Personal – The Average Adventurer

The Strength in the Struggle

August 11, 2019Bre Mirynech

I keep staring at the word count at the bottom of this screen. 0 words, it reads. Why can’t I find the words to say when there are so many thoughts and emotions running through my head and heart? Maybe it’s a fear of being vulnerable and opening up about something that makes me feel weak; about opening myself up to any of you who read this. One thing I’ve picked up on through conversations with others recently however, is that what’s going on in my head doesn’t just happen to me. For this reason, I am choosing to open up and share it with you.

Adventure, mountains, the outdoors. Chances are if you’re reading this blog, you’re someone who enjoys those things as well which is why you stumbled across this page. All of those things are something I chase. They are my passion. They light a fire in my soul like I’ve never experienced before. They make me feel alive. They connect me with the truest version of myself. I have managed to build quite an amazing life around them.

5 Tips for Waste-Free Adventures

February 26, 2019March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

It’s no secret that I love the outdoors. I try to get out and spend time with Mother Nature as much as I possibly can. Whether it’s hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, or touring in the winter on my splitboard, time spent in wild places refreshes and resets my soul. I need it. I crave it.

Another thing that’s not such a secret, our climate is changing. I know, it seems to be a controversial topic, but even if you don’t necessarily believe in global warming, it’s pretty hard to deny that things are changing. Our glaciers are receding, our summers are filled with more and more wild fires, our climate is hitting extremes on both ends of the temperature spectrum. Again, if you choose to disagree go ahead, but these are things I’ve seen up close with my own eyes where I live. Even in the last five years, I have noticed a difference in our backyard. Read more →

2018: Grow, then grow some more

January 1, 2019March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

2018 is over. I am not sure about you, but I honestly have no clue where this past year went. I am fairly certain I blinked and then here we are. 2018 was a not an easy year. I say that for myself personally, and I say that from things I’ve read, heard, and seen from others. When people ask “how was your year?” my instant reaction is “oh, it wasn’t the best.” Although, when I stop to really think, it was actually a pretty good year. Hard and challenging do not equal bad. Hard and challenging I am realizing, have equaled growth; a hell of a lot of growth. If there is one word to sum up my year, it is exactly that. Through the good and the bad, I learned a lot.

Winning the Lottery- The Wave

December 20, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Visiting the wave is like winning the lottery. But seriously, you have to win the lottery to have a chance to visit this jaw dropping, peaceful, other worldly place. Is it hard to get a spot? Yes. Is it completely worth every effort in an attempt to get a spot? A million times yes.

What is The Wave?

For those of you who are perhaps hearing about The Wave for the first time while reading this, The Wave is a very unique, sandstone rock formation located in Arizona, just over the border from Utah. It is located in an area called North Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. It requires a three mile hike in to access it, with no official trail. The round trip hike is six miles (ten km), plus whatever hiking you do once you are at The Wave! Read more →

Christmas for the Adventurous Female

November 23, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! Well, maybe you agree or disagree, however, like it or not, Christmas is around the corner. Crazy right!? Where did 2018 go? I have to admit, I love Christmas. The feeling in the air, the kindness of others, the beautiful snow against all the lights. Its cheesy, I know, but I have always loved this time of year.

Christmas however, is pretty commercialized. Shopping, cards, stockings, events, oh my! It can be pretty overwhelming. Amidst it all though, I absolutely love giving gifts. I love planning it out and finding something thoughtful from the heart to give my loved ones; something I know will absolutely make their day. A lot of years I make gifts, however, being on the road this year hasn’t left me with much space for getting creative. Read more →

Life on the Road: The Beginning

November 17, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

I write this to you from a Laundromat in a suburb roughly 10 minutes outside the main strip of Las Vegas. Having spent the last 5 days in the desert, visiting Joshua Tree and Red Rocks, it was time to wash the bed sheets and clothes and get that beautiful red desert sand out of our belongings.

This is week three of a seven week road trip. To rewind a little and give you some background, a few months ago I asked to take a one year leave from my place of employment. It was pretty spur of the moment, but something I have dreamed about for a long time. I am not the greatest at making decisions. I am sensitive, emotional, and think way to hard and in depth about things. So the decision to take off and travel for a year wasn’t the easiest thing to do. But one day I snapped. Life caught up to me, and I realized there was never a good time to make such a decision. With an Australian boyfriend who’s visa was up in Canada, a job sucking the life out of me, and finally some savings under my belt, I decided it was time. It was time to follow my dream and experience more of this beautiful world. Read more →

Raw and Real: Mountain Life

August 26, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Its no secret that “adventure” has become somewhat of a popular thing these days. Adventure sports are becoming more popular, the adventure industry is booming with business, and people travelling the world is at its peak.

I made the decision to move to the mountains from Ontario nearly five and a half years ago. When I first moved to Banff for a summer, it opened me to a whole new side of myself that I didn’t know existed. I was drawn to explore this side of myself more so I made the move permanent and I have never looked back. Over five years later, it is still one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, that does not mean it has all been easy. Read more →

KEEN on Happy Feet

August 16, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

As the saying goes, “happy feet, happy life.” OK, maybe its more like “happy wife, happy life”, but when you’re an avid outdoors women, I think happy feet is more accurate.

Our feet carry us everywhere. To work, to the gym, to the trails, to the mountains. I personally thank my feet everyday for the hard work they do and the incredible places they take me to.

That being said, taking care of my feet is something I give a lot of time and attention to. If I am going to put them through the many activities that I do, I need to take care of them to prevent injury, sore spots, and blisters. Read more →

The Matterhorn of the Rockies

August 8, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Standing at 3616m tall (11, 864 ft), Mount Assiniboine is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Canadian Rockies. Its nickname, the Matterhorn of the Rockies, comes from its massive pyramid and horn like shape.

The first time you see this peak, a common reaction is something along the lines of “Wow”, and than of course curiosity sinks in and you wonder what that mountain is. I remember this moment clearly. Over six years ago, I decided to move to Fairmont Hot Springs in BC for the summer to work. In order to get there from Calgary, you have to drive through Banff. I stopped in Banff for a few days on my way to visit someone I knew. She took me to Sunshine Village so I could spend a beautiful spring day snowboarding. As we got off the chairlift and started down the run, I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of Assiniboine. I had my “wow” moment, asked for a photo, and continued on. Read more →

Heartline (literally).

May 23, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

This past weekend for one of my days off work, my friend Yanick and I decided to climb Heartline. Heartline is a multi-pitch sport climb on a nearby mountain called Heart Mountain. Heartline is graded at 5.9 A0 and is 17 pitches. Needless to say, I was looking forward to an amazing, big day out climbing in the beautiful weather with good company!

The climb took us roughly 8.5 hours, including a beautiful 45 min summit, soak in the sun and eat a sandwich. For those looking to climb this route in the future, we did it in less than 17 pitches by linking a few and soloing a few as well. Overall, it was an incredible day out in the mountains! Read more →