Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

I don’t know about you, but our family has certainly been enjoying all of the signs of spring that have been popping up all over our yard.  In particular, DANDELIONS!  Though he’s a fan of all flowers, Cragbaby seems to have developed a special affinity for these yellow beauties that most of us would cast aside as weeds.  Morning after morning C delightedly runs through the yard exclaiming, “Yeh-ya fwah-fwah”  (yellow flower).  Being the sweet and charming boy that he is (hopefully he’ll stay this way!), the majority of flowers he picks all end up lovingly smashed into his Mommy’s outstretched hands.  At first I tried to preserve the thoughtful moment by taking them inside and putting them in a vase, but it didn’t work out to well since C’s picking strategy usually involves plucking the flower only, leaving only a hint of a stem with which to form a bouquet. 

But as much as he loves those tiny little dots of sunshine, his favorite part about dandelions is not the actual flower, but the seed head.  Those delicate little puff balls can provide hours of entertainment for both Cragbaby as well as his Mommy.  He tries his best to scatter all the seeds, his little mouth shaped into an imperfect “O,” but eventually resorts to pulling them off by hand. 

What I find ironic is that these same little weeds that C finds so fascinating would be dismissed as an annoying eye-sore to most.  No adult that I’ve ever met is thrilled about having dandelions dotting their perfectly manicured lawn.  But lucky for C (although maybe not our neighbors), landscaping has never really been our “thing,” so he can putz around and enjoy his weed garden as often as he’d like. 

As a side note, I looked up some info about dandelions and found out that they actually can be quite beneficial in some circles.  Apparently the dandelion is a good companion plant for gardeners, as it taproot brings vital nutrients closer to the surface, making them more available for shallow-rooted plants.  Dandelion is one of the ingredients in root beer, and also has mild anti-inflammatory properties. 

So the next time you’re tempted to steamroll over the latest carpet of bright yellow weeds in your backyard, take some time to appreciate their unique beauty.  Dandelions might not be one of God’s finest creations, but as far as Cragbaby’s concerned they are definitely worth keeping around!  Does anyone else’s toddler have a love for some of the more unappreciated aspects of natural beauty?

For those of you that want the quick version, here’s the skinny - I’m finally out of the boot! Yay! For those that want the nitty gritty, here’s the play by play…

Mmmmmm, cupcakes.

Day 31-32:  Feeling strong on the hangboard, as I’m back up to 7-10 seconds again, despite the added weight.  Today I also added weight to my offset hangs on the large  edge.  My plan is to stick with this for another week, then next week toss in another weighted bean bag.  The warm spring weather has me frustrated because I’m afraid by the time I’m back up to par it’ll be hot and humid again. I dutifully did my power walk and dreamed about running.

Day 33:  Felt really strong today – was able to ”boot-sight” three 10c’s, one up as well as down, the others only up.  Also making some progress on downclimbing the 10a in the lead cave (toproping only, of course) without being pumped stupid by the time I’m done. 

Unbelievably, 2 non-screaming rappels in a row!

Day 34:  My speed on the elliptical is almost back to where it was pre-boot, but its way less fun since the boot is still awkward (and not to mention it smells like a men’s locker room).  But I’m also starting to regularly get weird pains in the backs of my knees from too much booting around with a weird gait.  Don’t tell my ortho, but when Cragbaby is asleep and the house is quiet I take it off and go bootless… 

Day 35:  Cragbaby’s Birthday Party!  At where else – Inner Peaks!  Friends and family came from all over to see where C spends a good bit of his time (and give it a try if they wanted to!) as well as to enjoy some bangin’ monkey-face cupcakes!  NCAA basketball and time with family provided more good distractions from the beautiful spring weather during the afternoon.

Day 36:   I added another 3 lb bag to my hangboard routine, and again, its amazing how much of a difference such a little bit of weight can make…kinda makes me think twice before going for that second slice of pizza…  I also achieved one of my goals for this 6 weeks of hardcore upper body work - 50 pull-ups in 5 sets! Previously I’d been hovering in the 36-40 range, but I’m assuming was able to crank more this time since I didn’t rope up at all.  Either way, I’ll take it!

Day 37:  Today was the big public announcement about Trango’s Grassroots Athlete Team for 2012, so it was a fun, smile-filled day, despite the fact that my boot is getting smellier and sweatier by the day.  I’ve had to remind myself about 43 times to be thankful that this didn’t happen in mid-August. 

Day 38:  Even though the hangboard has now become a swirling vortex of boredom (aka bore-tex?) I managed to conjure up a renewed zeal for it today.  It must be because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I know that a week from now the hangboard will be nothing but a distant memory.  I’ve been planning out my “training regimen” for the first couple of bootless weeks down to the minute detail.  It goes a little something like this – pick routes that look like a lot of fun and climb them. 

Sans boot!

Days 39-44:  All of my aforementioned zeal completely fizzled out.  Since I’d managed to squeeze in an extra session earlier in the week, I was completely unmotivated to get on the hangboard on Thursday.  I did my token laps on the steeps and called it done, and skipped out on the gym on Saturday for the first time in 6 weeks (although I did pop in for an obligatory elliptcical session at least).  With just a few days left until freedom, all I can think about is moving forward, and I have no desire to drag that awful boot up the wall anymore. 

Day 45:  Today was the day – the 6 week X-ray!  To be perfectly honest, I left the doctor’s office with kind of mixed emotions about it.  From what he’d said at the 2 week visit, I was expecting to get the all clear.  However, though I am thankfully rid of this boot, I’m still not cleared for any sort of pounding, high-impact activities – which most applicable to me, means no bouldering and no running.  Most importantly however, I did get cleared to climb on a rope, so long as I “proceed with caution.”  It’s a good thing he said that because between just me and the cyber-world I was probably gonna do that anyway…And it felt fantastic to be able to climb again.  I was cautiously optimistic when some low, easy traversing didn’t seem to bother the ankle at all.  Once I roped up I didn’t have any problems except for a few stiff twinges here and there.  I toproped a bunch of brand new routes, as well as several older routes that were new to me.  I even hopped on the sharp end to get an official send of the steep 10a in the lead cave that me and my boot had grown to love/hate.  I’ve got a feeling that all my upper body training might actually pay off, because effort-wise I didn’t feel like I climbed very hard at all, but the numbers seemed to speak otherwise. 

So it appears that I’m still in a little bit of limbo for another 4 weeks until I go back for yet another X-ray.  But at least I’m finally free of this dreaded boot!  As much as I would love to put it in the street and run over it with my car, Blue Cross/Blue Shield did pay $350 for it, so I’ll probably just end up stuffing it in a closet somewhere, hopefully to never ever have need of it again…

Part of my endorsement agreement with Athleta is that I will publish feedback on their products.  That’s pretty standard, but ya wanna know the cool thing about it?  They weren’t afraid to tell me to be brutally honest – no sugar coating, no last-minute editing by desk jockey executives, just the plain, hard truth.  I definitely respect a company with that much confidence in their brand quality.  With spring well underway and summer right around the corner, I’ve been psyched at all of the beautiful clothes that have been arriving at my door step.  Many have turned into go-to workout wear, others have become everyday staples in my closet, and a couple of items weren’t what I was expecting and got exchanged for more faves in different colors…

Here’s a quick sum-up of the clothing products I’ve received as well as my thoughts on those specific items.  To my regular male readers, I apologize ahead of time for the overload of estrogen contained in this post.  Keep reading though, as you never know, you might learn a thing or two…not to mention you might come up with some good gift ideas for the ladies in your life. 

Not the greatest of shots, but here's me, the Switchback Tank, Kickbooty Pants, and Das Boot trying to campus up the wall.

KICKBOOTY PANTS:  These pants are without a doubt my favorite item out of the whole lot.  Advertised as a way to “turn your backside into your best side”, these pants are tight enough to be flattering, without being so tight that random lumps start appearing (ladies, you know what I’m talking about, right?)  The flared leg gives these pants some pizzazz that makes them right at home for post-workout endeavours as well.  I basically have been living in these pants, and loved them so much I ordered them in another color as well!

ANANDA CAPRI: I was psyched about these capris because I really liked the cute little split at the back of the knees. However, I ended up sending them back because I wasn’t happy with the fit. Nothing all that important, just boiled down to personal preference.

FLASH CAPRI: I replaced the Ananda Capris with these, which I am very happy with. A nice feature is an internal drawstring, so that you can cinch it up a little without adding the bulk of a drawstring on the outside.

PATHFINDER PANTS:   I figured there was no better way than to promote the “Power to the She” message at the crag than with a pair of bold, pink pants.  The fabric was stretchy and pliable, the color was hot, but even though I ordered my usual size based on the measurements on the size chart, they felt like they were easily 2-3 sizes too big.  I couldn’t even keep them on.  With all of this freakishly warm weather we’ve been having, it didn’t seem prudent to reorder in another size, so I decided to cut my losses and go with a pair of shorts…but I’ll save those for my summer review, since they haven’t come in yet.

 SWITCHBACK TANK:  The design on the back is really cool, which is important to me as a climber since that’s the part of the shirt that’s most visible when I’m on the rock.  Support was good without resorting to a uni-boob (I can’t be the only one…) 

FIRST TRACKS TANK:  My favorite part about this top was the color.  I got the “Passion Pink” which I was afraid might be too girly looking, but it ended up being a deep, purply color that is feminine without even a hint of prissy.

PAVITRA TOP:  What attracted me to this top was the pretty design on it.  I was disappointed however to find that it was way too big, so I ended up returning it.

SEAMLESS STRIDE TOP:  Of all the tops I’ve received, this one has hands down been my favorite.  The fabric is super lightweight and is comfortable enough to wear as a baselayer, but pretty enough to stand alone.  I ordered the hibiscus, which is a striking reddish color that works great with any color bottoms. 

SLEEVELESS TWIST TOP:  I expected this to be similar to the Stride Top that I liked so much, as the fabric and design looked similar, but the fit was way different.  I ordered the same size, but this top was ridiculously tight.  To be honest I was less than enthused about the real life color than how it had appeared online (fresh lilac).  I sent this one back and exchanged it for a sports bra.

SPRINT SEAMLESS BRA:  This is the best sports bra I’ve ever had.  The support is great, the fabric is wicking and comfortable, and there is just the slightest bit of padding to keep the headlights on dimmer mode.  Plus, the funky, stand alone pattern keeps me from feeling like I’m working out in my unmentionables when its hot enough to go sans shirt.  This is another one that I liked enough to reorder in a second color.

3 STRAND HEADBAND:  Anyone who climbs with me knows that I have an affinity for hair paraphernalia.  I’m always on the lookout for something that will not only keep hair out of my face, but also look cute doing so.  This headband checks out on both counts.  The triple strand design is pretty ingenious – it allows me to place each strand exactly where I need it, and also stays in place way better than similar single strand headbands…I liked it so much I put in an order for three more 

Seamless Stride Top in Hibiscus

Sprint Seamless Bra

 All in all, I’d have to say I’m pretty happy with my haul for spring!  Every article of clothing I received seemed to be really well made, even the items I ended up returning.  At first glance a lot of the clothing looks similar to something you could get much cheaper at Target or any department store, but online and catalog looks can evidently be decieving, because once I saw the clothes in person I could tell right away that there was no comparison in the quality.  In every way possible, Athleta’s clothing outshined other brands that I’ve worn.  The fabric was a lot more durable and comfortable, and the support in the tops was plenty good enough to handle a run.  A few times I found myself hesitating to wear my new clothes for fear of “messing them up,” but after a couple of months of rough and tumble use, they are no worse for the wear!

My only negative would be that there seems to be some inconsistencies with the sizing.  While a few of the tops are fitted at both the chest and the waist, a couple of them flare out at the waist, even though they are advertised as having a snug fit throughout.  Now granted I’m not the most curvy girl on the block (I still buy clothes in the juniors section…), so it very well might have been that my rectangular body type was to blame, and that someone with a more womanly figure would have had a better fit.  But then there was the Pavitra Top that was way too big everywhere (even in the smallest size they make), but that same size in the Sleeveless Twist Top almost cut off my circulation!  I also noticed a discrepancy with the pants.  On the one hand I got the Kickbooty Pants, which fit like a glove in XS, whereas an XS in the Ananda Capris felt way too tight – then there were the Pathfinder Pants, where a size 2 may as well have been a size 22.  However, the silver lining of all of these exchanging shenanigans is that I got to see firsthand how professional and easygoing Athleta’s customer service department was.  A lot of times I hate ordering things online because the return/exchange process is so annoying.  But with Athleta, I didn’t have to pay any extra shipping to exchange my items (even though a couple of them were over and over again…), and all the people I spoke with on the phone were very friendly and happy to help.  At the end of the day, I got exactly what I needed for a stellar spring workout wardrobe.  So ladies, if you’re in the market for some spiffy new workout threads, dive into Athleta’s spring and summer collections – you won’t be disappointed! 

Heather Kern, founder of Backcountry Babes and Betties

 A while back I got a chance to “cyber-meet” Heather Kern, the founder of Backcountry Babes and Betties, a meet-up group for Seattle women to get outside together and play – moms and non-moms, young and old, lifelong athletes and ladies just getting started.  I was both intrigued by as well as jealous of this group, and Heather and I began emailing back and forth.  I found her story rather inspiring, so I asked her if she would be willing to share her story in a guest post.  Read on to learn how Heather got the idea for Backcountry Babes and Betties, and the challenges and rewards that she’s encountered along the way. 

 My lifelong challenge began to be apparent to me as a 7-year old Brownie with the Girl Scouts of America. My mom thought it would be good for me to be a part of a ‘girls’ group, doing ‘girls’ activities, instead of always tagging around after my brother and his friends on a bike, in the mud, digging, climbing trees, and so on. My dad was the Troop Leader for my brother’s Boy Scout troop, so I got to hear about all the activities the boys were going to do: hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, gold-panning, and all types of outdoor adventures!  In my 7-year old mind, my girl scout troop would be doing the same things so I was eager and excited. You can’t imagine my disappointment when our first meeting was spent basket-weaving.  Mine was deformed and wouldn’t hold anything in it.  A week later, I sat at a table frustratedly trying to fill a little white fabric snowman ornament with stuffing. I finally gave up and went outside with my brother to play, leaving the other girl scouts behind, happily making their Christmas ornaments.  While I have gotten a little better at arts & crafts over the years, I’m still the same girl, longing to be outside having adventures. And I still struggle to find other girls who want to join me, who’d choose to be outside getting dirty and sweaty over going shopping. I had a small handful of outdoorsy girlfriends but, when they got pregnant and had babies, they -all but one- completely gave up their outdoor passions.

A winter betties ski meet-up

As my husband and I started to think about having our own family, I had a difficult time envisioning it and began to believe that it must be impossible to keep up with outdoor fun once you have a baby.  I talked with a few of my friends with children and they told me they really wanted to do more outdoor activities but felt overwhelmed by the planning, and the logistics of packing up a baby, fitting the activity between naps, hauling the baby up a trail alone, breastfeeding, etc.  So, an idea began to form in my mind, to build a network of women who want to continue their outdoor passions with their family and that can support one another in doing that.

I launched Backcountry Betties & Babies, based out of the Seattle, WA area, in the spring of 2009. 50 women -most of whom I didn’t know but were friends of friends of friends- showed up to hear about the idea and contribute to the program building. We encouraged women to plan events according to their interests, including but not limited to: climbing, hiking, skiing/boarding, ski touring, picnics, farmer’s markets, camping, berry picking, running, biking, and so on. The only requirement for events was that it had to be about or involving the outdoors.

I wish I could write that BB&B was an immediate success, that we had tons of events to attend on the calendar and that they were well-attended. However, it has been an interesting and often discouraging process. The original group of 50 were enthusiastic about the idea but, in reality, did not show to the events that were planned. When I asked for feedback as to why they didn’t attend, I got mostly silence. The few responses had to do with timing and location of events, so I changed those factors, but still the events were poorly attended, if at all.

Happy sledding kiddos at another fun winter meet-up!

One Betty wrote to me that she felt intimidated to show up for a hike or bike with women she didn’t know and not being sure of her own abilities comparatively. This, I believe, is the honest crux of the matter. Although women like the idea of doing outdoor activities with other women, they often allow their inhibitions and insecurities to dissuade them from showing up. Most of our events have been described as “come one, come all; all abilities, fitness levels, and experience (or lack thereof) welcome!”; still, I believe, many women allowed their thoughts of not being fast/good/fit enough to keep them from coming.

I want to continue to challenge this fundamental issue that prevents women from trying something and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. It is so amazing when a woman does step out beyond her insecurity, whatever it may be. One of my good friends and a fellow Betty with four grown children, Dawn, was hesitant to try rock climbing.  She was concerned that she wouldn’t be ‘good enough’ for the other women. After some coercion, however, she came to one climbing outing, then another, and then another, each time a bit less reluctant. On her third day at the crag, she glanced back while lowering, a huge grin on her face, so proud that she had pushed herself beyond her worries and fears.  Some other success stories have been in helping one another on the trail. On one hike, there were seven Betties and only two Babies, so we passed the babies amongst us whenever the moms needed a break. On other hikes, we have laid out diaper changing mats on forest floor and lakeside rocks and helped with diaper changing.

Backcountry Babes and Betties - for moms, non-moms, and moms-to-be!

As of this writing, I am 13 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and I look forward to joining the ranks of ‘Betty with Baby’. Today, Backcountry Betties & Babies consists of over 100 members and we continue to grow. In three years of operation, we have had over 250 events, including climbing, skiing, ski touring, hiking, mountain biking, berry picking, outdoor film festivals, picnics, and more.  The ultimate purpose of BB&B, as I see it now, is to encourage women to set aside their inhibitions, make personal goals regarding outdoor activities and work towards them, and to be open to forming encouraging relationships with other women in the process. Running BB&B has taught me some things and reminded me of other things I already knew. Most fundamentally, women are phenomenal and the power of connections with other women is strong.

I know that life changes dramatically with children (probably more than one can imagine beforehand), and thus so do your expectations about outdoor fun. But, I also have come to see that I can make it happen if I make it a priority. Yes, I will have to navigate nap time, cranky moods, cold feet, bad weather, and so on. I feel most at peace when I get my regular outside time, most invigorated and refreshed. So, for me, it will be worth it to get outside just to maintain my own sanity, but also to give that same experience to my child. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, I look forward to teaching my child, through example, how to face and overcome insecurities and to always work towards self-improvement. Maybe I’ll complete a climb that I thought I couldn’t do or learn to ride a tricky section of singletrack. Through the process of working the climb or singletrack, my child will learn the vital lessons of: “try, do not give power to irrational fear, try again, believe in yourself, look for a different way, try again, don’t give up”. These lessons, learned in the arena of outdoor activities, are invaluable to our children in the everyday life of school, work, and relationships.

Thanks so much to Heather for sharing her story!  It’s great to see a mom-to-be so passionate about continuing her active recreational pursuits.  Of course there will be changes – life will ne