I stopped dead in my tracks, mouth agape. I looked down and over at the immense gullies, scree fields, and where the snow once stood as a gate for the summit. I was speechless (actually, I had a few words, but for my more conservative readers I will keep them to myself) I stood motionless. …
Chasing Dopamine
I slide the still warm freshly printed driver’s license in the excuse of a wallet that promptly goes into the pocket of my knee worn through jeans. It didn’t take long for my first “road trip” at 16 years old to a beach that was 3 hours away, just because. Then, a …
Outdoor Guilt.
“I should go for a walk, no that’s dumb, go for a quick hike… I wonder if I could summit something before sundown…. Shelby, it’s 5 in the evening. Jeez, you’re so lazy you haven’t done anything outside all weekend…I’m just so tired…wait a god damn minute! I skied for like 2 …
A Flower in a Whiskey Glass
"I forget that you're still a girl sometimes" That is definitely not the first nor will it be the last time I'll hear that. I've never been one to wear makeup, sit around to talk about boys or dream of my future wedding. Don't get me wrong, you will find me in a sundress, baking, …
The Great Croc Traverse
Since Ms. Corona (she's not married in my head, because she's a strong independent woman that don't need no man) blessed our lives with her presence there has been a small decline in outdoor shenanigans. Objectives* have been forced on the back burner, so there have been a lot of reading Freedom of the Hills* …
Shelby, Daughter of Stoke and Bringer of Laughter!
Recently, I’ve found myself reading a lot of Norse mythology. That’s a normal thing most young 25-year-old women spend their nights reading right? I’ve been watering my daily thoughts with harrowing war tales and down right metal creation stories. I’m also very bad at keeping things to myself, so of course those thoughts oozed out …
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Don’t Forget an Extra Pair of Socks and Your Baggage.
There are three types of fun. Type I Fun- you’re having a blast while the activity is happening. Snowboarding at a resort, swimming at the beach, riding your bike to go get ice cream, hell even ski ball! “This is amazing! I wish I could do this everyday!” Type II Fun- you are in fact …
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Is It Worth it?
I roll over and the smell of my own armpits wakes me up before my 5:30am alarm does. Slowly, I lower myself from the top bunk without waking my 4 other roommates. I slip into my now baggy, oil stained, Carhartts and synch down the NRS cam strap that I’ve been using as a belt. …
Dirtbags and Bagel Bags
Have you ever tried to describe the taste of orange to someone? That is exactly what going through River School was like, not to mention living in The Yard During my time in Haines I became a Wilderness First Responder, earned my Swift Water Rescue certification, and learned how to read and navigate a river. …
Badass or Baby?
"God, why was I being such a baby?!" "That move was so big and scary!" "I should have flashed* that "Don't let me 'take'* so much next time" My climbing partner just nods in compliance as I untie because he knows, no matter what he says it won't change the way I felt about that …