Breaking Trail

Sarah and Mark Yancey bought Boulder Hut Adventures, a remote backcountry ski hut in the stunning Purcell Mountains in Southeast British Columbia, Canada. During the ski season, they and their two kids live there hosting guests for a week of powder ski touring. The kids are homeschooled and Adventure Journal called Mark and Sarah "the most awesome parents in the history of parenting."

It sounds like a dream come true, doesn't it? Today I talk to Sarah and she shared with us how the vision came to be, and how they made the idea happen.

We talk about the practicalities of living a dream, running a business, raising kids, trends in the backcountry ski lodge industry, and the higher purpose of it all - the greater impact on the people who visit, the environment in which they operate, and their legacy of course, those lucky kids, Grace and Alden.

With that, let's listen in and gear up for what's next.

Where to Find Sarah

Boulder Hut Adventures

Adventure Journal declares the Yanceys the most awesome parents in the history of parenting

About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.

She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.

When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem solving.

To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.

Lindsey Richter is the director of inspiration (and co-creator) of Liv Ladies Allride, Her company is a by-product of a very difficult time in her own life after she was on Season 3 of Survivor. If nothing else, this episode will give you a new perspective on reality shows. Basically, Survivor creates a recipe to bring out the worst in people. That's how they get the drama, and the eyeballs. Well, it caused a great deal of angst for Lindsey but of course, she turned that around for the better.

The way you handle the stresses of mountain biking (or, even any outdoor adventure now that I think of it) translates to how you handle the stresses of life. Today, it's going to get a little emotional and a little personal. The day I did this interview, I personally was having a difficult day and she helped turn that around pretty fast. We talk about low self-esteem, depression, and divorce.

Now, she wants to teach women to mountain bike so they can get better at life too.

With that, let's listen in and gear up for what's next.

Resources Mentioned

• The Power of Now
• How to See Yourself as You Really Are
• Louise L. Hay
• Power Thought Cards
• 10% Happier
• Brene Brown - The Power of Vulnerability

Where to Find Lindsey

• ladiesallride.com
• Instagram: @ladiesallride

About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.

She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.

When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem solving.

To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.

Christian Little had a mountain biking accident that would change her life forever. Honestly, it was a miracle she survived. Out of difficult times, comes a new trajectory for growth.

It took physical, mental and mountain biking therapy as well as a lot of time for Christian to heal but out of that, her company Leap 2 Fly was born. Christian and her team of collaborators want to use the mountain bike to encourage and inspire others to live life to fullest on and off the bike by way of MTB retreats in the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. Previously a professor of physical therapy, Christian is a VIDA MTB Series ambassador and coach, has her IMBA Level 1 MTB Coaching Certificate, Wilderness First Responders, CPR, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has competed in Xterra off road triathlon Nationals and Worlds, MTB races throughout Colorado, the Pioneer MTB Stage Race in New Zealand, and Enduros in the USA and Canada.

Listen to her fascinating story and let's gear up for what's next:

Have questions? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us here. If you've been enjoying this podcast, I hope you'll share with your friends, subscribe and review us wherever you listen to your podcast.

Thanks again and see you next week.

References mentioned:

• Upcoming retreats
• Article on her accident:

Where to find Christian:

• Leap2Fly Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.

She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.

When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem solving.

To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.

Hilary Oliver is a writer, editor and filmmaker. She makes outdoor films for brands such as REI, Outdoor Research and Yeti Cycles. Her mission is to give voice to women in the outdoors - to showcase a perspective deeper than physical achievement alone. Her work includes Above the Fray with Beth Rodden and How to Run 100 miles with Brandon Leonard for REI.

She loves filmmaking and is driven to do it but the thing is, it doesn't pay the bills. Don't get me wrong, she makes money but it's not her bread and butter. What is? Her work as a freelance writer and editor of the Outdoor Research blog.

Today, we're going to talk about doing your craft because you love it, not because it pays the bills. How fulfilling it is to be involved in something you love and removing the pressure of making money doing it - how that impacts the experience of making it and the outcome. Hilary will share how she broke into freelance writing and then parlayed that into film making.

But we'll also talk about finding stories and giving voice to women in the outdoors. I hope today's episode will inspire you if you to pursue things because you want to, not because you want to get rich doing it.

With that, let's listen in and gear up for what's next:

Where to find Hilary:

www.hilarymoliver.com

Instagram

Resources Mentioned:

Where to link to videos: https://hilarymoliver.com/films/

Learn more at The Gear Show

We don't want to think about it but I'm sure lots of us do. What happens if/when we blow our knee? what does it mean when that happens, what are the mechanics that contribute to it; what choices need to be made for treatment and recovery?

There are many things today to consider, and today, Brian Harder, a frequent guest and good friend of mine shares his philosophy, sadly, from personal experience. Earlier this year, Brian had an ACL injury in the backcountry. Being an orthopedic physician assistant and therefore medically trained, Brian brings some interesting and debatable albeit a scientific approach to dealing with a ruptured ACL.

We'll discuss factors that led to the incident and lessons to perhaps avoid your own. Hint: that GoPro on your head might have more consequences than you realize.

We'll analyze the incident itself and best practices for getting your sorry ass out of the backcountry without making the problem worse. After that, many decisions must be made: surgery immediately or later? What type of graft? How should I choose the right surgeon?

Please note, although medically trained, this is obviously not medical advice. We all present unique factors and unique cases. Brian says so himself in the show - these are his opinions in a sea of opinions. You know we all have two things in common and one of those is opinions. You should do your own due diligence and discuss your specific case. Many would disagree with his thoughts here, while others would agree.

Also, for context, Brian is 56 at the time of the recording.

Well? What did you think? Agree? Disagree? have questions? we'd love to hear your experience - what worked for you, what you might have done differently. please include your age and fitness level when yo do. If you have questions, you can contact me privately or include it in the comments at takeabigleap dot com/ ACL

With that, let's listen in and gear up for what's next:

Where to find Brian:

• Instagram - brian.skimolife
• Blog

You can find Brian at skimolife.com and on instagram at brian.skimolife

I have one more rerun this week and return to original interviews next week starting with Brian Harder on ACL injuries; turning suffering into growth with Christian Little, and some insight into making outdoor adventure films from filmmaker Hilary Oliver so stick with me! But first - today, since, for many of us, summer is just beginning, I want to make sure you have what you need in your backpack.

If you are type A, you are going to love the way Jeff Thompson plans his summer camping trips.

Jeff is director at Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, - he's been on this show a few times. He is a husband and a dad to a five year old girl. We'll talk about packing lists, and lists of lists, and refining those lists. He'll share with us what he carries in his backpack and we even talk about how to get kids stoked to love the outdoors.

Learn more at www.thegearshow.com

Links, Resources, Further Reading:

Nalgene Drink Tube and Bite Valve

Where to find Jeff:

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center

Today, we talk with USATF Certified running coach, author, and speaker, Mike Ehredt about trail running, shoes, socks, and being pragmatic in competition.

No shoe is made for all runners. We have to take things like running conditions, the terrain you're running on and your own biomechanics to choose the right shoe for you. And remember, just like the best marketing can't fix product or business problems, the best shoe alone will not fix your biomechanics, or take you to first place. If only it were the easy. Also, Mike will share with us his favorite app to identify potential issues so you can not only tackle underlying things that might cause injury but also know what shoe might be best for you. Listen on.

Mike ran 4424 miles from Oregon to Maine, 30 miles a day, planting a flag every mile to honor fallen service members. That was Project America I. For Project America II, He ran 2,146 miles from Canada to Galveston, TX , a marathon a day, with no days off. Again, planting a flag every mile, building an invisible wall to honor fallen service members.

Topics covered:

• Biomechanics
• Terrain you're running on
• Running conditions -
• Learn what low drop is
• What features to look at.
• What happens if you don't like the shoes you bought? We have some ideas.

You know what? Socks matter! They slide down your feet, cause blisters, get wet (ew!) and have varying levels of breathability.

LINKS

• Saucony Stride Lab - app for your phone
• projectrunamerica.com

WHERE TO FIND MIKE

• Mike's Website
• Run 7B - a local (north Idaho) Facebook group where we talk running and organize local runs.

I have a rerun for you this week but we have lots of new listeners since this episode ran originally last year so I think it won't feel like a rerun to most of you. This was one of the most popular episodes from last summer: Rene Unser, trail runner, coach and founder of Pace Sport Fitness, race director of a fantastically challenging but fun series of Canadian trail races - whose mission is to motivate others to be better runners.

Sometimes we get pulled into trying something. But we suck at the beginning. we equate sucking with hating the thing. We may give up. Or, we push on because as I said, we are pulled by any number of reasons. In Rene's example, it might be an encounter with an elephant in Thailand. You'll have to listen on to know for sure.

And if you do, you'll learn more than how she came to be an awesome coach and race director, but also her philosophy on training and some tips for keeping all the body parts in working order.

Professional trail runner and coach, Rene Unser shares with us her training philosophy and habits and tips she incorporates into her every day life as it relates to rest, recovery, and hydration. Along the way, she shares some pretty moving stories and experiences.

Links mentioned:

• Hammer Nutrition Endurance Aminos – (no whey protein)
• Hammer Recoverite
• Black Diamond poles

Where to find Rene online:

• Pace Trail Series
• Rene Unser blog and website
• Instagram – @reneunser

I am excited to introduce you today to Sarah Wood, director of operations for I9, or Industry Nine, makers of high-end mountain and road bike wheel sets. Everything Industry Nine does is handmade in their facility in Asheville, NC. The machine shop next door (and sister company) makes all their parts except for the rims and is owned by the father of I9's owner, Clint. Clint's father had started that shop 50 years ago and Clint practically grew up in that shop.

Sarah's role as ops director has included everything from business strategy and development, management, restructuring, systems implementation, events, marketing...you name it! She has to know and have experienced each role to best manage and improve their operation so she chips in where needed from shipping and boxing to picking parts and running one of their assembly machines.

After this episode, you might consider upgrading your bike with a new set of wheels. This is one of those things you didn't know could be better but once it's explained to you? Wow. And sounds like once you try them, wow. Just wait until you hear her explanation of why. Sarah is smart, even more so when she gets technical.

This is a story about someone who led a varied career that might seem, to the uninitiated, sort of disjointed but turned into a very natural progression of one thing leading to the next. Sarah ended up with a unique combination of experiences and skills to land her where she is now, doing what she loves. (For those of us who feel like we are wandering aimlessly, maybe don't worry about that!) Having started in music, she moved to film festival executive director for 5point Films in Carbondale, CO, to her current position. We have a great conversation about being a beginner and being OK with that, and working through progressions not only professionally, but out there on our mountain bikes as well - All with the end goal of restoring our confidence and doing what we want to do, no excuses.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. and with that, let's listen in and gear up for what's next.

Where to Find Sarah:

Instagram

Resources

Industry Nine Wheel Sets

5point Films