Going solo means rising to the challenge and building up your personal responsibility. Don’t fall for common mistakes, like overestimating your true fitness, underestimating nature’s unpredictability, not having the proper gear, underpacking or overpacking, or not bringing or following signs and maps.

When you’re alone, it’s just you, so you have to prepare yourself properly for whatever you’re walking into. But hiking alone doesn’t have to feel dangerous. Follow these tips to prioritize safety and protect yourself while enjoying your amazing adventures in the wild.

1. Be Over-Prepared
Choose a trail that is easy to find and popular. Plan ahead and research how long it will take, whether it’s a day hike or a thru-hike. Before heading out, thoroughly research your chosen trail or location and get to know the details of the trail. Start your hike or run early enough in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight to complete your journey. Don’t push the limits of daylight, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the trail.

Familiarize yourself with the terrain, trail conditions, weather forecasts, and potential hazards. Always let someone know your itinerary and expected return time. Check the weather forecast before starting your hike or run, and remember that sudden weather changes can be dangerous, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and shelter.

Learn about the wildlife in the area you’re visiting too. Understand how to react if you encounter animals like bears or cougars. Carry bear spray if you’re in bear country, which can help protect you from suspect characters as well.

Learn basic navigation skills, such as using a compass and reading a map. GPS devices can be helpful but should not be relied upon exclusively. Download offline maps on your smartphone and bring a power bank. 

1. Solo Female Hike Preparation Checklist:

• Weather
• Wildlife
• Time
• Trail
• Training
• People
• Protection
• Navigation (map, GPS downloaded offline)
• Nutrition

2. Choose a Popular Trail

It might sound obvious, but if it’s your first time out hiking alone, don’t attempt to avoid crowds, go for a popular trail. You may be alone, but let’s not go for isolated, at least at the start. Ease into hiking by yourself before you go for the more obscure trail. Well-traveled and well-maintained trails are great because they are not only easier to find but are also safer, and they’re likely very beautiful as well. 

Keep to the marked trail. Always be on a lookout for the right direction if there are confusing forks in the road. If someone comes by you can ask for directions, but always trust your instincts, and bring a map. Use a paper or electronic map for navigation and check your progress at frequent intervals to avoid navigational mistakes. Going off trail can lead to getting lost. Don’t be afraid to turn around.

3. Have the Right Gear

Always bring appropriate gear and equipment, including a map and compass (and know how to use them), a first aid kit, a headlamp or flashlight, extra clothing, and food.

Some solo female hikers choose to carry personal safety tools for creepers or animals, such as a whistle, pepper spray, and/or a personal alarm. Three shrill blasts on your whistle is the universal call for help. 

Essential Survival Gear for Solo Female Hikers

• Navigation: a paper map, GPS, and compass
• Sun protection
• Warm clothing, emergency blanket
• Headlamp or flashlight, charged or with batteries
• First aid kit
• Fire-making kit: lighter or waterproof matches (bonus: fire starter)
• Knife 
• Food
• Water
• Emergency shelter

Bear this solo hiking list in mind, but also make sure not to pack too much.

4. Let People Know

It might be appealing to just run off without a note, but informing a trusted friend or family member about your plans can give solo female hikers peace of mind. Let them know your start time and estimated end time and trail name. Consider using a hiking safety app that allows others to track your progress. You can share your location if you have service. 

If you’re nervous to share your location with friends and family, you can always speak with the park rangers and let them know your hiking plans. Hit two birds with one stone and ask the ranger if there will be cell service along your route. Knowing whether you have the ability to use your phone should you need to make an emergency call is an important preparation to make. 

You can always invest in a satellite communication device or a personal locator beacon for remote areas where cell phone reception is unreliable. Leave your itinerary with someone you trust. You can also put regular posts on social media if you have service or put up a post summarizing your plans. 

5. Know Your Body

Avoid one of the most common mistakes new solo female hikers make by knowing your body’s limits. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to push yourself, but prepare with proper water and food to sustain you for your whole journey, whether you’re hiking or running. Dehydration and exhaustion can lead to complications nobody wants.

Honor your mental and physical limitations, and take care of yourself. It’s not weak to be cautious. There’s no need to push yourself too hard on a challenging hike all by your lonesome. Take your time, be thoughtful, and pay attention to your body as you go. 

6. Pay Attention

Simply staying focused on what you’re doing can go a long way. Keep your senses sharp while on the trail and watch for signs and indicators of where you are. Don’t wear headphones in case dangerous animals or people are nearby. Be ready for anything by staying aware of your surroundings.

7. Trust Yourself

You may feel intimidated to hike alone, but it’s important to trust your internal compass and intuition. If someone seems strange, they are probably strange. Trust your instincts and listen to your gut. Don’t say yes to something you don’t want to do or take a path you are unsure about. Consider turning back or changing your plans if something doesn’t feel right.

If learning some practical self-defense gives you even more confidence, consider taking self-defense classes so you’re ready in case of an emergency while you’re alone on the trail.

It can be daunting to try solo hiking no matter who you are, but it all comes down to being ready for anything and preparing for what you can prepare for in advance. With proper preparation and constant vigilance, solo female hikers and trail runners can have perfectly safe adventures in the wild.

The post 7 Essential Safety Tips for Solo Female Hikers appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Layering outdoor clothes for warmth, comfort, and safety is a skill everyone needs to know. Whether you’re hiking, camping, canoeing, or doing anything else in the outdoors, smartly layering clothing is important for much bigger reasons than making a fashion statement.

In any activity, your level of exertion varies over the course of a day or even a few hours. Sometimes you’re working hard and at other times you’re not moving at all. For those reasons, you need to dress to keep your body regulated in hot, cold, and wet conditions. Read how to become a pro at layering outdoor clothes.

The basics of layering outdoor clothes

When you dress for the outdoors, you should dress in three layers: a base layer, a warming layer, and an exterior layer for added warmth, waterproofing, and/or windproofing. Of course, you can always modify this by adding an extra warming layer like a vest or not using a layer because it’s not that cold. But, as always, use your best judgment. Layering helps in two ways. First, it may prevent perspiration in the first place. Second, the right kind of layers can help disperse moisture that does build up and get it away from your skin.

Base Layer

The layer next to your skin should quickly pull away, but not hold moisture. It should wick it through quickly to the next layer out. Exposed to air, this next-to-your-body layer should dry quickly. This means it’s thin and made of a high-tech, synthetic material that includes polyester. 

Fabrics for base layers are specially woven so moisture is forced into and through the gaps in the weave so it rapidly reaches the next layer. By comparison, polyester only holds 0.4% of moisture while cotton holds 7%.

Warming Layer

The next layer should be a soft, light to medium-weight blanket of insulation. Synthetic fleece is good, or Merino wool is great. If you choose fleece, look for garments with good loft that are still good at wicking moisture. Merino wool (and some more coarse kinds of wool) will accomplish the same level of warmth without as much loft. Though wool is not a great wicker, it will do a good job of keeping you warm even if it is damp.

Exterior Layer

For the next layer out, consider an insulated vest. Goose or Eider Down is fantastic because of its supreme lightweight, maximum insulation, and packability. However, synthetics run a very close race as they perform better than down when wet. Wet down is nearly useless and is a bugger to dry out.

Waterproofing Layer

An essential layering option to have any time you’re outdoors is a waterproof or windproof outer layer in case of rain, sleet, snow, wind, or any nasty combination thereof. It must be of materials and construction you can count on because when you need it, you’ll really need it! It will not only keep you comfortable, but might possibly be called on to keep you safe, or even alive. 

Again, this layer should let vapor out, but prevent water from coming in. To make it convenient to carry this critical layer with you on every outing, it should be light and packable. It should take up nearly no room in your pack. Except in the most extreme conditions, it’s not really necessary to worry about insulation in this outer layer because that’s what your carefully chosen underlayers are meant to do.

What to wear and what to pack

Put the vest and your waterproof layers in your day pack, then it will be there when you need it — and you’ll forget about it when you don’t, which is a nice way to go. Multiple light- to medium-weight layers of clothing allow you to quickly adapt what you’re wearing in the field to the conditions you’re facing minute by minute. 

“In the field” is so important because you can’t add or subtract layers you don’t have with you. So “layering” doesn’t only cover what you’re wearing when you set out into the woods. Of at least equal importance are the layers you carry with you to put on in the woods — if and when you need them.

What to do if everything gets wet

Should the worst happen, and you become soaked by falling in a river, staying active in non-stop precipitation, or falling through the ice, then your carefully selected layers will play another vital role. If you’re soaked through, away from a warm shelter you can reach quickly, the most important thing is to get a fire blazing. 

The next is to strip down to that base layer and stay as close to the fire as you can without burning yourself. Get warmed up, and dry the base layer. Then start drying out your other layers over the fire. Because you’ve chosen carefully, this won’t take as long as you might think. If this happened to you while you were only wearing one layer of absorbent clothing, you’d be standing there in your birthday suit for a long, long time.

Dry socks are a must!

If you find yourself out in the woods feeling damp and chilled from perspiration or precipitation, there’s one item of clothing you can easily carry in your pack that will instantly make you feel more comfortable. Cozy, dry wool socks! Always carry a spare pair with you in a Ziplock bag or vacuum-sealed. Even if your boots are wet, slipping your feet into warm, dry socks will make you feel better about your situation.

The amazing thing about dry socks is they’ll provide the same lift and feeling of comfort if your feet are soaked on a hot hiking day from exertion. Keep them in your daypack with your lunch for a middle-of-a-wet day (hot or cold) boost.

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The post A Beginner’s Guide to Layering Outdoor Clothes appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

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Tommy’s been a photographer since he was 12, and his expertise lies in fashion and editorial photography. As he captured photos of the filthy hikers around him, tired backpackers transformed into supermodels. They modeled their sleeping bags and their headlamps. They caressed their sporks, eyes full of smolder. He started putting the photos up on Instagram and called it “Hiker Trash Vogue.”

It blew up. People were drawn en masse to Tommy’s personal style as it integrated with this grand adventure on the PCT. Most hadn’t seen the reality of outdoor living framed in this way, full of beauty through grime. Tommy’s portraits are beautiful, yes, but they’re also a little playful. He transmits his own sarcasm and wit throughout.

The New Project

Four years later, in 2022, Tommy embarked on another thru-hike–the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) this time, perhaps an even more daunting task. As he hiked, though, something was nagging at him. A seed had been planted. He had an idea for a project.

The idea was this: A book of 100 photo essays capturing 100 people and the way they connect to the outdoors. It was born in part from the distinct lack of diversity on the PCT and the CDT, an urge to show the outdoors as it is—full of different folks engaging in a myriad of different ways.

The idea took root, and after 800 miles on the CDT, Tommy knew he had to leave so he could pursue the book. He knew he had to do it because it scared him. He was more scared of taking on this photo project than he was beginning either of his thru-hikes, because this project was bigger, more wrapped up in his real life. In the end, he found that the scariest option was not to try.

Intention

How do you represent a person in the way they want to be seen? For Tommy, the natural choice is to approach his work from a deeply personal place. There may be a book as a final product, but the more important result is the empathy and understanding between himself, his subjects, and his audience. Celebrating a person, any one of his 100 subjects, in the way they want to be celebrated, is no small thing.

Tommy notes that these days, at least in terms of outdoor brands and their advertising, there are plenty of attempts toward showcasing diversity, but there is also still a lot of disingenuous inclusion. A company, at the end of the day, is working to make money. They need to do things in a widely palatable way, and may even catch backlash from certain communities for being “too inclusive.” The result is often a performance.

Tommy nearly had funding for this project, but it didn’t come through, which caused his original publisher to pull out. It was like breaking an ankle at the beginning of the PCT, but it was also a blessing in disguise. He turned to his community, and was picked back up through a GoFundMe. Mountaineers Books scouted him and offered publishing. The project started off rocky and stressful, but he found himself able to operate independently. He found himself able to tell stories with “no holds barred,” he said. “Here’s the people, here’s their experiences, and we’re just gonna be upfront about these issues that we’re talking about.”

Finding the Subjects

On a flight from Denver to New York City, Tommy was talking about the project to two women he’d met. They told him about their friend Geoff, an avid outdoorsman who experienced a life-changing stroke. Geoff’s journey getting back outside led to him starting an adaptive wheelchair company called AdvenChair, selling and renting extremely capable wheelchairs that can help the disabled community get off the beaten path. Tommy called Geoff right when he got off the flight and found they were both living in Bend, Oregon at the time. He got to go and visit Geoff, meet his wife, and include him in the project.

Two of Tommy’s friends introduced him to Asante Sefa-Boakye, who promotes knowledge and love for aquatics through the sport of Water Polo. Asante played Water Polo for over 15 years, and was proud to found Ghana’s first team. He likens his connection with water to the feeling of home that he gets visiting Ghana, and his non-profit organization “Black Star Polo” is a living extension of his efforts. 

Besides these organic connections, Tommy put out a request on social media as well, asking his community to connect him with subjects—people with all sorts of intersecting identities who are engaging with the outdoors. This led, of course, to a huge number of candidates. Tommy held about 200 zoom interviews with strangers, often several a day. This gave him a chance to hear their stories and imagine how they’d fit into the book.

Meeting the Strangers

After deciding on his 100 subjects, Tommy had to approach the logistics of traveling around the country and meeting them all for their photoshoots. Crowdfunding continued to be present throughout this whole process, and he often found himself waiting for more support in order to go out and shoot the next leg.

Tommy meets his subjects where they are. He photographs them in the places they already recreate. Sometimes, they’ll spend a couple days camping together, shooting intermittently and hanging out in the meantime. One such person was Channing Cash. Channing grew up in Laos, and when she was three years old, she was run over by a bull on her family’s farm. Now, she has a built-out rig that allows her to camp by herself while living in a wheelchair. She has a whole system for getting out of her truck and into her wheelchair, then back into the rear of her truck to sleep. She’s made it very accessible, though that’s not to say it’s easy. 

He finds himself continually surprised by the way he’s able to connect with his subjects. “People are putting a lot of trust in me,” he said, “and not just having me stay at their house, but putting a lot of trust in me to take their photos, to tell their story, to make sure my intentions are right with what I’m doing.” 

The people he photographs manage to pull him back into presence when he gets wrapped up in the process. It’s as simple as Tommy planning to leave after a shoot, and one of his subjects saying, “So what are you doing after this? Want to hang out?” Kristen Wickert, a pathologist and Tommy’s long-time social media pal, is one example of a photo-shoot subject who became a fast real-life friend. After the shoot, the two grabbed dinner, saw a beaver, and hit a bar.

Getting the Shots

To get the shots he wants, Tommy must stay flexible. He may show up with a shot list, plans for certain props or certain scenery, but he needs to stay adaptive so he can focus on connecting with the person in front of him. Each one of his 100 people is so different, and vitally, they’re all outdoorsy, which means they might not be all that comfortable in front of a camera. 

To capture them beyond that initial discomfort, Tommy stays completely present with them. He watches how they move, the details of who they are. He takes a lot of joy in sending his photos back to his subjects, saying, “Look how cool you look; look how cool [that] we made this photo together.” He gets to show these folks how he sees them, as authentically themselves as possible.

When photographing Jordan Newton, a fellow thru-hiker and a paraglider, Tommy gave paragliding a shot. Despite being scared of heights, he challenged himself alongside Jordan. They spoke about Jordan’s journey leaving Mormonism, coming out as gay to his religious family, and how nature helped him find new community and new spirituality.

What’s Weird About You?

Some of the stories that Tommy is telling in this book are quite heavy, but he noted that the most difficult stories aren’t necessarily the photos that most stand out or vice-versa. The book will balance hardship and joy, challenges and their overcoming. He also remarked that while all of his subjects are engaging with the outdoors in some remarkable way, that isn’t necessarily their story as he sees it. He wants to talk about the weird part of them.

Take Jack Jones for example—or, as he’s known on trail, Quadzilla. Quadzilla completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown, hiking 7,400+ miles in a single year. This is an amazing feat, and Tommy will talk about it in the book, but that’s not his whole story. When Quadzilla was eight, he was adopted from China and came to the United States. As a child, he thought that his teachers, his principal, the adults in his life before his move were all the same people even after he was in America. Even though those people were Chinese and these new people were white, to survive the trauma of this move, his brain insisted there was a same-ness there.

When Tommy shared Quadzilla’s story on Instagram, there was a big response from fellow adoptees. People talked about their own experience with adoption, feeling a distinct loneliness, and connecting to the outdoors in order to find a sense of home.

This is the bigger meaning behind what we do outdoors. Quadzilla’s story means something to adoptees just as Channing’s story means something to the disabled community and to women who want to recreate solo in nature. Tommy’s work asks the question: What’s our bigger story, beyond just going outside?

Who Is Tommy?

Tommy’s forthcoming book of photo essays is a creative project that is also community-building. It’s not a one-man show, he emphasized, it’s a collaboration with each one of his 100 subjects. Hundreds of people have donated money, he’s driven across the country and then some, and the story of this book’s creation just keeps growing. 

There was a moment of fear, for Tommy, when he photographed his 50th person. He was scared, suddenly, that this would be taken from him. It’s become a part of his identity, a reflection of who he is. He’s most of the way done now, and he’s beginning to emotionally prepare for the end, when he doesn’t get to work on this anymore.

Tommy told me a bit of his own story. He was kind of effeminate when he was younger, closeted at the time, only hanging out with girls. Kids were mean as kids are apt to be. It was when he went out into the woods with his dad and his brothers—fishing, hiking, backpacking—that he felt safe. He could be himself and not think about it. 

That background is what inspired him to get into this work. “Everyone should be able to have those feelings in the outdoors,” he told me. “Everyone should be able to feel safe or feel like they can just be themselves, disabled or not, black or white, gay or straight, wherever, whoever you are, everyone should be able to access these places and not have to feel uncomfortable about it.”

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Just a small amount of these potent botanical ingredients should go a long way, so use sparingly when first experimenting with flowers. And, just as with edible insects, always be sure they’re pesticide- and contaminant-free, safe for consumption and appropriate for the plate, since some flowers are better enjoyed in a vase or left in the wild. 

Farmers’ markets, natural food stores, and kitchen gardens are great places to ensure you’re getting the right selections of edible flowers for mealtime. Ahead are seven flowers commonly used in cooking that will get your tastebuds primed for petals.

1. Nasturtiums

Typically blooming in late spring to early fall, nasturtiums are found in many regions of the country and are especially bright and fragrant. They have a slightly peppery flavor, making them an eye-appealing and delicious garnish for everything from salads to goat-cheese appetizers. The zestfulness of nasturtiums also makes a great pairing with sandwiches and pizza.

2. Calendula

Calendula, or marigold, is the culinary twin to nasturtium because they’re best enjoyed in warmer months. These orange- and gold-petaled flowers, often found in gardens, also offer a peppery kick akin to arugula. Sprinkle some on soups, rice, pasta salads, and other dishes for a bright burst of color and flavor.

3. Lavender

For an aromatic twist that’s naturally sweet, lavender is a great addition when used in very small amounts in baked treats like cookies, cakes, and scones. The floral flavor is also outstanding when infused with honey or added to teas, lemonades, and other drinks. Fans can easily grow the flower in gardens and enjoy it at its best during late spring to early summer.

4. Roses

The edible blooms of organically grown roses impart a delicate, sweet flavor to foods. Their perfumed flavor profile also makes a great addition to jams or desserts, such as rosewater-infused ice creams or candied rose petals.

5. Chive Blossoms

Chives belong to the onion family, so it’s little wonder these perennials’ vibrant purple blossoms, which appear in late spring and early summer, are ideal for jazzing up savory dishes, including soups, omelets, and even french fries. The flower’s flavor is milder than onion-y chives and won’t overpower plates.

6. Dandelions

While we think of dandelions as ubiquitous weeds, they’re rich in nutrients and have long been enjoyed as a source of food and even medicine around the world. The humble flowers, believe it or not, are a treasure trove of flavor — subtly sweet with a mild earthiness — and are best harvested young. When balanced properly, dandelion petals add a bit of bitter depth and complexity to dishes. Dried, they can be steeped to create teas with hints of grass and honey.

7. Hibiscus

Thirsty for a bright new libation? Ruby-red hibiscus petals are appealing to both the eye and palette when dried and infused into a simple syrup for use in margaritas and other cocktails. The flower imparts a versatile floral, citrusy note that has a slight hint of tartness, and it makes for a great pink-hued addition to non-alcoholic beverages, too, such as hot or iced teas and sparkling sodas.

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The longtime-running reality show Survivor revealed the newest contestants to participate in the upcoming 45th season. In late September, the show will premiere and 18 “castaways” will compete for the $1 million prize on a remote Fiji island. 

The new Survivor cast is a diverse group coming from all walks of life and a wide range of professions. There are a few lawyers, a truck driver, a singer, some grad students, salesmen, a school principal, and even a returning contestant.

Check out the entire Survivor season 45 cast below.

Julie Alley

Julie Alley, a 49-year-old estate attorney from Brentwood, Tennessee, described herself as a “divorced single mom” who “needed a hero so she became one.” 

While raising her kids and teaching art classes during the day, she attended law school at night and passed the bar on her first try. She’s been a practicing attorney for five years. 

She said she was inspired to compete in Survivor after watching Survivor Second Chance Cambodia. 

Nicholas “Sifu” Alsup

Nicholas “Sifu” Alsup, a 30-year-old gym owner from O’Fallon, Illinois, described himself as not just a small business owner but also a musician and entrepreneur. 

He explained growing up he got into tai chi and competed in martial arts competitions and is now a world champion at “push hands,” an event where you try to knock your opponent off balance without striking him or her. 

Alsup said he was adopted, so a couple of years ago he did an Ancestry DNA test and found an entirely new side of his family. On Survivor, he said: “I’m out here pushing myself to be the best me and do everything possible to get to that W-I-N.”

Drew Basile

Drew Basile, a 23-year-old grad student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, described himself as underestimated. “They look at me, they’re going to see Napoleon Dynamite, the Nutty Professor, they are going to see a guy that lives at the library,” he said. 

He’s a trivia national champion and competitive Scrabble player who was inspired by some of the “mathlete to millionaire” contestants who previously competed on Survivor. 

“I’m smart and I want people to know what my strengths are, because I want to telegraph that I am someone reliable that you can work with,” he said and added that he’s competing on Survivor to test himself and validate himself. 

Sabiyah Broderick 

Sabiyah Broderick, a 28-year-old truck driver from Jacksonville, North Carolina, described herself as “so happy” to be a contestant on Survivor. 

“I’m a little bit of everything. Truck driver, Marine, from the south. I’m the perfect hodgepodge where I can find something to connect to everyone that I talk to,” she said. 

Two years ago, she became a truck driver after leaving the Marine Corps. She thinks those experiences will give her an edge because she’s had to “sleep outside for weeks at a time” and maintain a high level of physical fitness. 

“Survivor takes it to a whole other level where it’s not only my body versus your body, but my mind versus your mind. It’s like the Olympics of everything,” she said.

Austin Li Coon

Austin Li Coon, a 26-year-old grad student from Chicago, Illinois, described himself as looking for his “Amber,” a Survivor winner who married another contestant. He called the show “the ultimate competition” and compared it to competing in volleyball in the Junior Olympics. 

With his muscles and long hair on display, he said his strategy for winning the show is to act as “Woo-ey” as possible, meaning as carefree and entertaining as the past contestant Yung Woo Hwang, but turn out to be like two-time Survivor champ Tony Vlachos. 

Brandon Donlon

Brandon Donlon, a 26-year-old content producer from Sicklerville, New Jersey, described himself as “not sure” how he’ll contribute to the tribe. “I hope I have something. Your guess is as good as mine,” he said and added that he’s not very outdoorsy but hopes competing will help reshape him into the person he wants to be. 

He said the hardest part of competing on the show will be controlling his anxiety. “My girlfriend supplied me with my strategy,” he said, describing it simply as “be yourself and make people laugh and you’ll be fine.”

Donlon said he had been sending in audition tapes for Survivor before he was even old enough to compete. “I made it my goal the last 15 years to get on this island,” he said. 

Sean Edwards

Sean Edwards, a 35-year-old elementary school principal from Provo-Orem, Utah, described himself as a “proud gay man” after trying to live a “faithful Mormon straight lifestyle.” 

“Being gay in a very conservative environment has taught me grit (and) mental tenacity,” he said. “Those are the attributes that you need to have on Survivor to be successful.”

Emily Flippen

Emily Flippen, a 28-year-old investment analyst from Laurel, Maryland, described herself as “really scared of bugs” and a person who sweats, gets sunburned easily, and hates the sand. “I could just keep going,” she said. 

She said her experience as an investment analyst has taught her how to separate her “short-term” emotions from her “long-term goals.” She added that people have told her that her personality is very similar to “Chaos” Kass McQuillen from Survivor seasons 21 and 28, who does inspire her. 

“I’m an outspoken, more aggressive female,” she said. “I get irritated when I’m surrounded by people who think that they’re better than me, but I’ll slowly chip away at people and they’ll start to see me for who I really am.”

During season 45, Flippen hopes to break her cycle of complacency and become a “more interesting, more lived person.”

Kaleb Gebrewold

Kaleb Gebrewold, a 29-year-old software salesman from Vancouver, described himself as a “black Huckleberry Finn. I’m always just kind of figuring it out.” 

In the past, he became a lifeguard without ever having swim lessons and started a painting business without ever having painted before. “I’ve never been qualified for anything anyway, so why wouldn’t I come here and win Survivor as well?” he asked. 

He said he wants to give off “golden retriever energy” so people don’t realize that “this dog was raised by wolves.” He added: “One of the things I love is great villains. I’m watching Batman and I’m rooting for the Joker.”

Janani Krishnan-Jha 

Janani Krishnan-Jha, a 24-year-old singer who goes by the stage name J. Maya from Los Angeles, described herself as someone who would “love to make some friends” on Survivor. 

She said a couple of years ago she took the biggest risk of her life when she decided to give up Harvard Law School for a chance to pursue her dream as an artist. 

“A lot of people call my music ‘nerd pop’ because I write about a lot of the stuff that I’m interested in like crossword puzzles, Greek mythology, [and] literature,” she said. 

Brandon “Brando” Meyer

Brandon “Brando” Meyer, a 23-year-old software developer from Seattle, Washington, described himself as a detail-oriented person who developed a love for the show after seeing Asian-Americans compete, but also the people who faced their fears. 

He said one of his goals appearing on Survivor is to “have that Survivor pizza. Detroit style in Detroit. New York style in New York. And of course Survivor pizza on Survivor.” 

Kendra McQuarrie

Kendra McQuarrie, a 31-year-old bartender from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, described her strategy for the show as “winging it.” 

“I’ve been working in the restaurant industry for 12 years,” she said. “I literally talk to people and make them think I like them and they give me their money and I don’t like them.” 

She added that her work experience and “big personality” prepared her for the show and that her social game was going to be “so good.” 

After traveling, living out of a van, backpacking multiple countries, and “chasing the next adventure,” competing on Survivor will be “another portal to follow my path and my inspiration.”

Kellie Nalbandian

Kellie Nalbandian, a 30-year-old critical care nurse from New York City, described herself as “adaptable, rational, and emotionally intelligent under tons of stress and chaos.” 

“People want to underestimate nurses and think that we’re just wiping butts. Fine, but that’s to their peril and I’m hoping to exploit that,” she said. 

She added that she hopes to become the first lesbian to win the show. “I absolutely intend to be the first,” she said. 

Jake O’Kane

Jake O’Kane, a 26-year-old attorney from Boston, Massachusetts, described himself as having that “notorious Irish whisper.” He explained that he’s not only a lawyer but also a bartender and teacher. “I don’t entrench myself entirely in one world,” he said. 

“Survivor is a lifelong dream of mine,” he said. “It’s something that I wouldn’t have always been able to do, but now, over the past couple of years, I’ve worked on myself really hard becoming healthier and really taking care of myself, and I’m at the best point in my life to play this game.”

Bruce Perreault

Bruce Perreault, a 47-year-old insurance agent from West Warwick, Rhode Island, described himself as “back.” He’s a former Survivor season 44 contestant who lost after 12 minutes of air time because of a head injury. 

“For the 12 hours that I was there, I was the father figure. I need to not be ‘dad,’” he said. “Dad’s the one who puts down the rules and all that other stuff. Your uncle is who you go talk to when you want to have a conversation about how dumb your dad is being.” 

Perreault said he won’t let his past or fear dictate his performance on the show. 

Hannah Rose

Hannah Rose, a 33-year-old therapist from Baltimore City, Maryland, described herself as someone who “may or may not be platonically in love with” the show’s host, Jeff Probst. 

She explained that ever since she started watching Survivor she’s been fascinated with it from a psychological standpoint. 

“I don’t want to play like the last two therapists on the show . . . I don’t want to underestimate any of the people around me just because I got my master’s in counseling.” 

She said her experience getting sober has helped prepare her for the show. “It’s just the tools for how to deal with life,” she said. “Let go of the things out of my control but absolutely control the things that are.” 

Katurah Topps

Katurah Topps, a 35-year-old civil rights attorney from Brooklyn, New York, described her loyalty as “unrelenting” and “illogical.” 

She explained that her work at the top civil rights law firm in the country has taken up so much of her life that she really hasn’t had much time for an adventure. “And that’s what led me to Survivor,” she said. 

As a black, queer woman, she said she always has to adapt and survive in different situations and social settings. “I was watching Survivor and realizing, ‘I could do that on the show,’” she said. 

She called her appearance a chance to “do something for myself and just really show myself what I’m made of.” 

Dee Valladares

Dee Valladares, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Miami, described herself as someone who thrives in the unknown. “I’ve always been someone who signs up for things that scare me,” she said.  

As an immigrant who was born in Cuba, she said, “I have grit. I started working at like 14 and I’ve been hustling my entire life.” In 2019, she started a backpack business that’s been going strong ever since. 

“I want to be a Latina female winner on Survivor,” she said. 

The 90-minute premiere of season 45 of Survivor will air Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, on CBS.  

The post Meet the Cast on ‘Survivor’ Season 45 appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

We caught up with the world champion for a Q&A, and here’s what she had to say.

Outdoors.com: Why do you love surfing?

Caroline Marks: No one can tell you what to do on the wave, and you just have this open canvas to do whatever you want. And everyone’s got such a unique style and such a unique way to approach the wave, and I think that’s what’s so special about surfing, you can just do whatever you want. It’s such a free feeling, and there’s just nothing like it. I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s just such a beautiful feeling to ride a wave and ride it until it stops, breaking into oblivion. It’s pretty cool.

Outdoors.com: Tell me about your outlook on life.

Caroline Marks: Look, I’m still trying to figure out life. I’m 21, and I think I’m still learning every day. I forever will be. The thing I try to do every day is just have a positive outlook on life and surround myself with good people, and I think that is really important. I just try to look through everything with a good lens, and I think that’s definitely a better way than looking at it through a negative lens. So, I just try to look at everything in a positive way. I also believe things do happen for a reason, so be a good person, be honest, all that good stuff.

Outdoors.com: What are three things about you that would surprise us?

Caroline Marks: I used to be a horseback rider. I feel like a lot of people don’t know that. I’m one of six. So, I’ve got a big family. And I was born on Valentine’s Day.

Outdoors.com: What is your most memorable competition and why?

Caroline Marks: Wow. I feel like I have a couple of different ones. My first-ever contest was really special. It was in this wave I grew up surfing called Melbourne Beach, and it was put on by my neighbor. It was an open division, so I surfed against boys and girls. Just surfing against my brothers, I remember that being such a cool feeling. I was like, wow, this is my first contest, and I surf out here every day but now if you make the final you get a trophy, and I thought that was so cool. Another one that really sticks out was the Gold Coast in 2019. My first CT [Championship Tour] win and the first event with equal pay, which was really special. So those two events really stick out to me.

Outdoors.com: What is your greatest fear?

Caroline Marks: My greatest fear is probably losing somebody I love.

Outdoors.com: What things do you think contributed to you becoming an Olympian in 2020?

Caroline Marks: I think, obviously, a lot of hard work, the right people around me, and just my love for surfing is a huge one. And just tons of hours in the water. Also my family. They’ve been just my rock. I was pretty young when I made the Olympics, so I think just having their support, being super young on tour, it was just so helpful. So yeah, my family, a lot of hard work, and my love for surfing got me there.

Outdoors.com: What trait do you most love in yourself?

Caroline Marks: I think I’m pretty funny. I don’t know if a lot of people really know that, just my inner circle, kind of, but I do think I’m pretty funny. I keep things pretty light-hearted, which I’m sure people like, hopefully.

Outdoors.com: Who is your biggest rival and why? 

Caroline Marks: I just feel like there’s a bunch of new girls on tour, and I think we’ll probably all be battling for a long time and that’s really fun. When I first qualified on the tour, the age gap between me and the next person was pretty significant, so I think now it’s really cool to have girls that are younger than me and girls that are my age. We still have Carissa, Stephanie, and Tyler who have been dominating for so long, so I feel like within the next few years there’s gonna be some really good battles between me, the younger girls, and the girls my age. I think it’s gonna be really fun.

Outdoors.com: What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?

Caroline Marks: There’s been some cruel things out there, that’s for sure. I honestly don’t really read the comments that much anymore. I think that was a big mistake I made in my first couple of years on tour. I would read everything, and I am a people pleaser. I do care about what people think, so I’ve just learned it’s pretty impossible to please everybody and that’s okay. And there’s gonna be some keyboard warriors out there that don’t say the nicest thing about you, but I feel like when people say mean things it’s most likely their own insecurity, and you just have to remember that. No matter how strong-minded you are, it definitely affects you. It definitely affects me, so I don’t really read the comments that much anymore.

Outdoors.com: What is your craziest surfing story?

Caroline Marks: I’ve definitely had some shark encounters in Florida. Growing up in Florida, I think it’s one of the shark-bite capitals of the world. I remember I was surfing in this local event, and two people got bit by a shark, and they continued to run the event. That’s just Florida for you. There are just a lot of sharks. They’re not the biggest, but they bite a lot, so that’s a pretty crazy surfing story. The bites weren’t too bad, but still, that’s pretty gnarly.

Outdoors.com: What advice would you give someone trying to improve their surfing?

Caroline Marks: I’d say spend a lot of time in the water. Obviously, in surfing there’s never the same wave, and it’s just a constantly moving environment. Sometimes, it can be a little discouraging if the waves are bad or it’s crowded and you don’t get many waves that session. All of that’s gonna happen. I think just spending more and more time in the water and just being consistent is key. And just having a love for it, I think, is the most important thing. If you love it, you just kind of keep going, no matter how bad of a session you had.

Outdoors.com: What is the most important piece of advice you give to young girls like those in Rising Tides?

Caroline Marks: It’s been really cool to have Rising Tides at every different event this year. It’s been really special. You see new faces, you see familiar faces, and a lot of the girls are ripping. It’s crazy. I’m like, dang you guys don’t need our help. I tell younger girls the reason why I’m continuing to surf is because I just love it, so do what you love, do what makes you happy. Go grab a buddy, go grab a friend. To me, surfing with my brothers is the most special thing ever. It’s the people you love, and you’re doing what you love. So, find what you love and dream big, because it’s pretty amazing when you put your mind to it, what you can accomplish.

Outdoors.com: What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Caroline Marks: I mean, there are things that I’m learning every day. I’m still 21. I definitely do not have it figured out at all. I do think, especially growing up, always competing my whole life, whether it’s in horseback riding or now surfing, I always was basing my happiness off results, and I think you can’t do that. You have to realize there’s more to life than just that and enjoy the people around you. Don’t let results define your happiness. Obviously, when you win, it’s the best feeling ever, but don’t let that define your happiness. And also, good things come to good people, so just be a good person, be honest, and be nice to everyone. People remember how you make them feel, so I think that’s been a really important thing. No matter how cool you are or what you’ve accomplished, people are going to remember how you make them feel. Be you, because no one’s you. That’s what’s really cool, there’s only one of you, so just be yourself.

Outdoors.com: Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Caroline Marks: Billie Eilish, for sure. I would love to have dinner with Billie Eilish and just pick her brain. She’s super inspiring to me, and I think it’s really cool how she’s done a lot of work with her brother, because I’m really close to my brothers. I got into surfing because of my brothers. She seems like a legend.

Outdoors.com: Who inspires you and why?

Caroline Marks: I feel like my family has just been so inspirational to me. Everyone’s just got such a great work ethic and a good outlook on life, and we all really support one another. But we also want to be better than one another. It’s pretty cool. It’s a little competitive, but we also really want to see everyone in our family doing really well. I feel like my whole family is just inspiring. My parents and how they brought us up and the lifestyle they gave us is just so rad. 

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So when my friends decided we should all pencil dive from the Phelps Lake Jumping Rock in Grand Teton National Park, I was terrified. After getting past an almost-paralyzing fear, I finally sprang off the boulder and into the cool water. When my feet touched land again, I was more relieved it was over than amped up with excitement.

I’m glad I can check this one off my bucket list and never leap from 30 feet up ever again. But some people live for the rush and seek such thrills out every chance they get. 

Here’s why.

Science Behind Thrill-Seeking

You might think of your friends who would jump at the chance to skydive as fearless and those who wouldn’t dream of cliff diving as less than adventurous — they choose to live two different types of lives.

But there may be something physiologically different between people who crave the rush dangerous outdoor activities bring and those who’d rather remain comfortably safe inside. And it all comes down to dopamine.

This neurotransmitter known as the “happy hormone” is released when you experience something you find pleasurable, from chowing down on junk food to taking part in your favorite outdoor activity. As a result, you feel good and continue to crave the experience that gives you that incredible feeling.

Dr. Ken Carter, professor of psychology at Oxford College of Emory University and author of Buzz! Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies, says people who pursue extreme thrills create more dopamine than those who would experience a stress response in the same situations.

“You’re probably familiar with the fight-or-flight response. Cortisol is one of the hormones responsible for getting us ready to fight, flee, or freeze in those situations,” Carter told NPR.  “What we find is that high-sensation seekers — they don’t produce that much cortisol in those situations. What they produce more of is dopamine, the neurotransmitter that’s associated with pleasure.”

One study involving individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease noted that a medication that treated some of their symptoms also stimulated their dopamine receptors. New high-risk behaviors and impulse-control disorders were 2.5 times as common in patients taking the drug, due to its effect on dopamine.

Another study found that the presence of a particular dopamine receptor gene variant makes certain people have an even greater response and become more likely to chase after the thrill that comes with dangerous activities. So while backcountry skiing might seem too scary to some, it can become an addicting thrill to others who possess this variant. 

For many daredevils, it’s about a combination of novelty and risk. Something new with uncertain outcomes offers the potential for an incredible reward — the thrill of making it through in one piece. Depending on the individual and the activity, the risk versus reward ratio can be the deciding factor in participating or passing.

However, it’s not that the people who willfully risk their lives for a dopamine response are completely fearless — they’re usually afraid but do the thing anyway. And this behavior often trickles down into other areas of life.

“What some high sensation-seeking individuals realize is that they often push through those fears because the reward on the other side is worth more than the avoidance of the fears.” Carter said in an interview with WABE Atlanta. “So being fearless and jumping out of a plane can also mean that you’re fearless in sticking up for someone or you’re fearless when it’s time to do a presentation. So I think that confidence can sometimes carry over to other kinds of situations as well.”

Plenty of women demonstrate this confidence doing dangerous things, but have you ever noticed more men jumping from planes and snowboarding extreme runs? A study from Rutgers University found that when under stress, men took risks while women took the conservative route. So, when under pressure, men are more likely to take the treacherous path with the greatest possibility of thrill — women will usually stick to the safer choice.

Dr. Carter says that although high sensation-seeking or risk-taking behavior can “exacerbate certain situations,” it’s not the sign of a psychological disorder. In fact, it could help your overall well-being.

“Some research indicates that people who are high sensation-seeking have lower levels of stress and anxiety, that there’s a protective factor for them,” he told Emory University. “High sensation-seeking people can more easily roll with the punches, so there are some great aspects of it.”

Most Exhilarating Exploits

While any dangerous behavior can get the dopamine going for daredevils, not all high-stakes activities offer the same level of thrill. Rock climbing with ropes provides some excitement, but the relatively high probability of survival might make this choice too safe to give true adrenaline junkies that dopamine release.

It will depend on the risk analysis of the particular person, but some of the most satisfying exploits for thrill seekers include the most dangerous activities in the world: heli-skiing, BASE jumping, cave diving, wingsuit flying, and big wave surfing. Sports where there’s no literal or figurative “safety net” provide the most intense rush.

If you’re an avid adventurer who’s always on the search for the next thrill, you’re probably blessed with the biology to relish in these experiences. Enjoy it — those of us who don’t generate the same level of happy hormone will be cheering you on from the safety of our seat belts and dry land.

The post Inside the Minds of Thrill Seekers: Why Participate in Dangerous Outdoor Sports? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

In a social media post, Olympic officials say several portable toilets along Hurricane Ridge Road were flipped between the evening of Sept. 3 and the morning of Sept. 4. Two were pushed over an embankment. A nearby restroom at Picnic Area A was also damaged.

Earlier this year, a fire destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. The lack of facilities has resulted in controlling crowds in the area. Once a certain number of vehicle enters, the roadway closes. The toilets are in place for visitors in the meantime. Fewer toilets available means fewer visitors will be allowed in the area. 

Park rangers say the company supplying the toilets was able to bring new ones. However, retrieving the two that were pushed down an embankment will take time. The toilets now rest on a slope hundreds of feet down.

Olympic National Park says anyone with information about the vandalism should call 360-565-3115.

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