Arielle Shipe

Today is my 33rd birthday! It’s wild to think that this time last year I was still unwinding from finishing my PCT thru hike and this tiny human was just starting to grow in my belly. It’s actually crazy how much life can change in a year.

In the last 12 months I grew a human being inside my body, finished my master’s degree in nutrition, gave birth, and then took this little lady on as many adventures as my healing body would allow.

There’s been some really hard moments- like spending a week in the NICU with Riley and navigating being new parents with a newborn on oxygen… Or the fact that I had to do nearly a year’s worth of grad school in 4 months to finish before she was born… Or that it took nearly 6 months after giving birth before I was actually pain-free…

But the reality is that these challenges have made me appreciate all the good in my life even that much more. As I take this lap around the sun I am overflowing with gratitude. I’m so grateful for this little family of mine, every day we wake up healthy, and every adventure big or small.

Thank you so much to all of you for your support and love along the way. Cheers to another year of adventure

When you book a campsite with the sole purpose of watching the sunset somewhere beautiful…

As I planned the route for our first big road trip I tried my best to break up any long sections of driving so we never spent more than 3-4 hours driving on any given day. Looking at the map, Monument Valley was perfectly positioned to break up the long drive between Page, AZ and Moab, UT. It was somewhere I’d driven through many times but never stopped for more than a few moments to take a few photos so I decided it would be the perfect place to call home for the night.

Most of the other stops on our trip were action-packed with hikes or other activities but in Monument Valley, there was only one goal: enjoy a slow, unrushed dinner and watch the sunset somewhere beautiful.

The next morning we realized that a big storm was blowing our way and we needed to make it home a day earlier than planned so this ended up being the very last night on our first big road trip as a family of three.

I am not all that good at slowing down but every time I do I am reminded how nice it is to just BE. Ending the trip with a slow evening in the desert was the perfect capstone to our 10-day adventure. It gets me so excited to know that we are just getting started

Everything is figureoutable. TAKE THE LEAP!

When we set out on our 10-day road trip (the first time being away from home with our new baby) there was a part of me that was overwhelmed with all the “what ifs”. What if she doesn’t sleep well in the van? What if she hates the car seat? What if my supply drops and I stop producing enough milk to feed her? What if, what if, what if…

I ended up packing her so many clothes that I basically emptied the drawers at home… so many diapers that we came home with close to 50… enough snacks for a month… I planned out exactly where we would camp each night (definitely not something I usually do)... you get the idea. It can be intimidating to step into the unknown.

Here’s the thing, I don’t regret planning ahead. Being extra prepared this first time around gave me the confidence to get out there and try BUT now that we’ve “done the thing” I am reminded, that everything is figuroutable. I am reminded that every big, intimidating thing I’ve done in my life so far (career changes, thru-hiking the PCT, etc) began with a leap of faith and a whole lot of trust that, whatever happens, I would figure it out.

So if you are looking at a big goal and not sure where to start or are a new parent dreaming of bigger adventures, know that sometimes you just have to set the “what ifs” aside and take the leap. You’ve got this

The beginning of a new chapter of adventure 🚐🙌🏻

Riley’s first road trip. First time camping in the van. First national park. My first night with over 8hrs of sleep in over a year (only one night but I’ll take the win lol)

We started our 10-day road trip in Bryce Canyon National Park and it was honestly amazing. Camping in the park this time of year is first come, first serve and we got a great little site in the north campground as our homebase for 3 nights.

I’m not sure why, but I have never doubted that we would be able to keep adventuring with a baby. My mindset has always been, “we will figure it out” because that’s what you do… you figure it out. You plan for things that don’t end up happening, you adjust on the fly, and, at the end of the day, you find yourself extra grateful for things you might have taken for granted in the past.

There is so much more I want to share from this trip but I’ll start here with a few of my favorite moments from our time in Bryce 🫶🏼

And just like that, most of the leaves have dropped here in Aspen. I feel like it always goes faster than I expect it to! I really love living in the mountains and getting to experience all the different seasons but, if I am being honest, after the leaves fall we enter a sort of grey and uninspiring couple of weeks before winter truly sets in and we can get back up on the hill for the ski season. We locals refer to this time as the “off-season” and it’s when most of us get out on adventures away from home and usually to somewhere a little warmer (winters here can feel long).

We have loved our first summer/fall at home as a family of three but are super excited to take Riley out on her first road trip. We leave tomorrow, any guesses where we are headed?

Low quality photo, high quality moment.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the beautifully captured and edited photos that have filled this page over the years but the reality is that some of my favorite photos are quick iphone selfies like this… No need to stop what we are doing to plan the perfect shot, just a quick snap of a special moment in time.

I’m not sure why it feels like such an act of rebellion to post a single iphone photo post… maybe it’s all the years of putting pressure on myself to make sure what I share is Instagram worthy…

As I step into this role of motherhood, I find myself wanting to take the pressure off. To share a mix of more real/raw moments alongside the crisp curated ones. To make sure that there is space in our lives and our adventures to just be.

One of the biggest adjustments for me so far with becoming a mom is how much less time I have for Tabor. Don’t get me wrong, Tabor comes along for most adventures and hikes... She still gets couch cuddles and treats... but the days don’t revolve around her like they used to. Sometimes I look over and see her napping and think to myself, “I wish I had more energy to give you.”

I know this baby stage will fly by and my hope is that when Riley is a little older they can become best buds. Maybe then she will have even more love than before… I picture Riley dropping food for Tabor out of her high chair at meal times… them cuddling on the couch… them chasing each other around the park… But until then, I’m savoring every puppy snuggle. All the times Tabor goes over to lick Riley’s feet… Trying to live in the moment and trust that everyone feels loved.

Anyone else notice any shifts like this with their pup when they expanded their family? Do you feel like things changed as the baby got older? I’d love to hear your stories!

My first thought when I looked at these photos, “Omg, I love these! Riley is so freaking cute!”

My second thought, “Ugh, these are really unflattering of me…”

Anyone notice how awkwardly I’m standing in the last photo? This was because I asked my husband if we could take a few more to try to make my midsection more flattering… He thought I was being silly but humored me. Here I was on the biggest hike of my postpartum journey so far… A moment worth celebrating my body and how incredible it was… and yet this silly negative thought of what it looked like still crept in.

I am proud that this wasn’t a thought I let linger for very long, but it was just a reminder to me of how sneaky the “bounce back” pressure can be. Here I am holding my beautiful 9-week-old baby in my arms and I’m feeling the pressure to have no physical evidence of what it took to bring her into the world…

It’s a constant unlearning process, but I’m no longer letting thoughts like this take up residence in my head. I am no longer letting them get in the way of documenting moments that fill me up with joy. And I am no longer letting them stop me from sharing the photos the way they might have in the past.

What I see today when I look at these photos? A beautiful day in the mountains and a special moment between a mother and a daughter.

Want to know something crazy?

I’ve hiked roughly 60 miles with Riley this month. 60 miles?! I was so surprised when I added them all up.

I didn’t start this month or this postpartum hiking journey with any goals. I just wanted to get outside and move my body because it’s so essential for my mental health. These 60 miles were made up mostly of short 2-3 mile hikes but it really goes to show how small things really start to add up over time. I’m feeling really proud of my body today and so grateful to share this passion for the outdoors with my daughter 🥰

Hiking with a newborn doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. So far my experience has been the exact opposite! The truth is that newborns do a lot of sleeping and these carrier wraps allow them to snuggle up close to you. I swear Riley gets better daytime naps on our hikes than she does in the bassinet at home 😂

The big difference I’ve found is the time. Everything takes a bit longer than it used to… it’s the combo of my current fitness levels, the extra weight of carrying the baby, and the fact that on most hikes (unless they are super short) there will be a breastfeeding break.

Like anything, the more you do it the more confident you get and that’s definitely been true for me when it comes to hiking with Riley. Every adventure I get a little more clear on what I need and don’t need… on what works and doesn’t work.

And an added bonus is that nearly everyone you cross paths with will celebrate you for getting out on the trails. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received so far in these first few weeks of hiking with Riley 😅

Today marks 6 days past my due date… While it’s actually really common for first-time moms to go 1 (or even two) weeks past their estimated due date, the reality is that it is hard not to let that specific date get stuck in your head. Each night before I go to bed I tidy up the house “just in case” and each morning I wake up feeling more and more like I may be pregnant forever haha. I know that’s not the case and I am working to lean into trust, knowing that our baby girl will come on the perfect timeline for her. I guess I should take it as a compliment that I’ve created such a cozy and comfortable environment that she’s just not ready to leave just yet 😂

Today I have an appointment for acupuncture and am letting myself explore all the strategies and wives’ tales people swear by for getting things going. I love hearing everyone’s different stories- did you or your partner or a friend of yours have something they swear by for naturally inducing labor? What about timing- “early”, “late”, right on the E.D.D?

I think one of the most beautiful things about bringing new life into the world is that everyone’s story is a little different. These little humans may be small, but they come into the world with an authority of their own. While I am working on staying patient, I am so so excited to meet our little girl- whenever it is she decides is her time.

When I opened up my email a few months ago about my grad school graduation date, I couldn’t help but giggle. June 16th… my due date. Needless to say, I won’t be able to attend my graduation in Oregon in person tomorrow, but I’m celebrating nonetheless. I freaking did it! Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA and a Master’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition.

In the spring of 2020, I was all set up to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail… I had my permit… my gear… I had been training all winter… then covid happened. After years of struggling with autoimmune challenges, the truth was that getting my health to a point where I could consider a thru-hike had been quite the journey. Nutrition played a HUGE role in that healing journey, so while I had to wait on one big dream of mine, I decided to pursue another- going back to school to study nutrition.

I’ve worked super hard over the last three years to keep up with school alongside all my other work and adventures, including doing a few different 6-month chunks of double-time coursework so I could take a leave of absence last year to finally hike the PCT and also finish my program before our baby girl is born. It’s been a wild ride!

Feeling super proud of this big accomplishment and SO freaking excited for what’s to come!

About seven years ago, Sam and I bought our first paddleboards and have never looked back. Since then, we have hiked our boards up to different alpine lakes here in Colorado and brought them as trusty companions on our road trips all across the western US. We’ve floated rivers, circled lakes, and paddled our way into slot canyons. They are super durable but, because they are inflatable, still super easy to take on adventures. It’s become one of my favorite ways to adventure as a family, and I am SO excited to share this passion with our baby girl once she’s earthside.

To kick off a summer of adventure, is having a big Memorial Day sale with AMAZING deals on new paddleboards and I’m excited to share that they’ve given me a discount code to get you an additional 10% off! Just use the code ARIELLE for an additional 10% off iSUPs & Docks, and if you have any questions, just put them down in the comments below

I was driving to the studio and one of my favorite songs came on. Almost immediately after I started singing I felt my baby girl start moving around in my belly. “You can hear me, can’t you?” I thought to myself. And a wave of emotion washed over me… as tears welled up in my eyes I couldn’t help but think about how excited I am to get to know this tiny human… how excited I am share more of the things I love with her… to watch her grow and figure out what she loves.

As I move into these final weeks of my pregnancy I not only feel her more and more but feel more connected to her as well. I may not be a mother just yet for this years Mother’s Day… but Mother’s Day is definitely hitting a little different today than years past ❤️

Time feels like it’s flying by right now… I’ve been telling myself I’ll share photos from this Moab trip “soon” but somehow I’ve blinked and it’s been over a month! I’ve been told that when we actually become parents the time warp gets even crazier 😅

I’m nearly 35 weeks pregnant now and home here in Colorado until baby girl arrives. I can no longer see my toes when I look down and, truth be told, even a month ago my body made it clear that it was time to slow down. We chose shorter hikes and took our sweet time while we enjoyed long breaks to soak in the views.

It’s crazy to think that this time last year I was on the PCT hiking consistent 20+ mile days when today I got out of breath going up a short flight of stairs… but the truth is I’m really enjoying the slow down. I love a good adventure and I can’t help but think of this next chapter as my biggest adventure yet ❤️

It’s crazy to think this was already a month ago… I’ve committed myself to really listening to my body through my pregnancy and exploring what it feels like to still be myself in the process of bringing another human into this world. Since I share much of my life online, I’ve had to learn that there will be people who don’t understand or are quick to judge BUT I’m also finding it easier and easier not to care because I know myself and I know my body better than anyone else.

I’ve never really thought of myself as much of a rebel but I’m realizing more and more that I have a VERY strong resistance to idea that there is a singular “right” way to do anything. My goal with sharing myself skiing, snowboarding, and surfing as my bump grows is not to say everyone needs to or should do what I’m doing… Not at all, it’s just me being myself and continuing to make empowered and informed choices that feel right to me.

No matter what it may look like from the outside, I have slowed down massively and adapted the ways I do my sports so that I continue to feel safe and comfortable. Every single time I go out I check in with myself and listen to my body. This has meant hiking highlands bowl and snowboarding in expert terrain at 23 weeks pregnant AND skipping a family ski day the next weekend (skiing blue groomers) because it was a holiday weekend and it just seemed too busy for my comfort level.

I guess what I am getting at here is that the world may not always understand you and the choices you make but, at the end of the day, there is no “right” way to do anything. Only the way that’s right for you.

*Outdoor Education Scholarship Opportunity* Over the course of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike this summer I raised nearly $1,400 with one goal in mind: getting more women+ confidently chasing their outdoor adventure goals.

As a solo female thru-hiker I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I was asked, “aren’t you afraid?”, “you are going without your husband?!” or “what are you bringing for protection.” While things have improved dramatically over the last decade, the idea that women are less capable than men in the outdoors seems to still have some lingering roots.

I feel fortunate that I was exposed outdoor adventure at a young age. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to find mentors who were willing to take their time to show me the ropes w/ climbing (pun intended), teach me how cut my skins for my splitboard, and how to lighten my pack so I can go further and faster. Their excitement and my own personal passion led me to invest in courses to sharpen my skills and learn basic wilderness medicine so that I can be prepared in case something goes wrong. There is no doubt in my mind that education is a major key to empowerment and confidence in anything that we do.

Now that the dust has settled from my hike, I am so excited to announce that, in partnership with , the $1,400 I raised this summer is now sitting in a scholarship fund, ready to support women+ ready to uplevel their outdoor skills through courses like “Intro to Backpacking”, “Intro to Rock Climbing”, and “Wilderness First Aid”. We are on a mission to get as many women+ confidently out on the trail, rock, and ice as possible.

Sound like you? Here’s the details: Scholarships are available to members only but guess, what? Send Femme memberships are now free! Start by heading over to sendfemme.com and joining our community. From there, click the link in my bio to access the application page. We ask that you only apply if you truly couldn’t afford the programs without support so the money can really go to those in need. The application portal will close at the end of the month, and we will announce the winners in Send Femme on Feb 5th.

Today is my 32nd birthday, and I gotta say, it’s been one hell of a year. Hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail was one of those big, scary, audacious life goals that I had been dreaming about since my early 20s, and sometimes it still blows my mind that it actually happened. Sometimes I think to myself, there’s no way I hiked nearly 2,500 miles with 20+ lbs on my back… slept over 100 days outside in a tent… focused on one singular mission for 5 full months… but then I look back at all the memories and a HUGE smile comes to my face.

I’m really proud of myself and what I accomplished this year but, more important than the goal itself, I am proud that I made following my dreams a priority. With this big adventure now behind me, I would say that 31 would be a hard year to beat but looking forward to what’s on the books for this next year. I am SO excited for what’s to come.

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement over this past year, I cannot wait to share with you what’s next! 🫶🏼

Last week, I shared in my stories about how I’d had an anxiety attack. How I’d tried my best to ground myself, but in the end, found myself on the floor of my kitchen, hyperventilating as tears streamed down my face. “It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok… breathe,” I reminded myself. While writing it out I questioned myself, “Should I share this?” (classic anxiety-based overthinking of everything). But then, as the “thank yous” and “I feel yous” came flooding in, I remembered that knowing we aren’t alone in our struggles is a powerful and freeing reminder, even if it doesn’t actually change the situation.

Then, another message came in. It read, “It still shocks me that this is something you experience. You always seem so happy and bright.” Here’s the thing, it is VERY easy to see the people we follow online and think that what we are seeing is a full reflection of who they are and what their life might be like. I catch myself doing it all the time. Assuming that someone else’s life is perfect or, at a minimum, better and easier than mine… I forget sometimes that people may look at my page and think or feel something similar.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and two things come to mind. First and foremost, happiness and anxiety are not mutually exclusive. Like most human emotions, the good and the more challenging things can live side-by-side across a day or even in a single moment. Someone can both be happy and bright AND struggle with things like anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. And secondly, how important it is to normalize conversations about mental health.

Whatever your mental health challenges may be, I hope you know you are not alone. I see you, and I’m sending you the most massive virtual hug ever. ❤️

Something I have really enjoyed since being home is actually having some options when I'm getting ready for the day. Don’t get me wrong, I tend to keep things pretty simple in the clothing department, but I do genuinely enjoy finding clothing that happens to be super cute while also being functional.

One of my fall staples this year has been this Windproof Outer Fleece Half-zip pullover shirt from . I love how the cropped cut gives it a modern look but that it’s so much warmer than other sherpa-style fleece jackets because of its built-in windproof layer. I have literally been living in this shirt since it arrived!

As the season continues to shift and it gets colder around here, layering (like with this fleece) becomes an essential way of life. has been one of my go-to's for basics and layering for the last couple of years now and I’m always so impressed with how reasonable their prices are for the quality. Any other lovers out there?

Fall memories… Normally this time of year I am frantically trying to get out on as many adventures as possible. The cooler temps are often perfect for hiking, climbing, biking, etc., and I know that once the snow actually sticks, it'll be time to put away a lot of the summer gear until the spring.

This fall has been a slower pace, though. I haven't felt the same pull to maximize every day… Instead, I've just been enjoying mostly simple days with short but chilly e-bike rides to the yoga studio and spending time making nourishing meals. After five months away, I am slower at my school and work assignments too. Everything just takes me a little longer than it used to… and that's ok. I think life is meant to have different seasons. Some are wild, fast, and fun, and others, like this fall for me, are slow and nourishing.

To me, the biggest challenge with the slower pace is not beating myself up… Not “shoulding” on myself for not wanting to or doing more… Not stressing over to-dos left undone. I have to constantly remind myself that my “enoughness” isn’t measured by the things that I do… and that it’s ok to slow down… in fact, it’s actually a really really good thing.

With less than two weeks until we take off on our next trip, I’m going to try to savor this slowdown. I am giving myself permission to rest so that maybe, just maybe, I can even enjoy the reset without any more shoulds creeping up on me.

First week back home in Colorado… It’s interesting, you would think that I would feel like I had the longest summer ever because I literally lived outside for the last five months but the truth is, it almost feels like I skipped summer. I think it’s because I didn’t end up doing all my usual Colorado summer activities like climbing, biking, and hiking my go-to local hikes. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade my PCT hike for a normal summer (I know there will be plenty more Colorado summers to come) BUT it was really nice to get out and enjoy being home this last week.

While the action of getting back into regular life this week has been a bit overwhelming, I am so incredibly grateful to come home to a place that I love, my incredible husband, and our sweet pup (who is still rocking a very cool purple cast from her surgery). The weather may be shifting, but hey, sometimes those fall temps are the perfect adventure temps and the leaves are peaking so I’m excited to squeeze the last few drops out of the season.

A home away from home… Out on trail home becomes the 2ft wide strip of dirt that wanders its way through the landscape. It becomes the random clearings in the forest, the flat rocky spot by the lake, the exposed ridgetop with a view… Every night somewhere new, but still that feeling of home.

While the scenery changed, my Nimbus UL2 tent from was a reliable companion. I loved how easy it was to set up my own little sanctuary every night and how the luxury of a double wall tent allowed me to sleep with the fly off and see the stars on warm nights or keep the rain fly on if I wanted a little more privacy or protection from the elements. It honestly still blows my mind that it’s only 2 lbs… It’s something that matters greatly when you carry your home on your back for 5 months.

While I know quality gear is fully worth it, I also know it can be expensive to invest in new gear so I am super excited to announce that my discount code is live one final time! Use the code “ARIELLE40” for 40% off one full-priced item on the Mountain Hardwear Website (code only valid for one time use). Like before, there are limited uses available so make sure to snag this massive discount on your gear before it’s gone.

If you are interested in names or links to any of my other pieces of gear hop over to my stories today

151 days, roughly 2,500 miles hiked, and enough memories to last a lifetime.

I’ve been home roughly a week now and I’m still trying to find the right words to describe what thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was like. The truth is, it was all the things. It was beautiful and amazing, for sure, but it was also incredibly challenging in more ways than one. Some days out there I truly felt at one with nature and myself. Those days the miles flew by, and I felt like I could do anything. Other days out on trail hiking felt like a chore. Those days the miles felt like they dragged on forever and I found myself only surviving the day by getting lost in an audiobook.

Just like the trail itself, the experience was filled with many ups and down but there was one special thing that made every single challenge worth it… The people.

As I look back at the five months of my life I spent on the PCT, I can’t help but think about the fact that, for me, it was the people that truly made each special moment special. It was more than the experience itself, it was sharing it. It was being there for someone when they had a bad day and knowing they would be there for you when you had one yourself. It was the laughter, the silliness, the inside jokes… It was the unexpected magic of strangers becoming family.

As I write this, my eyes fill with tears. I am truly overcome with emotion and gratitude. To the PCT class of 2022, to the trail angels, to the communities we passed through on our journey, to everyone who has followed or supported my journey along the way, and to the magic that is the trail itself- thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

With colder nights and mornings again here in Washington, I have been putting my trusty puffy to good use again. The thing is, you kind of have to be prepared for anything out here so even in the Nor Cal heatwave I kept it with me just in case.

The thing that makes the Ghost Whisperer UL jacket so great is that it’s incredibly light/packs down small and yet is still super warm and durable at the same time. My normal lifestyle is generally pretty hard on my gear but hiking the PCT? Well it puts your gear through the wringer and I’m happy to report that this jacket has held up great!

Are you needing a new jacket or any other outdoor gear? My discount code is live again! Use the code “ARIELLE40” for 40% off one full-priced item on the Mountain Hardwear website (code only valid for one time use). Like last time this code is limited to 200 uses, so make sure to snag it before it’s gone!