Within my role at Backcountry Women, I started a Monthly Members “Fireside” Chat. It is an informal yet structured and unique learning opportunity that brings women together to talk about topics related to the outdoors. The goal is to learn from one another, meet new people, and enjoy local restaurants. We went to Prairie Ink … Continue reading Packing Our Fears
I attended my brothers Christmas church production along with my mom on December 23. His church puts together a yearly theater-like production at Christmas and although I have been invited in previous years, I only accepted the invitation this year. Declining the invitation has nothing to do with church and more so my relationship with … Continue reading The Twelve Villains of Christmas
My mental health does not take a holiday over the Christmas season and in fact, it gets worse. My dad died in November when I was nine years old and even though that was many years ago, the experience was formative with how I view the Christmas season. I have a strong love hate relationship … Continue reading What the Season Means (or Does Not Mean) for Me
I drove down Euclid Avenue in the Point Douglas area of Winnipeg this morning. Tears formed in my eyes as I saw child after child walking to school. Many of the children were not wearing ski pants, they had flimsy ear muffs and hoods instead of toques, running shoes instead of boots, and no scarves. … Continue reading Empowering Women Off the Trail
I joined Backcountry Women this morning for a hike around Birds Hill Park but I unfortunately needed to cut my participation short. With the temperature hovering around -28°C, my asthma acted up and I had a hard time controlling my breathing. After communicating with the group leader, I slowly made my way back to the … Continue reading To Feel Something
This time of the year is fucking hard for me. I'm just going to come right out and say that I dread this time of the year. I found myself in a Jollibee parking lot last night eating the skin of fried chicken. It was one of the lowest points of my existence during the … Continue reading Potential news headline, “Local woman smashes Jollibee statue with sledgehammer in Christmas rage”
My pace, my adventure, and my reasons for hiking. What is not to love about being solo on the trail? Sometimes it's nice not to have a human companion but still want someone to talk to, to feel safe with, and to relax with. That is when Asha comes hiking with me. My dogs are … Continue reading Is it solo hiking if my dogs join me?
As much as I loved our first apartment with my husband that was on the 14th floor of an apartment building that overlooked the beautiful Assiniboine River and Manitoba Legislative grounds, I rarely went outside onto the balcony. It would freak me out when he sat on the balcony to watch storms roll in or … Continue reading Climbing to New Heights
I spent Saturday afternoon at Spruce Woods Provincial Park with Backcountry Women where we learned winter survival skills with Jen, a Manitoba Parks Interpreter. Provincial Parks around Manitoba offer a variety of programs and workshops to the public. Assiniboine River My main goal with the workshop was to learn more about making and maintaining fires. … Continue reading Expect the Best and Plan for the Worst: Winter Survival Skills
I feel as if I am entering a new phase with my relationship with alcohol. In a sense, these past three (almost four) years have been about survival. The walls I put up had concertina wire surrounding the walls, protecting me and keeping the enemy out. You know the kind of wire I am talking … Continue reading My Relationship with Alcohol
Wild Woman Wisdom 