Giving Back - Outdoor Mentorship

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Throughout my life, I have noticed that some people just don't get it when it comes to being in nature and that is okay. Why? Because it allows us to provide resources to one another in ways that don’t always come to mind right away… what I am I talking about?? Mentorship.

Mentoring others in the outdoors can be a very daunting but rewarding task for those who are intrigued in doing it and are prepared to invest their time into the process. Further, mentoring others in mountain activities such as camping, hiking, climbing, etc. AND establishing educational and conservational awareness is key.

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In the terms of Bri, effective mountain outdoor mentors must hold the following attributes:

1.     Being genuine and true to yourself – In order to be a good mentor and find the right mentee(s), you must be your most true and authentic self. Being a good mentor does mean being knowledgeable in what you are guiding the individual(s) through, there is no doubt about that. But you must also find those who will allow you to lead them and will appreciate the strides of growth you anticipate bringing forth in them as well.

2.     Showing knowledge and passionate about what you are leading – No one ever wants to be led by an unmotivated, seemingly annoyed person in any circumstance and thus being passionate about what you are mentoring one in is an absolute must. When mentoring and leading those around you, curiosity is ignited and being prepared to show each crook and cranny of what you’re doing should be expected.

3.     Knowing your boundaries – Some may think about mentoring another person and think “this is cake” and others will run the opposite way. Regardless of your initial comfort level, knowing and enforcing boundaries of how you plan to handle the responsibility of mentorship is vital and must be taken seriously. You must be prepared to lead by example and provide consistency in your leadership and mentoring strategies. If you cannot establish these boundaries for yourself, then maybe it’s not the time for you to take this on. With that being said though, don’t put too many boundaries on what you are doing and remember this experience is supposed to be fun! With each person you mentor over time, the more experience you will gain and the more in control you will feel in establishing your boundaries.

4.     Taking on the effort to do continued research and education – While some may argue that what they learned as a child or in their first years of mountain adventures is deemed the best, outdoor education and conservation measures, including the areas of wildlife and forestry initiatives, is constantly expanding and updated to the public year-round. For starters, I highly suggest checking out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service webpage to see the general Land and Resource Management’s current objectives and public information available in your region. Also, see what your local community organizations offer in terms of various outdoor education classes. You may also check out REI’s Co-op Journal for new tips, tricks, and pieces of information to know before hitting the trail next. Nevertheless, regardless of what resources you utilize, yearning for new knowledge and the ability to learn must be in full-gear to be an effective mountain outdoor mentor.

Useful Links:

·       U.S. Department of Ag | Forest Service Regional Office Listings website: https://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/contact-us/regional-offices

·       REI’s Co-op Journal website: https://www.rei.com/blog

·       Websites to consider when searching for local outdoor education courses:

-        National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) website: https://www.nols.edu/

-        Outward Bound website: https://www.outwardbound.org/

o   Their promotional video: https://youtu.be/noMrKQ326ew

-        OutdoorEd website: https://www.outdoored.com/

If you have outdoor resources that you would like to share, please drop them in the comment section below! 

With that, I will wrap up today’s blog by saying thank you for reading and please check back often for more mountain outdoor and adventure blog posts! 

 -B

 
 

New Beginnings [again...]

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This is the new Bri writing at you here on this fine Thursday evening in Laramie, WY. Four days ago, the sudden end to my salaried paycheck, benefits, and 8-hour computer desk commitment occurred. Why you might ask? Because I was not happy. And so I left.

I had tried my hardest to get through the past 6 months to make the job work and to live off the pride that I got the interview (and offer) only three days after walking across the stage for my bachelor’s degree. In short, this does NOT work, folks, and I do not recommend it for anyone – doing what everyone else pushes for is not always what is best for you and this is so important to know.

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So, what's next? Bri time, which consists of a lot of different things.  It's very scary but one thing is for sure - your own well-being, mental health, and self-happiness will always be more important than any place of employment or paycheck that you may receive. That is one dear lesson that I will never let go of as I move forward and will always fight for no matter what. With this motivation, I have many dreams and ideas that I hope will come to life one day, each in their own time. So please stay tuned because this girl is on the start to following her dreams and big things are coming for those who want to get in the outdoors!

Just to highlight where I’m going: I am a motivated individual who wants to bring those far and near to the great outdoor escapes that the Rocky Mountains have to offer. With that is a responsibility of awareness, conservation, fellowship, education, and safety. I am fully prepared to do this through the coming years and am blessed to be surrounded by link-minded individuals who I am excited to ask to join my team one day! In the meantime, this blog, my Instagram feed, and my return to school in an energy and natural resources-focused program will be the base of this journey and I am excited to have you join me!

Within the coming months (and let's be honest, maybe years), I will be asking my followers on both platforms mentioned various questions about their outdoor interests, experiences, and more. I invite you to please share your opinions and participate as you can!

I am very excited to start this next phase of my life and bring the entrepreneurial ventures I've dreamt of to light - thank you for joining this journey with me!

Until next time,

-B

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Step Out

Ever since "adulting" started for me a little over 6 months ago, I have struggled BIG TIME. But what's kept me grounded? Literally sleeping on the ground as much as I can.

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The typical reaction I get from a lot of people is "you go camping alone??" or "Aren't you scared to do that by yourself??" And the answer is yes. I do. And I'm damn proud of it. Because here is what I've learned:
- we all are naturally equipped to handle damn near anything. And if we aren't, that's why they make bear spray and sidearms.
- confidence is born quicker than you'd think when trekking alone in the woods.
- being one with mother nature is the number one grounding effect.
- time goes by a lot slower when you are caught up in the beauty of rocks, plants, wildflowers, and mountain air in front of you.
- you must be and need to be your own best friend. 

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Pole Mountain, WY - The Quick Escape

Being in southeastern Wyoming, some (and many) individuals can’t help to think that there is nothing to do here, especialy being on the opposite side of the hotspot of the state, Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. 

But they are respectfully wrong.

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Just a few days ago, a work colleague and I were talking about the many things to do around the area including the various outdoor activities to choose from. We joked that if you move here and you aren’t outdoorsy, you’re going to have a hard time appreciating the beauty around you. But really, he was right – there is far more beauty in the depths of the Medicine Bow – Routt National Forest than many know and it’s on both sides of Laramie, despite contrary belief.

The point of my post today is to bring awareness to Laramie locals and guests that they need to get out beyond what they find on Google and TripAdvisor reviews.. Being in an isolated part of the state, let’s be honest, can be very hard on the mental play of anyone. But there is a resource right out your front door that could keep us all entertained (and happy!) for many, many years if we were to just let it!

As you head east of Laramie on Interstate 80, taking the exit to Happy Jack Road is the ticket to a quick camping trip, day hike or climbing sesh. It astonishes me how many southeastern Wyoming residents here do not go beyond the typical Vedauwoo and Curt Gowdy State Park attractions when heading that direction. Well let me please be one of the few to tell you, there is so much beyond the over advertised recreation areas in this region and it is all only a small drives distance away!

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I'm sure we can all agree that sometimes you just want your own space when getting out for a relaxing weekend camping trip. Sometimes you just want to crank your music up in the morning as you are setting up breakfast. Or sometimes you just want to find that place within the boulders to take a small cat nap under the nice summer sun. Regardless of your mountain adventuring wants and needs, Pole Mountain is the quick escape for anyone traveling to or living in Laramie or the nearby capital city. 

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Just north of Vedauwoo and Happy Jack Road on Forest Service Roads 714, 712, and the like, are areas where you will find countless pull offs that can satisfy all types of mountain fun and adventure that an outdoorsy individual may lust for. I’m talking rock climbing and bouldering formations, trails with less people, and finding hidden beaver ponds galore. Camping in this area is mostly dispersed, however, all spots are marked via the Motor Vehicle Pole Mountain Map (below). While the 2018 summer was extremely busy, it always seems the hype of camping in the Pole Mountain area calms as the summertime continues. Finding your favorites spots open on a Friday night becomes more and more common, especially going into the month of August. You will find camp trailers in the “easy” spots to access almost all season, but if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you will be sure to find a hidden spot tucked away from the other campers. 

As you view the MV Pole Mountain Map, once you find Happy Jack Road (in blue below), look north and see all the roads waiting for you to explore. 

 (The Full Map can be found on the USFS website here - look for "Laramie Ranger District - Pole Mountain" )

In my experience, there are many areas you can hike into as well, especially in areas that have been closed off as old 4-wheel drive trails that end at old camping spots. Seriously folks, the Pole Mountain area provides a lower elevation outdoor experience that can provide much more than what we see on Wyoming Toursim phamlets (which is crazy, I know! It DOES get that beautiful around here!).

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For day mountain adventures, you have both established and not so established trails to hike on and endless boulder formations to choose from when you're feeling limber and really adventurous (most formations take at least a few days to explore completely in the sense of day trips). And of course fishing - the countless beaver and small ponds in this area are hidden but are often times stocked by state entities with trout. While most of the catches are small "stocker" fish, sometimes catching a lil brookie 10x over on a spinner can actually be alot of fun. 

No matter your style of mountain adventure, this is genuinely an amazing area to explore and if you haven’t taken the time to check it out, please do. Just always remember to prepare for changing weather conditions, go with a friend when possible, and always follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

Until next time!

-B

Updated December 2018