The other day I was recounting my life changing experience backpacking in Glacier National Park to a coworker. I just finished telling her about our five day, nearly thirty mile, mostly Grizzly free backcountry trip when I looked up expecting to have inspired my friend. She looked horrified. That is when I realized, in the land of big hair and weekly manicures…I am an oddity.

My Husband and I at Thunderbird Pond in Glacier National Park

I don’t know many “outdoorsy” females and I don’t know any moms that go traipsing through the wilderness with their two daughters. I am sure you are out there. I am convinced I can’t be that much of a freak. However, when I tell my gal pals about my weekend hike or inner desire to spend a year backpacking most of them make a joke about how they would love to join me…if they can stay at the Holiday Inn and spend the day at the spa instead of hitting a trail.

I can’t say that I have always loved adventure. I like control and comfort, something you don’t always have when you are holding onto huckleberry bushes, lost in an avalanche field, being eaten alive by mosquitos, soaked by rain, with your toenails falling off (now how does that not sound like fun?).

Hiking through an Avalanche Field.

My journey to becoming a lover of hiking/backpacking/camping/kayaking has been slowly taken. It didn’t happen over night, in fact it all started because my family and I loved vacations but we could never afford to stay in hotels. I am so thankful that this frugality forced us outdoors. Thinking about this apparently astonishing obsession my husband, daughters, and I share made me decide that I would like to start writing about my life outdoors, from the wife/mother/woman perspective. I want to answer some of the questions I get asked, combat some myths that I frequently hear, and simply invite you to read my account of the trips and travels that we love. My husband jokingly calls this My Wife Outdoors….so that title has stuck. I hope you all enjoy!

-Celeste

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