September 18, 2013 · 12:58 pm

Old Friends and Fast Boats

I just returned from a fabulous weekend in the Bay Area where I was able to catch up with old friends and new babies and catch 2 of the America’s Cup races whilst sailing on the San Francisco Bay.

Friday night, “Gourmet Tim” held a backyard BBQ and the food and company was perfect. The next morning, Tim, Max, Jeremy and I set off on a 30 mile bike ride in the Oakland Hills. We even saw Ohio State’s football team’s bus and were able to give them the double thumbs down.

Jeremy rides into the fog at the top of the 1st climb


After the bike ride, we headed to the park and I was finally able to give this beautiful couple their wedding gift, a custom cornhole set! We enjoyed a few rounds and sent the not so newlyweds off with their new backyard entertainment. Also, check out Jake’s new movie, Inequality for All, coming out in two weeks!

The Kornbluths with their new kornhole set. Ket’s best sport is yoga.


New and old friends


The next day, I was off to the city to meet up with Greg and Amanda to watch the America’s Cup from Greg’s sailboat. It was a perfect day on the bay – sunny, relatively light wind, and both races were able to run. USA and New Zealand split 1 to 1 and so USA kept the cup a few more days. Tuesday’s races were cancelled due to high winds and so the deciding races could be today!

Greg and Amanda looking for seals and enjoying a perfect day on the bay.


Team New Zealand showing us why the boats are so fast


Team USA in front of the San Francisco skyline. Say what you want about Larry Ellison, but he did single-handedly make this a spectator sport. GO USA!

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September 17, 2013 · 10:18 am

SheJumps Whitewater Weekend Recap!

Twenty-five women came out to kayak, learn, camp, share stories, and laugh at the first annual SheJumps Women’s Whitewater Weekend on the South Fork of the American River in Coloma, California.

We arrived at Camp Lotus on Friday night and set up camp as women rolled in. We shared a few beers from Lagunitas, one of the sponsors, and set up a slackline, prepped our gear for the next day, and tried to make a fire with very little wood.

The scene at Camp Lotus

The next morning we were up early to get ready to hit the river!

Coffee was essential (Photo by Rose McMackin)


Clinics included a First Leap which was for never-evers or very new boaters, the Next Leap, for aspiring Class 3 boaters, and a Creeking Clinic with inspirational pros Shannon Carroll and Katie Scott.

The first leapers at the put in! I think they’re ready!


Next leapers out on the water


The creekers at the put in for Chile Bar! READY TO BOOF!


Some women opted out of clinics and did a group run on the Gorge!

Hospital Bar rapid!


High paddles after a successful gorge run!


That night we enjoyed a potluck dinner, a few more beverages, and an inspirational slide show by Shannon Carroll. Shannon shares the women’s waterfall record and has completed some cutting edge expedition boating. Her slideshow covered her descents of the Royal Gorge and a recent women’s trip to Iceland.

Shannon showing us the insanely beautiful and challenging Royal Gorge photos.


Thanks to Shannon’s slide show, most of us woke up fired up to hit the river! First we were treated to yoga by Antoinette McLean.

Yoga for paddlers prepared us for day 2 of kayaking

With new female boating partners, we set off to hit varying levels of runs and help each other shuttle!

Shuttles are better with more boats!


All in all it was a fantastic weekend and we can’t wait to do it again next year!

Thanks CCK, Lagunitas, Patagonia, and OARS!

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September 11, 2013 · 3:54 pm

Helms Alee! Summer Sailing Recap

I went into this summer with the goal of learning to sail. I’ve always been in love with boats, water, and the power of wind, so it felt like a skill I needed to learn, especially living near Lake Tahoe. Add to that our upcoming expedition funded by the Polartec Challenge Grant, learning to sail, or at least crew a sailboat, became more urgent. So I contacted my friend Will and he was able to set me up with a talented captain named Steve, the rear commodore of the local yacht club.

Captain Steve at the helm. Steve can sail the boat right out of the Tahoe Keys.


And so my education began in June. The first thing you have to learn when you sail is to avoid the boom and don’t fall off the boat. My athleticism has helped me with that, though I’ve had a few near misses with the boom. My first day on the boat, Lake Tahoe looked like the Bering Sea, so I passed the test of staying on the boat.

Wednesday night beer can races are supposed to be for fun, but can also be quite competitive and exhilarating


The next hurdle was to understand the archaic sounding language my fellow sailors were shouting back and forth! “We’re going to weather,” “ready to tack?,” “helms alee,” “douse the jib,” “jibe-o,” and the list goes on and on. “Those aren’t ropes, they’re sheets!” “No, blow the vang, not the twinger!” One of the coolest things is realizing the influence sailing had on English linguistics “3 sheets to the wind” and “keel over” or “even keeled” for example. I have to admit, this one is a work in progress.

Jeff is a great floor decker, but he also can trim the sheets.


My mentors have told me sailing is a lifelong pursuit but that overwhelms me so instead I think of the incredible strides this summer thanks to their patience and willingness to teach. Making headway you might say!

They even let me drive the boat sometimes! Batten the hatches!


Tonight I’m sailing in the beer can race and this weekend I’m actually headed to San Francisco to watch the top sailors compete in the America’s Cup. Once you understand sailing tactics, the races are quite exciting!

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September 3, 2013 · 4:33 pm

Adventurous Friends

If you get a chance, check out this blog on my friend Adrianne’s bicycle trip from Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia. It’s an incredible adventure and their writing really brings it to life. Inspired!

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August 27, 2013 · 1:52 pm

Sign Up For the SheJumps Whitewater Weekend!

SheJumps has an awesome event coming up September 6-8th in Coloma, California! Make sure you register for clinics, especially if you’re new to whitewater kayaking!!!

Join us for a weekend of whitewater instruction and progression on the South Fork of the American River! We will camp along the river at Camp Lotus for two nights and do runs varying from Class 2 to Class 3. Open to women of all experience levels.

Kayaking with the girls is FUN!

Kayaking with the girls is FUN!

Gear is available to borrow from California Canoe & Kayak. Bring a kayak, skirt, helmet, pfd, and paddle if you have it.

Scheduled activities include:

First Leap Clinic ($85/day), Saturday & Sunday. This class is for total beginners to the sport of whitewater kayaking. Students will learn how to exit the kayak safely, how to maneuver the kayak, and how to engage currents correctly in a Class 2 section of the South Fork American river.

Next Leap Clinic ($85/day), Saturday & Sunday. This class is for women that have taken a introductory whitewater class before and are ready to get back on the river and work on skills. The class will run a section of the South Fork American River from Marshall Gold State Park to Camp Lotus.

Creekboating Skills with pros Shannon Carroll and Katie Scott, Saturday ($75; open to Class III paddlers with a reliable roll). Learn the skills to step it up to the next level and get out on a California Creek next spring!

Playboating with pro Jessica Yurtinus ($75; open to Class III paddlers with a reliable roll), Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is a park and play clinic and Sunday as a Chile Bar play run!

Sign up for clincs here and make sure to choose the ones with SheJumps in front!!! They will fill up!

Other Scheduled Events:
Friday Social Hour: beer, wine and BYOdinner at Camp Lotus at 7pm to get aquainted and talk about the weekend.

Saturday Dinner: eat well, drink heartily and make some new paddling friends! Slideshow of kayak adventures by Shannon Carrol (Saturday evening, $10 recommended donation)

Yoga for Paddlers with Antoinette McLean, Sunday morning, 8 AM (free; open to all)

Group paddle on Chili Bar, Sunday, 9 AM Camp Lotus (free; open to Class III paddlers with a reliable roll)

After-Party at Marco’s, Sunday at 4pm: come eat, drink and be merry! And don’t miss out on some great raffle prizes! Sunday evening, open to all.

Camping at a SheJumps group camp at Camp Lotus both Friday and Saturday nights. $10/night.

To register for clinics, do so at CCK by going here. To register for the weekend, please email meghan@shejumps.com just so she can get a count! Otherwise, show up to hang out and paddle for the weekend!

We are excited to recognize California Canoe & Kayak, O.A.R.S. – Whitewater Rafting, Marco’s, and GoPro as partners for this event!

image-CaliforniaCanoeKayakSplotch-BS-White-Backlogo

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August 7, 2013 · 11:28 pm

3rd Annual Angora Lakes Triathlon RESULTS!

I’ve finally gotten around to compiling the results. I’m not sure they are perfect but everyone who participates knows that this event is about (1) having fun (2) pushing yourself and (3) bragging rights among friends. I think the most fun thing is the slight competitive spirit everyone has when there are no prizes and not much training. At the finish line I heard friends ribbing each other – “you were beating me, but then I passed you on the run,” etc. My husband asked me what my favorite part of the event is and I said that it’s the end, when everyone keeps saying how much fun they had! When I first did this event with just one other friend, I knew more people needed to get in on it, so I am elated that we continue to grow each year!

Congrats to the men’s winner – Lee Collins, the women’s winner for the 3rd year in a row – Lauren Lindley, the Masters winner – Terry Daniels, and the Youth winner – Marin Underhill!

A sample of some of the great photos that came out of the event.

The start (Photo by Gretchen Eichar)

The bike (Photo by Gretchen Eichar)

The run (photo by Gretchen)

The men’s champion – Lee Collins (photo by Gretchen)

The swim (photo by Gretchen)

Women's champion - Lauren Lindley (photo by Court Brock)

Women’s champion – Lauren Lindley (photo by Court Brock)

The cliff jumps (photo by Court Brock www.powdork.com)

The cliff jumps (photo by Court Brock http://www.powdork.com)

Happy swimmer (photo by Gretchen)

The finish (photo by Officer Underhill)

So without further ado…

Mens
1 Lee Collins – 1:04:50
2 Dane Shannon – 1:14:07
3 Terry Daniels – 1:34:39, Masters Winner!
4 Dan Sussman – 1:36:39
5 Adam Muskovitz – 1:40:21, **SWAN DIVE!
6 Scott Mitchell – 1:52:31
7 Andrew Peter Klotz – 2:03:55

Womens
1 Lauren Lindley – 1:14:08, 3 time champ!
2 Patricia Sussman – 1:22:36
3 Meghan Kelly – 1:31:25
4 Michelle Kelly – 1:34:25, *on a mtn bike!
5 Raina Blasser – 1:35:08
6 Melanie Shasha – 1:35:40
7 Michelle Sweeney – 1:35:55
8 Rachel Sigman – 1:38:37
9 Erica Harris – 1:39:02
10 Karen Fink – 1:39:05
11 Jessica Star – 1:40:21
12 Debra Scolnick – 1:41:12
13 Mandi Winnicki – 1:42:56
14 Liz Lundholm – 1:43:59
15 Jenn Boyd – 1:44:12
16 Arica Davis – 1:47:37
17 Tara Chitwood – 1:51:58
18 Judy Weber – 1:52:04
19 Madelyn Rios – 1:52:04
20 Sarah Jones – 1:54:30
21 Allison Wall – 1:54:38
22 Sierra Bertolone-Smith – 1:54:38
23 Claudia Bertolone-Smith – 1:54:38
24 Jade Star – 1:56:50
25 Ali Warren – 2:01:25
26 Marin Underhill – 2:01:25, Youngest Competitor
27 Maggie Levi – 2:03:40
28 Lyndsay Bryant – 2:03:40
29 Virginia Evans – 2:04:02
30 Amanda McRae – 2:06:48

To see all the photos from the event, go here.

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July 29, 2013 · 9:45 am

It’s that time of year again!

Time for the 3rd Annual Angora Lakes Triathlon! See you at Kiva Beach at 10 AM August 3rd! Read a recap from last year here.
Angora Flier Color

Open to anyone!

Last year’s top 4 talk about what it takes!

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July 26, 2013 · 1:57 pm

The North

I love traveling North. It must come from growing up in Michigan where the best place to go was “Up North” in both summer and winter. In the summer, “Up North” meant long days on the lake, boating, swimming, playing, and ice cream to end the day. In the winter, we went north to ski the massive 400′ vertical of Boyne or Crystal Mountain to really push our limits! A few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to head north to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. As soon as we passed Reno, I felt the excitement of my youth.

Stop 1: Burney Falls

Breathtaking. Why have I never stopped here?

Stop 2: McKenzie River Trail

We bike by this beauty and countless others on 26 miles of singletrack.

Stop 3: Mt Hood for summer skiing

Pat skiing smooth summer corn.

Pat skiing smooth summer corn.

Stop 4: Seattle for the Sounders Game and brunch with old friends

Seattle Sounders may have best soccer fans in America.

Rooftop brunch with Greta and Lynette!

Rooftop brunch with Greta and Lynette!

Stop 5: Bellingham BBQs and biking

Watermelon cheers on 4th of July

Watermelon cheers on 4th of July


Bringing home the donuts in Bellingham, WA

Stop 6: Whistler aka Outdoor Disneyland

Downhill mtn biking is taken to a whole new level at Whistler

Downhill mtn biking is taken to a whole new level at Whistler

Stop 7: Sushi in Vancouver

Vancouver is known for it good but inexpensive sushi. Here we received pink for girls and blue for boys!

Vancouver is known for it good but inexpensive sushi. Here we received pink for girls and blue for boys!

Stop 8: North Cascades National Park

So green up north in the Cascades.


Stop 9: Hart’s Pass, Highest Road in Washington State

PK taking in the view above Hart’s Pass


This lookout was made to mimic the original height of the mountain which was blown off by the military.


Jumping for joy in one of my favorite places of the trip!


Stop 10: Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald sunset


This place is rad


Mountain goats near Logan Pass


The happy couple


Awesome sky over the Many Glacier Hotel


Stop 11: Missoula for our actual anniversary!
Missoula sunset before delicious ice cream at the Big Dipper. YUM!

Missoula sunset before delicious ice cream at the Big Dipper. YUM!


Stop 12: Bitteroot fly fishing
Trout hunting in Montana

Trout hunting in Montana


Stop 13: Boise, ID to visit our friend Kellee and her new adorable baby!
(sadly, I took no photos, but it was awesome!)

Final stop: Tahoe – always nice to come back and feels a lot like “Up North.”

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July 23, 2013 · 3:34 pm

Photographer Patrick Orton

This is Patrick Orton.

THE Patrick Orton at Mt. Shasta


I didn’t know him very long. We met during a trip to Shasta during last year’s solar eclipse. We were a large group of skiers from throughout the west – Colorado, Utah, California, Idaho, and even Alaska. We converged to ski Shasta’s famous spring corn and to witness the solar eclipse in a place known as a spiritual epicenter. Patrick dove right into the “assignment” and bonded immediately with the group. He encouraged us to flip of bridges, be silly, work it for the camera – the kid was hilarious. His persistence payed off and he took the National Geographic Extreme photo of the week and had his photos published in a writeup on TGR.

Channeling energy after the solar eclipse in Mt. Shasta.


Over the year, we stayed in touch via Facebook and email. I ran into Patrick at Outdoor Retailer in February and he invited me out with his friends. In April, I hooked him up with some European ski friends of mine and he spent days photographing them in Alaska.

A photo Patrick took of Sandra Lahnsteiner in Haines, AK was a finalist in the Red Bull Illume contest.


As recently as a few weeks ago, I contacted him to let him know we’d be traveling through his hometown in Idaho and he offered me the “grand tour.” We ran out of time and never stopped there, but, it turns out I should have. Patrick died in an accident on July 20th and it has hit the people who knew him pretty hard. He was young, but a role model for many who exemplified following your dream and doing something that scared you every day. He was outgoing and career driven, but incredibly nice and the opposite of pretentious. I’m a better person for having known him.

I’ve been thinking a lot about injuries, death, extreme sports, and social media and I haven’t quite come to a conclusion on all their connections. I know that Patrick’s death was an accident, but I also know that we are members of a community where the norm is continual progression and the line between pushing your limits and death or permanent injury is sometimes blurry. So for now, I’m reassessing my risk tolerance and trying to find fun in less risky pursuits. I’m sure there is a line, but sometimes we have to step back to see it.

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June 29, 2013 · 10:33 pm

iGoBig.com Splash-a-thon!

Pretty exciting event coming up in Tahoe to raise much needed funds for Oklahoma schools damaged in the recent tornados. The schools were completely destroyed – the footage on the news was heartbreaking. To top it off, one of the participants is from the town where the most damage happened, Moore, Oklahoma.

A cadre of adventurous souls and myself will be dropping off a powered paraglider and getting launched off a giant blob 50’+ into the air. There will also be BASE jumpers hitting the blob! All of this is going down July 14-17th. So come on out, or pledge a 25 cents or 50 cents per jump! I’ll only be jumping for 3 days, July 15-17, maxing out at about 20 jumps per day.

A powered paraglider above Lake Tahoe

The "blob" we'll be launching off in Lake Tahoe

The “blob” we’ll be launching off in Lake Tahoe

The set up for the launch. BASE Jumpers and jumpers like me being dropped from the air!

The set up for the launch. BASE Jumpers and jumpers like me being dropped from the air!

Pledge your donation now! Email me at meghan@shejumps.org to make a pledge!

Pledge your donation now! Go HERE to make a donation or email me at meghan@shejumps.org to make a pledge!

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