Guides Gone Wild

Sliding in better late than never this week (DAMN POWER OUTAGE!!) with my fabulous new friend, Tarin O’Donnell of the Tarin It Up Podcast.Tarin and I met through a women’s podcasting group, and even before I listened to her podcast, I realized I had to have her on because she’s been living a life that a lot of us glamorize and feel a little bit envious of…. Picture snowy woodlands, gorgeous mountains and lakes, skiing, snowmobiles, yoga, avy training at a craft brewery... It’s Lake Tahoe for crying out loud. You know the jam.But - the reason I wanted to invite her on was NOT to give us an even worse case of FOMO - it’s because Tarin also keeps it totally real when it comes to talking about the hard and challenging things that can be part and parcel of “living the dream”.There’s so much good stuff here - Tarin has spent almost her entire life tearing up the list of traditional expectations that society tries to guardrail girls and women with (spoiler alert: yes, she's a wrestler!!). She’s also been super creative in the way she’s crafted a life she can live on her own terms - up to and including recognizing and problem-solving for the burnout and financial challenges that pop up like annoying whack-a-moles as a result of her seasonal, outdoor-oriented lifestyle.So listen up! And if you agree that Tarin would be the coolest online fitness coach and trainer ever, you can check out her offerings on her business site, TKOYogaFit.com, or connect directly with her on Instagram @tarin.k.o , she’s TKOYogaFit on Facebook, or TarinODonnell on LinkedIn.And you most definitely should click on over to the Tarin It Up Podcast right now and subscribe or follow, maybe even queue a few up for this weekend’s drive up to whatever adventure you’ll be getting at once this stupid weather blows through. You’re welcome for introducing you to a new adventure bestie in your earbuds!Lots-o-Links:TKO Yoga & Fitness: https://www.tkoyogafit.com/Tarin It Up PodcastWork out with Tarin on YouTubeWild Women Podcast SocietyEmily Holland on Guides Gone WildAngie Marie’s 'For The Love Of' PodcastSwell by Outspring :   https://www.theoutspring.com/Crystal Mountain (WA)What is a ‘tender’? Wild RyeDovetail Workwear : https://dovetailworkwear.com/Black Diamond Rechargeable HeadlampHope to see you at Guides Gone Wild's Tuesday Meetup - April 23, 2024 @ 6:30pm - True North Ale Company, 116 County Rd, Ipswich, MA - head over to GuidesGoneWild.com/meet for more details!

Today we take a scenic ride through the intricacies of trail development, where the rubber meets the road in terms of community building, advocacy, grant writing, marketing... and bike riding!Marianne Borowski is the absolute force of nature behind the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail.For those of you who haven’t yet heard of it, the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail is an 83 mile long multi-purpose trail that spans northern New Hampshire, from Woodsville on the Vermont border to Bethel, Maine.The Adventure Trail patches together pre-existing rail trails, bike paths, dirt roads and a few short pavement segments to create a fluid tour of the north country great for biking, hiking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, you name it - if it’s non-motorized, you’re probably good to go on this fantastic trail. AND you can get amazing support along the way, thanks to the countless resources available on the xNHAT.org website.Such well-documented, well-thought-out trail networks don’t just magically appear out of the ether - there is always at least one extremely passionate advocate working behind the curtains to make their vision a reality for the rest of us to enjoy. Marianne is just such a passionate, action-oriented visionary, and she was kind enough to invite me up to her hill-top perch in Bartlett to talk all things trail. I loved every minute of our conversation, so I’m sharing them all!Head on over to xNHAT.org to get all the details about the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail, including links to the Story Map, the GPS links, even how to get your very own copy of the OG waterproof paper map, so you can start planning your own Cross New Hampshire Adventure! And if anyone is interested in joining Trish and me on the ride later this summer/fall, shoot me an email - guidesgonewildpodcast@gmail.com - who knows, maybe we can do a whole group thing! That would be SO FUN!In the meantime, more great links from our conversation:Katy Trail (MO): https://bikekatytrail.com/Erie Canal Bike Trail (NY): https://bikeeriecanal.com/C&O and GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) Trails (PA, WV, MD, DC): https://bikecando.com/Cross Vermont Trail: https://www.crossvermont.org/Ride with GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/Read more about bicycling in Québec, and the ‘Bienvenue cyclistes!’ program: https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-us/to-see-and-do/outdoor-activities/cyclingBike Friendly New York: https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/bikefriendlyDero Fixit: https://www.dero.com/product/fixit-plus/Spencer Hawkes: https://www.spencerhawkes.com/Israel River Campground: https://israelrivercampground.com/Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: https://railtrails.vermont.gov/trails/lamoille-valley-rail-trail/Great American Bike Tours: https://www.cycletheusa.com/

Today I bring you another dose of practical, relatable, do-able inspiration with my special guest Val Hopkins from 365 Mile Challenge.Val’s business is all about meeting people wherever they are, bringing them into a supportive community, and providing them with tools, resources and motivation to build a movement habit that works within the limitations of their life, time and physicality - whatever those look like. That would be inspiring enough, but wait until you hear about how Val, the tech-challenged nurse forced to retire early because of an injury, decided that she and her biologist daughter-in-law were JUST the people who should swoop in and save an internet-based movement community on the brink of shutdown…  literally weeks before COVID locked us all inside, by ourselves.The same drive that gets Val and her community moving "a mile a day, their way", served the 365 Mile Challenge business well, and Val and Kayla recently started their fifth year as stewards of the company and its app, offshoot communities, ambassadorships, and virtual races.I hope you’ll check out Val’s website, 365milechallenge.org, as well as #365MileChallenge and @365MileChallenge on Instagram - and maybe even get involved in the challenge, or a virtual race, or just take advantage of all the useful resources and tips she’s curated on her fabulous website!When you’re stuck in a rut, or life is going sideways for whatever reason, sometimes it only takes a teeny little prod to get a teeny little dose of movement to get you redirected to a brighter place. So why wait for the rut?? You can start building a movement habit now, in community with Val, Kayla and 365MileChallenge.org!Links to the good stuff:365 Mile Challenge: https://365milechallenge.org/@365 Mile Challenge on Instagram, @Official365MileChallenge on FacebookOutspring: https://www.theoutspring.com/Swell: https://www.theoutspring.com/events/ - watch the 2023 highlights hereAmy Hopkins, Saltwater Mountain Co. on Guides Gone Wild (Sept 2023)Join us for our next Last Tuesday Virtual Meetup on 2/27!: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/meet

Today we head OUTside with another fabulous wild guide, Rae-a Moughty, Founder and Director of Campfire Institute, an amazing organization that offers wilderness enrichment adventures for girls and LGBTQIA+ youth.I connected with Rae-a right after she’d wrapped up the Institute’s OUT on the Snow program held at Evans Notch Lodge over MLK weekend. We were both so fired up by the great time had by the teens, and we wanted to harness that energy to try to spread the word about Campfire Institute and all of its programs still on tap for 2024.Rae-a is an educator, registered Maine Guide, and all around ray of sunshine, as you’ll hear. Her passion for her work literally pours out of her, and she can’t grow her programs fast enough to keep up with the demand from all corners of Maine. After you're done tuning in today, make sure to click on the link below to watch the beautiful video Jenny Woodward created with Rae-a (aka "Cricket"), featuring some of the teens that have found their voice and powerful connections through Campfire Institute programs. These kids are amazing and totally, authentically themselves, right down to the classic teen eyerolls!It is NOT too late to sign up for Campfire Institute’s fabulous 2024 programming, so head over to CampfireInstitute.org - and even if you aren’t actively looking to register YOUR child or young adult for a program, you might just think of smashing that DONATE button and helping to sponsor another.Please also follow @campfireinstitute on Facebook and Instagram - and there’s even a @campfireinstitute TikTok for the youth in your life to get their stoke on without having to stoop to joining you on the old folks’ socials!And finally - if you are a retreat leader or guide looking for a low-key, affordable and comfy place to basecamp YOUR next group adventure, I hope you’ll check out Evans Notch Lodge - it's a sweet spot for groups like Campfire Institute, and we will work with you to achieve your vision for your event, retreat, bootcamp, whatever. Contact  @evansnotchlodge on Instagram or Facebook, or come on over to EvansNotchLodge.com for more info.Make sure to check OUT these links from our conversation!:Campfire Institute:  https://www.campfireinstitute.org/@campfireinstitute on InstagramThe OUT Retreat Weekend 2024Check out the amazing work Campfire Institute does in this video: http://vimeo.com/jennywoodward/campfireOUTdoor Leadership Training with Maine Tourism & Campfire InstituteEquality MaineGive the gift of Equitable Wilderness!Ari Leach of Blackbird Guide Services on Guides Gone Wild

What you need to know RIGHT THIS SECOND is that we are kicking off the Last Tuesday of the Month Virtual Meetup - for any and all Guides Gone Wild peeps - starting NEXT TUESDAY, January 30th, at 7pm. How can you join the virtual meetup, you ask? CLICK HERE or head on over to GuidesGoneWild.com/meet and sign up for the calendar invite and Zoom link!At this first meetup, we will be talking about visions and goals and hopes for 2024 - and the rest of the year, we’ll be inviting in the guides and conversations and accountability we need to actually get all the fun stuff done!So where did this idea come from, you might ask? Well, grab a cup of hot tea, close your eyes, and picture yourself cozied up by a lovely woodstove in the Maine woods.... That’s where I was a few weeks back with my trusty sidekick Trish and Guides Gone Wild all star listener and guest Bethany Cass, on a spontaneous adventure at the Flagstaff Hut (Maine Huts & Trails). I just happened to bring my little recorder with me so I could pick their brains about what they find valuable about these little adventures. Apologies for the janky audio, but I hope you enjoy a little eavesdropping into why little spontaneous spurts of nature are so AMAZINGLY amazing!And in case you want to hear more of us talking all the feels!:Bethany's inspiring episode on Guides Gone Wild: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/bethany-cass-ggw146 Trish and I talk about Vertical: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/ggw068-vertical-weekend-recap-with-trish-and-jenTrish and I talk about Rooted: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/rooted-mtb-festival-recap-ep111

Read more about Emily's decision about GearME:  https://www.gearmeoutdoors.com/sale-of-businessIf you or someone you know wants to learn more about the GearME business sale, please contact Michael Hall, Commercial Real Estate Broker with The Jordie Lee Company:  207-773-1111 (office) or email mhall@jordielee.com**Way back in March 2021, I talked to Emily Kirkton, the owner of GearME, a fabulous outdoor consignment gear and apparel store in Freeport, Maine.As of this month, after 5+ years of running this awesome business, Emily has made the difficult decision to move on to new challenges (and honestly, more family time), so she is looking for a buyer and starting to plan for a transition toward the end of February.I would love to help Emily in any way I can - so I’m replaying this conversation in the hopes that I can make one of the following options manifest: Someone listening will know someone who would be STOKED to take over this amazing business;Someone listening will be STOKED to take over this amazing business themselves; and/orEVERYONE listening makes a point of getting to GearME in the next month to stock up on their outdoor needs, support the circular economy, and give Emily the most financially rewarding send-off possible!Plus, this conversation is tons of fun to listen to - whether you’re a newbie adventurer, a small business owner, or a grown-up trying to get a kid outdoors, Emily shares great tips and tricks that are as applicable today as they were back in March 2021.**Timestamps for the impatient :-)0:02 -- GearMe Outdoor Consignment Store Transition10:15 -- Overcoming Challenges in Becoming a Guide14:32 -- Starting an Outdoor Retail Store27:29 -- Outdoor Adventure With Kids33:30 -- Changing Perspectives and Parenting Outdoors38:09 -- Gear Recommendations for Outdoor Activities42:01 -- Consignment and Gear Buying TipsEnjoy!

Hopping into the Wild One Wayback Wagon this week to take a quick look back at 2023 - and while we're at it, grab some last minute gift ideas, giving thoughts and gritty inspiration to take us through this darkest day and into the light of the new year!GIFT IDEAS:https://backcountryfoodie.com/ - use code WILD at checkout to save 20% on membershipshttps://navitour.com/ - support local Maine Guides and trip leadershttps://www.cedargrovesauna.com/ - sweat and soak up and down mid-coast Mainehttps://saltwatermountainco.com/ - treat your bestie to a luxurious DryRobehttps://www.arcticlynxmaternity.com/ - help those moms-to-be stay active and warmhttps://www.carolinesdream.com/ for all the natural skincare (chamois cream is a fave!)CAN'T MISS EVENTS:https://www.summitsinsolidarity.org/ Me & White Supremacy Challenge kicks off January 30; watch for Solidarity Hike Day in Junehttps://camdensnowbowl.com/toboggan-championships/ Cheer on A Flying Flock - February 2-4https://somersetsnowfest.org/ and Skijor Skowhegan- February 16-24https://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/adirondack90miler/ September 6-8INSPIRATION TO SHARE:Anne Parmenter - https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/anne-parmenter-ems-climbing-everest-mountaineer-ggw122Bethany Cass - https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/bethany-cass-ggw146Anyssa Lucena - https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/climb-for-a-cause-anyssa-lucena-ggw147Tori Gray - https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/tori-gray-the-wilderness-guru-ggw137Lindsay Currier - https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/lindsay-currier-bikepack-maine-ggw149Kat Ripley -  https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/kat-ripley-juniper-moss-guide-services-ggw150CAUSES TO CONSIDER:https://diversifywhitewater.org/https://latinooutdoors.org/https://protectourwinters.org/https://www.mainegearshare.org/What did I miss? Who do I need to interview? What are you looking forward to in 2024? Let me know - guidesgonewildpodcast@gmail.com!Happy Solstice, happy holidays, peace and love to you all :-)   ~Jen

Today we get back to my wild fan-girling business with Renaissance woman and Registered Maine Guide, Kat Ripley.Kat and I recently worked together on an amazing event hosted by Anna Heath and We Built This, where eight wanna-be carpenters were brought together for a weekend of learning, building, mending, yoga and outdoor mindfulness - that last part was where Kat came in for this event.One of Kat’s most potent talents involves bringing people into nature in a meaningful way, which she’s now doing through her Juniper Moss Guide Services. Kat walked us all through an amazing exercise at the end of our weekend, which she is generous enough to share again today. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of value and inspiration this exceptional woman brings - Kat’s many interests and multiple resets and restarts might just get you fired up to try something new yourself in the new year, or at the very least, start putting yourself first in ways that truly matter!As a gift for yourself this holiday season, make for darn sure that you follow Kat Ripley everywhere: check out her website, JuniperMossGuideServices.com, where she’s already got some very fun-sounding stuff brewing for 2024; then head over to Instagram and give her a follow @junipermossguideservices and @kat_rip so you can bask in her thoughtful longer-form captions and the fun pix of her adventures and yurt life!**IMPORTANT NOTE: Content warning for this episode - we don’t get into a ton of detail, but we do discuss domestic abuse and child abuse. If those topics will be hard for you, maybe take this week off - but let me also say that your home should be a safe place, and if you ever feel even remotely like that is not the case, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Help is available, please keep yourself and your family safe this holiday season and always.You can also find help locally:In Maine - https://www.mcedv.org/get-help/In New Hampshire - https://www.nhcadsv.org/ In Massachusetts - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/list-of-domestic-violence-services-by-massachusetts-county In Vermont - https://www.vtnetwork.org/ In Connecticut - https://www.ctcadv.org/ In Rhode Island - https://ricadv.org/ In New York - https://www.nyscadv.org/find-help/program-directory.html A few more links from our conversation (many more on the  episode page over on GuidesGoneWild.com!):Bikepack MaineFlagstaff Lake HutLindsay Currier on Guides Gone WildWe Built ThisThunder Ridge Ski Area (NY)Maine Huts & TrailsMerino Wool Neck Gaiters by BuffEvans Notch Lodge

Today I’ve got an awesome conversation with just the kind of everywoman superhero I love to talk to on the pod - Lindsay Currier, a registered Maine guide, mountain bike coach, enduro racer, trail builder, ski patroller, total mom goals and the force behind Bikepack Maine.Lindsay’s lived on both coasts and a few places in between, and has spent a bunch of years doing a bunch of stuff to lift up women in biking, whether as her full-time gig or as a side-hustle-on-steroids.We don’t talk a ton about how Lindsay got into biking in the first place, or what brought her into racing and coaching initially, but I’ve linked up a fantastic blog post here (https://www.josiebikelife.com/2015/11/women-involved-series-lindsay-currier.html) that will give you a window into her life and back story as of 2015, when it was written. There’s still lots of ground to be covered today, though, and while a lot of things have changed for Lindsay in the past decade (mostly driven by the fact she now has a daughter, Saffron, and lives in Maine instead of out West), there are still a few golden threads that are woven all the way through - among them her commitment to promoting women on and around bikes; her innate drive to foster community; and her desire to help others avoid all the costly and borderline critical mistakes and slipups she made as she learned how to ride big. And as an added bonus for any of you who dream of riding big with your little rippers, Lindsay shares some mindset tricks and gear tips that will help set you up for success!Follow Lindsay's (and Saffron's!) adventures:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybethc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsay.currier.50Bikepack Maine: http://www.bikepackmaine.com/A hint of the single track miles we cover can be found in our extensive link list (come on over to the episode page on GuidesGoneWild.com for even more)!:Packraft MaineRolling Fatties (Kingfield, ME)How to become a Registered Maine GuideChariot Bike TrailerCarver Bikes Maine Huts and TrailsBurley PiccoloStowe Leaf Blower - Stowe Trails Partnership (VT)Kingdom Trails (VT)Kids Ride Shotgun Bike SeatShotgun PogiesEDT - Eastern Divide TrailKatie Holden - Red Bull ‘Formation’Devinci Mountain/Enduro BikesEastern States Cup EnduroTrans New England EnduroSteep & Cheap

Today we're embarking on a culinary thru-hike with registered dietitian and logistical powerhouse Aaron Owens Mayhew, the founder of Backcountry Foodie and the trail mom we all wish we had!I’m not even a long distance hiker (yet?!?), and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve backpacked for consecutive days sleeping outside, honestly - but I’ve been OBSESSED by the Backcountry Foodie business for years, since Aaron was doing Facebook Lives sitting outside in her vanlife days... and as COVID was lingering on, I listened to countless podcasts featuring Aaron telling her hiking back story, and the origin story of Backcountry Foodie.  (Link below to one of the many good ones from friend of the pod, Meg Carney of The Outdoor Minimalist Podcast!)So we’re not going to talk much Backcountry Foodie history today - I’m much more stoked about the brilliant power move Aaron started leaning into this year, when she began experimenting with ways to more directly support backpackers in their thru-hiking attempts.We'll also hear about the trials and triumphs Aaron experienced on her recent Tour du Mont Blanc - SOOOO MANY good takeaways for traveling backpackers, so make sure you listen to the end!AND THEN - head on over to BackcountryFoodie.com to check out all of the amazing free resources and recipes available to get you fired up and fueled up. OR BETTER YET - level up into one of the Backcountry Foodie membership programs, which will get you  access to the entire library of recipes and nutrition guidance, as well as a discount in the Backcountry Foodie online shop! BUT WAIT, THERE'S EVEN MORE!  Take advantage of a special discount Aaron is extending to all friends of Guides Gone Wild - use code WILD at checkout to get 20% off any Backcountry Foodie membership - woot!!Get a little WILD, use code WILD, and start eating right on the trail, river, campground, wherever and whenever you find yourself fueling up far from your kitchen home base!More fun links:https://backcountryfoodie.com/Subscribe to the Backcountry Foodie YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@backcountryfoodieKeep an eye on the BCF blog for a recap of Aaron’s Tour du Mont Blanc in September 2023: https://backcountryfoodie.com/blog/Backcountry Foodie Shop: https://backcountryfoodie.myshopify.com/@backcountry_foodie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_foodieMeg Carney, The Outdoor Minimalist, on GGW: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/meg-carney-outdoor-minimalist-ep115Brittany Haas - Alpenventures Unguided: https://www.alpenventuresunguided.com/Condor Trail Info: https://www.condortrail.com/Favorite cold-soak recipe: https://backcountryfoodie.com/sun-dried-tomato-pesto-pasta-ultralight-backpacking-recipe/Frogg Toggs Emergency Poncho: https://www.froggtoggs.com/frogg-toggsr-emergency-poncho-4734

On Guides Gone Wild, we talk to lots of women who do extremely brave things - but I have to say, being vulnerable and open about a life-changing diagnosis and treatment (and the mental *ss-kicking you are still going through as a result), is the bravest kind of bravery in my book.Anyssa Lucena first graced the Guides Gone Wild airwaves in April 2022, when she was in the early days of building her business, Genuine Climbing, through which she provides guiding, instruction, coaching and community around her passion for rock climbing.Literally a month after we first spoke, Anyssa’s life and business got turned completely upside down when she found a lump in one of her breasts.So a few trigger warnings for today: very salty language; cancer; survivor guilt; trauma. If those kinds of things cut a little too close right now, skip this and come back next time.But whether you’re in for this week’s audio ride or not, please do check out Climb for a Cause, an event that Anyssa is hosting Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the GOAT Climbing Gym in Hackensack, NJ from 7-9pm. If you’re able to attend in person, you’ll have a fantastic time learning and climbing and learning some more, and will be welcomed with open arms by the amazing community that Anyssa has around her. If you can’t be there in person, I hope you’ll consider donating to the same causes that Anyssa will be supporting with her proceeds from the event: For the Breast of Us, the first online community dedicated to women of color affected by breast cancer; and The Ellie Fund, which provides essential support services like transportation to appointments, housekeeping, grocery assistance, childcare reimbursement, that kind of thing for breast cancer patients, to ease the stresses of everyday life, so that they can focus on recovery, healing, and spending time with family. And a final reminder that early detection can make a HUGE difference - get the mammogram, check yourself out once in a while, and if anything seems to be changing or is concerning you - ANYTHING! - waste no time, make sure to talk to your doctor.All the links, all together:Climb for a Cause (Thursday, October 26th; 7:00-9:00pm)GOAT Climbing Gym (Hackensack, NJ)For the Breast of UsThe Ellie FundThe Big Cs: Chicks, Climbing and Cancer (FB Group)Anyssa’s first episode on Guides Gone Wild (April 2022)

Today I’m talking to Bethany Cass, an awesome new friend I met around this time last year when she and her daughter Maddie attended the Guides Gone Wild Iron Chef weekend that I hosted with Ari Leach of Blackbird Guide Service. At the time, as you’ll hear, Bethany was kind of treading water in a sea of discontent, but getting ready to take some bold strokes in new directions - and less than one year later, things are poppin' off for her, as the kids would say!WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR what she is doing in 2024!!But the point I want you to come away from this conversation with is NOT that you have to go big or stay home. There is more than one right way to seek - and hopefully find - fun, inspiration, and fulfillment.Bethany’s soul was called toward meditation, yoga, and spending quiet time in the wilderness - yours might be finding a dozen friends for a whitewater or ski trip, or dangling from ropes on a rock face or splashing in a waterfall, or maybe hanging out with your favorite four-legged friend at your local land trust trail. It's all good! If it's outside in nature and it makes you feel good, it's worth doing!Some of the cool stuff we talk about - come on over to GuidesGoneWild.com to see the full list!:We Built This Workshop - come build a tent platform with us!AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) HutsREI OutletGreenleaf Hut (AMC)What are energy therapies?How long is a Half Ironman Tri?SupYo AdventuresJana Olenio on Guides Gone WildBackroads TravelSupYo Machu Picchu trip (August 2024)Sherpa of SoulsPemi WildernessPolly Mahoney on Guides Gone WildMahoosuc Guide Service (Newry, ME)Maine Huts & TrailsKula Cloth - Kula’s amazing Instagram!

I’ve got another special encore for you this week to remind all of us of the absolute power and beauty that can come from making connections, staying curious and just saying YES! (despite your nagging doubts...)Picture yourself in April 2020, flailing around in and out of lockdown, wondering if the world was legit ending. That’s about the time I decided to use some of MY newly found free time to start reaching out to Maine guides to eventually recommend to visitors of our Lodge property, refusing to believe that we’d never be able to travel again. And the very very first person to whom I reached out - who eventually took an even bigger leap and agreed to be interviewed by me, for purposes that weren’t even 100% clear to me at the time - was Alicia Heyburn.Alicia is the Executive Director of Teens to Trails, a registered sea kayak guide, she’s on the boards of Maine Island Trail Association and Maine GearShare, she’s basically the Kevin Bacon of Maine, I think everyone in the state is, at most, two or three connections away from her. I’ve stopped counting the number of guests I’ve had on Guides Gone Wild that were direct or indirect referrals from Alicia. And guess who reached out a month or so ago to let me know that a space had opened up on a trip she was going on with PackRaft Maine?!?My kneejerk reaction was "I don’t think so, that sounds kinda hard and complicated, plus it’s a far drive, blah blah blah no blah...." And then I was like, "Jen, you have spent the last four years talking a big game about getting outside, being a beginner, trying new things with new people, moving into the life you want to live - so shut the **** up, figure it out and make it happen!"So last weekend I drove 4 ½ hours and shared a tent and two days of end to end outdoor amazingness with someone who was a complete stranger less than five years ago, whom I randomly connected with on LinkedIn. Alicia is one of a kind, as was this trip: Alejandro Strong, the founder of PackRaft Maine, shepherded our group of complete newbies through the process of packing all our gear and led us as we biked the Penobscot River Trails, into Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, where we camped at Lunksoos Campground, then paddled the East Branch of the Penobscot back to our starting point on Sunday. It was a weekend of sparkling water, the darkest skies and epic stargazing, making new friends and trying lots of new things.And all because I talked to someone cool many moons ago. And said yes.Enjoy this encore! And come on over to GuidesGoneWild.com to see all the links from Alicia's debut episode!

Coming in HOT this week! Amy Hopkins is the founder of Saltwater Mountain Co., a cold-water dipping and wellness outfitter based in York, Maine, so I was stoked to talk to her, hoping that a tiny bit of thinking about all the cold water would translate into cooling me down in the crazy humid September summer we're experiencing! We do indeed talk a lot about cold water dipping today - and so much more. Amy brings a unique compendium of skills and life experiences to her latest entrepreneurial endeavor, which should serve as great inspiration for all of us - basically a reminder that it’s really never too late to change your mind and try some new and different things.This is a timely message for all those high school seniors/college freshmen out there - I hope they listen to this one and realize they doesn’t have to have their whole life figured out at 17! There will be plenty of opportunities to expand, grow and pivot to come - and bottom line, trying something new and challenging yourself with a little discomfort can have some hugely positive effects on your mental health!Make sure to follow Amy’s Instagram page @dipdowntoriseup for her schedule of community dips, and be sure to check out the SaltwaterMountainCo.com website for more information on retreat offerings and all of the other fun ways Amy is blending her loves of cold water, yoga, bodywork, and more into uplifting experiences for her growing community. And of course, grab a super-cozy Saltwater Mountain Co. Dry Robe or some other fun merch from her online store while you’re there!Laps of links!:Saltwatermountainco.com@dipdowntoriseupNational Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org/Tops’l Farm Petite Pause RetreatsMaine Outdoor Economy Summit (November 29-December 1, 2023)dryrobe™Casting for RecoveryCressi Isla Booties (Amy recommends 7mm)Patagonia explains YulexAnd some related fun listens:Two Maine Mermaids on Guides Gone WildBonnie Holding, Casting for Recovery on Guides Gone Wild

I’ve got a special encore for you this week. Back in June of 2021, I talked to Rebecca Sperry, aka SockedInHikes on Instagram, as a result of the powerful story she was sharing on social media at the time about her cancer diagnosis, treatment, and desire to continue to hike (mostly solo) despite, and kind of because of, the mental and physical challenges she was facing as she fought for her life. Literally.Pulling that two-parter back together into a single episode gave me a very justifiable reason to spend time reading through all of Rebecca’s blog posts from the past many months of her tracing. For those who don’t know, a White Mountain Trace is an attempt to walk every mile of every trail in the White Mountain trail guide. A daunting lifetime goal, for sure, because with all the backtracking and spur trails, a Trace amounts to over 2000 miles of hiking.And Rebecca is currently trying to complete the trace in just 15 months, which would make her the fastest female on record ever to do so.It has been NUTS to follow her progress, even if you didn’t know that this is Rebecca’s third attempt at this fastest known time, because the first two attempts were stymied by COVID, and then a life threatening battle with breast cancer. Let that sink in for a minute.Her amazing blog, Rebecca Sperry.com, has a meticulously documented recounting of her White Mountain Trace efforts. It’s hugely inspiring, but also often very raw, and so truthful, and a remarkable window into the soul of someone who spends many, many hours alone with themselves in nature.Despite the powerfully difficult circumstances of Rebecca’s last few years, she has continued to persevere, putting one foot in front of the other (and a bazillion miles on her car), and sharing a peek into her internal landscape that wanders from inspirational to devastating to relatable, probably an unintended metaphor for some of the trails she’s been bushwhacking through over the past year.Rebecca is just a few weeks away from either finishing and achieving her goal, or not. But regardless of the outcome, her words, whether here or in writing, will completely rock your soul. This conversation is from June, 2021, but I think it’s an even more powerful listen today, knowing all that Rebecca has undertaken and achieved since then. I know it’s a long one, but I promise, take a nice long walk or two and listen end to end, you won’t regret it.When she writes a book about this experience - and she better freaking turn this into a book! - I’ll be first in the pre-order line, I can tell you that much. And I’m hoping to have Rebecca back on the pod very soon to talk about some of her last 15 months - but only if she wants to, because one thing is very clear by now, she is writing her own damn story, and none of us have any right to it unless she decides to share it.Some links to share:RebeccaSperry.com - click here to jump right to the trace entries@sockedinhikes on InstagramWhite Mountain Trace objectiveFastest Known Time siteAnd SO MANY more here!: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/rebecca-sperry-socked-in-hikes-you-are-capable-of-more

Summer is winding down, school and fall sports and work obligations are winding back up, and that has me thinking about winter! Or should I say, what passes for winter these days in New England (which at least last winter, was three months of rain and chilly gray skies, followed by 87 snowstorms in like 2 weeks...)So what better time to bring on my guest today, Torey Brooks, who is one of my original backcountry ski inspirations, a former ski racer and coach, a climber, an engineer, a climate warrior, and a basic bad*ss who decided she wanted to ski the entire length of Vermont earlier this year.We are talking about the Catamount Trail - 300+ miles of nordic ski trails that were strung together in the early 80s by a few guys who were stuck in their tent on a rainy camping weekend, probably had had a few too many beers, and decided it would be an awesome idea to ski from Massachusetts to Quebec. I may have made up that part about too many beers, but not about this trail system being awesome - the Catamount Trail really is an amazing network of public and private lands, laced together by ski trails that are conveniently broken down into 31 manageable segments, which is how most people experience the Catamount Trail.But not today’s superstar guest! As you’ll hear, Torey decided to go for a thru ski - yes, that means all 300+ miles in a single go - this past winter - yes, the winter that basically didn’t decide to happen until the end of February. So how did she do? You’ll have to tune in to find out!If you’re not already, you should absolutely be following Torey’s latest adventures over @tleeski on Instagram, and while you’re at the whole online thing, make sure to check out (and maybe even donate to!) Torey’s purposeful pursuits over on Summit4Something.comAnd some other important stuff!:Protect Our WintersCatamount Trail (VT)Craftsbury Outdoor Center (VT)Eastern Adventure  - @easternadventureVermont Social  - @vermontsocialMeg Pierce (Torey’s co-leader on my original backcountry ski inspo experience) on Guides Gone WildZ pad>> Make sure to follow Torey for all the up-to-date deets on the premiere of 300 Miles Melting - Friday, September 16th, 5:00-8:00pm at Hula, Burlington VT! <<

The last few weeks I’ve enjoyed checking in with some of my guests from WAY BACK - like, 2020-2021 - to find out what they’re up to now, and I've been reveling in all the growth and expansion (and sometimes pivoting!) that’s occurred since our initial conversations. Today is no exception - I’m checking back in with Jackie Stratton, a registered Maine guide who featured prominently in the early days of the podcast. Jackie first shared her guiding origin story in January 2021, and she was one of the awesome panelists for our "Maine Guide Q&A"  in May of 2021.But fast forward 2+ years. While Jackie's interest in the outdoors hasn’t waned, her business interests have completely refocused as a result of the overwhelming success of what started out as a side hustle, to keep some cash coming in during the off season.Cedar Grove Sauna is now actually THREE saunas: two anchored in beautiful spots on Jackie and her partner Nate’s sprawling homestead property in Montville, Maine; and a third that’s a modified horse trailer, that Jackie tows around mid-coast Maine and plants for days at a time in spectacular waterfront spots.Jackie and I talk about the explosion of her sauna business, how it’s impacted her guiding, and why she spent six weeks in Europe this summer in various states of undress. How’s that for a teaser?!? Listen in for all the steamy stuff!You're going to want to take advantage of one of Cedar Grove Sauna’s Summer Tuesdays, or be among the first to know about the where/when of Jackie’s mobile sauna season coming up, so you absolutely MUST sign up for the Cedar Grove Sauna email list over at CedarGroveSauna.com.And of course, a few more hot links from our convo:Trish, Paula & Jen at Cedar Grove Sauna - listen in!Jackie’s Chicken Barn on Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/43701826International Bath Academy (Lithuania): https://bath.academy/enSpinney’s:  https://www.spinneysmaine.com/ (Phippsburg, ME)Glidden Point Oyster Farms: https://www.gliddenpoint.com/ (Edgecomb, ME)Craignair Inn: https://craignair.com/ (Spruce Head, ME)Steelhouse: https://www.rocklandsteelhouse.com/  (Rockland, ME)One source for Lithuanian linen bath towels - no dyeing required!Cedar Grove Sauna - Instagram @cedagrovesauna - sign up for the email list!

Long time listeners, first time callers might remember a conversation I had with Paige Emerson of Chubby Hiker Reviews, back in June 2021. At the time, Paige seemed to be on the cusp of absolutely blowing up on social media with her inspiring and relatable posts about hiking, and her trail reviews that highlighted things most of us care about, like bathroom access, parking, whether our butts would get totally kicked or just partially kicked.But with social media, sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for - all the attention Paige was getting kind of brought her down for a bit, and she fell off the radar.Never fear! As of summer 2023, Paige is back with a VENGEANCE, with all kinds of activities on offer AND the beginnings of a structure that will (hopefully!) allow Chubby Hikers to blow up without taking her down again.You can be part of Chubby Hiker's growth and get to know Paige and her team in a bunch of ways - Follow @ChubbyHikerReviews on InstagramJoin the Chubby Hikers of Maine Facebook GroupCheck out the new Chubby Hiker chapters in Waldo County, Cumberland County, Androscoggin County (Maine), plus now ConnecticutSign up for the Chubby Hiker Email List to keep up with all the fun!If you haven't heard Paige's story, check out our first Guides Gone Wild conversation here: https://www.guidesgonewild.com/podcast/paige-emerson-chubby-hiker-reviews-ggw056Read about Paige and Chubby Hiker Reviews in the Portland Press Herald: https://www.pressherald.com/2022/06/05/just-because-youre-bigger-you-can-still-be-a-hiker-there-shouldnt-be-barriers/Join the July 30th Kindling Collective x Chubby Hikers Portland (ME) hike here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kindling-collective-x-chubby-hiker-tickets-608730849357Join Paige, Tori Gray and Greg Sarnacki on their All Bodies Canoe Trip (Baxter State Park, ME - August 3rd): https://thewildernessguru.com/shop/ols/products/chubby-hiker-reviews---all-bodies-canoe-tripAnd a enjoy a few more bonus links from this episode:Kindling Collective (queer-centered gear library)The Wilderness Guru (and Tori Gray's episode of Guides Gone Wild!)Forage River Outfitters - Greg Sarnacki

Last week I mentioned the Diversify Whitewater Community River Float happening up in Veazie, Maine this Saturday, July 8th - and today, we’re hearing more from a true force of nature behind this event, Saige Purser.Saige is a citizen of the Yakama Nation, a whitewater guide and the Director of Future Generations program for Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, a community-driven, culturally centered public health and social services agency supporting all Wabanaki communities and people while honoring Wabanaki cultural knowledge, cultivating innovation, and fostering collaboration.Saige is a tireless advocate for indigenous representation in outdoor spaces - literally tireless, she’s been on the road non-stop for the past two months, which we’re going to talk about today. Her summer itinerary so far sounds exhausting, but so, so amazing!Saige has landed back in Maine for now, and she’ll be one of the leaders for this weekend’s Diversify Whitewater event - and guess what, it might actually be nice out for a change! So I hope a bunch of you are planning to attend! And it’s not too late to volunteer to help out at the event, link here to sign up.Quick warning, the audio is a little rough here and there, because Saige was sitting in the middle of a gallery at the Smithsonian when we were recording this - literally! I resurrected it the best I could given my minimum viable editing skills.. don’t worry, you will still come away with plenty to think about and be inspired by.Follow Saige on Instagram @saigelinsay and prepare to get a face-full!All the links:Get more information about the Diversify Whitewater Community River Float here: Bit.ly/DWMaineOr email acstrong@packraft.me or saige.purser@maine.edu for more information.Learn more about Diversify Whitewater here: https://diversifywhitewater.org/Wabanaki Public Health and WellnessYakama NationWhat was the ‘Scoop Era’?Read a little bit about Saige’s Greenland trip and the upcoming “A Taste of Two Worlds” cookbook developmentNational Unity ConferencePenobscot Nation Youth CouncilThe Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art MuseumPackraft MaineWest Forks River FestRead more about Nyle Sockbeson’s AT thru-hikeWhat is a flip line?Canyonlands Field Institute (Moab, UT)Native Teen Guide in Training Program

Outdoor Women Lead (OWL) fundraiser at Fogtown Brewing Company, Ellsworth, Maine - Thursday, June 29, 2023Enjoy a special spritzer release made from locally foraged and harvested deliciousness, all to benefit OWL programming and OWLette summer camp for girls!Get more info about Outdoor Women Lead and Women for Healthy Rural Living here:  https://whrl.org/programs/owl/Or join OWL on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoorwomenlead/–Diversify Whitewater Community River Float at Veazie Salmon Club, Veazie, Maine - Saturday, July 8, 2023All BIPOC, Queer, and allied paddlers (and wanna-be's!) are encouraged to join in this FREE event, to encourage and celebrate more diversity on Maine’s waterways!Register for the Diversify Whitewater Community River Float here:  Bit.ly/DWMaineOr email acstrong @ packraft.me  for more information.Learn more about Diversify Whitewater here:  https://diversifywhitewater.org/