I always find it a bit humorous at how shocked people are when they hear that I snowboard, mountain bike, camp, hike, and fish. They see me (5’3 and petite) and somehow deduce that when I say what I do that I must do a “girl” version of it. I have long been plagued as the lowest standard when I’m with a bunch of guys. I’ve heard, “Dude even JEN can do that!” more times than I’d like to admit. Nice right? Half the time I out ride, out jump, out hike all the boys! Well I say “NO MORE!” Us ladies need to be recognized in the sports and active world not as the lowest standard but our own standard. So with the help of a couple of my “outdoorsy” lady friends I’m going to show how we, along with women all over the world, are redefining the “girl” version!
Grace: “Hiker Mom”
Grace is a 35 year old mother of a 13 year old girl and 4 year old boy and an assistant manager of a call center. Her motto is “maximize your day”. She gets up every morning @ 5:45 to workout. Twice a week (again at 5:45 a.m.) she hikes Mt Pisgah no matter rain, sleet, snow or sun! Seriously she has hiked it in the snow! She started hiking at 29 and hasn’t stopped since. Some of her major hikes include Rooster Rock, St. Helens (twice), South Sister, Mt Jefferson, and Deception Butte (every year on Memorial Day). Not only has she done these hikes but she does them with an all girl group and she’s the youngest of the bunch. She gets help from her husband watching the kids and when her 4 year old was a bit younger she’d hike him along with her! She walks on her lunch at work to keep active and says it’s all about communication when it comes to juggling the time between home, work, and keeping active. Go GRACE!
Erin: “Bullet Brains”
Erin is a single mom of an energetic 6 year old boy and describes herself as a “Sports and Social Enthusiast”. She’s a local celebrity and received that status by being an outstanding jammer on the roller derby team the Andromedolls and a member of the travel team Skatesaphrenics. She is one of the founding members of the Emerald City Roller Girls league and right now is getting ready for the Season 2 Championship bout (see here for tickets). Both teams she was on this year went UNDEFEATED! As treasurer of her team she’s always working on fundraisers and promoting the league. They practice at least twice a week and she skates as often as she can; sometimes even to work! With monthly bouts, fundraising, practices, work and mom-hood she is busy to say the least but she always makes sure her little guy is right there with her. In the off season she’s part of a kickball league and has been for 4 years now. Major props to Erin for helping create an all female league where the “girl” version is THE version!
Hilary: “Scout”
Hilary has been hunting since she was 12 years old and got her first mule deer buck when she was 17. She started with her dad and has gone every year since then. She has always been the only girl on the expeditions. The furthest she’s gone for a hunt was all the way to Adell, Oregon for an antelope hunt where she got a pronghorn buck. She says hunting with a bunch of guys is often tough for her because she’s often the excuse that they will use to decide to take an easier route or they’ll suggest she stay behind. She’s conquered some tough situations such as scaling canyons, climbing over downed logs, watching for rattlesnakes, and beating the heat and proven that there’s no need for her to do anything different than what they do! Great job Hilary!
So all you women who are redefining the “girl” version share how you do it by leaving a comment below! And all you men who know someone who redefines it share with us as well!
photo credit: here
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