Subscribe or buy this issue!  You can also download the digital free digital version

The Summer 2012 Issue is out!

I left a trail of sweat on a high desert mesa last week. Once, I lost my way, turning left where I should’ve turned right. (That intersection always bewilders me.) I figured I’d just follow the stink back down the hill—Hansel and Gretel-style—if I truly did get disoriented. Mostly, I run in shadier mountain climates and with at least one friend. But, running alone in the bare desert is a different experience. It forces me to detach, exercise independence, and reflect, as my mind has time and space to drift.

It was a Sunday. I left my phone in the car, wore no watch, and carried no water. I distanced myself from the trailhead and climbed a steep enough trail that I didn’t encounter anyone else. It was just my lime green shorts, my favorite trail runners (see page 76), and me out there.

I took a familiar route, tucking my shirt into my bra to keep cool and, at the top, leaving a sweaty stamp of my butt and legs on a rock outcrop, where I usually break halfway—either catching rays or resting in the shade of the overhang. I don’t remember much about the hour-long run down, except for the moment when I noticed a group of mountain bikers under a tree and quickly pulled my shirt down over my belly.

The rest of the afternoon was blissful. Hot, yes. But that run both relaxed and invigorated me. I felt strong, happy, clear-headed, and inspired. It’s a feeling I only get from being outdoors, challenging my body, and disconnecting completely. It’s nice.

And that sort of muscly, empowering experience is the focus of this issue. Many of the women you’ll meet in this magazine regularly take time out, scheduling hours to build their skills, strength, and confidence, and give themselves space to think and be.

Nikki Gregg, whose smiling face you see on the cover, spent four hours a day standup paddle surfing when she discovered the sport. She worked it into her lifestyle and introduced her friends and clients to it, sharing SUP with others and now sharing it with us (page 64).

To overcome her bike- and wind-related anxiety, Jayme Moye booked a mountain biking trip to über-windy Patagonia (page 48). While she didn’t realize the expected outcome, she did ditch the shame she once suffered over her disorder and came home with a fresh perspective.

Brigid Mander took time out from a Chile ski expedition to shop for and splurge on a designer dress (page 58), while Hannah Nordhaus spent time in El Salvador mastering her surf skills in the company of women sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm (page 54).

Karin Linner, who had a stroke at age 34, is spending this year riding across the country to educate about stroke recovery and prevention (page 44). Her love for triathlon fuels her recovery while her commitment to the cause comes as a result of focusing on her own needs first. Wendy Booker, after being diagnosed with MS, also took life by the horns and is finding ways to reach the world’s highest summits and reinvent the standard of success (page 40).

This issue offers countless ways you can take care of yourself—from your skin (page 20) to your spirit (page 46). And, online, Women’s Adventure offers more tips and avenues to embrace and nurture your inner adventuress. The Women’s Adventure book club, for example, is an enjoyable excuse to make time for you but also an opportunity to share that and other experiences with female friends.

Image by Jeffery Chow

Whether through travel, outdoor exercise, skills clinics, a new piece of gear that helps you push your boundaries, or local exploration, I urge you this summer to allow yourself time to cultivate strength, grow your energy, and develop fun and useful skills—like riding wheelies (page 43)!

Good things happen when we women take time for ourselves, spend time alone with nature, and allow our own health and goals to take precedence. When we’re good to ourselves, we’re refreshed and enthused, more creative and stronger, ready to take on the outdoors and thrive in the wild!

Jennifer C. Olson
Editor

Summer 2012 Table of Contents

Features

Redemption Ride – A life-list mountain biking trip to Patagonia forced Jayme Moye to face her anxiety and acknowledge her fears.
The Damn Wave – Woman-to-woman instruction is just what Hannah Nordhaus needed to master surfing. At a women’s camp in El Salvador, she fine-tuned her skills and discovered the details that helped her catch those damn waves.
All that Glitters Isn’t Gold – Skier Brigid Mander found what she sought in Chile’s high-fashion cities and powdery slopes, but never lost perspective on true glitz and mountain glamour.
Gear – Can’t-live-without road cycling essentials, packs for every purpose, and camping necessities, no matter your outdoor living style. Plus, a compilation of our summer gear faves.

Wonder

Discuss: Stuff You Should Know
Book Club: Prodigal Summer
Trends: Strappy sandals
Tech Talk: Wellness at Altitude, Skin Care, Fitness Apps Hotel Homebase: Enchanting Adventures
Travel Pro: A Naturalist and Guide
Travel Gear: Packing Light
Travel Trends: Adventure Expedition Cruises
On the Map: Find Your Own Adventure

Aspire

I’m Proof That: This Ain’t Your Mama’s MS
Dream Job: Costa Rican Outfitter
Try This: Wheelies
Advocate: Life After A Stroke
Camps: Learning Self-Trust

Master

Sport: Standup Paddleboarding
Skill: Wilderness First Aid
Mix It Up: CrossFit
It’s Personal: Not A Damsel