Girl in the Wild

Musings and misadventures from Lindsey Ganahl. Hip hippie. Hot yogi. Extreme adventuress, traveler, and outdoor storyteller inspired by living limitlessly in the earth's playground. Homegrown in the PNW. Currently pursuing wanderlust in Europe.

[lindseyganahl]

This #pnw summer I've been yearning for and my first race. (at Elliott Bay Marina)

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Wine and wedding with friends. Chelantastic! #akoehlfairytale

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Fabulous day in the vines celebrating one my favorites, @jordanslay #akoehlfairytale

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Washington or Lake Como? #winecountry #chelan

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Lady of the Lake #akoehlfairytale #chelan

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A look at the awesome lady crew I spent my weekend with. Tutus and girafficorns for days! #girafficorn #girafficornnation #shejumps #iamsj (at Mt. Rainier National Park)

[lindseyganahl]

Sunrise this morning on the Cowlitz glacier. This was taken on the descent after summiting "Disappointment Cleaver" at 12,780' it's name is fitting as this is where heavier than normal traffic on the mountain created extenuating circumstances, forcing me to abandon my summit attempt. Disappointing indeed not to make it to 14,000 feet this summer. So sad that I didn't make my objective, but sometimes the mountain brings other gifts, like friendships forged by the sisterhood of the rope. So much glad I was able to make this trip and connect with such incredible people, all united by a love of fun in the mountains and a sincere desire to make it our legacy. A legit welcome home to the Pacific Northwest. Thank you again to all who helped me reach my fundraising goal. Winner of the raffle announced tomorrow! #iamsj #shejumps #girafficornnation #girafficorn (at Mount Rainier National Park)

[lindseyganahl]

Ice axe, camera, tutu, film crew ... Check! Hard to believe tomorrow is the the day. I cannot wait to summit Rainier with this incredible group of inspiring women. Being here, ready to climb with such purpose gives me chills. I am humbled by the support and contributions from friends and loved ones, it means so much to have you all behind me on this summit. THANK YOU! #girafficorn #iamsj #shejumps 🦄🌈✌️❤️🌄🏔 (at Whittakers Bunk House)

[lindseyganahl]

A super fun last training run up the Muir snow field today in prep for the climb this next week , and finally got to meet @christy_pelland our climb coordinator in person. What a great way to get the momentum going for Friday's ascent. So stoked! Just two days left to ankle your contribution to my climb! Let's do this guys! #iamsj #girafficornnation #shejumps (at Mt. Rainier National Park)

[lindseyganahl]

Mother Nature put on a pretty good summer show tonight. #grapefruitsunset (at Issaquah, Washington)

[lindseyganahl]

Four years ago, after my first life altering trip to Camp Muir, I started training with friends who were going for Rainier. I was working at Eddie Bauer at the time, where I curated and told the stories of professionals in the mountains, I remember feeling like I was somehow meant to be a mountaineer. I bought my ice axe, crampons, and boots and signed up for an attempt of Mt. Adams - with no training or experience. I did it on the backs of kind people who supported me, learned to self arrest on the hill after glissading out of control. I was in over my head and it was long, hard, and the most painful thing I had ever done. I did it, but I also felt at the time like I had failed somehow. I had no business being on that mountain. I don't believe in failure being an option, so I signed up for mountaineering school, and went on to summit Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier. This weekend I returned to Adams, as a leader, and my climbing partner called off her climb I went at it solo. There is nothing like sleeping through a night of 40 mph frozen wind kicking through your tent only to awaken at 5:30with a face full of sand knowing that you now must take off your clothes and step into the icy wind. Having lost my climbing partner to fatigue and having missed the 4:30am wake up call, I nearly called the attempt. Somehow when I looked up the slope and saw strings of ants moving upwards to the summit I managed to spring into action. I walked by myself for four hours in the coldest, windiest conditions I'd ever experienced, and managed to stand on top. I felt strong, I never once faltered and it was the best climb of my life. It's amazing how things can change in four years. Next up Rainier round 2, and I will have commemorated my return home with my first and my last mountain summits made in my #pnw home before moving to Norway. So grateful to have made it up and down solo, feeling like a million bucks. (at Mt. Adams Summit)

[lindseyganahl]

Come say hi to me and Clippy down on Pier 56 in #Seattle today. Free hugs! (at Argosy Cruises)

[lindseyganahl]

A carefree descent from Muir and a look at next week's objective at 12,280 feet. (at Muir Snowfield, Mt. Rainier)

[lindseyganahl]

Namaste Mt. #Rainier. (at Wildberry Restaurant)

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It took 4 hours and 10 minutes to travel 5,000 feet over five miles, but it was another idyllic day 10,000 feet up. Getting closer to my goal at 14,441 feet. (at Camp Muir)

[lindseyganahl]

Sometimes life is stupid good. Spent the day sailing on the water, tomorrow I'll be 3/4 of the way to the top of that mountain. Heading down the highway on way home just appreciating it all. This is the Northwest. #pnw (at I-90 Bridge)

[lindseyganahl]

Happiness at the helm. #pnwlife #sailing (at Lake Washington)