The Uphill Climb: How Project16x is Catapulting Women in the Outdoor IndustrY

See how this small but mighty summit is paving way for huge opportunity...

We’ve decided to climb up the San Juan Range’s Sheep Mountain. After all, the summit is seemingly a stone’s throw away from our hut. There is no clear path so everyone - artists, writers, brand reps, climbers, bikers, runners, entrepreneurs, east and west coasters alike - scatters across the base of the mountain to start making their own. Quickly, I realize this hike would be a little different than the ones conquered before…

Episode 17: Backcountry Bonding | She Explores

Real connections are made in the outdoors. There is a contagious energy to be found in women bonding through time spent outside. In this episode, we talk to two women who are building businesses around that energy.

Sasha Cox is the founder of Trail Mavens. She and a team of guides take women on backpacking and camping trips in the Bay Area of California. The trips are meant to teach, inspire, and empower; other side effects include new outdoor skills and friendships.

Reflections from the Wild Women's Project

The Wild Women’s Project is the brainchild of Amanda Goad of Bold Brew, a creative and communications shop that does a lot of work for clients in the outdoor industry. Based in Durango, Colorado, the team is focused on “building meaningful cultures, innovative landscapes and gritty people,” according to its website. After spending a weekend with women from around the country who are blazing new paths in the outdoor industry and beyond, I’d say we moved the needle, in our own incremental way, on gritty, innovative and, most importantly, meaningful.

When Women Lead

Exactly a week ago now, I found myself snowed in for first snowfall of the year in the High Camp Hut outside of Telluride, Colorado. Seventeen women, all from our different forests, mountains, homes (some vans), and walks of life met for the Wild Women's Project. We explored, hiked, built fires, laughed, dreamt, encouraged each other and opened up to each other (and ourselves). Though we brought our differences, we all shared something similar - our hearts were all found and formed by the outdoors.

Notes From A Women's Weekend at 11,600 Feet | Munk Pack

The outdoor adventure sports arena has made it’s promises to it’s ever-so-dedicated female following. The forecast is for a whole lot less of the “shrink it and pink it” mentality and a whole lot more of showing men what women can do. I could only imagine the feeling that a male fly-on-the-wall might have gotten at the first Wild Women’s Project last month in the San Juan Mountains. I’d like to think he wouldn’t have been shocked at the amount of driven women in one place, but the reality of the situation is, he would have been blown away.

Women Are the Outdoor Community’s Next Thought Leaders | The Outbound

What happens when you invite 16 of the outdoor community's spirited and ingenious women to a high-alpine backcountry hut for a weekend?

Incredible things.

Long conversations about sustainability and conservation. Passion for a new sport you never thought you'd try. Diverse perspectives on what it means to be a woman in this industry today. Motivation to start new ventures. Newfound confidants. Lifelong friendships. For real.

And 16 enlivened souls, driven to conquer any endeavor imaginable.

the summit field guide