Issue 5: Black + White by Sisu Magazine

SISU m

issue 5

black + white

SISU Pronounced see’-soo. A Finnish term embodying the spirit of grit, guts, and perseverance. Sisu represents a human being’s ability to face any adventure riddled with hardship, hopelessness, and impossibility, yet they still choose to stay the course. It’s not a temporary state of courage, it’s a way of life. SISU MAGAZINE A collection of uninterrupted stories, brilliant photographs, and stunning art that evokes the indomitable human spirit that exists in all of us. An exploration into the experiences and perspectives about the outdoors, told by our contributing writers, photographers, and artists who represent a bold, insightful collective voice.

f r o n t a n d b ac k cov e r art wo r k by w yeth m os s

.... re cultiva ceiving impe te r to judg grace and h fect apologies umility e other helps . s that sa me bin for their faul I should be sl us d next ow ts, lest be)... W ti it to keep hat we are o me (which it be me in w w going a re not a ed and what ill likely we l ways th why e same need we n e e d im things. p e r fe ct a p o lo

CONTENTS 6 why we need imperfect apologies I’m Sorry by Frances Lee The pitch

Building an Inclusive Community in the Backcountry with Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps

12 ask jenny

Questioning Your Worth by Jenny Bruso

g ie s Pag e 6

guardians

i did it because it was fun

Artwork by Wyeth Moss

A Lookback on Skiing with Kim Reichhelm by Jennifer Gurecki

roller skiing to the top Creating New Life by Charlotte Massey

an indoor girl on the outdoors Soul Sludge by Melanie Briggs the great urban outdoors

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Mappy Hour wuth Sarah Knapp

dream or delusion?

Travel Influencer

Truth by Erika Fitzgerald

hemp takeover

Fuel Your Adventure by

Erica Zazo

20 how to soak and shred the 64 eastern sierra Road Tripping by Jenn Sheridan

What’s in our rack

brotherhood of skiing

Packing it In

66 Changing Mindsets by Faith Briggs

connections

old habits die hard Winter SelfPreservation by Samantha Romanowski

The Landscape and Trans Bodies

nature never Misgendered me Finding Acceptance in the Mountains by Jennifer

poetry in motion Who Am I? by Lynne Schmidt

by Lou Bank

How Not To Be A Climate Change Activist Like A Basic Bitch Where Race and Travel Intersect by Kiona

DIY

marketplace

eat, drink, + be merry

A Project with Jamon Wolfe Shop It

Gurecki

for the love of snow

Cranberry

Bliss Bars by Vanessa Barajas

Bearing

Witness by Stephanie Maltarich

that’s what he said

Sisu Does Satire

by Andrew Pridgen

ing on snow rn tu f o y jo le the simp and family, s d n ie Whether it’s fr h it w e memories I don’t want to , n downhill, or th w to in ta n u in a mo something s p e e k or the lifestyle , k in th n’t. Skiing, I f snow, for the o lose this. I ca e v lo e th r fo live, and at makes us h w f inside of me a o e v lo e net, for th of snow love of this pla . the love it r e v o a f s to human. I want Page 40

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FROM THE EDITOR

Now that we have one year under our belt, things are beginning to tighten up at Sisu Magazine. Issue 5: Black & White is the first issue where we decided upon a theme months before we went to print, rather than the day before. Previously, we had allowed for it to emerge organically, and surprisingly, this approach worked. There’s still an element of serendipity, where the connections between pieces exist without our influence, but this time we were more intentional. One of the reasons for this shift is based on the world around us. Everywhere we look, we see opposite ends of the spectrum sparring, with little appreciation for what lies in the middle. We’ve become so dogmatic that even the most progressive people are conservative in their approaches when it comes to managing discourse within their own circles. Frances Lee, best known for their piece “Excommunicate Me From the Church of Social Justice,” explores this very subject inside this issue, writing about the need for imperfect apologies to bring activists and allies back together. We also are seeing the very definition of what it means to be outdoorsy evolve. No longer can we force each other into identifying either as a city slicker or nature lover. The two are coalescing and the lines that once separated us are disappearing. Our feature on Mappy Hour dispels the myth that you can’t find outdoor experiences in cities, uncovering some of the most interesting places to recreate in urban areas. Faith Brigg’s piece on the Brotherhood of Skiing reminds us once again that we haven’t been paying attention— or perhaps we’ve been fooled by the media—to who actually plays outside. One of the most significant departures from a binary perspective is gender fluidity. The notion that there are two genders—men and women—is quickly eroding to expose a more nuanced and honest representation of gender. There’s nothing unisex about this reordering of society; there is a broad spectrum of human beings who are choosing their own identity rather than being told how to show up in this world. From Lou Bank’s photo essay on their experience of embracing a new body after gender affirming surgery, to Hannah Aram’s decision to compete professionally as the first trans women in the Freeride World Tour, Issue 5: Black & White explores the depth of what lies in the middle. It’s those shades, those halftones, that we rarely experience. But that is where the truth lies. The place where hope lives, is where we can be better, more inclusive, more aware, more active than what we are today. You see Issue 5 has nothing to do with being black or white. It’s all about the subtleties and the nuances that have been hidden in between.

Jennifer Gurecki Editor In Chief

FROM THE creative director One of the first things you learn when you are learning to make your own marks is to make a black line. The only reason you see this mark is because your line of graphite or ink or crayon is on light paper. At first, all of your lines are black lines; your marks are made with singular purpose. As time moves on, and you play with shapes, you also play with pressure. You notice that you can still see your mark if you press only slightly, and you realize that you can make an infinite amount of tones if you allow yourself to. Your mark-making becomes both more complex and more subtle. The more you begin to explore the range between the black mark and white paper, your art more accurately reflects your detailed intention, and thus yourself. For artists, the name for this play of dark and light is called chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro is an Italian word and technical term for the interplay of black and white to create volume and drama. It’s what we might call contrast in familiar terms, but the full definition is much more than that. To employ chiaroscuro is to use very little of pure black or white, but to actually master the range of tones in between––the gray area. In the artwork of Wyeth Moss in this issue, you will notice the limited palette of their drawings. It’s what you might call black and white. When you examine more closely, the detail and power in their work is actually a product of the gray tones. Their drawings may not appear to have color, but they are not bitonal––they are made up of infinite grays, stipples, dots, lines, smudges. In fact, the black and white they use is to highlight and bring forth the infinite tones of gray that are actually their “colors.” Wyeth is a master of chiaroscuro. Even now as they transition to using color in their new and future work, they know and harness the power that resides in the range of tones between the extremes. The things these drawings make you feel—depth, beauty, complexity—are not the result of the black or the white, but a product of mixing the two with skill and intention and creating a landscape of the shades between. For Issue 5 of Sisu Magazine, which we have themed Black & White, we are really intending to highlight everything in between. As in chiaroscuro, the concept of Black & White bookends the power of the infinite in-between zone, where nothing is all or nothing, and everything is somewhere on a continuum. This issue explores how humans, situations, perceptions, and places are born, exist, and thrive between finites and absolutes. As art presents a corollary to life, this is our human condition. As you read this issue of Sisu Magazine, I invite you to acknowledge the power of the gray, reject the canon of the binary, and embrace the delicate and exalted freedom of subtle shades of existence.

Lauren Bello Okerman Creative Director

d e e N e W y h W s e i g o l o p A t c e f r e p Im sisu

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Frances Lee | HelloFrancesLee.com

Doing the right thing all the time isn’t just hard, it’s impossible. I think some of us have forgotten this tenet of social reality. Over the past few years, activists across justice movements, including myself, are learning that when the stakes are high, when resources are so scrappy, and binary frameworks pervade ideologies around right and wrong, people with shared political values will experience a great deal of conflict and ruptured relationships. Rather than encouraging people to pause, reflect, and respond when harm has occurred, some damaging social norms have dictated that ideas matter more than someone’s well-being and humility is weakness.

we live without them? Some of the apologies I’ve received are empty and unsatisfying, and that’s even if I have the courage to ask for them. Similarly, I’ve given my fair share of imperfect apologies and still don’t know how to apologize well. While I will be trekking along for a while learning how to say sorry and restoring relations, I will not be requiring perfect apologies from others along the way. A Recipe For Apologies What constitutes an apology? From what I’ve learned, here are its parts, some optional, some not.

I learned this as I was crafting my essay “Excommunicate Me From the Church of Social Justice.” I wrote about watching my friends and fellow organizers tear each other down over needing to be perceived as politically pure. It was a moment of peak in-group punishment, when the wrong word or stance left some people friendless, socially isolated, or bereft of belonging. There was a rapidly shifting new social order, with different types of people up top, but the same structure of hierarchy strong as ever.

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Admission of the mistake that occurred or the harm that you caused.

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Timing matters too––sooner rather than later is always better. One of my friends shared with me that in their community, everyone addresses conflict within 48 hours.

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A show of genuine remorse.

Now, more than two years later after writing and reflecting on my germinal piece about the culture of the modern US social justice movement, I want to focus on one of the many processes that continue to lead us away from divisive, dogmatic activism: apologies. How do we apologize? What do apologies do? When is an apology good enough? If we’ve been wronged, how do we ask for an apology? How do

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A commitment to make things right, or if that’s not possible, to act differently next time when faced with a similar situation.

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Avoid saying sorry that someone was hurt by your actions, which is essentially blaming the other person’s oversensitivity for inconveniencing you.

Hans-Martin Kudlinski @hmkphotog

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It might be meaningful to pause for a moment and listen to the other person’s response to your declarations, particularly if your apology is being transmitted in person.

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Apologies can be complete without forgiveness, though being forgiven closes the loop and can restore relational balance.

And then, you move on with your life, which means you stop shame spiraling and beating yourself up over what you did. Or maybe it means you stop minimizing the harm your actions caused and sit with the reality of your responsibility to take care of those around you as best as you can. If you are alive long enough, you will come across the need to apologize to someone for something, eventually. Whether you do it or not, and how you do it, is a different thing entirely.

and had long, flowing hair. I learned to make my body small and invisible through slouching and silence because I didn’t want to be seen. As an adult, I now veer towards a soft masculinity involving oversized workwear, fade haircuts, and a playful effeminacy. Yet the passage from one to the other was neither straightforward nor seamless. When I started toying with my gender presentation, it was the first time I had exercised so much autonomy over my social body. Thus, I leaned away from femininity into more pleasurable ways of dressing and bodily comportment. Being mistaken for a man by strangers brought a special thrill; even though I wasn’t a man, I was no longer being treated as a woman.

We fear that if we lessen any sides to our anger, if we let our muscles for rage relax in

the slightest, we will reduce the engine for resistance work.

But my personal experimentation soon turned into a level of selfcenteredness that became obnoxious for everyone else around me. I still don’t comprehend the degree to which I was monopolizing conversations, making them about my budding masculinity and broadcasting entitlement to femme attention and desire. Coming into one’s queerness is often a hard-earned task worthy of much celebration, but it should never be an excuse to hit pause on being decent. A close friend, who had had enough of a onesided relationship with me, decided to abruptly end things between us. It shocked me and I smarted with hurt and self-righteousness.

This creates a parched, craggy

soil unsuitable for germinating apologies.

It’s easier to direct anger at others and the sorriness of the world, at the unfairness that we have to be here, around all of this. It might like there is a massive well at our disposal, filled with loathing and nasty thoughts to be directed at other people. As if drawing from its core of energy will protect us from harm. It’s as if we’ve conflated anger, activism, justice, and morality, believing they all need each other to keep churning. We fear that if we lessen any sides to our anger, if we let our muscles for rage relax in the slightest, we will reduce the engine for resistance work. This creates a parched, craggy soil unsuitable for germinating apologies. How do we change the makeup of the soil to make it more fertile and able to host tendrils of other possibilities? When It’s You Growing up, I was subject to compulsory heteronormative and Asian femininity; I was put in frilly dresses, begrudgingly wore drugstore makeup,

Months later, we attempted a reconciliation meeting, but I was still focused on the painful way they broke things off. Thus, I was not able to access an alternate, more comprehensive reading of reality that included other people’s experiences of my behavior over the past year. The apology I gave in person was meager. I wish I could present a real apology sculpted by gift of hindsight, one that included an understanding of a collective perspective, but the moment has forever passed. The best thing I can do is use remorse as a teacher and forge new patterns of 7

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THE PITCH

eastern sierra conservation corps An interview with:

Agnes vianzon of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps | @easternsierracc

Photography by:

Lauren Mcmillin |

@loloandthelens

“The intention behind ESCC lies in our three main objectives: access, engagement, and extension.”

Agnes Vianzon is out to build a stronger and more inclusive community in the backcountry and beyond. We sat down with her to find out the vision behind the organization she founded, the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps. Why did you start the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps? I fell in love with the teaching and mentoring part of my work with young adults both with the National Park Service and with the California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program. In that however was a desire to do things differently, mostly having to do with inclusivity. A voice grew louder and louder as I spent months living and working within a national park. Honestly, I just wanted to give it a go. If I was able to get a handful of people in an immersive wilderness experience, it was worth it. I wanted to see things done differently. I wanted to give back and share with others the opportunities to live in a tent 25 miles away from a road where you have no cell service or hot water, where you have to work it out with the crewmate staring you down from across the fire. You learn lessons that can only be taught by carrying a heavy pack and moving heavy rocks all day long. And that the space would be more welcoming to you no matter who you are or where you came from. That peple would see themselves represented by those guiding the way. 10

How is the ESCC different from other conservation corps? Conservation corps are found all over California and across the nation. The very first one ever, the Civilian Conservation Corps, didn’t even allow women to serve. Our motto at the ESCC is “Discover the range of your potential.” The intention behind ESCC lies in our three main objectives: access, engagement, and extension. We increase access to the outdoors by eliminating the financial and social barriers to this access while focusing our reach to priority populations. We engage with our participants on a deeper level by passing on the skills and knowledge in a way that they can also pass along that knowledge. And the extension piece means that the impact goes beyond our eight day, 40 mile trips or eight week seasons. Members and participants are asked to continue helping us to achieve our mission. We hope to instill lifelong practices of leadership in stewards and protecting outdoor spaces. What did it take to get your non-profit off the ground? Not only are we off the ground, but we are also nearly doubling our programming each summer. I am privileged with a college degree, a winter bartending gig that allowed for me to purchase my first home, a supportive partner, and resources to take the time it needed to not work but to plan and prepare, to file the paperwork, and to meet with prospective

agencies to partner with. I bought the how to start a nonprofit in CA book and read it cover to cover. We are off the ground but still going through some big growing pains. What has surprised you the most with ESCC? To date, we have helped to facilitate an experience for over 85 new outdoor leaders. And five of them worked for the National Park Service or US Forest Service this summer! In our short time, we are changing the narrative and changing the faces we see represented in employment and visitation of public lands. What’s so difficult about this work and how do you push past it? I haven’t pushed past it. It is a constant struggle to keep a balance. It has affected my personal life. I am defined by ESCC and still the only full time employee but without a guaranteed paycheck each week. I took the leap of faith into imaginative risk and have support and resources but we are still very delicate in our sustainability. But I do recognize where we are and where we want to go. It is about the little things I build in—a walk or hike or riding my snowboard every day that I can. I meditate and maybe it is only for three minutes. I work with my door open and the sun shining in. And there is whiskey and lots of it. Tell us about Women in the Wilderness and why it’s so important to you. As I was preparing for a panel a few years ago, I wrote out a list of every supervisor I had ever had. Fifteen were white-cis-hetero males; two were women. I could talk about stats and the number of women, or even lower, the number of Women of Color currently working on ancestral territories or “public lands.”

Some alumni have joined our corps or other corps. Some are creating sponsorship decks for ESCC. Many have donated back to us. We have an annual reunion for continued connection and networking. It is important because I want to give the opportunities that were shown to me. We all need to work harder to open up these spaces because they should be available to everyone and not just a select few. How can the Sisu community support you? Show some love! That can be a follow, a like, a comment, a share, or a conversation with a friend who might be able to donate. Spread the good word about our work and the ways that we are trying to make that impact in a more inclusive way with a true pathway to success in the outdoor world or otherwise. Note from the editors: The best way to show some love is with your hard earned dollars. If you believe in what Agnes is building through the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps, donate today. It’s only with financial resources that this work will continue. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Sisu and the Coalition Snow community know the power of an affinity space, the power in getting together a group of folks in a space who didn’t have us in mind the way they currently are. What Women in the Wilderness does tangibly is teach hiking and backpacking skills along with some volunteer trail work. But to get folks to the table we provide transportation, gear, food, and all the training. Our trips begin with land acknowledgments plus history and support for Indigenous Peoples still doing the work. We make agreements and set boundaries. We all hike together as a group. We are there to learn from our participants as much as they are there to learn from us. During our stay in an ESCC trail crew camp, our campfire side discussions revolve around barriers to access and the lack of diversity and inclusion in these spaces or whatever spaces we experience. We put our hands on tools or rocks and work the land. We sing and dance and laugh so hard.

how to soak and shred the eastern sierra

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JENN SHERIDAN | @nosnowsnakes

Photography by Lauren Mcmillin |

@loloandthelens

If you’ve never road tripped California’s Eastern Sierra, the time is now. Tall jagged peaks sprout from a high alpine desert and the space between the summit and the valley floor is a playground of adventures just waiting to be explored. While I can’t even begin to scratch the surface of opportunities for climbing, hiking, skiing, and well, you get the idea, I can spill the tea on how to spend a long weekend soaking in hot springs, cat skiing, and eating some of the best food. So pack your skis or splitboard and let’s hit the road.

the road Highway 395 stretches from the US-Canadian border approximately 1,300 miles south to the Mojave Desert. For this trip, we’re focusing on a section that parallels the Sierra Nevada range between Reno, Nevada and Bridgeport, California.

last call Reno is your first and last opportunity to stock up on food and all the last minute goodies you need for a weekend of fun. REI? Trader Joe’s? Reno’s got it, but once you start to head south bigname stores give way to funky shops and quick mart style grocers, which isn’t a bad thing until you’re looking for a specific type of fuel for your camp stove.

Speaking of last call, you’re definitely going to want to top off the gas tank one last time because just a few hours down the road gas prices can be as much as $1 per gallon more. Save the most pennies by fueling up at the Arco station in Gardnerville. From here, download your favorite podcasts and playlists (because you’re about to lose cell service) and hit the road.

treasure hunting Just south of Gardnerville the buildings are few and far between. This is where you really get into the podcast, road snacks, and cruise control for the next hour and a half as high alpine desert screams past the windshield. The next signs of civilization are a handful of small towns: Coleville, Walker, and Topaz. Don’t blink or you’ll miss them. If you’re looking to stretch your legs and your imagination, the Walker Flea Market is an eclectic mash-up of welded sculptures, antiques, jewelry, and art. The treasure hunt is well worth the stop.

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soak it up A quick 30 minutes down the road from Walker, you’ll see the town of Bridgeport, a small cluster of buildings in the middle of a few vast cattle fields. Don’t worry, getting to Bridgeport doesn’t mean the adventure is over, but it is time to get out of the car and soak those bones in steaming mineral water. From town there are a couple of different options for hot springing. The more adventurous choice is Buckeye Hot Springs. To get there, you’ll head east out of town on a washboard dirt road for a couple of miles. Just past Buckeye Campground, there is a pull out with ample parking. The trail will be steep and rough so wear sturdy shoes. The pools are right on the banks of Buckeye Creek. When it gets too hot, hop into the creek for a quick cool down. The quick and easy place to soak is Travertine Hot Springs. It’s a quick five minute drive out of Bridgeport and while the road is a little rough, most low clearance cars should still be able to make it. There’s a total of six different pools at Travertine, each with stunning views of the Sierra Nevada.

shred and unwind Don’t soak too long because the hot springs aren’t the final destination (it’s OK, you can hit them again on the way home.) The next stop is Virginia Lakes Road, just 20 minutes south of Bridgeport, where you’ll rendezvous with the guides of High Sierra Snowcat and Yurt. Virginia Lakes Road provides access to miles of backcountry riding including Dunderberg Peak, South Peak, and Mount Olsen. The road isn’t plowed in the winter and while it is accessible by skinning, booking a trip with High Sierra Snowcat and Yurt saves you the five-mile approach so your legs are fresh for bagging peaks. The snowcat will take you to one of two yurts operated by High Sierra Snowcat and Yurt. Each yurt sleeps six people comfortably. The best part? All meals are prepared for you by High Sierra’s staff, meaning you’ll have time for a lap before dinner, even after spending the first half of the day exploring and soaking in the hot springs. After dinner, it’s time to hang the solar-powered string lights, slap the bag, and start the dance party, but be careful not to party too hard because you’ll want to be semi-fresh for a day of cat-assisted touring all over the Virginia Lakes basin.

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whats in

our rack Outdoor Research Blackpowder II Jacket OutdoorResearch.com

Yakima sky box Yakima.com

coalition snow sos & Rebel skis CoalitionSnow.com

Outdoor Research Enigma baselayers OutdoorResearch.com 26

sunski treelines Sunski.com

Sunski

We’re not sure how Sunski pulls off recycled frames, replacement lenses, polarized lenses, and heaps of style for under $100, but we’ll take all of it. Actually, make it two pairs, please. We want one for every adventure from this up and coming indie brand out of the Bay Area whose clearly got their fingers on the pulse of the future of the outdoors.

Outdoor Research

Want to stay warm and cozy all winter long? (Who doesn’t, right?) The Blackpowder II Jacket was designed to keep those frigid temps at bay with the weather-warding qualities of Pertex® Shield and insulating superpowers of AdrenaLoft™. Pair the Blackpowder II with the Enigma base layer top and bottom, both made from Blended DriRelease® merino wool and E.C.O. (Environmentally Correct Origins) fabrics, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.

Gregory

Whether it’s a road trip or backcountry ski trip, Gregory has you covered with their all-new Targhee pack. Drawing on 40+ years of experience in pack design and engineering, this pack brings the best of Gregory’s knowledge and expertise to the mountains. The newest generation of this award-winning backcountry ski pack is lighter, stronger, and more user friendly. Yes, please, to all of that.

Yakima

GREGORy targhee PACk Gregory.com

Tired of deciding between fitting a friend or your skis on that long road trip or daily drive up to the mountain? We’ve certainly been there. Rather than put Rachel on our lap, we opted to store our stuff in Yakima’s Sky Box. It fits all of your gear, making the drive so much more comfortable. Extra points for skis that aren’t covered in snow and road gunk when you arrive at your destination.

Coalition Snow

Award-winning, athlete approved, women-owned and operated. Check, check, and check. Not only do we put together this magazine four times a year, we are also the humans behind Coalition Snow. Our skis and snowboards have graced the slopes of mountains all over the world, from our backyard in the Sierra Nevada to the Olympic Games in PyeongChang. You can shop our line at REI, Backcountry, and evo, or visit us at our shop in Truckee, CA. 27

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changing the mindset of who skis faith briggs | @faithevebee

PC: colin arisman

hen most people think about skiing and ski culture, they might think about something on the spectrum of family vacations to Vail or long-haired ski bros who use words like gnar and stoke. It’s a narrow image. It doesn’t include most of the skiers I know. It almost never includes any Black and Indigenous People of Color. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as historically in this country, People of Color have been disconnected from the land and disenfranchised in ways that affected socioeconomic status, freedom of movement, safety, and access. Though the emancipation proclamation abolished slavery in 1864, it wasn’t until almost 200 years later in 1954 that Brown v. The Board of Education ruled that “separate but equal” was unacceptable in public schools. This ruling set the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the precedent for desegregation in everything from parks to beaches to lunch counters. Many cities shut down public parks and beaches rather than have to open them to Blacks. Wealthy whites moved their recreation to private clubs. The newly “desegregated” parks, including local ski hills, were not yet an option for most people of color for fear of safety.

This is the climate in which Art Clay and Ben Finley, the founders of The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) started skiing. The NBS is an umbrella organization that has grown to over 50 chapters since its founding in 1973. NBS members, including its founders, have been skiing since before it was founded, and they’re still skiing now. They’ve influenced over 50,000 skiers across the country to change the mindset about who skis and to make skiing a part of the culture of their families and their communities. Clay and Finley have been skiing for decades across many slopes and against many barriers as some of the few black faces. It’s unthinkable that in the wake of Civil Rights in the peak of the Black Power Movement, they were forward thinking enough to hit the slopes. As we work to rewrite the narrative of the outdoors, we need to include the stories of people who have been breaking barriers even before they were being recognized as doing so. We need to highlight them as individuals and as trailblazers in an ongoing legacy. Clay and Finley aren’t instafamous, but they’ve changed culture and created a space for others. They are true influencers. 29

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Connections

How one photographer explores the relationship between the landscape and trans bodies Photography and Words by:

LOU BANK | @loubank

aking my shirt off in public for the first time was terrifying, much more than expected. I tried so hard to look normal. Iâ€™d spent so much time practicing at home, trying on my swimsuit and modeling in the mirror with a towel around my waist, but it was still strange not to have to cover my chest. My hands instinctively moved to hide breasts that no longer existed. Alone, this chosen body looks like me. Itâ€™s a dream come true. Yet it still takes time to get used to how it feels to be seen. I underwent gender affirming top surgery on September 20, 2018. For weeks I was stuck at home and could barely move my arms. I usually climbed at least three times a week and wanted desperately to move freely. I needed something to look forward to after all this stillness, so I decided to plan a trip across the country to visit friends and celebrate trans bodies outdoors.

guardians Artwork by WYETH MOSS |

@wyethmoss

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mountain biking 101, 201, + 301

'Cause we all got to start somewhere Lindsey Richter | @ladiesallride Founder of Liv Ladies AllRide Mountain Bike Skills Camps: Powered by SRAM

i did it because

it was fun

A look back on skiing from a trailblazing athlete in a time when extreme skiing was a fledgling sport dominated by men JENNIFER GURECKI | @yogurecki

e too easily forget the women who came before us. The ones who metaphorically and literally broke trail. Kim Reichhelm is one of those women, yet she has accomplished what few professional skiers have been able to: staying relevant and maintaining a career into her 50s. It’s been a thoughtful mix of professionalism, preparedness, and just the right amount of bravado.

As the defining force behind women’s big mountain skiing in the 52

late ’80s and early ’90s, Reichhelm came onto the scene when skiing was simply fun. There was little pressure to be featured in movies or gain sponsors. Things have changed now, and pretty dramatically. “Now it’s big time; it’s serious,” she said. “If they’re not taking chances they aren’t going to win, and that makes it tough… if you want to be at the top of your game, you’re going to get hurt.” Besides young women athletes of today pushing the limits on what it means to “ski like a girl,” there’s

one thing that concerns her. “I’m always asking them where are you going to go from here, and I get, ‘I don’t know.’ That’s not really an answer. You need to start asking yourself this question and find out how to make your career viable in 10 years.” She blames this in part on the false sense of security that social media has created—the idea that if you have a lot of followers, you are successful. Reichhelm wants these young women to consider who they are, what they stand for, and the depth of their message.

Despite this, Reichhelm admits to being a tad bit jealous of the new generation of skiers for one reason: There’s more opportunity. “When I was a girl I was making it up, trying to be one of the boys. Now these girls have role models.”

Like you, Kim.

eyond the injuries that athletes have always endured, she knew getting into the industry that the careers of professional skiers were short lived. In the height of her career—and arguably still to this day—very few people earned a real paycheck. Envisioning her ski career in a pre-Instafamous world, she studied marketing in college. She worked at a ski company and apparel company. She relentlessly walked the floor at the Snowsports Industry of America trade show. “I did everything I could to be prepared as an athlete and professional ski racer,” she said. That meant thinking beyond her few minutes of fame in License to Thrill and that time she sat on David Letterman’s couch. Instagram hadn’t even been invented yet, so the concept of being able to build your own platform was far more difficult than it is today.

“I wanted women to love the sport as much as I do. I wanted to help them get through the barriers so that they do it forever,” This thoughtfulness she nurtured early on in her career, paired with the work ethic her Wall Street father instilled in her, allowed her to see beyond the notoriety of big mountain professional skiing and into her life’s passion—running women’s only ski clinics. It was during her time on the women’s pro tour that she began to notice that women learned how to ski differently than men. And when learning to ski with men, they often withered or opted to stay in the lodge. 53

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Hemp T a k e o v e r

Four Hemp-Based Products to Fuel Your Outdoor Adventure ERICA ZAZO | @onecurioustrvlr CBD. THC. Cannabis. Hemp. These buzzwords are making waves in the news, and they’re also making their way into the outdoor industry. Hemp plants—cannabis plants that have less than 0.3 percent THC (aka that stuff that gets you ‘high’)—are being used for all sorts of outdoor products, from material for boots and socks to additives in food. And cannabidiol, or CBD, is being extracted from hemp plants to use in drinks, oils, topicals, and more. CBD-lovers say it helps with aches and pains, muscle tension, relieving anxiety, and healing skin irritation and inflammation. Hemp is also one of the most sustainable and versatile plants on the planet. It produces twice as much oil as peanuts per acre, nearly four times as much fiber as an acre of trees (when used to make paper), and can be harvested just 120 days after planting, according to the National Association of Hemp. Some sources even say hemp has the ability to extract carbon from the air, rebuild the soil, and ultimately, contribute to reducing climate change. That means more growing opportunity, more product, and a cleaner earth. Prominent brands like Patagonia are using industrial hemp for textiles to make clothing and apparel because hemp stands up to sweat, odor, and wear-and-tear that otherwise causes clothes to reach their breaking point. And small businesses are popping up all over the States using CBD oil in their products for its restorative qualities. Whether you’re a hemp die-hard, or interested in trying out CBD-infused goods for the first time, here are some of our favorite outdoor-focused hemp products: cially-conscious, female-centric, hemp-derived topicals brand. Two years later, business is now booming. Skiers, boarders, mountain bikers, surfers, hikers, and other outdoor athletes are buying up Hatshe’s CBD products because of its impact on aches, pains, stiffness, and relaxing stressed out muscles after exercise.

Hatshe Hatshe.com By day, Britni Jessup works as an Interiors Director at an architecture firm. At night, she’s slinging CBD-infused topicals made by women, for athletes, at her company Hatshe Blends. Hatshe’s full spectrum of hemp-oil products, which includes oils, cremes, salves, and lotions, are all made from organic and locally sourced hemp in Oregon. Britni started Hatshe after the original group of men she was working with at their recreational cannabis farm refused to give her credit, or even pay her for the work she was putting into the company. After a lot of dreaming, conceptualizing, and designing, Britni and her business partner Tanja set out on their own to build a so62

Kate’s Real Food KatesRealFood.com When she wasn’t able to find an energy bar that didn’t taste like a piece of cardboard packed full of unhealthy ingredients, self-described ski bum, Kate Schade, set out to make her own. After long days of skiing in Jack-

son Hole, Kate worked tirelessly in her kitchen to craft an energy bar that was wholesome, functional, and great tasting. Bringing her creations to the slopes to hand out samples in the lift line, she finally figured out her winning recipe––a mix of hand-rolled, quality ingredients with no artificial sweeteners and no GMOs. Kate’s Real Food bars comes in six different flavors, but a true stand-out is the Peanut Butter Hemp & Flax bar. Look at the back of the label and you actually know all of the words in the ingredient list. The bar has organic hemp seeds in it, which include all nine of the essential amino acids (that stuff that improves muscle mass, reduces fatigue, and helps with soreness after a workout). Hemp seeds provide protein without the bloating, contain high amounts of vitamin E (which acts as an antioxidant), and have been linked to the improvement of immune deficiencies.

that’s used in its shoe line goes the extra mile by holding its color, preventing odor, and keeping its shape, even when it gets wet and worn. Astral’s new Hemp Loyak shoe is durable, antimicrobial, and odor-resistant. The gender-neutral shoe works great for travel, getting around the city, and as a light-weight option to bring as a camp shoe. For a more rugged option, they also created the HaleStorm boot, which combines a grippy rubber sole with a hemp canvas material. The boot is waterproof yet breathable, and perfect for rain, slush, sleet or snow. The sustainable hemp upper provides comfort and durability.

Royal Robbins RoyalRobbins.com

Astral Astral.com Versatile, hardy, and resilient, hemp is one of the most sustainable resources for fabric. From an aesthetic sense, hemp can be woven fine to mimic cotton. But unlike cotton, hemp does not require pesticides, can crowd out weeds without the use of herbicides, and takes 21 percent less water to grow. All reasons why Astral, an outdoor brand with a strong focus on sustainability and low environmental-impact production, uses hemp for their shoes. The casual, outdoor adventure brand launched a new line of hemp footwear this year that mixes style, performance, and sustainability. The brand says the hemp

Similar to hemp boots, brands are finding other usecases for turning hemp into textiles for apparel products. Royal Robbins, a legacy brand in the outdoor industry, is using hemp to create apparel like socks, shirts, and pants. The company grew out of a passion for creating clothing that could stand up to an extremely adventurous lifestyle, while honoring and protecting the environment. Which is why hemp fits well into its eco-forward clothing line. Made from a sustainable hemp and yak material blend, the brand’s new Quarter Sock has mesh ventilation, flex material on the ankle that keeps it from bunching, and compression. Because hemp yarns are inherently odor resistant, temperature regulating, moisture managing, and comfortable, Royal Robbins socks are great to bring while traveling, walking longdistance, or staying active outside. 63

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How Not To Be A Climate Change Activist Like A Basic Bitch from the creator of “how not to travel like a basic bitch: where race and travel intersect”

Kiona | @hownottotravellikeabasicbitch Climate change is a global issue and affects travel destinations worldwide. However, not all travel destinations are affected equally. Some travel destinations are affected more than others, and within those destinations, there are people who are more vulnerable than others. The people who are disproportionately affected by climate change tend not to be who we pay attention or listen to and that needs to change.

There’s more. The Philippines have 17 million Indigenous Peoples from 134 different ethnic groups living on the island. That means 17 million people have ancestral ties to the land that they’ve been living off of since time immemorial. These people are disproportionately affected by climate change because their very survival depends on maintaining the environment, in addition to their spirituality revolving around it.

Who’s Criminalized & Murdered For Trying To Save The Environment?

Not only are these Indigenous Peoples dying due to climate change, they are willing to give their lives for the protection of the Earth. It is life or death to them. It is not an option. They are at the forefront of climate activism at every protest. And according to the Global Witness Report 2018, three environmental activists are murdered every week by resource extraction corporations; the Philippines is number one in environmental killings. That doesn’t include those who are criminalized for defending the land or the environment.

Let’s travel to the Philippines. The Philippines is an archipelagic country in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about 7,641 islands. It also sits on the Ring of Fire, making the Philippines vulnerable to earthquakes, hurricanes, and typhoons even before you throw climate change into the mix. The increasing water levels due to climate change bring in so many floods that at one point, 80 percent of the capital, Manila, was under water. Read that again: 80 percent. When it comes to climate change, Filipinxs are directly affected today. Now pause. Can you name a Filipinx climate activist living in the Philippines? Did you even know that the Philippines have created a long-term strategy for prioritizing climate smart industry and sustainable energy? The Philippines feel climate change with a sense of urgency and as such are responding to it with vigor, yet it’s likely you’ve never even heard of the measures they’re taking to mitigate climate change.

So has the world ever offered a Filipinx activist a global platform? The answer is no. Not All Climate Activists Are Created Equal The media whitewashes, silences, and erases those directly impacted by climate change. Take for example the most visible climate activist, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg. She’s doing her part to speak out against climate change, yet she experiences no direct impacts of climate change. There are other

Not only are these Indigenous Peoples dying due to climate change, they are willing to give their lives for the protection of the Earth. It is life or death to them. It is not an option. They are at the forefront of climate activism at every protest. child activists not only speaking out, but creating programming based directly on their environmental experiences as their relatives die around them. The difference is that Greta experiences no direct danger due to environmental impacts, while those in the Philippines and the Amazon, to name a few, do. Yet she gets a platform and the others don’t. Why is that? The answer is the privilege of being white. Let me put this into a different context for you. Childbearing is a global issue. Reproductive health affects everyone. Without healthy adults who can produce children, the human race dies. However, reproductive health issues seem to impact women more than any other group. Yet it is primarily men who create laws around reproductive rights. How do you feel about that? Yes, women’s reproduction affects all men, just like climate change affects everyone. But that doesn’t mean men should be the authority because they don’t experience it as intimately as women. No man needs to make decisions or solutions for women, nor do they need to be the spokesperson for women’s reproductive rights. You can apply this same logic to climate change. The people who we need to listen to are those affected by climate change today and have the appropriate solutions for their environments and their homes. These are the people that need to be positions as change makers. And we need to recognize that while it is important that we all speak out about it and do our part, it is equally important to understand those who are being impacted now and listen to them when they call for help.

Protect Them And Pass The Fucking Mic Being a climate change activist is not as easy as being for or against climate change. There are already Indigenous Peoples fighting for global change who are advocating with their lives and dying for this cause. So just like not all travel destinations are affected equally, neither are climate change activists. The whitewashing of a narrative that is meant for the most vulnerable populations, which have always been Brown and Black People, is not only problematic but incredibly dangerous. We are ignoring the most vulnerable of voices who have the most knowledge in order to save us. Within that, there are race, class, and ableist issues at play here. While Indigenous Peoples globally are most vulnerable to climate change, within those populations, those who are disabled and/or living in economically disadvantaged countries have even less accessibility. They are most impacted by the change in the environment. Imagine being limited to a wheelchair or oxygen tank during a natural disaster. These are real impending issues that not only need to be addressed on a climate level but also within the media. So today, I challenge you to find and support those who are fighting and dying for the environment today. They exist and they have solutions. Listen to them. Hire them. Save them. Support them. And be conscious of who you are listening to and uplifting in your everyday media consumption.