Highlander Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1 March 24, 2020 by The Utah Statesman

HIGHLANDER m

1 Volume 2 // Issue 1

LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

To the outdoors-women of USU, This issue of Highlander Magazine is dedicated wholeheartedly to you. In 2020, Utah State University joined the nation and state in celebrating significant voting rights anniversaries and declared this the Year of the Woman. We too decided to dedicate this issue to the women who inspire us. We believe that by sharing the stories and amplifying the voices of women in the outdoors, we make way for a future of strong and confident outdoors-women. To women like Rachel Carson and Hallie M. Daggett who paved the way for the modern outdoors-woman; to friends with whom I have explored the mountains and rivers of Cache Valley; to the girls who shared with us their experiences of being a woman in the outdoors; and to the amazing women who helped build this magazine from the ground up. Keep fishing, keep shredding, keep climbing.

YEAR OF THE WOMAN

GIRL GEAR

AN UNEXPECTED HOME

AGGIE ADVENTURE SPREAD

WOMEN OUTDOO

N OF THE OP OR PROGRAMS

MADY KOLLER

EDITOR IN CHIEF Hi! My name is Mady, I’m a pre-law student studying Outdoor Product Design and Development and I love the outdoors. Hiking, climbing, biking, camping, you name it; if it’s outside, I like doing it. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact me directly. Email: redlandia17@gmail.com Instagram: @mastermiyagi

MEGAN NIELSEN

DESIGNER, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER

SUMMER VAUGHN

WRITER, WEBSITE MANAGER

CHELSEA MORLEY WRITER

ALEXIS HANSON WRITER

CHASE ANDERSON PODCAST HOST

COVER PHOTO BY KRISTIN ACKERMAN INSIDE COVER PHOTO BY DANIELLE KEMP

FEMININITY IN THE OUTDOORS

QCNR

The Scottish thistle stands for strength, bravery, durability, and resilience, which is why we chose it for our logo.

YEAR OF THE

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E WOMAN 5

ALEXIS HANSON

PHOTOS BY KYLE TODECHEENE, MEGAN NIELSEN, MATTIE NIELSEN, RACHEL BROADHEAD For many generations, women’s rights have been pivotal in the history of the US. The first wave of feminism brought attention to equal voting rights and women’s suffrage. In the ’60s many women fought for equal pay and opportunities in the workplace. Today, women of all races, religions, and sexual orientations are still fighting for rights. This can be seen in the 2017 women’s marches and the recent rise of the #metoo movement.

For decades there has been an ongoing battle for women’s equality in public and private life including equal financial, business, and political opportunities, reproductive rights, women’s suffrage, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and the list goes on. This year, Utah State has made 2020 the Year of the Woman. After decades of incredible historical achievements women have made at this university, what influenced USU to make 2020 the year of the woman? For starters, February 12th marked the 150th anniversary of Utah women obtaining the right to vote. Following that, August 26 will be the 100 year anniversary of women obtaining the right to vote with the 19th amendment. Lastly, August 6 will be the 55-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. With such powerful marks in history, Utah State has reflected on its own timeline, sharing the achievements of Aggie women from past to present. Looking at Utah State’s history, it is evident women have made impactful changes for current and future generations. It is very inspiring to read about the brave, determined women who worked so passionately for what they cared about. Here are eight stories from Aggie women I found inspiring: In 1926, Edith Bowen established the first Cache

Valley kindergarten class supported by community fundraising and donations. In 1934, May Swenson graduated and went on to become a famous poet who wrote about contemporary issues. In 1967, Adonna Watkins Drake was the first woman to graduate from the College of Engineering. She was also the first to walk away with a master’s degree in two years. In 1971, Larzette Hale became USU’s school accountant. She was the first African American woman to be a CPA and earn a Ph.D. in accounting. In 1971, Dr. Alison Thorne had an important hand in creating equality. First with women receiving equal pay and labor as men for the same job. Later, she started up the first Women’s Studies course which was unpaid but soared into a degree of its own. In 1980, alumna Mary Cleave became an astronaut. In 2007, alumna Julie Robinson became the chief scientist for the International Space Station for NASA. In 2016, Noelle Cockett became the first female president for Utah State! She also has had major successes in her research with spider lamb syndrome. There are so many women throughout the years that have shaped USU. These efforts have enriched the lives of many and have inspired a lot of female students today. Going through these histories, I also felt like there are many underdogs who have attended this university that have also had great impacts on students’ lives. I wanted to dive into the idea of how past Aggie women have shaped Aggie women today in outdoor recreation. I asked a few women how they thought Utah State, and previous Aggie women, have shaped how they engage in the outdoors. In a survey of Outdoor Product Design and Development students, one student said many women in Students for Natural Resources and Society encouraged her to spend a lot of time outdoors. The president of the group was female and would set up hiking groups and trips that allowed students opportunities to enjoy the outdoors together. She said a lot of her nature drive was self-motivated, “I’d see cool outdoor stuff happening and just launch into it solo.” “I really am grateful for the women who have led the way in a lot of outdoor recreational activities,” another OPDD student responded. “I think the

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group of girls I go with now, though, are definitely the women I look up to. I feel like they have given me the space and confidence to feel like I can pursue life in any direction and have made me feel more accepted!” “When I first started climbing, I was always nervous to go to the climbing gym because it was maledominated,” one student said. But once she realized other females were a part of the community and found other women to look up to, she felt empowered to enjoy her time outdoors instead of trying to prove herself. One OPDD student said she thought she was too old to get started with certain things but found it’s not too late to try something new. “I love the euphoric feeling I get from enjoying the great outdoors. I know women have made impacts in the past with getting recreation rolling, and I honestly love seeing badass mountain ladies I know doing their thing.”

In my own life, my mom has inspired me to get outside my comfort zone, to seek solitude in the secrecy down by a river, to stop and enjoy rather than racing to the top. I thought about how if she didn’t explore Logan Canyon how that would change who I am today. I would like to think I would still appreciate the outdoors as I do, but I know she taught me to enjoy the outdoors differently. Even though she wasn’t the first woman to do x, y, or z, I know she has made an influence not only on me but on the many girlfriends I brought with me on hikes or camping trips she came on as well.

I am personally really glad Utah State has made 2020 the Year of the Woman. It’s so awesome to see the movements ladies have made for generations at this school. I think it is so empowering to recognize the women who have shaped our lives day to day, especially in the outdoors.

I thought about all the women who have inspired me to go outdoors. One woman who stood out to me is my mom. As an Aggie alumni herself, I asked her what her experience was like here at Utah State. She recalled great memories cross country skiing up Logan Canyon, beautiful nights under the full moon with friends, taking homework or a good book into the mountains to get away from the heat and the people, and even seeing a moose once while heading down the canyon. “I was so excited, I had never seen a moose,” she said. “Now when I’m out on hikes and such, I always look for moose.”

I think of other influential women at this university who teach everyday and never get recognition for how they impact their students’ lives. After taking an introductory Ayurveda class, I can say that Professor Bradbury has strongly influenced how I interact not only with people I encounter, but nature too. Her humble relationship to people, and the environment, is grounding, wholesome, and awakening. Dr. Boettinger is another professor who you can tell has a passion to share her knowledge on soils, her excitement and love for what she teaches has inspired many when outdoors. Professor Glass-Coffin has highly impacted students’ spiritual connection to nature. “She really enabled me to weave nature into my spirituality and essence,” one of her students said.

GIRL GEAR

With more women getting out there than ever before, brands are emerging with new products to enhance our outdoor experience. I have a few recommendations for my ride-or-die female-centric products that keep me exploring without complaint.

CHELSEA MORLEY

PHOTO BY DANIELLE KEMP Gear: Women are built differently than men, and with that our gear needs to be more tailored to our bodies. If you are a backpacker, it is crucial to use a bag that fits you right. I never felt that it mattered until I finally bit the bullet and got something that contoured to my hips. For men and women alike, Gregory Packs has got your back--literally. Gregory is passionate about making ergonomic packs. On their website, you can find an awesome sizing guide breaking down how to fit your bag to your specific body. I use their women’s Deva 70. It features multiple sizes and a custom fit suspension system that forms beautifully to your spine and offers superior back ventilation. I never thought it would be possible to backpack without chronic pain, but the Gregory Deva makes that possible. Did you know that there actually is a difference between men’s and women’s sleeping bags? Studies show that women lose more heat in their sleep than men. Women’s bags are now being made with extra insulation in the torso and foot box. Sierra Designs has been on the forefront of innovation for several years now. Regardless of gender, many may find a lot of enticing features in their sleeping bags. I recently acquired the Women’s Backcountry Bed; with 700 fill dridown and a comfort rating of 20 degrees, I stay warm all night. My favorite part is Sierra Designs’ patent pending zipperless design. Many of their sleeping bags feature an integrated comforter that allows you to move more freely. Bottoms: I’m absolutely certain that pants are the arch nemesis of women everywhere. Especially when it comes to outdoor apparel. Luckily there are a lot of young brands tackling this issue. My go-to pair for any activity are the Topo Designs Boulder Pants. As a woman blessed with strong thighs, I appreciate the thought that went into designing a relaxed fit that had appropriate room in the legs

and butt. They are slightly more tailored than your traditional climbing pant, which make them look more stylish. I love that they are high-waisted and have an elastic waistband. It makes for the most comfortable pair of technical pants I’ve ever worn. Certainly, however, the best part is the pocket size. Finally, someone got it right. When it comes to modern women’s wear, you just can’t ignore Outdoor Voices. This female-owned business knows exactly what they are doing. Their material choices are extremely high quality. Unlike most leggings you buy, you won’t experience any pilling, shrinking, or transparency with Outdoor Voices. When it comes to their pants, they’ve just nailed the fit and durability. You can easily wear them with a casual outfit or to your next bouldering session. Tops: Bras are the bane of my existence, so I was ecstatic when I finally found a sports bra that was actually comfortable while being supportive. Outdoor Voices has a range of sports bras in their collection to cover every type of fit and support level. I love their TechSweat Crop Top; it features a high neck and comes down to your natural waist. This, coupled with a high quality, thick textile, makes it the perfect bra to wear on its own without feeling exposed. All their products come in a wide variety of colors to suit anybody’s preferences. If you looked in my dresser, you’d be able to tell that I am an absolute sucker for Cotopaxi gear. Their Quito Active Tank is far and away the best activewear top I’ve tried. I love the polyester/tencel blend, perfect for days you are working up a sweat. The Quito is lightweight and breathable while remaining completely opaque. The cut is my favorite part. I like the racerback style with a good amount of room for your arms to move around. It has a unique, rounded hem line that covers your bum and comes up higher in the front. The Quito Active Tank is the perfect wear anywhere type of top. There’s a reason I own several.

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AN UNEXPECTED HOME MEGAN NIELSEN

PHOTOS BY MEGAN NIELSEN Julie Margueritte Taquin is an artist and musician who found an unexpected home here in Logan, Utah. “If you had asked me four years ago where I imagined I would end up living, I would have most likely said Seattle, San Francisco, or Paris. Never would I have been able to picture myself living in Northern Utah,” said twenty-six-year-old Taquin who has now been living in Logan for nearly four years. “At twenty-two, I had done everything in my power to construct a very particular image for myself: a cultured world-traveler intent on saving the world by becoming either a diplomat or a journalist.” With a degree in international relations, European dual-citizenship, and a one-way ticket to France to pursue graduate school, Taquin thought she was on the path to success.

After turning down a spot at a journalism school in Lille and deciding to move to be with her thenboyfriend, Taquin once again had a one-way ticket in her hand. This time it was to Salt Lake City. “I still remember vividly the descent,” she said. “We were flying over the Wasatch mountain range just as the sun was setting. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, this is what the Mormons mean when they say Utah is the promised land.’ The colors and clouds completely took my breath away. To this day, I have never seen so many beautiful sunsets as I have in Utah.” “Initially, I didn’t think I would stay,” Taquin said. The conservative climate was a pretty stark contrast to what she was used to and after a big breakup, she had no ties keeping her here.

After a five-year hiatus, Taquin started playing music again. Taquin is a member of Mama LongLegs, a genre-fluid band formed and based in Cache Valley. The band consists of Allie Harris (lead vocals and guitar), Megan Simper (lead vocals, guitar, and mandolin), Julie Taquin (violin), Kendall Becker (bass), and Emily Densley (percussion). Their music weaves between genres, ranging from folk/blues to gypsy jazz, but the underlying theme is the inspiration they draw from their striking natural surroundings. “All of the members of Mama LongLegs share a deep appreciation for the outdoors, and we all consider ourselves so fortunate to live in a place where we are surrounded by such natural beauty,” Taquin said. Two of Mama LongLeg’s original songs, Cutler Dam and The Mountains Call, were inspired by Cache Valley’s natural landscapes. Their two music videos were both shot here in the Valley, in Avon and at the Cutler Marshes. They did this to highlight and share the incredible natural beauty they feel blessed to be surrounded by. Between discovering beautiful locations in Cache Valley and spending more time playing music with Mama LongLegs, Taquin gradually felt like she’d carved a niche for herself. Captivated by what she saw on her hikes, she began drawing and quickly realized it was one of her biggest passions. “The three most influential aspects of my life— art, nature, and music— seemed to be presenting themselves in ways I had never before experienced. It was magical, so I decided to roll with it,” Taquin said. “Although perhaps the last place in the world I would have pictured myself four years ago,” she said, “the happiness and inspiration I experience from living here make it clear to me that I have found a true treasure, one for which I am profoundly grateful.”

While in France, Taquin lived and worked in her father’s hometown. To her surprise, the aspects she loved the most were not at all connected to school or a career. She had the opportunity to connect with family members who graciously took her under their wing and showed her the beauty of the French way of life. “I gained a more in-depth knowledge of the culture, and developed a new appreciation for the slower lifestyle many people seemed to lead,” Taquin said.

“It wasn’t until my second year in Utah that I really started exploring the diverse natural surroundings so abundant in this area. This is when I started to fall in love. The mountain ranges, canyons, forests, rivers, all evoked emotions in me that I had never experienced before.”

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WOMEN OF THE OP

USU OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

Grace Chovil Backpacking Trainer

SUMMER VAUGHN

Lexi Hanson Trip Leader Trip leader Lexi Hanson discovered she loved the outdoors when she was a sophomore in high school. She began exploring the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Her family was not the most outdoorsy, so she took her curiosity into her own hands. “I think that however you wanna play outside is the way you should in confidence without the feeling to be a particular way. However, playing outdoors can be really hard for women, no doubt. I have had my fair share of mansplaining and I know countless others who have had a difficult time as a lady doing what she loves outside.” It is hard to not only be new to a particular sport but to put yourself out there and learn something new. “I had a friend in high school whose dad was a river guide back in his college days. I was really interested in guiding, going to college out in the West, so I talked to him about it. His dad was awesome, gave me the facts and even where he worked to contact them. What wasn’t so great was my [guy] friend’s perspective of this. He really talked me down saying that since I was a girl I wouldn’t be able to: think clearly in split decision scenarios, paddle a boat, learn to read the river, and if I was able to become a guide, I would be on the daily forever. This really hurt and actually made me afraid to pursue guiding. I’ve had friends who have guided since that have expressed I could manage, but still that dude’s voice echoes in my head. It wasn’t till joining the OP where there is so much support, I figured ‘why not?’”

Grace Chovil is the backpacking trainer, but that is not the only activity she enjoys in the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, trail running and has recently been getting into climbing. As a seasoned Outdoor Programs trip leader, she has experienced a lot of good and bad. “I do think it’s hard for a woman to be outdoorsy. It also comes with other people (particularly men) second-guessing you. I can’t tell you how many times (either on personal trips or OP trips) I’ve been talked over or ignored by men in the group. Especially when teaching a skill! I don’t think it’s worth it to dwell on the problem. We need to focus on solutions: making co-leaders aware of overstepping, switching up basic roles when teaching, and doing more womenonly trips. This is the only way to find solutions to break the stigma that is currently around women in the outdoors,” Chovil said. The most important step to getting outside, according to Chovil, is just going for it. “Just do it. Just try. If you are present and trying, it will work. If you have a good support group, it will work. You don’t need fancy gear or a lot of money to experience the outdoors. You just need a passion to explore something new. And I get it. When I started climbing, it took me like a year to actually get into it because I was afraid of being judged by how weak I was or the skills I lacked. But I stuck through it and worked hard and now I can fully call myself a rock climber,” Chovil said.

Caitlin Arnett Graduate Assistant The graduate assistant, Caitlin Arnett, is responsible for the outdoor programs rental shop staff, purchasing gear, and repairing gear. She is also the assistant to the rock climbing classes and the mountain biking trainer. She had a strong community at her undergrad school, Texas Tech, that helped her find her love of the outdoors. “My favorite thing to do outdoors is mountain bike! I love all styles of riding from technical rocky or rooted downhill to flowy jump lines. I love being able to go south during the winter and staying close to Logan during the summer because it requires different skill sets to hone in on and makes riding more variable,” Arnett said. Arnett also has an amazing opportunity of being an intern in the Inclusion Center on campus. She has a goal to have more diversity and inclusion in the outdoors, combining her position with Outdoor Programs. She has experience with feeling “less than” in the outdoors because she is a woman and that has helped inspire the change she wants to induce. “There is a notion that women are not invincible in the outdoors like men are. This is incredibly frustrating because being outdoorsy is something that is unique to every individual and no matter what gender you identify with, everyone is essentially on the same playing field. Nature does not care what gender you are. I was riding in Moab during spring break one year and I was told by a random guy that I should not ride Captain Ahab and go down the trail that most people climb up. I had spent the last year riding constantly and I felt like I was ready for something technical that would push me. This guy made me question my ability and decisionmaking by telling me to turn around when he had no idea what kind of rider I was,” Arnett said.

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WOMEN OF THE OP

USU OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

Shawnee Tebbs Rock Climbing Trainer

Jill Woodhouse Student Coordinator and Trip Leader

Rock climbing sometimes feels like a particularly difficult sport for women to get into. Shawnee Tebbs, the Outdoor Programs rock climbing trainer, realizes that. That doesn’t stop her from loving anything that involves rock climbing, canyoneering or just a scramble up the side of a mountain.

Jill Woodhouse found her love for the outdoors in the backcountry. She got hooked when going on a backpacking trip in the Tetons when she was 14. Even now, she loves to enjoy the adventure of the mountains with her friends.

Nothing beats getting outside with friends, girls or guys. But sometimes the best feeling can be when you are able to rely on yourself and your own skills. “When I began climbing, I quickly noticed a pattern in the outdoors of a group of guys with (what I began labeling us as) their ‘token girl.’ Soon I began thinking of myself as a ‘token girl’ in my group. I felt that, as one of the only women in my group, I had to represent us well. I put a crippling amount of pressure on myself to perform, resulting in me performing worse than I had before. I felt like I wasn’t good enough to climb with my friends, and that I was failing women climbers everywhere. I realize this is not true, but it felt true at the moment. The truth is, men and women are built differently (literally), and as a result, we climb differently. As soon as I began climbing more with other women, I started to excel again. I still love climbing with ‘the boys,’ but I do not love feeling like I need ‘the boys’ to climb.” Tebbs said.

D Willey has been involved with the OP for a long time. Her job includes helping trip leaders plan and execute trips and facilitating training. Outside of the program, she is a rental tech at Beaver and a river guide in Moab. Rafting is her favorite thing to do. “There’s nothing quite like studying a rapid, reading the movement of the water, picking your line and then riding nature’s roller coaster while it roars and crashes around you. I’ve always loved the water, and rivers can take you away from trails and roads, deep, deep into the wilderness. Sometimes you get to see wilderness twice: once where it exists, and a second time in the reflection on a smooth river surface,” Willey said. As a woman of the outdoors, Willey knows a thing or two about hyping up other ladies. Her biggest tip for any girl who wants to get outside is “find other women and girls that are doing it and get involved with them. No one is going to understand your experience better than those experiencing the same things. Next, pump each other up. Pick your unique yell, your war-cry. Beat your chest and encourage the hell out of your friends to push themselves. The times I’ve felt most alive are during some drop, rapid, or jump, where moments before, just absolutely going for it, my friends and I had paused, looked at each other and told each other we could do it, then we hooted and took off. My highest jumps skiing, my biggest drops biking and my strongest pulls rowing were all framed by the support of my best friends telling me I could and should go for it.”

“I was backpacking in Alaska with a group of seven people, we had seen a bear cub and mom while hiking. We got loud and the bears went away and waited 15 minutes before continuing hiking. About 10 minutes later, I saw a small brown object rummaging in the bushes and it was coming towards us. Thinking that it was a bear cub with the mother nowhere in sight, I started to get loud and take out my bear spray and tell my group to bunch together and get big. The bear cub stood on its hind legs and I realized it wasn’t a bear cub but a wolverine. And then I panicked even more because there is no protocol on what to do when you encounter a wolverine,” Woodhouse said. As the future student coordinator, Jill will have a lot of responsibility to inspire and lead people in the outdoors. “The best advice I could give to women and girls is to just continue being badasses in the outdoors. Change isn’t going to happen overnight, but there are a lot of badass women paving the way to people seeing women as equals in the outdoors,” Woodhouse said.

“Last summer, I completed my first all-female ascent of a desert pillar. It wasn’t the most daring thing I have ever done, but it was liberating to have all the skills and gear we needed to go without ‘the boys.’ My friend took the first pitch, a 5.9 crack with a variety of face holds to the first set of chains. The second pitch was mine. Also 5.9, but no crack. It was a slightly lower angle, crimpy sports pitch that traversed out to the right, where you disappear from your belayer’s sight. The tunnel nearby amplifies the sound of traffic to the point that communication with your partner was impossible. So, we came up with a language of rope tugs, and I began climbing. On such exposed terrain, the solitude I felt on that pitch was unlike anything I have felt since. We made that climb happen for ourselves. No older brothers or boyfriends required. We were women crushers, and we got to enjoy the best sunset together from the top of that 250foot pillar,” Tebbs said.

D Willey Student Coordinator

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FEMININITY

IN THE OUTDOORS SUMMER VAUGHN

PHOTOS BY DANIELLE KEMP, MADY KOLLER, SUMMER VAUGHN, KRISTIN ACKERMAN “Granola” is a term that has been thrown around for decades to describe outdoorsy women. Typically, these are women clad in Chacos, Patagonia fleeces, and who are possibly a little sunburned from time spent outside. In other words, these ladies are visibly outdoorsy; unfortunately, this often comes with the connotation that these women are dirtier, less feminine, and rougher than others of the same sex. The traditional feminine woman was thought of to be small, soft, thin, and with delicate hobbies, and these “Granola” women are defying all of those stereotypes.

The times have changed, however, and women who choose to spend their free time rock climbing or mountain biking are now labeled as badass and intense, though still underestimated as adventurers. Women are still expected to be supported by a man in the outdoors. For example, in the rock climbing documentary “Free Solo”, Alex Honnold blames his girlfriend, Sanni McCandless, after a few climbing accidents. He diminishes her skills saying “she’s not really a climber” despite her ability to climb 5.12s. “It is frustrating to have random people who do not know me or my abilities question me,” Arnett said. “It’s not an isolated incident and has happened in other sports, particularly if I am out on a solo trip. I have definitely been asked where my boyfriend is or whether or not there is a man on the trip with me. I wonder why I can’t recreate alone or why my partner cannot be another female.” Femininity does not have to mean sacrificing independence for adventure. A woman who paints her nails and wears dresses but shreds on the slopes is just as valid of an outdoors person as a man with

This can be different for every woman. Some women find the flourish of femininity unnecessary and that is a legitimate feeling. The point is that everyone should feel welcome and accepted when they recreate. Meridian Wappett, a conservation and restoration ecology student, said, “I think the idea of femininity has become more polarized in today’s society, leading to very confident and progressive women and very traditional women, I think we need to pursue more of a middle ground for femininity, while still allowing for inclusivity of women who may be very different from the stereotype.” Women might feel like they need to sacrifice their feminity to love the outdoors. There are ways that femininity can succeed in the pursuit of adventure. Brands like PrAna, Kari Traa and Skida make clothing specifically for women, to make everyone feel put together and stylish while also comfortable and confident. Hygiene is something that plagues every lady as she plans a trip, seeing as menstrual products were not designed for the backcountry woman. Finding a menstrual cup, disposable (and eco-friendly) wipes, and other products that help you feel clean can make any outdoor experience better. Stop thinking about what outdoorsy women are supposed to look like and focus on what outdoorsy women can do. “We can celebrate rad women doing outdoor activities,” Sage Sutcliffe, a senior in humanenvironment geography, said. “No matter how often they do or how good they are at it. We should never market something outdoors-related as masculine because it deters women from being inspired or taking part.” Being confident in your abilities and strong in your purpose can help inspire you and other ladies in the outdoors. Supporting women is the most important step in bringing femininity to the wilderness. Get the gals together, leave the brothers, boyfriends and bros behind, and head outdoors. Hype each other up, share each other’s stories and, most importantly, encourage each other to be the best you can be.

“I often consider how we as a society view Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts,” Caitlin Arnett, graduate assistant for Outdoor Programs, said. “The Girl Scouts sell cookies that we all love (let’s be real), while the Boy Scouts go backpacking and learn outdoor survival skills. As young boys and girls, we are taught that girls will learn more and gain more from more domicile activities, while boys should go get dirty and learn how to be in ‘dangerous’ situations. This contrast at such a young age makes me believe that the outdoorsman was destined to be the popular nomenclature, because of the expectations set by former generations that allowed boys and girls to be raised so differently.”

dirty nails and a flannel. Women’s advocate and leader of the Women’s Climbing Festival Shelma Jun said, “Women don’t have to be tomboys to run around outside and get beat up and get dirty. Also, you don’t even have to be this stereotype of being outdoorsy as a woman. We can embrace our beauty and our playfulness and our sexuality without being objectified.”

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QCNR PHOTO BY SAMI CHRISTENSEN 2020 is the 150th anniversary of suffrage for Utah women and the 100th anniversary of suffrage for women throughout the United States. Utah State University declared 2020 as the Year of the Woman to celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of women. The Quinney College of Natural Resources has made a commitment to honor these women by conducting a research project focused on archival work and collection of alumnae history. Three students, Jamie Butikofer, Maria Catalano, and Rachel Chamberlain, have been conducting this project with the support and guidance from Associate Dean Claudia Radel. QCNR has a long and strong history of male presence and achievement. By documenting the stories of women who have positively impacted the university, their professions, and their communities, we hope to share their inspirational voices with Aggies past, present, and future. With the help of Patsy Palacios, the Quinney College of Natural Resources Library Director, they have accessed and read through yearbooks dating

back to the 1950s and scanned images of the first recorded women to be enrolled in the College of Natural Resources. The college sent out an email to all alumnae requesting stories, artifacts, photographs, and memories from time spent engaged with the College of Natural Resources. The research group is grateful for the participation they have received from alumnae thus far. They have successfully completed four in-person interviews and seven over-the-phone/email interviews. At the conclusion of their project, a video presentation will be linked on the college’s official webpage and played on the TV screens in the NR atrium. Rachel Chamberlain, a senior studying Conservation and Restoration Ecology, said this project has “helped me to see a future for myself in the field of natural resources, knowing that so many women from the QCNR have gone on to do incredible things and started in the same exact place I did.” This is the goal of the project—to inspire women to follow in the footsteps of the pioneering women before them and to give recognition to the women who have transformed QCNR.

JAMIE BUTIKOFER

A NOTE ON

COVID-19 Wow. To say the past few months were difficult and unexpected feels like an understatement. For many of us, our worlds have been turned completely upside down. And while we may have faced very different realities in the midst of this global pandemic, we’ve all faced difficulties and sadness as we adjust to the crisis. As I’ve tried to find a new routine and ways to cope, I’ve found refuge in still being able to go outdoors. Walks, hikes, drives, anything that gets me outside. So in these uncertain times, don’t forget Logan’s beautiful landscapes still have a lot to offer you.

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23 PHOTO BY AUSTIN ROUNDY

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