Welcome back to the Wild Roamers blog!  I’m a Buffalo native, but moved out west to Colorado Springs four years ago! Over the years I have had tons of family and friends visit and each time we try to hit the highlights of the Springs and some of the hidden gems that we have found along the way! Here’s your guide to 5 must-do activities in Colorado Springs, including some amazing hikes, and a bonus hidden gem if you down for a short drive! 

1. Garden of the Gods - The number one tourist spot in the springs and rightfully so, this one is a must see! You will be amazed by the color and height of all of the red rocks that make up Garden of the Gods! This park is family owned and is free to visit. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the many trails that make up the park and then take in the scenes driving on your way out! Some notable spots to make sure you stop and see are: Kissing Camels, Siamese Twins (short hike), and Balancing Rock! Also, be sure to keep an eye out at the top of the big rocks, as you might get lucky and see some brave rock climbers!

1. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Another activity that is definitely a tourist spot, but it is also a sure favorite of the locals too! This is rated one of the top three zoos in America and it got that name for a reason! The zoo not only has amazing and exotic animals, but it also gives you some beautiful views of the city! Be sure to wear your most comfy shoes as this Zoo is built into the side of the mountain range. Also, be sure to pay the extra few bucks to feed the giraffes and ride the Sky Ride!

1. Hiking Trails – For the outdoorsy types, you have surely come to the right place in Colorado. There are tons of hiking trails here in Colorado Springs, but here are my top 5, based on their proximity to the city and the beautiful views along the way! All but the Incline are dog-friendly too! PS – see if you can spot me sporting some Rusterior gear on my hikes!

• Mount Muscoco – This four-mile hike has a great reward at the top with all around views. It has a steep incline, so be ready for a moderate hike!

• Section 16 - This six-mile hike also has amazing 360-mountain views at the top, but is pretty tough and can get very icy in the winter months! This one is a popular one amongst the locals, so be sure to get there bright and early! 

• 7 Bridges – This 6-mile hike does not have as steep of an incline as the first two, but gives you some great views and time outdoors, while making sure you come across all 7 marked bridges!

• Pulpit Rock – Easy 2-mile hike right in town that gives you views of the city and mountain range near Colorado Springs. 

• Manitou Incline – Only attempt this hike if you are up for the challenge and acclimated to the elevation! The incline is made up of 2,744 stairs that goes up 2,000 feet in elevation in just under a mile! It is well worth it to say you did it once and also for the views. If this is not your speed, spend some time in Manitou Springs, at the base of the mountain, where you can shop locally and enjoy some food! 

1. Cog Railway Pikes Peak – This used to be a popular activity in Colorado Springs, but was closed down for a few years ago, and just reopened in 2021! At the base of Pikes Peak mountain, you can catch a train that takes you to the top of the peak, at just over 14,000 feet. The 1.5 hour ride up and down the mountain alone is worth the trip, but the views at the top are breathtaking and definitely steal the show! On a sunny, clear day, you can see for miles! Tip: Be sure to drink lots of water if you aren’t from the area, as elevation sickness is a real thing (I thought I would be fine my first time too!). If the train is not your style, you can also drive to the top of Pikes Peak, but let me tell you that is not for the faint of heart, no guard rails, but beautiful views all the way up!

1. Olympic Training Center – Although this might not be the most popular activity in town, this is one of my favorites. Since Colorado Springs sits at just over 6,000 feet elevation, this is a prime location for athletes and Olympians alike to train! At the Olympic Training Center, Olympians take you around the center and show you what it is like to live and train there for years leading up to the Olympics. It is a true glimpse into the life of an athlete and the facilities they get to train in. If you are a sports fan, this is a great tour and is different every time you go! You may even get to see some medalists training or some national competitions! 

Hidden Gem - Eleven Mile Canyon (Heaven on Earth) – This is a spot that a lot of locals don’t even know about so shhhh, keep this one on the down low! This canyon is just an hour-drive outside of Colorado Springs, but offers many spots to sit and enjoy nature and during the summer it is great for fly fishing! Highly recommend for anyone looking to see Colorado in all its glory and enjoy it without any crowds!

- Erin 

Over the last few years I have logged dozens, if not hundreds of miles hiking with my family. In the snow, in the blazing Texas heat, alongside bubbling waters and lost inside deep forests.

But, lately I’ve been feeling pulled to explore on my own. My children are growing up and showing more independence everyday, leaving me, as a mom, to figure out this new phase of  life as they all will be in school, together, for the first time next fall.

Recently, I went on my very first solo hike. I’ve been practicing spending time alone on the trail when we adventure as a family, spending 10-15 minutes at a time just me and the great outdoors. However, this was my first attempt to choose a trail, bring supplies for just myself and go at my own speed.

I will admit, I was pretty nervous to venture out on my own. Originally I chose a new, moderately challenging trail to conquer. But, then I decided that was probably not the safest idea, so I ended up exploring a trail that was a bit more familiar to me and closer to home.

Of course, I was a little freaked out about safety. I live in Austin, TX, one of the busiest cities in America. With city living comes city crime. Unfortunately, I was the victim of a pretty nasty car break-in last summer while out at a swim hole with my kids. So, I’m always a little leery and tend to be hyper-aware of my surroundings these days. That said, I took all the necessary precautions before heading out. I shared my location on my phone with my husband and sister.
I texted my friends a Google Map coordinate of where I was and I took along our first-aid kit, enough snacks and water to feed a small army, plus some.

As soon as I stepped onto the trail, I could tell this was going to be different. It didn’t feel like exploring like it usually did, but more of a challenge… and I love a good challenge! I listened. I observed. I forced myself to walk at a slower pace and just simply be.

These are not luxuries I often have when I’m with the kids, so I took advantage of theopportunity.

It was lovely.
It was also hard.
Being alone is hard.
Have you tried it?
When you take a solo trek, in addition to preparing for any situation, also think about your goal or purpose.

Are you looking to increase stamina?
Or maybe just get out into nature?
Is it something on your personal bucket list?
Or perhaps you seek a few moments of reflection.
Either way, I highly recommend a solo hike.
Not only is it good for the body, but good for your soul.

Everyone deserves a few moments of respite.

Once back at the safety of my car I took a deep breath and thought, “I did it!”
I did it. I did something that felt daunting, something for myself. I was proud.
Looking back, I decided I’m going to keep trying, keep practicing my independence, test out some more solo hikes, even if it is a little intimidating.
I’ve always believed that without challenge, there is no growth.
We’re all put on this earth to grow- aren’t we?

Plus, my birthday is Independence Day so I kind of owe it to myself to keep pushing the limits and reclaim my own Independence.

Thanks for Reading! 

Safety should always be at the for front of every hike so check out this great blog post from @exploerchick

https://explorerchick.com/journal/women-safely-hiking-alone-tips/

-Andrea 

Winter Wild Roamers: Adventures in Allegany State Park

Open on a fresh blanket of snow tossed atop the earth: Untouched. Pristine. Ephemeral.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Mother Nature, because I know a few creatures eager to tattoo their marks across your blank canvas the second they pull on their snowsuits. 

Enter the Militello Fun Squad (my husband, three kids and me) as we embark on our annual winter camping weekend with friends at Allegany State Park.  This fan favorite breaks up the cold, gray ennui that creeps in post-holidays.  Plus, it’s been a minute since we’ve spent quality time with friends and we have an appetite for normal-ish social interaction.

The Fun Squad enjoying (minus our youngest) Zoar Valley 

We kicked off our weekend in the woods with a deposit of mammoth-sized snowflakes that begged to be played in.  So, we stopped en route to ASP at Zoar Valley’s Holcomb Pond to break trail.

 Checking in at Holcomb Pond’s trail registry

The kids excitedly pointed out various animal tracks in the fresh accumulation.  Then, my five-year-old declared that we humans couldn’t be tracked in the winter. 

Happy campers in Zoar Valley

“How so?” I asked, half-chuckling because their volume alone makes them easily traceable targets.  

Holcomb Pond via snowshoe, ski, & sled tracks

“Cuz look at my tracks, Mom.” 

Tiny trailblazer snowshoeing around Holcomb Pond 

I observed his tiny snowshoe imprints.  “Daddy’s tracks look way different,” he added as my husband skied ahead.  “And G isn’t even making her own tracks,” he tossed in smugly while side-eying our free-loading four-year-old who opted for a sled ride.

“Moooooom!” her highness whined.  But he was onto something…

In our element: on skis, swinging in snowshoes, snacking on snow

Check us humans out; we really are a species of many tracks.  I relished this insight all weekend.  Though diverse in age, ability and interests, here we were laying our own unique tracks in an area brimming with options.  

Caravan of sledders out on the open ski hill

Pan to ye ole sled hill.  Watching everyone throw themselves recklessly down this hill (on tubes, four to a sled, holding hands on saucers, even riding an inflatable unicorn) set the tone for our bluebird day.  The kids never once complained of the steep trek back up, as they were hellbent on growing their tracks every run.

Lisa, the inflatable unicorn, taking her fifth run down the sledding hill

Back near the cabin, a couple of moms hiked the bike path to the Covered Bridge for sunshine and solitude.

Coniferous views from the bike path adjacent to Butterfly Meadows

Cut to the Art Roscoe cross country ski trails where I took off with some pals sans children for an afternoon of solid cardio with a side of breathtaking mountain vistas. Oh, and did I mention the warming hut? If you are of the Nordic skiing persuasion, this place is a must.

Art Roscoe’s immaculately groomed Nordic ski trails 

Exhausted in all the best ways, we ended our days fireside, swapping tales of our adventures over roasted marshmallows and hot toddies.

Fireside hangs with the kids

The take-away: different strokes for different folks, and different trails for different pals. I cannot encourage you enough to swap out your sad, salt-crusted boots for snowshoes, skis, sleds or any other winter activity beginning with “s.”  You may find that a little bit of Vitamin D and frosty fresh air not only fits your winter aesthetic, but helps you survive this seemingly decade-long season. 

Snowy moonlit tracks 

End scene.  Happy trails, folks!

By: Abby Militello

We are Rusterior –A WNY; Women & LGBTQ Owned; Sustainable; Hand Printed Goods; Ethically Made; Eco-friendly adventure company 

Abby is a part of the Rusterior Wild Roamer Blog. In 2022 you can look forward to meeting a diverse group of Wild Roamers who can’t wait to share their local adventures with you.  We want to offer you wild and roaming ideas and suggestions with varying levels of activity, ability, and family involvement.

Today is an adventure from Wild Roamer- Shelly Wells! 

• Just Be ready for adventure. In late February, you never know what conditions you might encounter. Be prepared for roaming with snowshoes, micro spikes/yaks, hats, gloves/mittens, a backpack with water, honey sticks/snacks, and tissues. Being ready and prepared means that adventure won’t pass you by, and adventure won’t get the better of you.

• Just Be ready to observe. Listen to the sound of snow scrunch on a 50-degree winter day in the woods; listen for the chirping of the birds, happy for the warmth of the sun; listen to the sound of running water in a bubbling stream; listen to the sounds of silence. Appreciate the colors found in late winter – the blue of the sky and the green of the plants that endure the snow.

• Just Be grateful for fellow adventurers…ready and excited to take on the day.

• Just Be able to recharge; know what brings you peace. A very good friend told me to get energy from the earth. When you come across rocks and boulders, take time to touch them; allow the energy to permeate you.

• Just Be able to have fun! When you come across an interesting space, check it out! Be inquisitive and find joy in the simplicity and complexity of nature.

• Just Be able to surrender to the beauty and peace you can find in nature…Just Be.

• (P.S.  One more trail checked off my WNY Winter Hiking Challenge list! Allegheny State Park – Osgood Trail.)

In Health ~ Shelly W."  

We are Rusterior –A WNY; Women & LGBTQ Owned; Sustainable; Hand Printed Goods; Ethically Made; Eco-friendly adventure company 

Shelly is a part of the Rusterior Wild Roamer Blog. In 2022 you can look forward to meeting a diverse group of Wild Roamers who can’t wait to share their local adventures with you.  We want to offer you wild and roaming ideas and suggestions with varying levels of activity, ability, and family involvement.

2022 Challenges

Some thoughts about challenge…what resonates with you?

• Better than you were yesterday;
• The situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort to be done successfully, and therefore tests your ability;
• Something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination;
• Striving to improve;
• Opportunity for growth and self-improvement;
• The journey to the best version of yourself;
• To accomplish great things, you must be open to taking risks.

We are Rusterior – WNY; Women & LGBTQ Owned; Sustainable; Hand Printed Goods; Ethically Made; Eco-friendly; Proud; and open to taking risks…how else will we be better than yesterday?!

Rusterior is striving to improve by expanding the Rusterior Wild Roamer Blog. In 2022 you can look forward to meeting a diverse group of Wild Roamers who can’t wait to share their local adventures with you. We are challenging ourselves and providing you with ideas for success and growth (and some really cool Rusterior products). We want to offer you wild and roaming ideas and suggestions with varying levels of activity, ability, and family involvement.

Rusterior's 2022 plans include sharing more frequent (at least twice a month!) blog content from real humans who live in our community. These humans come from various backgrounds and are at different stages in their lives, but they share a love of active living. These local Roamers find joy in different escapades, so you are sure to connect with some, if not all of them. And, did we mention they LOVE Rusterior goods?

So, let’s get the party started! We want to introduce you to some of the bloggers! In the spirit of challenges, some of the bloggers are sharing their 2022 challenges, hoping to inspire and motivate you to think about what might challenge you this year. Log in often this year, see what the humans are up to and what Rusterior products they are loving…we challenge you…

Melissa Woelfle- 

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY and is now living out her adventurous dreams in Denver, CO! She loves exploring and sharing her experiences with others & is looking forward to sharing her adventures with all of you guys and providing all the best tips, tricks and advice on living out an adventurous lifestyle.

Abby Militello-

When she is not nerding out over literature in her ELA classroom, you will find this hometown gal with my Militello Fun Squad (kick a$$ husband & 3 spunky kids) spreading Buffalove across the globe.  Biking & hiking; blading & namaste-ing; clipping in, lacing up & paddling out; in a tent & out on a limb: her adventures are fueled by outdoorphins.

Melisa Dettbarn- 

I’m a question asker, adventure seeker and curious explorer on this vibrant blue planet, 3rd from the Sun. I’m thankful to ride through this crazy life with Jason, our three amazing children and numerous animal companions, to spend my days teaching science surrounded by young people, and live a life rich with friendships, family, stories, big laughs, forests, nature, campfires, live music and epic adventures. Life’s too short - make it interesting!

 

Janine Desmond-  

Janine loves exploring outside & gearing up in hiking boots, mud boots or snowshoes, and she love love loves looking for new bugs, birds and plant species in every place she goes. 

Dani C - 

Based in Chautauqua County (NY), Dani is an avid solo hiker who hopes to visit every national park. When not traveling, you’ll find her exploring natural treasures across New York from the lush forests of the Enchanted Mountains to waterfalls in the Finger Lakes region to the mountain summits and fire towers of the Adirondacks and Catskills. Also enjoys kayaking, snowshoeing, fishing, and cycling. 

Katie Thomann-

From being 6 months old sleeping on Quaker Beach with her mom to being 34 and now raising her two kids to love camping, there is more than just an experience to be had in the outdoors. It's truly a part of her life that has molded Katie into the person she is today! 

Andrea Genevieve Townson- 

Originally from Buffalo, NY Andrea Genevieve Townson has lived in Austin, TX for the last twelve years with her husband, three kids, two turtles and handful of fish. She loves arts and crafts, wild schooling, and sunshine. 

When she isn’t exploring new trails or swim holes you can find her baking, eating breakfast tacos or planning the next road trip. Follow their adventures at @field_trip_fridays. 

Chelsea Kull-

Chelsea is a Long Island adventure connoisseur with a passion for dancing, food, sports, and late night drinks with friends. She is always the life of the party and loves creating funny mischief wherever she goes. Chelsea enjoys being outside from sunrise to sunset and loves finding new trails with her one year old Goldendoodle, Buddy. 

Alana Pedalino is a writer, editor and blog manager. She loves to kayak, hike, spend time with animals and travel. Follow her on Twitter @APstyle

We are very excited to begin this year sharing more adventures from more amazing folks! Be sure to share your adventures with us too! 

Until next time! 

xoxoxo Carrie & Team! 

This gift guide shows you some awesome gifts for the gals & androgynous folks in your life! They probably need nothing because they buy it all themselves ;) But.... here are some fun gifts all while Shopping Local. We have done our best to stock our shop with consciously sourced and handmade goods for the holidays! Most of our apparel is Unisex and I promise will be their new favorite! I PROMISE they want the buffalo flag hoodie.... Every show they check it out...... 

With local shows being canceled this year I thought this would be a fun way to showcase our goods for you in an easy shoppable way! 

Everything in this gift guide can be found on Rusterior.com! Or in the gift guides collection on our website! 

 You can also join us at one of our open studio dates in Forestville NY 

 As always thank you for shopping local! 

Until next time 

xo 

Carrie 

This gift guide shows you some awesome gifts for the guys & androgynous folks in your life! They are hard to buy for while also Shopping Local. We have done our best to stock our shop with consciously sourced and handmade goods for the holidays! Most of our apparel is Unisex and I promise will be their new favorite! 

With local shows being canceled this year I thought this would be a fun way to showcase our goods for you in an easy shoppable way! 

Everything in this gift guide can be found on Rusterior.com! Or in the gift guides collection on our website! 

 You can also join us at one of our open studio dates in Forestville NY 

 As always thank you for shopping local! 

Until next time 

xo 

Carrie 

This gift guide shows you some awesome gifts for the littlest adventurers in your life! I know its always hard for me to find kids gifts that I can also Shop Local. We have done our best to stock our shop with consciously sourced and handmade goods for the holidays! 

With local shows being canceled this year I thought this would be a fun way to showcase our goods for you in an easy shoppable way! 

Everything in this gift guide can be found on Rusterior.com! Or in the gift guides collection on our website! 

 You can also join us at one of our open studio dates in Forestville NY 

 As always thank you for shopping local! 

Until next time 

xo 

Carrie 

So I need to tell you guys about the surf camp my kiddos go to! This is a week long  youth paddle and adventure camp! Whenever I say "Surf camp" to anyone i'm talking about they always are so surprised that the kids could do something like that in WNY, but it is true! 

We have been going to the camp for 3 years now and all three of my kids LOVE IT SO MUCH! Kevin and Christian are so great and the kids just fell in love with them and now get so excited to see them every time we head to the beach! 

When my kids started going to this camp they were TERRIFIED of the water. Even though we lived near the beach and went often the idea of swimming in it was scary to them. I am always a big fan of having someone else teach them things because they don't respond as well when I try to show them. 

After this camp this kids confidence in the water was a complete 360! My kids went from not wanting to go waist deep to jumping in from a paddle board which was so amazing to see. They got to paddle board, boogie board, swim, hike and adventure all week! 

Paddling is a great way for youth to develop self-confidence, independence, awareness, a love of nature, and a sense of accomplishment that comes from meeting new challenges. Christian and Kevin will also instruct water safety and leave no trace techniques and philosophies the whole week. 

Right now the camp is offered at Sunset Bay in Irving NY ( about 45 minutes from Buffalo ) And will run from 9:00-11:00 for one week ( DATE AND HOW TO BOOK COMING SOON!) 

• Daily Camper Rate: $35 per person
• Weekly Camper Rate: $150 per person
  • Weekly Camper Rate Sibling Discount: $125 per person

If you have questions about the camp reach out to Christian at 716-868-2975 | christian@superieadventure.com

Camp this year is 

June 29th – July 3rd

July 20th-24th

I promise your kids will LOVE THIS CAMP and it is perfect for any kid 5-11 years old. They also offer kayak and paddle board lessons/ rentals and a lot more! You can check them out at https://superieadventures.com/ and get our and adventure this summer! 

Book right on their website using the code wildroamer for 10% off!!! <3 

Until next time! 

XO 

Carrie 

I don't know about you guys but i'm a footwear snob! I would in no way a fashion bloggers so please take this post with a grain of salt. I do however love footwear and love wearing a good shoe! 

Photo by Tailor Mayde Photography 

With living a active lifestyle I feel like I was always searching for shoes for every outing I was doing weather it be camping, hiking, kayaking, etc. My go to pair is 100% my Birkenstocks  I have had a pair since my grandma gifted me a pair in high school and I was totally hooked. These are my legit everyday shoe and the pair I truly beat up beyond repair which explains the ( WAY TO MANY TO COUNT ) pairs I have. I really love my Birks but I will say I will not purchase them from big box stores but instead right from the website because I feel like the factory quality is different and they last longer from the direct site. The birks are great  but they weren't perfect for everything mainly for things involving water or where I needed some stability 

Since I have just embraced my old mom style I have fully given into any and all shoe choices and pick them based on function and in some cases style ;) I caved and grabbed Teva's for the whole family this past summer because we had a whole summer of camping planned and my kiddos ( and amber and I) needed some more versatile footwear that we could wear kayaking. Right now is actually the perfect time to buy them because a lot of styles are on sale! I got some from TJ Maxx and other discount stores. I will say I LOVE my Teva's and they are perfect for kayaking and beach walking because they are meant to get wet and your feet stay in them without slipping around. These even serve as water shoes for my kiddos since they are water shoe haters because they hate having their feet contained. 

Photo by Tailor Mayde Photography

Peep my Teva's here ;) 

Listen, if it was up to me I would ONLY wear these two pairs of shoes year round but ya know, cold weather and snow put a damper on that! Last spring we took a hiking trip to Letchworth and Ithaca ( << Click to read that post). I knew we would be doing a TON of walking and I honestly hate sneakers for hiking and I hate hiking boots ( like the full boot kind that rub on your ankles). I found these Merrell  boots ( on sale on REI) and LOVE THEM they are my down and dirty boots where I really don't care if they get filthy on hikes because they are super durable. If you are looking for a boot to live something similar are the ones i would recommend.

My new favorites are these Forsake Boots they are kind of a hybrid boot sneaker and they feel like that. I never liked sneaker because I have a wide foot and I never felt like I got enough support from them and I never liked Boots because I feel like they are very constricting. This is honestly a magic shoe because it is the best of both worlds. They are structured and supportive but also flexible and breathable. I also love these because I can wear them to work and hiking and they are waterproof so wearing them in the snow is an option without feeling like you are wearing a huge snowboot. I will say my feet are not SUPER warm in them but I still love them and I have cold feet normally so it could be just me! Over all I would give them a 10/10 for style and function! 

Photo by Alexis Mohr 

I have been wanting to write this one for a long time because I love shoe wear in a more non traditional sense and value quality shoe wear and would much rather spend a little more on a few pairs of good shoes than have a million pairs of not so good shoes. 

What are your favorite adventure shoes? Let me know in the comments! 

Until next time! 

XO 

Carrie & The Wild Roamers 

 Photo by Tailor Mayde Photography

OUR TRIP TO LETCHWORTH + ITHACA NYS