7 Top Outdoor Stories for Sierra Trading Post 2016 #spons

Immerse yourself in the power of the Outdoors. Zion National Park.

"With it's twisting canyons, switchbacks, elevations and grandiose vistas, this Zion hike is one of my favorite hikes of all time. The massive scale of the park, which opens up as we climb up and in and around the walls of the valley, makes me step back and pause for a moment to experience that incredible feeling of Awe."

Immerse yourself in the power of the Outdoors. 

Here are my 7 top stories this year as a writer & influencer for Sierra Trading Post:


1- 5 Reasons Zion National Park Will Blow Your Mind

2 - 5 Ways to Prepare for Unpredictable Hiking & Backpacking Weather 

3 - Why Snowshoeing is Taking Over as a Favorite Winter Sport

4 - Gear Know-How: What to Look for In Ski Jackets & Snow Pants

5 - Hiking Vermont's Highest Mountains: The 4,000's 

6 - How to Not Fall in the Water...And 4 Other Canoeing Tips

And finally, the magic for all families,
7 - The Secret to Having an App-Free Weekend

Find me on Instagram, twitter and Facebook for more live conversation and mind-blowing, nature-worshiping photography.

-Annie @OutdoorsyMama


More to read:
Top 5 Outdoorsy Mama Adventure Posts of 2016 

Disclaimer: I am paid to write these stories for Sierra Trading Post. Hallelujah it's a #writersLife.

Top 5 Outdoorsy Mama Adventure Posts of 2016

8 Ways Hiking in the Worst Weather is the Best Hiking There Is

As we wade through the tinsel and ornaments and try to avoid grandma's "delicious" fruit cake for yet another year, it's time to wrap-up 2106 and look at the top adventure posts on Outdoorsy Mama this year:

1 - 8 Ways Hiking in the Worst Weather is the Best Hiking There Is
Hiking in a rain storm is not your average day at the office or behind the desk at school. The uniqueness of the full sensory experience lights us up from inside.

2 - 10 Gifts to Blow Her Outdoorsy Mind - Holiday Gift Guide 2016 
You have probably figured out from your man-cave core that you just might have to ROCK IT with gifts this season. Here are a few excellent thoughts to help you out to blow her well-deserved, outdoorsy mind. 

3 - Summer Hiking in San Francisco, California Through the Fog
Be prepared for a face-full of gorgeous, misty, lung-quenching fog when hiking around the Bay Area June through August. A marine layer sits over the Pacific Ocean in the summer and meets up with the cool waters along the coast. This creates a low-lying fog that comes in and out of the San Francisco area all summer long.

4 - Yosemite Waterfalls - 4 Waterfalls to Put on Your Bucket List in Yosemite National Park

We threw the kids into the car and road-tripped it up to Yosemite to get a look at the giant water flowing this year after an incredibly wet winter. Wow wow wow. After being so parched with the drought after so many years, it was pure joy getting to hike in the California Sierras with huge water everywhere. This is what we found.

5 - Spending Time in Nature One of the Secrets to the Happiest Places on Earth
The people in Denmark know from a personal and public health level that for the wellbeing of not just that child, but of their society as a whole, it’s important to focus resources on the seemingly simple, but often overlooked, concept of Nature Play. And this is the BOOM of this film.

The overall theme for this wild 2016?

Get outside and immerse our Families and our Selves in Nature, no matter the weather. In fact, sometimes the worse the weather and the harder the challenge, the better the adventure and the more we learn about our place in the outdoors and ourselves. 

We've got this.

For more live chatter find me on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

-Annie @OutdoorsyMama

10 Gifts to Blow Her Outdoorsy Mind - Holiday Gift Guide 2016

10 Gifts to Blow Her Outdoorsy Mind. Holiday Gift Guide 2016

Hey Guys. It's December let's do this!

So, you probably think of yourself as this guy. You're a legend, an icon, a symbol of mankind's absolute potential: 

 The Most Interesting Man in the World.

Though, for real, your outdoorsy gal probably thinks of you as this guy:

You attacking the cheese puffs on your couch.

So you have probably figured out from your man-cave core that you just might have to ROCK IT with gifts this season. Here are a few excellent thoughts to help you out to blow her well-deserved, outdoorsy mind: 

Stocking Stuffers That You'll Want to Steal Back

1 - UST Pocket Sized Survival Tool
Mini-survival tool cutouts that come in cool, playful shapes like Sasquatch, hiker-dude and moose. Dangle one from her pack or her keychain, you'll want to steal these back immediately. 

Awesome shaped multi-tool: dog, hiker, mountain bike.

2 - Olomomo Nuts

Protein packed snack for the trail, all the flavors are delish but watch for the Cinnamon & Cayenne almond pack. You literally can't stop with just one or 700. Addictive trail food. 

Nuts, nuts about nutty trail food.

3 - Yeti

The Most Interesting Man probably has a Yeti. It's just that cool and we don't know why. The 30oz Tumbler is prime stocking stuffer real estate for her massive morning coffees and her chilled, evening, mama's-happy-juice sipping around the fire when the kids are in the tent and you're ignoring their endless call-backs. Done. 

Get ready for her Yeti.

4 - Garbage Picker Tool
Stay with me here. These are definitely awesome for sword-fighting however the "teaching our kids to be responsible human beings while doing our part to clean up Nature" is the real score here. Get one not just for your outdoorsy honey's stocking but also one for every single human in the house and then GET OUTSIDE. Adopt a street or a beach or a stream and start cleaning up. This is a feel good, win-win, yes-yes for your Outdoorsy Mama and the whole family including your disapproving mother-in-law who you've been trying to win over since day one.

Garbage picker-upper that even your mother-in-law will love.

Gifts Under the Tree For Her to Rip Open Like a Wild Person 

5 - Sherpani Bags
Sherpani means female sherpa, which is basically what the Outdoorsy Mama in your life does all day long: schlepping your gear, the kids, random things around all day. These bags are gorgeous and make me want to run through their flagship store in Boulder and throw each and every one on my back and squeal like a young tween. Sleek, hip, and extremely practical, this up and coming company should be on the "keep an eye on" list for new bags each season. 

Wearing the Camden Backpack yum.

6 - Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

You have no choice, legend Yvon Chouinard's almost cantankerous attitude about buying his gear makes us want to support him and his nature-forward corporate philosophies and thus buy his gear even more. I'm nuts about the Nano Puff jackets made from some recycled content which come in a plethora of colors and are lean, warm, layering pieces that I drag around with me everywhere. If your gal is into warm, windproof, water-resistant AND taking care of the planet, this may just be your A+.

Nano in the Tetons.

7 - Stio Environ Ski Pants

I love discovering young companies. Found these guys on a recent trip to Jackson Hole and, honestly, anything associated with Jackson or the Tetons makes me swoon so that's always a good starting point. Their gear is high quality and I love the feel of their Environ waterproof, breathable ski pants which I plan to give a true beating on the mountain and trails this winter. 

Goody, goody my Stio ski pants ready to go.

8 - Kick-Arse Cowboy Boots 

There's nothing that makes us Outdoorsy Mamas feel freer than when we slip on our cowboy boots and head out for the night. Every outdoorsy gal needs a pair to have as a go-to at any point in her life to remember the kick-arse, fun, wild side of herself. Yes.

Every gal needs to kick up her heels in a pair o' these.

For the Thunderclap All the Way Back to Home Base Win

9 - Outessa Summit with REI

Coordinate this 5-Star gift with your man-buddies. Send your Outdoorsy Mama off for this weekend getaway with a group of her gal-pals to sweat, get dirty, be happy. Put on by REI, this a bonding, learning, connecting through nature adventure that she'll remember for the rest of her life. And YOU and your kids and your dog made it happen. Set to sizzle!

10 -Yoga Retreat Anytime Anywhere

On a paddle board. In Mexico. Or anywhere for that matter... Give her any yoga retreat in any location for a few days of R&R away from the kiddos for her way overtaxed mind and body and you'll not just be the garbage-taker-outer in the household any longer. You'll be "The Man". The wildly-thoughtful man.

Your unbelievably happy Outdoorsy Mama on a yoga or Outessa retreat.

Finally, Sierra Trading Post for Everything Else
I don't always give away gift certificates to Sierra Trading Post, but when I do, you better enter.  Enter over and over -- even once a day on Twitter, my friends!

In honor of my three seasons as a writer with the outdoor, gear supply gang at Sierra Trading Post, we're putting up $50 bucks for an e-gift certificate. This'll help you find that perfect something for that well deserved outdoorsy honey of yours. They've got a ton of good stuff. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For more live conversation find me at twitter, Facebook, Instagram. 

-Annie @OutdoorsyMama

Disclaimer Giveaway: Giveaway is open to US Residents only and starts on December 1 12am and ends on December 8 12am. The winner of one $50 gift certificate will be announced and a response within 48 hours is required. 

Disclaimer Gear: Olomomo, UST, Sherpani provided gear for me to field test and review. The Sierra Trading Post people are rock stars and provided a gift certificate for giveaway. All opinions are formed, thought over, mulled, churned and are 100% my own. (In other words, I make zero money from the sale of any of these items, I just LOVE the products.)

More Holiday Gift Guides:
Wow so many great ideas, check out all of these other gift guides from fellow Outdoor Bloggers!
Go Adventure Mom - Holiday Gift Guide 2016 
Gift Guide to Help Get Outside 2016 + Giveaways! 
Rain or Shine Mama - The BEST Christmas Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Kids + Giveaway  
Brave Ski Mom - The Brave Ski Mom Holiday Gift Guide 2016 
Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies - Holiday Gift Guide for Outdoor Families (with Giveaways) 
Little Family Adventure - Gift Guide for Outdoor Families
Rockies Girl - Gifts to Last from Baby to Toddler 
Currently Wandering - 25 Gift Ideas for Adventurers, RVs & Families 
Play Outside Guide - Play Outside Gift Guide & Giveaways
We'll Eat You Up We Love You So - A Holiday Gift Guide for Outdoor Families 
Mountain Mom and Tots - 2016 Holiday Gift Guide 
Born to be Adventurous - Gift Ideas for Babies and Toddlers 
KidProject.org - Companies that Give Back Gift Guide 2016 
MommyHiker.com - The Outdoor Gear Lover's Gift Guide 2016