the whole of our first year. I'm not usually one for an abundance of punctuation, but --> !!!!!

I met Cynthia - better known as Cindy - on Trail Mavens' annual Labor Day trip to Yosemite. On Sunday, the day of our epic 15-miler from our campsite to Nevada Falls to Glacier Point, I was lucky enough to find myself next to her for a good chunk of the day, and we discussed our professional lives, motherhood and family, and everything in between.

Five miles into a hike on Yosemite’s Mist Trail, I stopped and panted, wondering whether I should (or could) continue for the rest of the planned twelve miles. I tried to fend off disappointment in myself as I pondered, recalling a similar crossroads I encountered twelve years prior during my first ever backpacking trip.

If you've ever been on a Trail Mavens backpacking trip, you know we generally eschew freeze-dried foods in favor of slightly heavier (but WAY more delicious) 'real' food - think actual vegetables and stuff you'd eat at home in your kitchen - and you've probably tried our nutty veggie couscous.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) --

Camping reservations at California state parks are up more than 20 percent over the past five years, with an increase in year-round camping as well. The majority of campers are men, but a growing number of women are also ready to take on the wild and San Francisco's Sasha Cox is ready to help with an organization called Trail Mavens.

Cox said there are three main barriers that stop many would-be female campers. They don't have proper gear, they don't have friends who want to camp and they don't have the necessary skills or at least they think they don't.

In my last blog post all about the touchy-feely of my three-day solo backpacking adventure, I alluded to sharing the nitty gritty of my trip. Here's how I prepped for a solo jaunt in Desolation Wilderness!

A little over two weeks ago, I posted the following pic and text on Instagram:

"Yo guys. I'm standing at my trailhead, about to start a three day solo backpacking trip. Turns out, running a business is hard - yes, I'm aware this is a news flash only for me - and I've been craving some srs headspace to figure out what's next. Ironically, this is my first trip alone; usually I've got a posse of awesome ladies or @amatthiah with me. I'm excited to meditate by Lake Aloha, read the sh*t out of all the Brene Brown books on my Kindle, and hopefully reemerge Wednesday with a little more clarity. Special bonus: I get to break in my new 65L Aura pack (thank you @ospreypacks). Four hours of daylight left. Here I go! 👋🏼"