7th Annual Women's Fish Camp to be held in Northern WI

WI Women Fish will be holding their 7th annual Fish Camp September 13-15, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  Attendees can participate in a variety of classes and clinics: from musky fishing to fly casting. Cleaning and smoking fish, boating basics and all about crank baits are some of the classes to be offered.

In addition to the classes, Fish Campers will be able to get on the water and fish the Moen Chain, a class A musky lake in Northern WI.  This year's special guest is mystery writer, Victory Houston, whose stories are set in the North woods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing – fly fishing as well as fishing for musky, bass, bluegill and walleyes.

Whether you are a beginner angler or a tournament participant, you are welcome to join the group. We have several classes for new anglers so don’t feel like you need to be an expert angler to attend. We welcome all skill levels. All supplies for the classes are provided and included with the Fish Camp Fee. More information can be found at www.wiwomenfish.com/events/fish-camp

Pedaling to Portland: Grand Finale!

Julie and teammates celebrate by dipping their front tires in the Pacific

Julie and a group of young adults have been biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The team has covered 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's final report.

Note: When the team left Baltimore, they began their journey by dipping their bikes' rear tires in the Atlantic waters.

Two days ago we arrived on the Pacific coast! We dipped our bikes [front tires] in the water at Cannon Beach and celebrated our accomplishment of making it across the country.

Today, we arrived in Portland! It's hard to believe that it's already been 70 days! I remember day one like it was yesterday.  I got to the [overnight] host really late that day and it was what felt like the hardest day ever. But when I got to the host, my teammates welcomed me with smiling faces and applause. That was the moment that I realized that with a super awesome and supportive team like mine, I would be able to make it! Now that we're in Portland and we've all gone our separate ways, it feels weird to not have my 4K [that's miles not kilometers] family with me. I will miss them all and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to have spent my summer with. Summer of 2013 is definitely one to remember!

Well done Julie and team!  Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment!

Julie is in the front row, 4th from the left,  just above the 4K

Backcountry Adventure Opportunity in Vermont

Vermont Outdoors Woman Fall Doe Campers

Vermont Outdoors Woman is holding a three-day educational retreat with an impressive variety of classes. Situated in Caanan, Vermont -- moose country -- the Fall Doe Camp offers 35 courses ranging from Marksmanship, Mountain Biking, and Maple Sugaring to Kayaking, Birding, Self Defense, Wilderness Survival, Hunters Ed, Pickling and Panning for Gold.

Fall Doe Camp is September 26-29, 2013. For more information about classes, lodging, and pricing, visit www.voga.org/fall_doe_camp.htm

The event is sponsored in part by Jackson’s Lodge, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association.

Did I mention the Moose BBQ on Saturday evening?

Pedaling to Portland: Day 57

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The team will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 57:

We went to Yellowstone on our rest day in Wyoming. Now, we are in Idaho and there's not much to report. Last state before Oregon!!

Pedaling to Portland: Day 40-42

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The team will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Julie Crosses the Continental Divide: elev. 11.990 ft.

Day 40-42:

Colorado: Day 40 was our first day in the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies and I have a love/hate relationship because I love how beautiful they are but the climbing is a killer. We ended up taking the harder route from Boulder to Idaho Springs but it was worth it when we had about 8 miles of downhill and didn't have to pedal at all at the end of the day. During that downhill stretch, I reached a maximum speed of 45 mph!

Day 41, we got up at 4:30am so that we could set out early. We climbed Loveland Pass and at the top was the Continental Divide. It was the highest point of the entire trip at 11,990 feet! We were hit with some bad weather in the afternoon and after climbing the first mountain I was beat so I was vanned to our overnight host location.

Saturday (day 42), was a fairly easy route that was mostly downhill. We went through Glenwood Canyon on a trail that was awesome! Tomorrow we should be back to climbing so wish me luck!

Glenwood Canyon, CO

Pedaling to Portland: Day 33-35

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 33-35:

For the Fourth of July, we were in Arapaho, NE. We had really good BBQ and watched fireworks. The next day was a rest day and we went shooting at a local gun range. We shot pistols, rifles and trap. The trap shooting was really cool because I had never shot at moving clay pigeons before. This morning, we left Arapaho at 6am and rode 103 miles. We finished in Imperial, NE at around 2:40 and I am exhausted.

Note: The team is heading into Colorado now and their route will take them through Yuma, Ft. Morgan, Boulder, Idaho Springs, Vail, Carbondale, Hotchkiss & Fruita.  If you're in the area, be sure to  give them a cheer.

Pedaling to Portland: Day 28 - 32

Julie and a bunch of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR to benefit the Ulman Cancer fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 28 - 32:

Over the weekend, days 28 and 29 of the trip, we were in Omaha, Nebraska, which was really fun. I think Omaha has been one of my favorite stops of the trip so far. We had our first home stay, which means that we all stayed in houses of people who live in the area. I was with three other girls from the team. The house that we went to had a mom and dad (Robin and Curtis), three boys (Mike and John are twins and James is younger), and a dog (Murphy). It was so nice being in a home because I really did feel right at home. The boys felt like brothers and the parents felt like parents. This was good for me

The boys and dad

because I had kind of been missing home. The first night in Omaha we went to a restaurant and we all got steaks for dinner, which was awesome! After dinner we went back to the house with Mike and John for cookies that Mike made and ice cream that John had to go get. Our host mom made all her sons give up their beds so that we had somewhere to sleep and they took the air mattresses.  I had the best night's sleep there for the entire trip so far.  In the morning we got up and had french toast made by our host mom. After breakfast, the family went to church and dropped us off in The Old Market [an arts & entertainment district] where we went on slides and went into the shops. That night, there was a cookout-pool party at our host's house that was a lot of fun! Leaving the next morning was hard because it was almost like leaving my real family at the beginning of the summer.


Today, day 32, was a century -- 100 miles or more -- but I didn't ride the entire thing because at mile 25 I blew my tire and needed a new one. The water van had to drive me to the water stop at about mile 40 where the food van with the extra tires met us and gave me my replacement. I changed [my tire] and finished the day in Franklin, NE. Tomorrow is the fourth and we should have a pretty easy day ahead of us!

The girls with their host "mom"

Pedaling to Portland: Day 20-23

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR this summer to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 20-23:

(Note: The group has overnight hosts who allow them to spend the evening in a sheltered location. Most of these hosts are churches)

Three days ago we biked into Chicago and got caught in a storm when we were about seven miles from our host. We stopped at a gas station for cover for about 15 minutes then finished our ride when the rain let up a bit. On Day 21, we had a rest day in Chicago and it was amazing! We went to see The Bean in Millennium Park and went shopping at some of the biggest stores I've ever been in. For lunch we went to my first Thai restaurant ever and it was good! We took the L back to our host, which was pretty similar to Washington's Metro.

We all take shelter from the storm

The next day (Day 22), we road from Chicago to Mendota, IL. Leaving the city was a lot easier than any of us thought it was going to be--I guess because it was a Sunday morning. This caused the bike trails to be very crowded, however. While on one of the trails, I was riding behind another rider and failed to see a short pole, which hit me and caused me to fall over. The person behind me also fell off his bike. We both fell into a creek and laughed about it for the next five miles. Later that day, when we were about 18 miles from our host, a fierce storm came out of nowhere. We took shelter in an abandoned farm and waited out the storm for about an hour then finished strong. That night, we stayed in a fire house, which was pretty interesting.

This morning (Day 23), we woke up to yet another storm so we had no choice but to ride in the van to our next host. During the drive, we got a tornado warning and got stuck in one of the craziest storms yet! We're all hoping for better weather in the days to come!

The 4K visits The Bean

Bike the Gap!

Fun news from the Washington Post:

Long-distance cyclists, we know you're out there. If you're up for an adventure, you can now ride all the way from Washington to Pittsburgh. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) rail-trail, which runs 150 miles between Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh, has opened its final segment between Homestead, Pa., and Pittsburgh. In Cumberland, the GAP trail connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, which leads into Washington. For more information, visit www.gaptrail.org.

Pedaling to Portland: Day 16

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR this summer to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 16:

Today we finished our first century!! We road 107 miles in one day from Columbus, OH to Eaton, OH. It was so hard but I'm glad I finished it. This morning I lead a paceline for long time. A paceline is when all the riders are in a line and ride close behind the person in front of them because that person blocks the wind. Everyone rides at the pace set by the first person--and we were going about 20 miles an hour.  It was pretty cool. We had a pretty awesome lunch but I know the miles we did after eating were definitely harder than the morning because I was tired. I'm excited that tomorrow is only 60 miles (I never thought I would say that).

-Julie

The League of Adventurous Women, Inc.

Exciting news! The League of Adventurous Women, Inc. is a new non-profit network of women's adventure groups.  If you're an adventurous individual looking to expand her horizons, The League is for you. If you're a women's adventure organization looking to expand your membership or to connect with adventure groups around the country, The League is for you as well!

We have a new Facebook page with a growing list of adventure groups and albums from groups across the country. Want to add your group to the list? Contact us at info@LeagueofAdventurousWomen.org.

The League will be launching a Web site later this summer. I'll keep you posted about the big unveiling but you can Like us on Facebook for regular updates.

Pedaling to Portland: Day 12 & 13

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR this summer to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. This is Julie's report for

Day 12:

On our second rest day, the 4K [group] ventured to Cedar Point, OH and road some wicked coasters.

Day 13:

Today we were riding again in Ohio. While riding we saw a horse and buggy that we raced and won! It was intimidating to pass it because we were on the wrong side of the road and couldn't see if cars were coming. but it's all good cause everyone is still here. With every day we ride I feel that it gets a little bit easier to finish the miles.

-Julie

Pedaling to Portland: Day 5

Julie and a group of young adults are biking from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR this summer to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. They will cover 4,400 miles in 10 weeks. Today is 

Day 5: Grove City, Pennsylvania

"Today it rained and rained and rained. I 

didn't finish but it's okay because we still 

have 65 more days."

-Julie 

Pedaling to Portland: 4,400 miles in 10 weeks

Day 3: 

So the first day was pretty rough but I finished it! The second day I rode in the van and marked the street with chalk so that the riders would know where to go. 

Today I got back on the bike and climbed my first full mountain! I got to where everybody stopped and I feel pretty proud of myself. 

From, 
Julie

18-year-old Julie and a group of young adults are spending 10 weeks crossing the US (4,400 miles) on their bicycles to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.  You can follow Julie's progress here.

Pedaling to Portland: 4,400 miles in 10 weeks

Day 1: 

Julie headed out of Baltimore yesterday on her cross-country bike trip to Portland, Oregon. She pedaled 71 miles and finished in Waynesboro, PA.

Keep up the good work, Julie! The first 500 miles are the toughest.

Pedaling to Portland: a 4,400 mile cross-country adventure

Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR. 4,400 miles in 10 weeks.

 Last summer, my friend Joanne got her motorcycle license and took her first road trip to Sturgis, SD.  This year, daughter Julie is trying to outdo her mom in the adventure business.  Julie and a group of young adults will spend 10 weeks crossing the US (4.400 miles) on their bicycles to benefit The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

“I am riding because I want to do something above and beyond just raising money for cancer,” said Julie. “I feel that when people find out what an amazing opportunity the ride is, it gets them thinking about the smaller things they can do.”

We’ll be following Julie’s cross-country adventure beginning with her June 2 departure from Baltimore.  Check in often to share her experiences.

Here’s her route:

After leaving Baltimore’s Inner Harbor riders head north to southern Pennsylvania then strike west through Ohio and Indiana and then curl up to Chicago, IL.  From the Windy City, riders travel through Iowa and Nebraska before landing in Boulder, CO. From Boulder, the route takes a distinctive northern turn into Wyoming’s Teton National Park then continues west again through Idaho and into Oregon.

National Trails Day: June 1

Saturday, June 1, is the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day. The Society's Web site says there are hikes, events, park clean-ups and education programs scheduled across the country. To learn more and find an event in your neck of the woods, click here.

Passport Day in the USA

International adventures require a passport and, if you're in need, you're in luck! On Saturday, March 9, U.S. citizens may apply for or renew their passport book or passport card at participating non-State Department passport application acceptance facilities.  While Department of State Regional Passport Agencies and Centers will not be open on Saturday, March 9 (due to the sequester), many of the same services are available at other facilities such as libraries, post offices and clerks of court.

Lots more information at travel.state.gov. 

Zero to Sturgis in 60 Days

Last summer, my friend Joanne did something most of us only dream of doing. She got her motorcycle license, a bike and headed to the Black Hills. 

I had always wanted to get my motorcycle license. Two friends from work had gotten theirs in previous years and were talking about going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota that summer. One day they bombarded me simultaneously with IMs egging me on. So at 56 years old I decided I’d better do it before I was no longer able. In February 2012, I signed up for a course at the Maryland MVA to be held the first weekend in June. Then I forgot about it.

As June go closer I started getting nervous. What was I thinking! But I kept telling myself no harm in trying.

We had 2 nights of classroom instruction. Then 2 days on the weekend actually riding. Within the first hour the woman I sat next to both days in the classroom had fallen twice and left the program. I was hoping that wasn’t a sign of things to come. About 45 minutes after we arrived we were riding back and forth across the parking lot. Woohoo! I was riding a motorcycle and not training wheels.

After lunch we started doing some more challenging exercises such as the figure 8. The program was getting tougher. The second day we reviewed the previous day and then started working on control at consistent speeds. All of a sudden they said “Line Up!” Was this the road test? What’s going on!

Well... it was the test and I passed. The class was about 40%-60% women to men. Most of the women passed while some of the younger, cockier men did not. It felt good to be one of the those who passed. 

It had been two very tense, hot, long days on the range and was glad to be in my air conditioned car and heading home. As I was driving home I was thinking of all the weekend chores I had to cram in to the remaining hours of Sunday afternoon. My mind was racing. Then all of a sudden it hit me. Hey. I just got a motorcycle license. How cool is that? I JUST GOT A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE! It felt like a life changing event. If I can get a motorcycle license what can’t I do?

I started thinking about Sturgis, which was in 2 months. I’d been to the northwestern part of South Dakota before and loved it. The idea of going back and taking part in Sturgis with good friends sounded great.

Two weekends before we were due to leave my friend and her husband took me out bike shopping. We found the bike the first day, bought it the next day and I started riding. On August 2nd we loaded the bikes and ourselves into a toy hauler and set out to meet another group from Arizona in Sturgis. The weather was great, the scenery beautiful, the company excellent and Sturgis was everything it was said to be. It truly was a trip of a lifetime. 

Looking back, getting the license and the bike on short notice and then heading for Sturgis within 60 days might see a little crazy and to some even reckless. Everything happened fairly spur of the moment without a lot of thought to danger or consequences. The practical portion of the course was really hard. And being a new rider is Sturgis with 600,000 experienced riders was bit daunting the first day out.  Looking back, fear could have prevented me from doing any of this. Or the thought that I was too old for this. Or what might people think? In the end none of that mattered. 2012 was a great summer filled with great experiences. I wonder what the next adventure will be.

Urban Dare Adventure Race

“Urban Dare is the race where smarts can beat speed. It’s part trivia, part photo hunt, part mental and physical challenges, and all fun.  Think of it as a 1-day Amazing Race.”  That paragraph from the Urban Dare Web site sums it up but I will add that Urban Dare also is a great team event and it’s coming to a city near you!

My sister, Abbie, her daughter, Ciara, my friend, Kesha and I rose to the challenge this past weekend. We registered online for the DC race, so on Saturday morning we arrived at McFadden’s bar in downtown DC, signed our paperwork and changed into our new Urban Dare T-shirts.

By noon, 93 teams were pawing at the sidewalk ready to start.  A few teams made the extra effort to wear costumes, which added to the fun. At the appointed hour, the organizers herded everyone to a nearby park, reviewed the rules and passed out a sheet of 11 clues and 1 photo challenge. 

We immediately used our phone-a-friend option and called our pal Eithne who was at home with her laptop. Between Eithne’s computer and a couple of smart phones we solved all our clues in short order. Then, Kesha secured her place as MVP by pulling out a DC map.  We spent a few extra minutes charting a course to take us to each clue’s destination with the least amount of wasted effort and we were off! 

Bring back any Muppet-y memories?

One clue took us to a statue that “was filmed and subsequently used in the opening title sequence of Sesame Street during the show’s 20^th season” (the huge sculpture of Albert Einstein on Constitution Ave.) where we secured a quick team photo.

Another clue took us to a park that “was originally the site of several natural springs. The government purchased the property and by 1832 had installed pipes to carry water to the White House.” This site turned out to be Franklin Square where we had to jump rope 5 times before continuing our journey.

All in all, we solved 11 clues, conned one very nice couple into re-enacting the famous WWII photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, completed several dares and covered more than 6 miles on foot (public transportation is allowed but no taxis or bikes).

We finished 3:17:59, which put us in 35^th place. We were pleased to be in the top third-ish (especially because we had a few potty breaks and stopped at the Air and Space Museum for some freeze-dried ice cream) but were amazed to learn that the winning team completed the challenge in 1:18:45.

Urban Dare has 4 more cities scheduled for 2012 and 23 already on the list for 2013. To see when Urban Dare is coming to a city near you, check out their Web site.