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What Gretchen Bleiler Can Teach Us About the Halfpipe..

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Gretchen Bleiler

I don’t have many female crushes, but Gretchen Bleiler is definitely one of them!

Not only is she smoking hot, she’s a professional halfpipe snowboarder and created the first halfpipe competition for girls called the Snow Angels Invitational.

Her accomplishments and awards are endless:

  • Olympic’s Women’s Halfpipe Silver Medalist
  • X Games Superpipe Gold Medalist
  • X Games Halfpipe Gold Medalist
  • ESPY Women’s Action Sports Athlete of the Year
  • National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
  • Fuel’s Inaugural Action Sports Female Snowboarder of the Year
  • Colorado Female Athlete of the Year

But that’s not all…

Gretchen’s also has a sick clothing line of snowboarding gear for women!

Learn more about Gretchen’s snowboarding career, clothing line and her advice for women travelers in this interview…

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Crina Coco Popescu Reveals How She Climbs the World’s Largest Volcanoes…

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Crina Coco Popescu

She’s one of the world’s youngest climbers.

At the age of six, Romanian climber Crina “Coco” Popescu started her career climbing the world’s largest mountains with her father.

But what’s even more impressive…

At age 16, Coco became the first female to climb Mount Sidley – the highest volcano in Antarctica – and the first climber in the world to climb the Volcanic Seven Summits – the highest volcanoes on each of the seven continents:

  • South America: Ojos del Salado at 22,615 feet (6,893 m)
  • Africa: Kilimanjaro at 19,341 feet (5,895 m)
  • Europe: Elbrus at 18,510 feet (5,642 m)
  • North America: Pico de Orizaba at 18,491 feet (5,636 m)
  • Asia: Damavand at 18,406 feet (5,610 m)
  • Australia: Mount Giluwe at 14,331 feet (4,368 m)
  • Antarctica: Mount Sidley at 14,058 feet (4,285 m)

Today, Coco continues to climb and guide people on the 7 Mountains Carpathians Garden Circuit that includes Bucegi, Fagaras, Retezat, Ore, Rodna, Ceahlău, and Piatra Craiului in Romania.

But don’t take my word for it…

Read more about Crina Coco Popescu and her accomplishments in this exclusive interview…

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Humanitarian Shannon Galpin Reveals How Cycling Is Minimizing Afghanistan Taboos…

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Shannon Galpin

She’s starting a revolution.

Shannon Galpin is the founder of Mountain2Mountain – a non-profit working across the globe to create a voice and empower women and girls in conflict zones.

Her mission is to minimize Afghanistan’s gender divide and change perceptions through sport, art, music, and sport.

With the Afghan culture strongly against women riding bicycles and her own passion for mountain biking, Shannon knew it was the perfect tool to ignite change.

In 2009, Shannon became the first woman to mountain bike in Afghanistan and in 2010 the first person to ride across Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley encouraging local women to follow suit.

Shannon was recognized as National Geographic’s 2013 Adventurers of the Year and shows no signs of stopping.

Learn more about Shannon and how she’s changing Afghanistan taboos in this interview…

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How Laura Dekker Is Breaking Stereotypes and Boundaries…

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Laura Dekker

From birth she was destined to be a sailor…

After Laura Dekker was born she immediately lived on a boat off the coast of New Zealand and just 16 years later she earned the title of the youngest round-the-world sailor.

But not without some rough waters.

At age 13, Laura had plans to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe, but Dutch authorities stepped in and prevented her from departing.  Two years later in July 2010, the legal feud ended and Laura set sail on August 21st, 2010.

After 519 days at sea, Laura successfully completed the solo circumnavigation on January 21st, 2012.

Learn how Laura Dekker became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in her boat nicknamed “Guppy” in this exclusive interview…

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Seven Tips for Women Trekking Burma

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Trekking-Burma

Love traveling to unexplored places?

Then, Burma (or as the government calls it Myanmar) should be on your bucket list.

Picture it:

Thousands of temples cover the plains of Bagan, leg-rowing fisherman sit patiently on the still water of Inle Lake and rolling rice paddies and small villages wait to be explored.

And there’s no better way to experience the beautiful countryside, meet locals, and live the Burmese lifestyle than trekking Burma.

Along with several self-guided treks in Burma, I’ve hiked a guided three-day trek from the tiny town of Kalaw to the beautiful still water of Inle Lake.

After walking over 37 miles (60 km) through rice paddies, into thatched hut villages, and up and down Burmese mountains, here’s my list of seven tips for women trekking Burma…

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Dee Caffari’s Guide to Breaking World Records…

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Dee Caffari at Barcelona World Race Finish 2011

To call her driven is an understatement.

Dee Caffari is a British yachtswoman who has a serious track record of success.

Here’s the story:

  • In 2006, Dee became the first woman to sail solo and non-stop around the world “the wrong way” against winds and currents.  Only four men had successfully done so before her.
  • In 2009, Dee successfully completed the Vendée Globe – a non-stop and solo sailing race around the world – coming in 6th out of 30 starters.
  • In 2011, Dee sailed the Barcelona World Race with a co-skipper, earning her the title as the only woman to have sailed around the world three times, non-stop!

Her journey’s were long and arduous, but  Dee “never wanted to give up or stop.”

But don’t take my word for it…

Learn about Dee Caffari’s record-breaking journeys, her most shocking moments, and her special advice for women travelers in this exclusive interview…

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How Katie Spotz Refreshes Lives Around the World…

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Katie Spotz rowing the Atlantic

She was so young…

At just 22 years old, Katie Spotz rowed 3,038 miles solo across the Atlantic Ocean setting the world record for the youngest person row the Atlantic.

And best of all…

Katie raised over $150,000 for safe drinking water for people around the world through the Blue Planet Network.

Learn about Katie’s courageous oceanic journey in this exclusive interview…

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Roz Savage’s Guide to Rowing the World’s Oceans and Saving the Environment…

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Roz Savage waving from her boat on the Atlantic.

She’s changing the environment, one stroke at a time.

Roz Savage – a British ocean rower – became the first woman to row across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.  That’s over 15,000 miles and 500 days of pure ocean!

But even more brilliant is why she did it…

Roz braved the world’s largest oceans to inspire people to take action and make a different in the environmental challenges we face today.  She believes that if the seven billion people of the world made a few simple changes in their daily habits, it could have a significant and positive impact on the environment.

Her outstanding accomplishments have earned her the title of an United Nations Climate Hero, Athlete Ambassador for 350.org, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, International Fellow of the Explorer’s Club of New York and Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic.

Read about Roz’s oceanic journeys and accomplishments in this exclusive interview…

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Skiing Across Antarctica (Yes, Antarctica!) with Felicity Aston…

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Felicity Aston

Most people tour Antarctica by cruise ship.

But not this British explorer and scientist…

Felicity Aston is the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone and without the use of a kite or machine.

For 59 days, she skied 1,084 miles (1,744 km) from the Ross Ice Shelf to Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf via the South Pole, completing the journey on January 22nd, 2012.

It was not only challenging and rewarding, but severely lonely.

Just watch this three minute video as Felicity accomplishes her goal…

And that’s just the beginning!

Felicity shares her personal journey in this exclusive interview… 

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How Jeanne Conquered 7 Summits and 7 Marathons on 7 Continents…

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Jeanne Stawiecki (5)

Think hiking the 7 summits is difficult?

Try running a marathon on each of the continents too!

Jeanne Stawiecki holds the world record for:

  1. oldest woman to climb all 7 summits – the highest mountain peaks on each of the seven continents – and
  2. fastest aggregate time for a woman to run marathons on all seven continent.

Learn how Jeanne turned her life around at the age of 38, conquered her fears of the unknown and broke the Guiness World Record in this interview…

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Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Jennifer Pharr Davis

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Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Jennifer Pharr Davis

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a record breaker.

Not only has she hiked the Appalachian Trail multiple times, but she’s also the first woman to be the overall record holder – hiking 2,181 miles in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes!

She’s hiked thousands of miles all over the world including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail in Peru and the Bibbulmun Track in Australia… just to name a few.

But her love of the Appalachian Trail is undeniable and expressed in her hiking memoir Becoming Odyssa.

Listen as Jennifer shares her personal journey hiking the Appalachian Trail in record time in this exclusive interview…

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A Personal Pilgrimage Walking the Camino de Santiago

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The Camino de Santiago

How many steps does it take to complete a pilgrimage?

On the Camino de Santiago it takes 2,640,000 feet (500 miles) or simply put…

One step at a time.

And for Sheryl Collmer, those steps were the happiest of her life.

Sheryl shares her insider experience and personal journey walking the Camino de Santiago in this exclusive interview…

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Five Must-Read Hiking Tips for Women Trekkers

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Darcie & Adam Thorong La Pass

While, I’m not an expert…

I have hiked 17 days, 131 miles and from 2,690 to 17,769 feet above sea level on the Annapurna Circuit that winds through the Himalayas in Nepal.

It was the best experience of my life!

But it didn’t come without learning a few hard lessons and earning countless blisters.  Don’t make the same mistakes I did.

Read my five hiking tips for women hikers…

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The Best Reason to Visit Tofino Canada (Hint: It’s Bigger Than a Bus!)

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Tofino Canada Humpback Whale

Wanna know what is special about Tofino Canada?

You get three hints…

  1. They’re bigger than a bus.
  2. They’re endangered.
  3. They weight over 40 tons.

If you guessed Humpback Whales, you’re right!

And the best part is…

The waters off Tofino, Canada in Maquinna Marine Park are the  world’s best destination for whale watching.

Its strategic location along the migration route, nutrient rich waters, and protective bays is the perfect sanctuary for a variety of whales who migrate the 16,000 mile (25,000 km) journey every year.

People from around the world to visit Vancouver Island in the spring and fall to gaze at the pacific ocean’s gentle giants.

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Love Argentina Wine? Then Visit This Wine World Capital…

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Wine Tasting the Andes; Mendoza, Argentina

Careful: Argentina wine can spoil you for life.

It’s not just the wines – though Argentinian wines are very, very good – it’s the landscape.

Mendoza is a desert, but you’d probably never guess it.

Thanks to Andean snow melt, it remains lush and green year round, while fountains and irrigation canals run through the city center. Sycamore trees line the main square, which provide shade from the hot sun.

But what’s more striking is the view. The Andes mountain range looms over endless miles of vineyards, while rolling hills turn amber and crimson during autumn months.

It’s gorgeous!  But back to the wines…

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The One Thing You Must Do in Tulamben, Bali…

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Wreck Scuba Dive & Snorkel; Tulamben (Bali), Indonesia

One question: Is scuba diving and snorkeling really worth it in Tulamben, Bali?

Yes… and it’s arguably the best diving in the world!

Tulamben is the most overlooked coastal village in Bali.

There aren’t hordes of tourist, thousands of bars or restaurants and – in all honesty – it’s pretty boring.

But that’s only at first glance…

The real action takes place beneath eerie black Bali Sea.

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7 Must-See Attractions of Mysore India

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Mysore, India

Tourists.

They’re hard to miss with their khaki traveler pants, cameras dangling around the neck and noses buried in pages of maps and guide books.

But there’s an even worse dead give-away…

A bus tour.

And in most cases, guided bus tours are overpriced and a waste of time.

However, there is one exception…

Mysore India.

The bus tours in Mysore are exceptionally efficient, affordable and there is a high chance that you’ll be the only international tourist on the bus – giving you a chance to mingle with other Indian travelers.

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An Insider’s Guide to Oktoberfest Germany…

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Oktoberfest; Munich, Germany

Sweet, delicious flowing beer!

What better way to celebrate an old royal wedding, than with the 16 to 18 day beer-chugging elegance called Oktoberfest?

With an unlimited amount of beer guzzlers, pork knuckle choppers, beer wenches and drunk BFF’s singing David Hasselhoff at the top of their lungs, you’re sure to love the chaos of the 200 year old festivities.Continue

Empowering Women: Denise Connell Braves Shark-Infested Waters

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Denise (4)

I gotta be honest.

The movie Jaws (1975) scared the living sh** outta me.

I can still picture it…

…a young woman goes skinny-dipping in the Atlantic ocean, the haunting two-note music plays (duh-nuh, duh-nuh, duh-nuh…) and she gets viciously attacked by an unknown creature from the depths below.

The worst part is…

…people still get in the water,  including my big sister.

In this interview, the super brave and inspiring woman, Denise Connell shares her experience training for and swimming the Santa Cruz Triathlon in Great White Shark invested waters with freezing temperatures of 53-59°F (11.6-15°C).

So without further ado, let’s hear more from the swimming sensation Denise Connell…

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Empowering Women: Michelle Mariscal Runs The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon

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Michelle Mariscal Training

In 2008, Running USA reported the half marathon is the fastest growing type of race.

And fun events like the The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which hosts full marathon (26 mi / 42.16 km) and half marathon (13 mi / 21 km) are popping up all over the world to meet the growing demand for running events.

In this interview, single-mother and chocolate-addict, Michelle Mariscal, shares her experience training for and running The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.

So without further ado, let’s hear more from the running renegade Michelle Mariscal…

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