Ellen Hollinshead started backcountry skiing thirty years ago on skinny telemark skis when there was no internet and really no one else out there other than weekends on Baldy Mountain, just outside of Breckenridge. She took an avalanche class just after two friends had died backcountry skiing on Mt. Guyot and most of what she remembers from that class was to avoid avalanche terrain at all costs. Over the years, and through trial and error Ellen figured out the do’s and don’ts of backcountry skiing mostly on her own. Yes, she triggered small avalanches, but not very often and luckil never got c ..read more

The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) aims to welcome women across all levels of experience in the snowsport and Avalanche Industry The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) along with supporting partners Rab, Mammut, and the GORE-TEX brand, has launched the second season of AIARE’s Women’s Mentorship Program. The program aims to welcome women across all levels of experience in the industry, build networks, and provide a mentorship framework for participants to replicate in future peer and mentor relationships. Women make up a disproport ..read more

The Boyer family started SKEA in 1972 and they have truly made their mark on the ski fashion industry with their beautiful, tech-oriented outerwear. For 50 Years a passion for skiing, mountains, and the outdoors is what has driven this brand. Jocelyn Boyer and her husband Georges started the company with Jocelyn designing SKEA’s iconic skiwear. Her vision was to design and embrace femininity while maintaining functionality and performance on the mountain and off. 50 years in and SKEA is truly a woman-owned and operated fashion house with Diane Boyer, Jocelyn and Georges daughter, at the helm ..read more

Canada is calling Ladies! Pack in Three and A Half Perfect Winter Days at Banff Sunshine; Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay Upon arrival into Alberta’s Calgary International Airport, take an easy, 90-minute, mountain-pass-free drive to Banff for an overnight at Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies,” the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. This stunning landmark, is known as an experience unto itself. Settle in, explore the famous luxury property and then take a short stroll into the Town of Banff. Banff Landscape by Ski Big 3 – Reuben Krabbe There you can grab a bite and a beverage at local favo ..read more

by Steve Lipsher On her first day of skiing, Ellen Hollinshead got her first kiss and fell in love – with skiing.  “I was 13 … and went to this little resort outside of Pittsburgh, and I met this cute boy. He asked if he could kiss me,” she recalled. “I felt, wow, skiing is sexy! I like this sport!” Although she struggled on the slopes that first day, she kept going back – actually looking in vain for the cute boy – and incidentally discovered something magical about skiing that has continued to cast a spell over her now for 40 years. A fixture in Breckenridge since 1985, Hollinshead – al ..read more

VNTRbirds (aka Venture Birds) is a women-run outdoor education company for all women to get into the outdoors with proper knowledge, confidence and self-reliance. They host mountain bike clinics, backcountry courses, and maintenance workshops for women from novice to advanced. These experiences bring more women into the outdoors by creating a safer space for learning and creates an even bigger community. Knowing that getting into the outdoors can be a financial burden, all women who sign up for a VNTRbirds course receive an automatic $25 off from the VNTRbirds scholarship funds, making i ..read more

Congratulations to Palisades Tahoe formally Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California. The 2020 commitment to rename the destination was made after extensive research into the historical and current usage and regional history of the word “squaw,” and discussions with the local Washoe Tribe, which affirmed the position that it is widely considered a racist and sexist slur against Indigenous women. The renaming process began last year with an in-depth research and discovery process that would be the first step in informing the new name. At the outset, the resort team dissected what elements of ..read more

It’s spring and the rivers are rising. These conduits are vital to our economy but are also a release for our recreational pursuits. Learning how to fish may not have been a skill passed down from our parents. For those who wish to learn SheJumps, a nonprofit dedicated to women ages 6 and up, have created several online courses you can participate in this season as well as other inperson events to take your skills and amplify them. Through the online and in-person events—curated by world renowned guides— listed below the SheJumps River School offers everything from technical instruction to env ..read more

2021 West Virginia Wild Weekend with Explorer Chick It’s that time of year again! Explorer Chick Adventure Co. is hosting their 5th Annual West Virginia Wild Weekend, an inspiring getaway dedicated to that inner “wild” residing in all women, on June 17-20, 2021.  The itinerary is set, and you can book to gather with dozens of rad chicks for a packaged up trip with mountaintop camping, whitewater rafting, inspiring keynote speakers, and loads of a-la-carte adventures you can customize in one women-only weekend in the New River Gorge, West Virginia. Oh, and you can expect the sig ..read more