In Her Own Words

The Job
"Mostly, I am a journalist. I research by doing interviews, studying natural history, reading up on the myths and lore of a place. Then I try to go and record my own experiences in that place, by journal keeping or painting. Eventually I will write about it for some assignment or another. This means delivering copy on time, and making sure the information is accurate—fact-checking is a big part of the business of journalism. Also, I teach workshops on journal writing to people in outdoor programs and symposia.

"As a part-time guide, I have a responsibility to be a safety net for myself and the other members of my group. I'm kind of a natural caregiver and I love to cook and am a little over the top in the tidiness department. Because I'm organized, it's easy for me to plan ahead."

How She Got There
"I come from an outdoorsy family. My grandparents were keen skiers; my mom's folks ran a summer resort and lodge, and her dad even built a kayak back in the early 1920s. It was sink or swim with my big brothers—I chased after them on the ski mountains, and followed one brother into bike racing as a teenager. My parents had me enrolled in swimming, gymnastics, ballet, and music classes until I graduated from high school and moved west. In college, I took every outdoor-skills opportunity there was, from whitewater kayaking to mountaineering to wilderness ethics and safety. I also managed to get a good education in journalism. Then I went to Seattle to ride on the velodrome, and began working for a bike-race promoter writing media kits. Next came Canoe magazine, and ever after I always worked in journalism."

How to Get Her Job
"Live hard. Be curious. Listen. Share your enthusiasm. Help others find their voice. Take vitamins. Don't be afraid to work hard. You will have to work hard."

Pros
"I'm doing what I want! I work a lot but I do call my own hours, and have lots of diversity in the projects I choose, from geography to topic, people, and environment."

Cons
"Deadlines. Constant pressure to make sure I have work lined up ahead of time. I am my own business and so it's hard to relax about taking time off."

Salary Range
"Ha ha ha ha ha! I have found that pay in outdoor jobs ranges from laughable to almost adequate. However, the intangibles do offset the modest payscale. The people are fantastic, and the learning is fascinating. After a while, though, those intangibles don't always cut the mustard. I'd love health insurance, for one thing—all those sports injuries take their toll."

Her Dream Job
"Working an outdoor job with benefits and a good salary that allows me to remain in my home town. Or, taking the third shift at Tom's of Maine toothpaste factory screwing caps on the tubes. Somebody's gotta do it."

Do you think there's any danger in your passion becoming your career?
"Call it an occupational hazard."

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