I crashed the Backcountry Squatters ski trip and it was hands down the best decision ever. We skied everywhere. Let me tell you from experience, skiing with a group of 10 people with various backgrounds can be tricky, but this just felt right.

Eva reflects on her experience taking a level 1 course through the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education with the funds she received from the Backcountry Squatters Scholarship for Outdoor Education.

Emily reflects on her experience of taking a Swiftwater Rescue course with the funds she received from the Backcountry Scholarship for Outdoor Education.

Kenna is the first ever recipient of the Backcountry Squatters Scholarship for Outdoor Education. Here she reflects on her experiences taking an AIARE 1 course in Jackson Hole WY.

Many of us find a lot of calm in high intensity sport, but there is something to be said for finding your zen. Mediation and yoga are proven to reduce stress and increase self-awareness.

I’ve talked with many girls on this same subject: if we are skiing with a group of guys and are in front, we almost feel uncomfortable being there. Like we shouldn’t be the ones leading the pack.

Part of Backcountry Squatters’ mission is to increase women’s participation in spaces that have historically lacked a female presence. We are aware that women’s groups that look like Backcountry Squatters (predominantly white) have not been present in racial justice movements like the one occurring today. Backcountry Squatters aims to increase women’s participation in racial justice, too.

We want to talk about a raging debate in the outdoor community right now: What sort of activities should we be participating in to maintain our personal health, as well as the health of our community? Here’s our two cents: The outdoor community at large should check their privilege at the door and think about WE not ME.

If you don’t make the same mistakes as me, you may save yourself TIME and a LOT of cursing.