Get Inspired To...Camp in a Van

Photos via Tumblr, collage by yours truly. 

My boyfriend recently bought a Sprinter and...it's huge. And awesome. And hugely awesome. Not only can we fit all of our gear into it and then some (that's kayaks, mountain bikes, surfboards and more), but we can sleep in it, which means less time setting up a tent and more time hiking or whatever it is we're doing. If you ever get the chance to camp out in the van, do it. In fact, add it to your bucket list. 

Editor's Letter: Tipping the Bucket

One of the best things I've done for myself recently was to write down my reverse bucket list (you can read about that here). Reflecting on the past year was refreshing and inspiring, but summer is my favorite time to look forward, so I'm changing my pace once again: This month is all about the bucket list.

Starting out with some little coral watercolors...let's see if I can get something on the wall!

On my to-do list this summer? A cross-country road trip, a bit of education, a hobby I've been meaning to practice and a new climbing spot. On a more personal note, I'm making it a goal to stop fixating on how I look and focus instead on how I feel by eating clean, lifting heavy and thinking positive. To help accomplish this, every time I think a bad thought about myself I'm doing five pushups—let's just say my arms are getting jacked!

Enough about my goals—what are yours? I want you to write down your summer goals (make them as specific as possible so you'll actually feel like you can accomplish them), snap a picture of your list and tag me on Instagram @dirtbagdarling with hashtag #growyoungbucketlist. At the end of the month, I'll be going through every list with Element Eden to pick a favorite. That follower will win this tie-dye tee from the Element Eden X Jac Vanek collection!

The Element Eden X Jac Vanek Grow Young collection is all about quitting your day job, falling in love, going on an adventure...whatever it is you've been putting off. 

To get your brain ticking, I asked my editors and some Dirtbag Darling friends what's on their bucket lists. Watch out for their lists all month long!

Live Adventurously,
Johnie

Ed Picks: Little Luxuries

Photo by Dirtbag Darling

I enjoy the little things in life: the sunscreen that smells like vacation, the bikini bottoms that make my butt look good, the camera that listens when I talk to it. Yep, that's why this month my Editor's Picks aren't dirtbagging necessities, they're just the little luxuries that make me smile. All the info on where you can get them after the jump:

Dirtbagging 101: How to Tie Into A Climbing Harness

So you’re learning how to climb—time to learn the basics. To tie yourself into a climbing harness, you’ll need to know how to create a Figure-8 Follow-Through knot, followed by a Fisherman’s Backup knot. They don’t just look pretty—they’re your lifelines should your grip slip, keeping your harness attached to the belay rope. While nothing beats hands-on practice (it makes perfect, after all), visual learners might benefit from brushing up with this photo tutorial. Just make sure to practice tying these knots with the help of an expert before you try them on your own and in the field.

Step 1: First, make sure you’re holding the correct end of the rope. One end will be hanging from a belay device and one will be coming down from a top rope or the top of a climbing wall. Use this end.

Step 2: Measure out about an arm’s length of rope. Pinch the rope here (you’ll need this excess rope to tie your Figure-8 knot and your backup knot).

More instructions after the jump!

Get Fed: Healthy DIY Energy Bar Recipe

Photo by Rhea Cortado

This is a guest post by Surf and Swim Ambassador Rhea Cortado.

I love the energy bars at the supermarket, but they can add up to be expensive, and I don’t like that the second ingredient is often brown rice syrup, which is used as a binder to get all the dry ingredients to stick together.

I use dates, banana, honey and coconut oil as the glue. Honey and dates are sticky and have a lot of sugar so it satisfies a sugar craving, but it’s the natural kind of sugar that your body will be burning in a jiffy while you get sweaty. This recipe offers volume (whole rolled oats), the right amount of fat and crunch (nuts) and some sweetness (dates)—it tastes like a bowl of cereal in portable snack form.

It's also super-customizable to your preferences. If you don’t have flax seed meal and cacao nibs, no big deal. If coconut’s not your thing (I don’t know how we can be friends), or if you prefer walnuts instead of pecans, just make sure that the volumes are the same proportions when you make a substitution. 

Ingredients after the jump!

Newsworthy: Stephanie Gilmore Proves Surfers Aren't Just Party Animals in CNN Interview

Photo courtesy of ASP.

Leave it to that golden-haired champion of women's surfing Stephanie Gilmore to prove that surfers aren't what Hollywood makes them out to be—in a recent interview with CNN, the 25-year-old Australian and four-time ASP champ explained that, unlike the characters in films like Point Break, not all surfers are washed-up, drugged-up party lovers.

"The biggest misconception about surfers is they all talk the surf lingo," she told CNN's Human to Hero series. "It's probably been 30 years now that it has been a professional sport and it hasn't grown too much. But now it's really turned into this phase where it's about treating the surfers as professional athletes and not just party animals."

Maybe it's just because Steph was the first surfer I ever interviewed, but I think she's a eloquent, poised example of what an athletic role model should be. She's also a dedicated professional, and I think many other female surfers (like Alana Blanchard) are catching onto the idea that surfing is a true sport, and one that takes just as much training and dedication as others. Read the full interview here.

What do you think? Is she right about surfers?

Running Advice from North Face Ultra Runner Rory Bosio

Photo used with permission by The North Face.

Think racking up 26.2 miles in a marathon is impressive? Allow Rory Bosio to knock you off your high horse: as a North Face ultra runner, she consistently finishes 50- to 100-mile races on steep, mountainous terrain—and she kicks most of her competitors’ butts in the process. She placed second at the prestigious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run last June in California, and she placed fourth at the famed ultra-race North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Europe’s Alps in September.

But take a quick glance at the Tahoe, California-based athlete and you’d never know she’s logged some serious hours on the trails—no laboring gait, no aching knees. She’s quick and light on her feet, with enough energy to work as a pediatric emergency room night nurse after a day of training. And her secret isn’t really a secret at all—it’s yoga.

More inspiring pics after the jump!

Get Pretty: Coola's Organic, Cruelty-Free Suncare

Photo by Johnie Gall.

Quick: What's worse than flat waves and sand in your ice cream? Try skin cancer, which is why I slather on some form of SPF or another pretty much everyday (I'm not a fan of wrinkles either). But picking a go-to sunscreen has been quite a journey, especially with the FDA's recent major overhaul on sunscreen regulations. One bottle's too sticky while the next smells bad—but I think I've finally found my favorite: Coola.

I went off a recommendation from the Tone It Up girls, who swear by this stuff, and had the chance to test a few bottles out for free for a review on GrindTV.com. Bottom line: I'm obsessed. The cult-favored sun care collection of mineral sunscreens, sunscreen sprays and lip balms is made with 97 percent certified organic and locally-made ingredients, is manufactured using solar power, and is supported by PETA for cruelty-free testing.

What really won me over was the unscented mineral sunscreen in Matte Tint. It feels almost like a makeup primer, smoothing out redness with a barely-there tint, and it makes your skin look close to perfect and feel silky smooth. It's a little expensive for me at $36 for 1.7oz, but it's an investment I'm sure to make again because its just so damn perfect for everyday use. I have no qualms with investing in good skin. Coola, one request: Please come out with a sunless tanner!!

Dirtbagging 101: How To Prevent A Car Break In

I speak from experience...sadly. 

Let me preface this piece by saying that I've learned from experience how NOT to get your car broken into while your traveling. It was during a half-mile hike when our rented minivan had its window smashed in. Casualties included two GoPros, a Canon DSLR, a purse with all of its contents, a stuff sack filled with gadgets and a Gap scarf. Not sure why that last item was abducted but whatever.

I was inspired by this article from Surfer Magazine which details—in words direct from a robber's  mouth—how not to get robbed while surfing. It has a lot of practical tips that can be of value to other outdoorsmen because we're so often away from our cars with no way of bringing our valuables with us. I highly suggest reading the article at surfermag.com but here's a quick, adapted takeaway for the rest of us:

1. Don't advertise you're outdoorsy
I can proudly say I'm not a bumper sticker kind of girl, and now I feel validated for that—having a surf, kayak or climbing sticker on your car helps thieves identify you as someone who will be away from their car for longer periods of time.

2. Park in crowded areas
The shade from a tree will keep you car cool, but definitely unprotected. Park in a highly visible spot.

3. Keep gear to a minimum
As I can tell you, that's easier said than done, especially while traveling. But whenever possible, lock up your extra gear in the hotel room (or better yet, leave it at home) instead of in the car.

4. Don't rent a soft top
Convertibles and Jeeps are just so easy to break into (heck anyone with a knife can do it). Make sure all windows and car doors are locked...always.

5. Take the key with you
Don't hide it under your car, tuck it under the wheel or near the engine. If you can reach it, they can, too. If that means tucking it into your bra or bikini top, so be it (but keep in mind the Internet is full of solutions for something like this).

6. Get a better car
That's harsh, but a crappy car is just easier to break into.

What are your tips for keeping your car and valuables safe when you're outdoors?

Girl Gone Wild: Katie Boué's Cross-Country Van Trip

Photo by Katie Boué. The "Craggin Wagon."

In May of 2011, climber Katie Boué and her "big hairy boyfriend," Niko Monteiro, embarked on a five-week cross-country trip in Boué's parents' Pilot—a dream many of us have. After stint doing the whole "normal person" thing back in Miami, the duo decided they wanted to expand on their trip—for an entire year, to be precise.

So they're back on the road again, living in a van with just enough Internet service to stay connected and a stockpile of baby wipes to stay clean. They're calling it Simply Adventure, a year-long jaunt across the country in their van—dubbed the "Craggin' Wagon"—to practice climbing, educate people about the importance of caring for our crags and National Parks, and prove that real adventure is not only possible—it can be practical and inexpensive if you do it right. Two months into their trip, I caught up with Boué, a 24-year-old freelance copywriter, to see how her plans have changed so far and get her tips on making a simple cross-country trip a reality.

Aw so cute! Nike and Katie enjoyed the scenery.

You'd originally set out to visit every state in the country except two. Now that you're on the road, has the plan changed?
During the planning of the trip, Niko and I originally wanted to visit all 48 states on the mainland, but quickly decided to nix Oklahoma and Kansas because we've driven through them so many times. After finding out about some supposedly sweet climbing in the Wichita Mountains, we might be changing our minds again. Nearly two months into the trip and we've visited 10 states, from Florida to California to Utah.

Dirtbagging 101: Intro to Minimalist Running

Jon running, photo by Shiggy Ichinomiya.

Before I go and cause an uproar between believers and skeptics, let me say this: Minimalist running is not for everyone, but those runners who want to give it a try should do their homework, and I'm just touching on the basics here.

Minimalist running is, as the fashion glossies might say, all the rage right now, blossoming into a $1.7 billion industry in the past few years. So what is it? It involves wearing a running shoe that doesn't restrict on the body's natural biomechanics. Traditional, well-cushioned running shoes have built-in ankle support and an elevated heel, while minimalist shoes provide close to no cushioning and just enough material between your foot and the ground to prevent cuts and the spread of disease. The idea is that while you train in minimalist shoes, your feet will get stronger, you'll return to a more natural gait, and you'll be less prone to running injuries. Minimalist runners believe that the human foot will function at its best without synthetic and restrictive shoes.