Hometown: Eugene, OR

Superpower: Bone-crushing hugs.

What’s your favorite Trail Mavens lesson to teach?

How to be a total goofball. What – that’s not a lesson yet? It will be soon.

How’d you develop your prowess as an outdoorswoman?

I grew up running through forests outside our home just outside Eugene, OR. Our family didn’t camp much because I had a sister with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair, but we still spent loads of time visiting the Cascades and being active outdoors, skiing and cycling. My first backpacking experience wasn’t until undergrad when my four close friends and I relied heavily on one friend to plan our week long backpacking trip in the Los Angeles National Forest. We got lost, hiked after dark, got split up, and somehow found snow all in the second day. I was hooked. We went on another multi-day trip the following year. I had always been more of an international traveler and learned to go with the flow and deal with unexpected surprises in foreign countries.

It wasn’t until regularly hiking and backpacking two years ago, and then going on a 3 month, 4,000 mile bike tour where we camped each night that I truly felt experienced. Something about living in your tent for 3 months makes you realize you can do just about anything you put your mind to.

How do you spend your time when you’re not leading Trail Mavens adventures?

I’m always on the move. During the week I work as the Program Coordinator for the Telegraph Business Improvement District. I plan local events, work with the city to improve access and accessibility to the District and support local businesses and artists.

You can find me most nights at Berkeley Ironworks. I started a women’s workout group – (#PizzaGangGang (check us out)), lift with my girlfriends and climb with my partner.

I’m a social introvert and am happy to admit I hermit away when I can. I lurk in coffee shops, read sad books (if you have happy ones to recommend send them my way), bake waaaaaaay too many cookies that get gobbled up, and attempt to play guitar.

I generally goof off in a very Sarah Lee kind of way.

What do you love about leading Trail Mavens trips?

The ladies! Hey-o!

While I imagine I’m doing some cool things, I’m ALWAYS blown away meeting the women who sign up for trips. The stories that come up on trip are incredible. I always feel so jazzed and inspired afterwards, it gives me the juice to keep on going. I wish we could have campfire stories every Friday. Wait -- I can organize that! Keep an eye out for Campfire Fridays. ;)

What’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened on a trip you were leading?

I led one of the bioluminescence kayak trips this past September. We waited until it was very dark and paddled back out into the bay, on the hunt for this mythical light. At first I wasn’t sure we were seeing anything. I thought our paddles were just making bubbles. Then I realized we wouldn’t be able to see bubbles considering the complete darkness surrounding us. A maven and I shared a boat and paddled around, taking breaks to sit and run our fingers through the water, twirling it about, watching the bioluminescence come alive as if our fingers were magic.

Incredible. One of the most mythical, magical, and majestic sights. Thank you mother nature.

Tell us your go-to story of a personal outdoor adventure experience.

I tend to learn from experience. I often learn what not to do from experience. Some may think this is unfortunate, because I’ve learned a lot. However, I think it means I’ve walked away with LOADS of stories.

Hmm, which to tell?

When I was 7 my father tried to get into our kayak by stepping upright (as in standing), flipped immediately. Very upset Sarah.

When I was 10 my brother, two cousins and I stepped across a very rickety bridge over a moat of crocodiles as large as a jeep. Very upset mother.

When I was nineteen my mother told me not to a) hike after dark, b) let our group slit up and c) hike in snow. I did all three the second day of our trip. Shoot dang.

On my first 4-day winter backpacking trip with a partner I forgot my birth control pills, forgot tampons/pads, ended up with a horrible knee issue, cried the entire third day and NEVER TOLD HIM I WAS ON MY PERIOD. (This story is hilarious - ask me about it).

Describe your favorite campsite meal.

On my bike tour we could afford some luxuries, but we still needed to be relatively light and efficient. My favorite campsite meal would be pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes. Pesto comes in tubes (who knew)! And sun-dried tomatoes are easily transported (no squish fears here).

Top three places you like to play outdoors:

North Cascades, OR

Linville Gorge, NC

Smokey Mountains, TN

What should ladies who are on Trail Mavens trips with you be sure to ask you about?

Dealing with your period on a trip when you’re unprepared.

Clothes for days when you have no deodorant nor showers.

Any and all bike touring questions.