Click on the image to see it bigger!

I’m kind of shy when it comes to having my picture taken but when Scott came in and we began discussing plans for future projects, his current subject matter and his visions for his works, I instantly got in the mood to show how Ryan and I are building this boat together.

This panorama expresses our days in the shop so truly, so simply and thoroughly, I love every aspect of it. Thanks for stopping by Scott! I can’t wait to explore the world this here canoe opens up through your lens.

It was an overcast day that was promising snow, but it was our last day in the Rockies and I wanted to check out a new place. I bought an excellent book, Snowshoeing Colorado, that is packed full of trail information, maps and tips that helped me decide on a perfect trail for us – something moderately easy with great views and a bit of history. We drove from Frisco to Breckenridge and through town up French Gulch Road until our rental car almost couldn’t take the snow-packed roads anymore.

We strapped on our gaiters and snowshoes and trekked almost two miles up an old mining road to see Sallie Barber Mine, perched atop a Barney Ford Hill. Sallie Barber is a mystery woman. Why anyone would name a mine after an unidentified woman? There are other mines with maudlin names like Romance and Purgatory – an ode to the possibilities that lie beneath? Great hopes for a better future or dreams of times past? The Sallie Barber mine is a ruin of a small zinc and silver mine that began production back in 1880 and ran steadily, although always losing money, up until the first world war.

I got right up to her and peered down into the 360 foot main shaft, unobstructed as far as the eye could see.

Along with an incredibly intact mine structure we discovered not one but two (two!) car wrecks below the mine tailings. We bounded down the steep snow-covered tallus and found a way in to the first car. I was impressed by how complete and untouched the frame was, and how beautiful the rust and paint had created a mosslike patina over the years. It was eerie and exciting at the same time, and the clouds began to roll in thickly.

We tromped back up to the top of the hill for a chilly picnic before heading down the trail. I’d packed the new Backpacker’s Pantry Cold Couscous Salad and Creme Brulée for lunch and, starving from our big uphill trek, I was ready to prep them on that blustery ridge for the first time.

Because we were at 10,000 feet, I added water to the couscous pack before we got on the trail, to give it enough time to rehydrate. The instructions were very clear that with every 5000 foot elevation gain, the meal would require more rehydration time. I felt extra-prepared and confident that this lunch would be sufficient fuel (and fun) for our outing. Let me just say that this couscous is some of the best I’ve ever had, and I can’t make it taste this good. There’s a packet of olive oil that you add to the salad at the end, and whole garbanzos, and bell peppers and broccoli! This salad is mega-fresh and really satisfying to eat. It was actually easier to add water and mix before getting on the trail, and just enjoy it when we were ready. And after this trip Ryan made it again for camping dinner and we used the leftovers for breakfast, heated on the stove with fried eggs. DELISH.

The Creme Brulée wasn’t short of amazing. Imagine a creamy cheesecake topped with toasted sugar crystals sticking to your cold spoon as you try to scrape the last bits out of the resealable bag and not being able to get enough…This stuff is pure heaven. The pack serves two but was almost too much for the two of us after couscous and some fruit, but I was happy to have something deliciously sweet to finish our picnic. Creme Brulée is becoming a permanent staple on my list for backpacking supplies. And did I mention it only took a few minutes of whisking to make? Can’t beat that.

Totally stuffed, I strapped my snowshoes back on as the wind picked up and the snow began to drift heavily onto us.

On our way back into town we spotted another abandoned mine and couldn’t resist taking a closer look. The construction of the ore slue(?) was beautiful and super strong, even after so many years. I’m always delighted by the brilliant colors of the earth and rocks around mines as well, although dismayed too, because it’s often a sign of heavy metals that have been unearthed and are leeching into the creeks and rivers, possibly disrupting entire ecosystems. I love visiting Colorado mines – they’re always a reminder of how we have a lasting impact on the earth around us, and make great teaching tools.

I miss the snow! It’s already nearly summer here in Austin and I can’t wait to plan my next snowshoeing adventure. I’d love to strap on a big backpack next year and do a multi-day snowshoeing trek through the backcountry in Summit County, sleeping in cabins or making ice caves along the way. And I’ll definitely pack some more Creme Bruleé to fuel me up along the way!

Many thanks to Backpackers Pantry for sending Liberty+Lunch samples of their new dishes, Cold Couscous Salad, Cuban Coconut Black Beans & Rice and Creme Brulée! We weren’t paid to share these opinions – they are 100% our own. We had a great time sampling and recommend these BP dishes to anyone who’s interested in mixing up their trail and camp cuisine.

So what’s changed? Nothing really.

Work is still crazy, with projects that are taking up more of my brain and my time than I expect. I was recently promoted to Senior, which I’ve been actively working on for the last year, and it feels really really good. I have more responsibilities, more people looking at me for guidance and great design work, and (as I like to see it) the title behind me to raise hell like I’ve always wanted to.

I spent March travelling around the world for work. I spent a week in London, a week in Mumbai and flew through Seoul for a week in Los Angeles. It was quite the cultural rollercoaster. I’ve been so slammed I haven’t had an opportunity to sit down with my photos and process anything, but I’m hoping I can do that and share some of my favorite bits very, very soon.

The canoe is still being built, slowly, although after a year and a half, we’re finally nearing the end of production. Ryan has been posting lots of pictures of our process on Instagram. I can’t wait to share where we are and what are plans are for launch and our first ride in her!

The biggest struggle I face in writing these days is actually just the sheer amount of time I’ve been spending in front of the computer. My eyes and back are aching and the last thing I want to do at night is sit on the couch with my laptop. Figuring out another option, another way of doing this, might be in order. There are many other little bits in the works that I wish I could write about all at once, and get everything in my head out, but alas it will have to wait. Soon! I promise.

Loveland is unique in its vast sheer open spaces above tree-line. Riding up the highest lift in the states, I always feel full of awe and anticipation for imminent skiing. This is my favorite place. There’s just so much room to shred. When I’m here I feel so present as my self. I’ve been coming here for years and each return trip is like a visit to an old friend’s house. I feel at ease, comfortable, elated even. Sharing this place and the elation I experience being here is important – in coming here with friends and family I feel I’m sharing a piece of myself, a core piece of who I am and what I value. At the risk of everyone finding out about this special place I have to share it! Skiing at Loveland is like no other place – there aren’t crowds like you see at other, bigger resorts. There’s not a huge infrastructure that supports too-expensive lift tickets. There aren’t massive lines for everything. It’s just good, simple, high altitude snow jams.

After a great day at Loveland Ryan and I met up with my Dad, his wife Shawn and her daughter Lucy, for a beer and a drive up to Loveland Pass to the Continental Divide. We watched the sun set over the place that determines which on which coast our rivers drain.

We ventured out to Copper Mountain to explore the back bowls that were closed most of the season. It was unexpected to see members of the ski patrol high up testing for avalanches in advance of a coming storm, and hear the blasts from their preventative cannons as we scooted down double black diamond runs. Ryan caught tons of air like a total pro while I attempted to catch it in photograph. It was a beautiful, perfect day.

The best secret picnic spot is hidden deep on the bowl side of Copper. We unpacked our backpacks and had lunch with the camp robbers – fluffy grey birds that live in the big pines even in the dead of winter.

Short though it was, this trip up to Colorado was much-needed for me. The feelings I get when I get close to home are enriching beyond explanation. I didn’t feel that way when I was younger, but as I continue dictating for myself how I spend time and money I see I’m drawn to these places like I never was before. Nourishment for my body is found in the physicality of skiing while my heart fills with joy being in and around the mountains. When I’m up high I’m inspired with new ideas. I have a sense of clarity and purpose. I know exactly what I have to do. This is happiness.

I’m travelling with frog, my company, on a design research trip in which we’re going to be talking to a lot of people and following them around and I can’t say much about it except that I am SO FREAKING STOKED. I’m most excited to experience west Indian city culture for the first time, and share pictures of the things I see and experience along the way!

Have you spent much time in London or Mumbai? Have any incredible places you’d recommend I eat, see, or explore? I’d love to get your advice!

The big news we have to share is Muddy Water Shop’s new location! At the end of December we moved out of Hackberry House, where building began, and relocated to a Co-Op at Delta Millworks in east Austin.

I’m so excited to share my favorite photos of our work and our move! I can never remember to take pictures with my “real” camera so here’s a mashup of both things I’ve shared on instagram and never before seen photos! In other social media news, Muddy Water Shop is now on Twitter!

Follow our adventures on Twitter and Instagram.

Let’s see, where did we leave off? We finished planking the hull in October, which was a huge accomplishment and we both let out a big sigh of relief. The hull was such an intensive process that I hadn’t paid much attention to what came after planking, so it was a bit of a shock to realize that even after all that work we were only a third to halfway done with the boat.

The hull is made up of many flat strips of cedar, glued together and bent over a mold. So even though it appears round from a distance, the hull is actually a bunch of flat wooden faces that need to be shaped down into a smooth, hydrodynamic hull. We spent a few weekends shaping the hull with a block plane and spokeshave before sanding it with 80 and 120 grit sandpaper. Finally, after hours and hours, the outside hull would be ready to fiberglass.

Fiberglassing is an intense process that, once begun, must be completed in one eight to fifteen hour session. After a few weeks of procrastinating and schedule conflicts we finally set a date. Fiberglassing with epoxy-resin is complex for several reasons – the temperature must be a steady 70° and humidity must be low. Three coats of epoxy-resin are applied to the fiberglass cloth and must be done in timed succession to ensure even curing and a strong, chemical bond between the fiberglass, wood, and epoxy-resin.

After two coats of epoxy-resin the weave of the fiberglass begins to disappear and the hull becomes brilliantly shiny.

For the first time since beginning the project in February 2012, we were finally ready to turn the canoe right-side-up and see its form the way it will float through the water.

Work on the outside of the hull was finished for the time being so we shifted our focus to shaping the inside of the canoe. Beginning with a scraper we slowly rounded out the inside faces of the cedar planks to make a super-smooth curve along the 17 foot length of the canoe. The scraper was the hardest tool to learn for me – it required lots of force and had a close angled blade to pull the long ribbons of cedar from the planks. Ryan did an incredible job scraping the inside of the hull and most of the progress here was thanks to him. We glued strips of sandpaper to round soda bottles and sanded the bilge smooth with 80 and 120 grit paper (again) then used blocks to smooth the flatter areas of the ill along the keel and sheer lines. Near the end of December the shaping of the inside hull was complete.

Our goal was to get as far as possible in our progress by the end of December because we knew that we would need to find a new shop. With just a few days to spare on the end of our lease I spotted a Craigslist ad for an east Austin wood co-op and we realized we’d really have to move. We packed up the original Muddy Water Shop and on December 31st we said goodbye.

So January began in a completely new space, now that we’d share with lots of tools and a few new people. It was an emotional transition – I didn’t expect to feel so displaced and vulnerable – but once we unpacked and settled in I began to feel that the new shop could have a lot of potential.

New Year, New Muddy Water Shop…!

We got right back into build mode, prepping the inside of the hull for fiberglassing. We took a whole weekend this time, starting at a leisurely noon time and finishing around eight in the evening. The inside of the hull only required two coats of epoxy-resin to lend a less slippery texture to where we will sit and stand. Repeating the process a second time was less stressful than the first and was even fun. The biggest challenge with fiberglassing the inside of the hull are the bubbles that form under the cloth and the pools of excess epoxy that float down into the hard-to-reach places near the stems.

We got right back into build mode, prepping the inside of the hull for fiberglassing. We took a whole weekend this time, starting at a leisurely noon time and finishing around eight in the evening. The inside of the hull only required two coats of epoxy-resin to lend a less slippery texture to where we will sit and stand. Repeating the process a second time was less stressful than the first and was even fun. The biggest challenge with fiberglassing the inside of the hull are the bubbles that form under the cloth and the pools of excess epoxy that float down into the hard-to-reach places near the stems.

Turning the canoe back over, I spent a morning scraping runs in the epoxy out with a cabinet scraper. A thin block of stamped steel, cabinet scrapers are one of the cheapest but most valuable tools in the box. With a sharpened edge you can scrape away the smallest bits of excess without difficulty.

The last step in finishing the hull before adding trim was to sand the epoxy down to a perfectly smooth and uniform finish. The shiny epoxy instantly tuned opaque and bright white, so we temporarily named her the Ghost Boat. The Freedom Canoe is now ready for the final touches: gunnels, decks, seats, and several healthy coats of varnish.

I’ve been doing more camping and I’m finally in the market for new pots and pans. I’m planning a few longer backpacking trips, so I need something compact and lightweight that I can use to cook for myself, but I like the pots that you use. Can you recommend something similar that would work for me?

So you’re tired of using the sticky aluminum camping pots and pans that you bought for pennies at that yard sale years ago? Ready for something that makes cooking a camp dinner predictable, easy to clean up and compact to pack? I got lucky and was gifted a set of titanium cookware a few years ago and it changed the way I looked at preparing meals in camp. I’ve used my pots nonstop ever since and had many opportunities to compare them with the gear my friends use and love, so now I’m back to share my recommendations for the best camp cookware available.

GSI Pinnacle Dualist Ultralight Cookset
Pros: Entirely stackable with room to add additional accessories. Pot lids are different than most competitors: they’re plastic and lightweight and have tabs on top for easy removal (no handles or potholders needed). Vents on the lids let out enough steam to keep the lids from bouncing or making noise. Cons: Heavier duty pots than some competitors.

Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset
Pros: Pltralightweight titanium packs into a mesh stuffsack so it can be dip-rinsed in a creek or packed up to dry while on the move. Cons: the titanium discolors after being heated, leaving a permanent “stain” that some people think makes the pots look dirty. Smaller than you might think – really only serves one person.

REI Campware Backpacker Cookset – Medium
Pros: lightweight, easy to clean and totally nonstick. Cons: Silicone-coated handles sometimes get slippery, making it tough to get a strong grip on a heavy pot. Note: I wanted to include the exact pots I use but it appears they’ve been discontinued…but you can still find them here.

Camp cooking is one of those things that seems to be shrouded in mystery. I always get incredulous looks when I talk about how much I love to cook outdoors, and questions like, “isn’t it hard?” and “isn’t it dirty?” but having a nice set of pots makes cooking – even several dishes, even at night and in the freezing cold – rather enjoyable. But in addition to having good tools (and taking proper care of them), it’s just as important to plan what you want to eat ahead of time and even prepare what food you can before you’re out in the field, which makes for minimal work. Taking care of your gear means being prepared with everything you need to clean up too – biodegradable soap, a small sponge, a few paper towels or a bandana, a miniature spatuala and a few trash bags are all things I pack in my cooking gear to help me do a good clean up job.

Get cookin!

You just read another piece of the ongoing segment at Liberty+Lunch: Advice! In this column we will attempt to answer your questions about all sorts of adventure and food related topics. If you have a question that you’d like to see answered by the opinionated folks behind L+L, shoot us a quick email on the Contact page.

Cold Weather Camp Chili

Serves 6-8

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 serrano pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons ground, toasted cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pound roasted turkey breast, separated into bite-sized pieces
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1 can drained cannellini beans
• 1 can drained white hominy
• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon parsley, minced, for garnish

In a 12 quart dutch oven combine the olive oil and onions and place over hot coals, stirring until the onions become translucent, then add all of the other ingredients. Check the placement of the dutch oven on the coals to make sure it’s being evenly heated, then stir the chili every few minutes to keep the ingredients from sticking to the pot. Allow to cook for 30 minutes to an hour, to your desired thickness, then add parsley at the end for kick of bright color and flavor. This recipe was adapted from here.

I love camping in the cold – warming up by the fire and snuggling deep into my sleeping bag. If you’re even in Arkansas I’d recommend camping in most any of the southwestern campsites all year-long. We were next to a quiet lake and even in the dead of winter the birds were everywhere and so were plenty of fun hiking trails.

So to call in the new year, to do a late (ha! late by blogging standards I suppose, and nothing more) “Year in Review” post, and to announce that Liberty + Lunch is now officially one year old (!), here are my favorite moments from the past 12 months. Looking back I feel that each of these experiences has been auspicious and central to my efforts to build a life that I love, and I’m so inspired to push myself further, to share better stories, to live my dreams with my family and friends, and to appreciate the ever expanding world around me. Cheers to the new year!

JANUARY

In January I spent a good chunk of time in Colorado, skiing, eating, and coagulating my thoughts about creating a new blog – one that would push me to grow and share my ideas in a more cohesive and refined format. I wrote about what liberty means to me from the perspective of my first experience ice climbing, I looked back on where I’d gone in the last year and reflected on my favorite new foods. On January 4 Liberty + Lunch was launched in a frenzy of hopes and dreams.

FEBRUARY

Muddy Water Shop began in earnest in February as Ryan and I began planning how to build our first cedar-strip canoe. We moved into the space, studied blueprints and plans, and began ordering the supplies to construct a 17-foot-long canoe called Freedom – a project that has been much larger than we ever anticipated. How far we have come!

MARCH

Exploring Austin became part of my routine in the spring of 2012. Every weekend I’d find myself running the Greenbelt Trail or heading off to Bastrop to see the loblolly pines. My favorite part of March, however, was discovering the magical Jacob’s Well. It took me a long time to work up the courage to jump off that rock and since I did I’ve been itching to do it again every time the weather warms up.

APRIL

The wildflowers and cacti in Texas take off with the spring rains, and April is perfect camping weather. Ryan and I loaded up the motorcycle for picnics in the country and our first trip to Enchanted Rock. Discovering the subtle and often hidden beauty of this state is something that I’m becoming passionate about.

MAY

In May I traveled a lot for work and even though the weather was heating up, I found a passion for trail running. Austin is is a city surrounded with beautiful natural creeks and forests and parks. In the spring I explored many of the wonderful trails in the area.

JUNE

Travelling to Costa Rica for 10 days with Ryan and meeting up with my Dad and his family was, well, the top adventure of 2012. We rented a 4×4 and hiked through the jungle, up volcanoes, in the rainforest and above in the cloud forest. We camped on the beach, surfed, galloped our horses through rustic farmland and ate the best food our spanish could ask for. I hope to return with more time for lounging!

JULY

I achieved a longstanding goal in July when I summited Longs Peak (elevation 14,259ft) on my first attempt. This was the the most difficult hike I’ve ever done and was a huge personal accomplishment for me both mentally and physically. This trip ignited a little fire in my belly to climb all of Colorado’s fourteeners, and plans are slowly coming together to bring this goal closer into perspective.

AUGUST

I turned 26 and headed out to Seattle to work and squeeze in some adventure during the super-short, most spectacular season – summer! My first foray into the Olympic Mountains was delightful and delicious – I met up with Matt and Matt and we hiked above the trees, camped in the redwoods and ate sausages by firelight. This season in the northwest is so beautiful, so pristine and delicate that it steals my heart every time.

SEPTEMBER

Bethany came to visit and the three of us headed to west Texas for some backpacking and our first visit to Big Bend. I was not prepared for the awe I felt watching rain roll in from the basin 2000 feet below our ridge on the Chisos mountains, or the intoxicating flash of sunrise over mexico, or the tarantulas and friendly deer and sheer beauty of the place.

OCTOBER

I was much overdue for a visit with my Mom, so when I finally made it back to Colorado in October we spent a few excellent days hiking in eastern Utah and Glenwood Canyon. I love returning to these places when I feel homesick – my heart is always thirsty for the red sandstone desert, hidden pools of water, deep canyons and the special way the sun sets in the west.

NOVEMBER

This year I felt strongly about celebrating Thanksgiving in a nontraditional way, so when Rupal suggested going on a climbing trip to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in northwestern Arkansas, I was in! We drove 10 hours each way and camped in freezing temperatures but we also enjoyed some of the grippiest granite and most entertaining (and long!) climbing routes ever. I cooked turkey dinner over the fire and we feasted every night, making this Thanksgiving one of the most adventurous and fulfilling ever.

DECEMBER

This last holiday was one of our first “stay-cations”, and we devoted most of our time off to clearing out the original Muddy Water Shop and moving to a new co-op shop. Over the last few months the canoe has really come along and we’re nearly able to see the end of the tunnel, but I have yet to share our most recent progress.

Come January I never know where the last year has gone, but compiling my favorite photos of the last 12 months has put it into perspective: 2012 was a grand year of adventure. I feel like a very lucky girl. And today, opening a book on traditional climbing in the Rockies, I read,

“Luck favors the well prepared.”

I’m not sure I’m entirely prepared for 2013 but I know that I love planning the next trip and filling every spare weekend with something new or something I love, so I’m pretty sure this next one is going to be epic.

I ride a 1981 Kawasaki KZ1000. Most people’s reaction is “That’s a big, fast motorcycle to be your first.” And they’re definitely right. I’ll admit I’m overconfident when it comes to things like that, but also well aware of the risk and dangers involved. I did tons of research before buying my first bike and being 6’5″ tall, this is one of the few motorcycles that I am comfortable on.

Aside from it being big and fast, it’s also old. And one of the risks that come with an older motorcycle, and maybe a little less known, is you’re going to spend just as much time riding it as you will sitting on the sidewalk wondering how to fix it. Living in Brooklyn, motorcycle maintenance doesn’t mean a comfortable garage with lights and organized tools. It means a dirty sidewalk that swallows nuts and bolts, a sun that sets too soon, and a backpack with a bunch of wrenches and sockets. But that’s half the adventure, and half the fun.

I’ll be sharing stories from some long trips I’ve taken with friends – how to plan for them, the importance of understanding that everyone’s experience and limitations are different, and that sometimes it’s the best decision to get a hotel and not go any further.

Stay tuned!