No Gatekeeping. No Mansplaining.
Start Your Adventure Without the Overwhelm
Think you need to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail to call yourself outdoorsy? Nope. I’ve put together The Midlife Outdoor Starter Pack—a free, no-nonsense guide with tips, gear basics, and my favorite “wish I knew this sooner” shortcuts.
Whether you’re trail-curious or ready to plan your first camping trip, this pack helps you skip the rookie mistakes (and some of the bruises). Bonus: you’ll get the Outdoor Bingo card that proves you’re earning your midlife adventure badge.
About Rookie Outdoor Woman
I’m Heidi—a Generation X woman raised in the Midwest, back when kids were still allowed to roam feral.
If you’re not familiar with Gen X, we’re the ones who grew up straddling the invention of the internet. We played Pong on our Ataris, adjusted the rabbit ears for our parents, and spent entire summers outside without sunscreen—or adult supervision. Our parents didn’t “forget” about us in a neglectful way… okay, maybe a little. But it built our figure-it-out energy, and that’s part of what drives me outside today.
Now I wear a lot of hats—writer, outdoor enthusiast, perpetual beginner—and I’ve combined them here. Many of the stories and tips you’ll find on this site started as trail thoughts, kayak mishaps, or campfire confessions.
Why I Started Rookie Outdoor Woman
Plenty of women hit midlife and think, “I wish I could do more outside, but I don’t even know where to start.” I get it. The outdoor world sometimes acts like there’s a purity test—if you didn’t grow up tying knots or summiting peaks, you’re an outsider. I’m here to blow that up.
This space is for women who want fresh air and adventure—whether that’s on trails, in kayaks, by a campfire, or just holding a fishing rod like they mean it. No gatekeeping. No shame. Just real talk, practical tricks, and a dash of midlife magic.