Carlie’s running the Oregon Cascades 100 mile ultramarathon on August 23, 2025! Cheer her on (you might get your name on her race shoes) by supporting her fundraiser to get more girls and women outside: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6540872

Carlie Graham lives in Seattle, where she's pursuing a career in finance while staying deeply connected to the outdoors. Carlie led the climbing team at UC Irvine in Southern California and remains passionate about making outdoor recreation more financially and socially accessible through community based groups.

Angie and Carlie talk about:

• How athletic passions both fueled and healed mental health challenges growing up
• Challenges and wins of restructuring the UC Irvine Climbing Club
• Carlie’s biggest lessons in building an adventure-centered community
• A (failed) Fastest Known Time attempt of Pico De Orizaba’s Infinity Loop
• An experience with assault while seeking rock climbing mentorship
• New adventure fundraiser: The Oregon Cascades 100 miler
• Reciprocity in outdoor sports scholarships and volunteering

Mentioned in this episode:

• Carlie on Instagram

• Carlie's Adventure Fundraiser

• ⁠Become a Trailblazer like Carlie!⁠

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

How do you juggle chronic illness, unconventional work, and personal adventure challenges?

Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, joined us to talk about body challenges on trail, behind the scenes of writing and sharing books, and her company, Rugged Outdoorswoman Publishing.

We talk about:

• Adventuring with POTS, a form of dysautonomia
• Self-publishing and the journey to writing a book
• Balancing adventure with business
• Publishing an anthology of stories: BLOOD SWEAT TEARS
• Realities of menstrual periods when on big adventures

Love adventure books like Christine's?

Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.

Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.

Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠ to join and get the fall 2025 box, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.

More info:

• Grit Lit: https://cairnproject.org/grit-lit
• Christine on Instagram: https://www.ruggedoutdoorswoman.com/
• Rugged Outdoorswoman books and publishing: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

You’re invited to our free Trail Talk on July 31: Injury Prevention in Outdoor Adventure with Rachel Lee Boim, DPT. Bring your questions about pain, strength training, recovery and more. RSVP at cairnproject.org/trail-talks!

Rachel Lee Boim is a record holding endurance athlete and Doctor of Physical Therapy who has set Fastest Known Times on iconic routes like the Kilimanjaro Summit Circuit, Aconcagua, and the trail from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp.

Rachel began her mountaineering journey at age 33. Since then, her on- the-go lifestyle has led her across six continents to compete in ultramarathons and high altitude ascents. Rachel's also a volunteer Trailblazer at The Cairn Project, blending her passion with philanthropy so other girls and women can experience the magic of time outdoors.

Angie and Rachel talk about:

• Rachel’s recovery from disordered eating and body dysmorphia
• How her sister’s cancer diagnosis inspired Rachel to explore scary goals
• The difference between pain and discomfort in outdoor adventure
• The emotional cost of being a sponsored athlete and how she found joy again
• Why women of all ages deserve to chase big goals (and how to start)
• Adventure lessons from Nepal, Bolivia, and beyond

Join us at the July 31 Trail Talk to ask Rachel questions about staying strong and healthy in outdoor adventure!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Free Trail Talks - cairnproject.org/trail-talks
• The Pink Fund
• Become a Trailblazer like Rachel!

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

When 6 in 10 women struggle to name an outdoor female role model, how are girls supposed to know they belong in adventure spaces?

Cheri and Aubryanna were two of the young adults selected for the Summit Scholarship Foundation's 2024 Mt. Baker youth climb.

Spoiler alert: This all-women’s rope team didn’t reach the physical summit of Mt. Baker. But they gained something just as powerful.

Angie sat down with Aubryanna and Cheri to talk about ambition, fear, belonging, and what it means to come together in sisterhood on top of a glacier.

We talked about:

• Data from a 2017 REI study on women in the outdoors
• What it was like to apply for a Summit Scholarship as a teen
• The story of the climb and the AWExpeditions team and guides
• The decision to turn around and not reach the summit
• Biggest lessons from their first mountaineering experience
• The difference between all-women's and coed wilderness trips

Send this episode to somebody who you think should turn their adventure into a force for good by becoming a Trailblazer!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Summit Scholarship Foundation. Applications open in late 2025.
• Become a Trailblazer! Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
• AWExpeditions: AWE organizes mountaineering and remote adventures for women, by women.

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

🎙️ Introducing: Field Notes, a series featuring your written and read stories.

We're now accepting submissions from our community, and we’d love to feature your voice in the mix.

We’re looking for personal essays set in the outdoors. Think friendship, change, healing, ridiculous encounters, anything that captures a moment where the outdoors shifted your perspective of the world or yourself.

Find guidelines and how to submit your story at cairnproject.org/podcast.

✏️ Field Notes | Caught in the Current: Lessons from Surviving a Flash Flood in the Grand Canyon

In 2023, Angie got a life-changing opportunity to spend 21 days rafting through the Grand Canyon. On Day 13, a handful of mistakes led her group to be trapped in a side canyon during a flash flood. Hear about:

• How a group of 16 boaters unexpectedly found themselves in a flash flood in Arizona
• The self-rescue attempts and successes to safely get the group out of Havasu Canyon
• Angie's personal experience as a woman in a more experienced group
• The heuristic traps that led the group to make mistakes
• How being caught in the current gave Angie a new perspective on what it means to spend time on the river

Send this episode to a friend who has an adventure story that should be featured on Field Notes by See Her Outside!

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

• ⁠⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠⁠. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
• Check out the ⁠⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠⁠.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Think you need alpine access, fancy gear, or a mountain town zip code to train for a major expedition? Think again.

Rachel Fagiano is an avid hiker, mountaineer, rock climber and ice climber based in New York City.

They have a career background in racial justice, and now their work focuses on creating safe and welcoming environments and improving access to the outdoors for communities that have been traditionally excluded in those spaces.

We talk about:

• How a climbing Groupon led to a community of mentors and a new career
• What it’s like training for a 22,000+ foot peak from a sixth-floor walkup in NYC
• The mental edge urban training built for high-altitude expeditions
• Why they turned their Aconcagua expedition into a catalyst for career change
• How they’re now guiding across the U.S. and helping diversify the outdoor industry
• Tangible ways to practice resource and power sharing, no matter your location or means

Send this episode to somebody who you think should turn their adventure into a force for good by becoming a Trailblazer!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Rachel on Instagram
• Summit Scholarship Foundation
• Become a Trailblazer!

By the way, it's not too late to sign up for the June 100 Challenge!

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

• ⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
• Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

✨3 Adventure Opportunities:

1. Join the June 100 Challenge! Combine outdoor movement with storytelling and giving back. We’re uniting 100 women to accept the challenge and will give prompts for accountability and storytelling tips throughout the month of June! This is free to join and a wonderful way to make an impact through spending time outside.

   
   

2. RSVP for our free May 28th Trail Talk with registered dietitian Claire Shorenstein! Get your endurance and adventure nutrition questions answered. Sign up for free here.

   
   

3. Looking for a fun way to kick off the summer season? Check out the Wild Woman Trail Runs! The all-women’s 50k, marathon, half marathon, or relay team is a blast AND a perfect way to host an Adventure Fundraiser without having to plan your own adventure. June 21 in Washington State. Learn more here.

   
   

And for today’s See Her Outside guest…

Sharing an adventure with a friend can be an incredible experience, but that doesn't mean it comes easy!

Natalie Warren, author of Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic, joined us for a peek behind the scenes of her life as an adventurer, author, and parent. We cover:

• Her adventure paddling from Minneapolis to the Arctic

• Tips for finding and having a great adventure partner

• How canoeing can be a fascinating way to observe society

• How writing about an adventure far in the past can be challenging

• The transition to motherhood and raising adventurous children

Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.

Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.

Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠ to join and get the rest of the boxes this year, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

• Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
• Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

📢 RSVP for the free Trail Talk⁠ on May 28: Adventure Nutrition and Q+A | ⁠Sign up for the June 100 Challenge!⁠

🎧 Gunjan Utreja is a first-generation Indian immigrant to the United States who earned a master’s degree in engineering and built an 18-year corporate career.

A journey to self-care led her to co-found the HikeQueen Buddies community, which inspired the creation of MyTrailPals—a mobile app designed to integrate outdoors into everyday existence.

Angie and Gunjan talk about:

• Growing up in India and moving to the United States
• How early morning hikes with a friend spiraled into a large, active hiking community: HikeQueen Buddies
• The importance of "third spaces" for women outside of work and home duties
• Why Gunjan's creating the MyTrailPals mobile app to encourage community in the outdoors
• Managing self-care as a parent, entrepreneur, and outdoor enthusiast
• Tips for women looking to build their own community groups

Send this episode to a woman who you'd love to go on a hike with.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Gunjan on LinkedIn
• MyTrailPals app and Instagram
• HikeQueen Buddies and Hiking Buddies of Bay
• RSVP for the free Trail Talk on May 28: Adventure Nutrition and Q+A
• Sign up for the June 100 Challenge!

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

• Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
• Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

Storytelling is a key element in closing the gender gap, outdoors and in. But it’s not always easy to speak up!

We’ve spoken lately with women who’ve said:

• “I’m not an elite athlete. Why would anyone care about my story?”
• “There are people doing cooler adventures than me, so mine isn’t a big deal.”
• “If I put myself out there and speak up, people will think I’m silly.”

Angie shares a heart-to-heart for any woman who loves the outdoors but is hesitant to turn up the volume on their own voice, including:

• How YOU sharing your story can change the world
• Why we need diverse perspectives and voices in the outdoors, from trip reports to scholarships
• When Angie realized that her personal adventures could positively impact the outdoor community
• Countering the common mindset traps that women face when sharing their stories
• Visibility isn’t the same as vanity
• Finding your voice and mining for personal stories
• How The Cairn Project can support you as you begin to share your stories

Send this episode to a friend who you believe has an amazing story that the world needs to hear.

(And follow along with Angie’s Adventure Fundraiser here and on Instagram! $5 goes a long way to the cause.)

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:

• Become a 2025 Trailblazer.Get the storytelling and fundraising skills to make an impact on the sport you love.
• Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Processing grief brought Carly to the mountains. Community gave her a reason to stay.

Carly Dykes is a mountaineer, University of Washington student, and 2024 Summit Scholarship recipient who climbed Mt. Baker in Washington last June.

Just before Carly turned 18, her dad died from cancer. Carly shares how she found solace in the mountains, why she decided to climb Mt. Rainier in his memory, and the life-changing experience of an all-women’s expedition up Mt. Baker through the Summit Scholarship Foundation.

Carly and Angie talked about:

• Grief, growth, and the healing power of the outdoors
• What it’s like to climb Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker as a beginner
• Why all-women’s climbing teams matter in a male-dominated sport
• How Carly is paying it forward by helping more women get into mountaineering
• Baker recap: a birthday summit, glacier school, and mountain sisterhood
• Coexisting with rather than conquering the mountain

Send this episode to a friend who you want to climb a mountain with this year.

You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:

• ⁠Become a 2025 Trailblazer⁠. You can make scholarships like Carly’s possible.
• Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member.