Get inspired by female leaders in the backcountry

Little did Amanda Marchiani know that a Facebook post in 2022 would result in a nonprofit that will be hosting a panel of experts talking about women’s roles in the backcountry on Thursday. Marchiani is the founder of Gore Range Gravity Alliance and is excited to host Making Waves in the Outdoors: A Female Perspective.

“Gore Range Gravity Alliance was developed out of the need to find people to backcountry ski with. It started out as a Facebook post to grab drinks at local restaurant, Root and Flower, where about five women (of 65 interested in the event) made it through the holiday hubbub and an umpteenth wave of COVID in the hopes of making new friends,” Marchiani said.

Events like Ladies’ Wax ‘n Wine Night at Cripple Creek Backcountry to teach ski and snowboard waxing techniques to a hut trip at Polar Star Hut were quickly organized. Now the group hosts around 14 unique events a year and even started an ambassador program in Eagle and Summit counties that offers opportunities for women to get together outside for uphill skiing, mountain biking, and trail running.

Keeping in line with the grassroots organization’s mission of providing education for women to grow their skills in their outdoor pursuits and creating opportunities for women to grow lasting relationships and build community, Making Waves in the Outdoors: A Female Perspective was created.

“This event has a few different aspects to it that help us accomplish our mission,” Marchiani said. “We have a welcome reception with local women-owned businesses. The goal here is to not only create a social environment for women to meet, connect and network with one another, but also to develop relationships with these local businesses that can grow into partnerships and build on that sense of community.”

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The event will feature three female panelists and one moderator who all have a lot of experience in the outdoors but are also making an impact on their communities.

“The idea here is to create a dialogue that women can relate to and be inspired by in their own outdoor objectives,” Marchiani said.

Guests on Thursday include the following movers and shakers in the outdoor industry today:

Brittany Konsella – Panelist

• Became the second woman to ski all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks
• Co-authored “Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Colorado”
• Avalanche course instructor, working on becoming an AMGA certified ski guide

Bianca Germain – Panelist

• Freelance photographer for the past eight years, specializing in skiing, hunting, fishing
• Client list includes YETI Coolers, Nat Geo Adventure, Orvis, Sitka
• Still photographer on the recent all-women’s ski film, “Advice for Girls”

Hailee Rustad – Panelist

• Creator and leader of the Ladies Trail Crew at Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance
• Member of Vail Mountain Rescue Group
• Business owner and leadership coach

Ellen Miller – Moderator

• First American woman to climb Mount Everest from both sides in 2001 and 2002
• Climbed Lohtse, Manaslu and Cho Oyu which are all 8000-meter peaks in the Himalayas
• Certified USA Track and Field Endurance Coach for 20 years
• Advocate of winter uphill skiing, ambassador for Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance and town of Vail Trail Host

Marchiani said it was hard to limit the panel to this small group.

“There are so many amazing women who’re making a difference in the outdoor community just in Eagle County, let alone the whole state of Colorado. We are grateful for that and know this means we’ll have plenty of women to bring in and keep this event going year after year,” Marchiani said.

The event takes place at the Vail Golf Club starting at 5:30 p.m. on May 30. In addition to the panel discussion and reception with local women-owned businesses, there will be a silent auction to raise funds for Gore Range Gravity Alliance programs. Tickets are available at My.OneCause.com and if you need more information, contact Marchiani at amanda@gorerangegravityalliance.com.