Your Rain Jacket Dream Come True

On my trip to Montana, it rained quite a bit. I practically lived in the new Carhartt Women’s Cascade Jacket. It’s much easier to enjoy the sweeping views and wide open skies when you know your rainwear will keep you dry. This Storm Defender® waterproof breathable jacket comes with articulated elbows so you can easily move around, a left-chest map pocket that’s certain to keep its contents drip-free, interior cuffs with thumbholes for those extra inches of protection, and an adjustable hem with drawcord and barrel lock adjusters. It’s basically your rain jacket dream come true.

Park Ranger Kat Barker

 

When you think of a wilderness ranger, who do you think of? Do you picture a big burly bearded man, covered in plaid? Would it blow your mind to see a woman ranger, wearing pink, with a pickaxe in tow? If so, consider your mind blown.

Meet Kat Barker, a trails and wilderness supervisor. She and her crew head to the backcountry for 8 day long trips of 10-hour work schedules, consisting of clearing downfall, maintaining drainage structures, trail and bridge construction, etc. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and wherewithal to perform the daily tasks and move camp every night. The job may be tough, but it comes with the best office space around. Every night ends with a good meal at the campfire with friends, and rest is sweetest after collapsing into a sleeping bag, every limb aching from the typical routine.

It’s inspiring to see this role, historically dominated by men, being filled by strong, independent women. Kat’s advice for young girls who hope to follow a similar career path is that, “You can do it! If you love being in the mountains and enjoy working really, really hard and sweating a lot, there is nothing stopping you.  It can be difficult to get your foot in the door with public land management agencies, but do your applications, and call, call, call!  Making actual connections with the people in charge of trails and wilderness programs goes a long way in getting hired.  Or there are many other arenas like firefighting, range work, biology technicians, etc. that are open for newcomers as well.  Once you get hired on, even more doors will open.”

Nothing beats a barrel of determination and love for nature. Let your passions be your driving force in life.

Kat is wearing: Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Quarter-Zip & Women’s Original-Fit Crawford Canvas Dungaree 

Holly of Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland

The magic is in the hole! That’s what they say at Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland. Located right across from the “keep Portland weird” sign, Voodoo has been serving up crazy and delicious doughnuts for years. This is Holly. Dream up the wildest breakfast treat in your mind, and she can make it for you. You want bacon on your doughnut? Done! How about m&ms or Cocoa Puffs? Got that too. When you step into the shop, you feel like Alice in Wonderland with the crooked chandeliers and giant doughnuts hanging on the walls. And get this, they’re open 24 hours a day, so stop by anytime.

shop Holly’s look: Cheyenne Shirt, El Paso Pant, High Vis Suspenders, and Carhartt Hat

DIY: Heart V-Neck Shirt

Homemade valentines are the best. In keeping with the handcrafted spirit, try slicing up a T-shirt to be festive this year. Carhartt’s Calumet V-neck Tee is perfect for this DIY.

Carhartt Women’s Downburst Waterproof Breathable Jacket

I spent some time at the beach on Lake Michigan this weekend. The Carhartt waterproof jacket I wore is perfect for a windy summer day on the water. It’s covered in pockets and drawstrings for adjusting the fit to offer better protection against the elements, including sand and the lake tide. I love beach days, just like we all do— toes in the sand, breeze on your face, the waves splashing against your legs. That’s summer perfection if you ask me.

Like my jacket? You can get your own here.