There’s nothing more satisfying than watching someone who’s never been on a mountain bike before start to experience the joy of riding.

There’s always a moment at the beginning of something like this—when everyone is standing around, gear half on, half off, not quite sure what the next few days will hold. A mix of nerves, excitement, and that quiet question in the back of your mind: am I ready for this? VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival 2026 started there. New and familiar faces, people arriving from different places and different points in their backcountry journeys—but all showing up for the same reaso

Somewhere between packing snacks, triple-checking your gear, and booting up in the cold at the trailhead, trip planning can start to feel optional. We’ve all been there. You meant to read the forecast more closely. You assumed everyone had the same goals. You figured you’d “talk it through in the parking lot.” Life is full — and when time gets tight, it’s tempting to cut corners. In the backcountry, those corners matter. Most incidents aren’t caused by one bad decision. They’

If you’ve ever wondered why I keep coming back to Silverton Mountain’s Women’s Big Mountain Weekend and Sisters in the Steeps, it’s simple: the stoke is unmatched. Every year, I get to ride with an incredible crew of women — and sometimes even pros like the Moonrise Create team, Sierra Schlag, Hana Beaman, and more. There’s nothing like dropping into the San Juans with a crew of badass women, laughing the whole way down, and pushing yourself on terrain you won’t find anywhere

I still enjoy my solo resort tours. But if VNTRbirds is hosting a group ride, I’m there—and highly recommend you check them out too! Skiing under the glow of a full moon with friends is an experience that you’ll never forget. 

Introducing VNTRbirds’ AIARE Course Leader, Mentor, and Backcountry Educator - Janine Prout

This mentorship scholarship opened my eyes to the vast perspectives of what a community can bring to you and the importance of preserving  those spaces. One of the coolest things I was able to experience was the unity of unique, badass women who were brave enough to be curious.

I could live out my life riding flow trails all day, but sometimes, you have to work on the hard stuff so you can get down the tricky sections. When I saw the VNTRbirds Steep + Tech clinic at Keystone, geared specifically toward intermediate and advanced riders, I knew I needed to sign up.