Dela is an Alaskan who grew up Outside and returned home in adulthood. Still trying to find her niche, she has worked as a teacher, reservationist for a water sports company in Hawaii, naturalist park ranger, land sales specialist for the State, studied volcanology, and most recently became a licensed land surveyor. She loves hiking and orienteering, wants to do more kayaking, and is trying to like skiing, but recent winters keep conspiring against her, in spite of her briefly having an Olympic gold medalist as a neighbor.