Built For: Her

This month, we are celebrating the women who build our packs, and the women we build them for.

MISSION-driven women inspire us daily in creating gear they can count on and push us to create the best-fitting packs designed specifically for the female form.

Fit is one of the most important pillars of MYSTERY RANCH. Our gear helps us feel more connected to the outdoors and helps us feel confident in exploring deeper or going places we may have never felt confident to go in the past.

That’s where we come in. We create gear she can count on.

Helping women discover their connection to the outdoors is something work to get better at, every day. We are all on our own path in creating personal relationships with nature, and we are honored to have our packs be a part of those journeys.

In this BUILT FOR: HER feature, we learn more about our OUTDOOR ambassador’s personal paths to finding nature and what the outdoors means to them.

LINDSEY BROWNE DAVIS

MYSTERY RANCH Brand Ambassador

What does being a woman in the outdoors mean to you?

I love being a woman in the outdoors because it means I get to shatter people’s stereotypes. It’s so fun to be constantly changing people’s minds about what women are capable of in the backcountry and beyond.

Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

The outdoors has been a source of fascination and respite for me since I was a little girl. I’m lucky to have grown up exposed to camping and fishing, and with a sense of wonder and exploration for nature. I try to maintain this curiosity in myself and encourage it to others. Foraging is a fun way to spark that in myself and my peers because it’s like a treasure hunt in the wilderness.

How do you personally help represent women in the field in your position in this space?

Hunting is an underdog pursuit for women. Today we represent less than five percent of all registered hunters in the country. This is a particular area where I work to break down stereotypes and encourage representation in the outdoors. The more young girls and women see themselves represented in hunting in imagery, films, stories, and product design, the more invited and inspired they will be to pursue it for themselves.

Did you grow up recreating in the outdoors? If so, how have those experiences contributed to who you are now?

I was lucky to grow up exposed to hiking, camping and fishing. Early on, my family took us on canoe trips in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Canada. This is where I got my first backcountry immersion at age nine. I remember how amazing it was to not shower and ‘live’ outdoors for that period of time. We made up games, cooked over the fire, and each day was an exploration. I think I’ve been chasing the quality of these feelings and that nature connection my entire life.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self about exploring the outdoors then vs. now?

I wish I could tell my younger self to slow down and take care of my injuries better! I’ve had so many knee injuries from sports and the outdoors. It’s so important to let yourself properly heal from injuries so you can spend the rest of your life with a healthy body carrying you to mountaintops and anywhere else you want to go!

What would you say to a woman who is trying to get into a new outdoor activity at a later stage in life?

I encourage anyone learning a new pursuit to carve out a pace and level of determination that is truly yours and not influenced or pressured by others. Be dedicated to self-study and don’t depend on others to carry your learning curve. Choose things that you uniquely love, not necessarily what others are into. This unique motivation will carry you to proficiency and attract great backcountry partners!

What would you say to a girl/woman who wants to get into a male-dominated outdoor activity?

You are going to have so much fun finding unique ways to pursue your passions outdoors from a female perspective. You will also find so many other rad women along the way who will inspire you and become lifelong friends. Tell your story, and encourage others along their path.

What does being a female MYSTERY RANCH ambassador mean to you?

This is one of the best jobs I never thought I would have. It’s such an honor to be someone MYSTERY RANCH trusts to represent their amazing company and product line. I like to think of myself ‘as tough and durable’ as a MYSTERY RANCH pack, and pursue how I represent the brand with the same quality and intention that they design and build their products with. I appreciate so much how MYSTERY RANCH builds specialty packs for so many different experts from wildland firefighters to military professionals and backcountry athletes. I try and respect everyone’s individual specialties and pursuits in the same way The Ranch does.

What is your favorite MYSTERY RANCH women’s pack style and why?

I love every pack with a women’s specific harnessing system. I used to get rubbed raw on my hips and end every trip with bloody wounds from my backpacks. Wearing MYSTERY RANCH packs did away with that immediately. The fit and load carry comfort is unrivaled. I so appreciate that I can go from hunting to backcountry skiing, ice climbing, global travel or backpacking with this same standard of quality and comfort. I personally love the PINTLER, POP-UP, BRIDGER, and COULEE.

Learn more about Lindsey, here.

RACHEL AHTILA

MYSTERY RANCH Hunting Ambassador

What does being a woman in the outdoors mean to you?

‘Being a woman in the outdoors’ has actually been my greatest challenge and personal mountain to overcome. When you think of a hunting guide, it has predominately been a very masculine role, but over the last couple of decades, it was been wonderful to help budge the dial on stereotypes. Embracing femininity, while carrying out my job has been a bit of an art form- balancing strength and grace, brute strength and skill. Being a woman is all of those things, I just get to do it where I feel most comfortable, in the outdoors.

Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

My parents and grandparents always had us outside- whether that was bundled up as babies, or letting our wild imaginations grow on camping trips, or helping us build forts on the acreages they have shared. They nurtured our fascination with the outdoors. At 11 years old, I was able to go to an outfitters horse camp, and to be completely honest, right then and there I was smitten when it meant you could make a living around it.

How do you personally help represent women in the field in your position in this space?

I have been an active guide since I was first able to hold a license at 19. Through all of the opportunity, I have been able to carve out a career since then and have been able to share the space as a credited source and professional. As a guide, I have been able to help represent women in the redesigning of hunting gear, made specifically for us. This has led to many awesome opportunities to talk about the spectre of our world, our work, and have always tried to carry myself with professionalism and respect. I serve on the board for Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt program, as well as try to help promote other avenues that align.

Did you grow up recreating in the outdoors? If so, how have those experiences contributed to who you are now?

I can wholeheartedly say, if it hadn’t been for going camping, and eventually to the mountains to ride horses and get to be a part of the hunting outfit as a preteen, my life would probably be unrecognisable. But with every experience, there is opportunity- and if I hadn’t have acted on them to make it a reality, I feel like I would have also not allowed myself that personal growth. Experiences enrich our lives, and harbour skills that make us successful- being self-reliant, and problem solving evolve into a larger skill set that makes you comfortable in anything, the outdoors included.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self about exploring the outdoors then vs. now?

Don’t be afraid to show up alone and allow yourself some grace to branch out. As a guide, I would tell my younger self not to worry about the people you can never make happy; you can strive to be the best hunter/guide and give the best customer service- but at the end of the day, some people are just miserable… I used to beat myself up if I couldn’t make someone happy or game wouldn’t cooperate. Since then, I have learned you can only control three things; Your attitude, the atmosphere, and your preparedness… everything else is chance in hunting.

What would you say to a woman who is trying to get into a new outdoor activity at a later stage in life?

Start small. Society and social media portray that you have to go big, jump all in, and dive headlong into waters that you have yet to navigate. I would honestly dive deep into what activity you want to do, whether it is hunting or hiking, and work up. Day hikes lead to over-night trips, over-night trips lead to expeditions.

What would you say to a girl/woman who wants to get into a male-dominated outdoor activity?

I once had an outfitter tell me that they used to ask if their hunters were okay with going with a girl guide… what he learned, was that the ones that preferred not to or had doubts, were just as much of a pain for their male guides. Moral of the story- own your lane, and work hard, ask questions, and always surround yourself with the right people and attitudes. Own and identify your own strengths and insecurities and then work forwards. It doesn’t matter if we are male or female- we all have insecurities, but in acknowledging them, it will help you move past them

What does being a female MYSTERY RANCH ambassador mean to you?

All of my life I have been a horse crazy kid- as my career grew to a horseback guide, I was able to make whatever gear I had, work. The year I had been hired as a backpack guide took everything I knew in the rule book about packing and threw it out the window. By happenstance, I had caught the eye of some of the first contacts of MYSTERY RANCH. MYSTERY RANCH took a chance on sending me a backpack over ten years ago and have supported all of my crazy adventures over the past decade. I will never forget the feeling of gratitude that came with having a company believe in me. It inspired me to want to help showcase other women and give back to the opportunity MR had graced me with.

What is your favorite MYSTERY RANCH women’s pack style and why?

I am a devoted fan of the MARSHALL paired together with the women’s harness: this bag is everything you need a pack to be. When it is fully extended, I can have everything I need for a 10-day expedition comfortably and compartmentalized. Alternatively, I can have it strapped down to almost nothing as a day pack if I am horseback hunting, with the option to extend my carry load. One feature I love- if I am crawling in on a final stalk, the removable top pouch serves as a great waist bag for raingear, snacks, and equipment if I need to move light and fast.

Learn more about Rachel, here.

BECKY SWITZER

MYSTERY RANCH Outdoor Ambassador

What does being a woman in the outdoors mean to you?

Being in the outdoors feels so natural to me that my presence there is akin to my presence anywhere else…whether it’s at home, at work, grocery shopping, eating at a restaurant, etc. The outdoors is a space for everybody. Now, cities are where I feel most out of place.

Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

My love for the outdoors stems from a childhood of roaming and exploring. A backyard (plus the surrounding neighbor’s yards) provided amble opportunity to climb trees, run barefoot, and follow general curiosity to wherever it led.

How do you personally help represent women in the field in your position in this space?

I try to represent women in the outdoors with strength, knowledge and resilience. When I interact with other climbers or skiers, I want them to walk away from the experience reminded that women are capable and worthy of completing any objective they set their sights on.

Did you grow up recreating in the outdoors? If so, how have those experiences contributed to who you are now?

Aside from general exploring, the recreation I did as a youngster included skiing at the local ski hill, sleeping under the stars in the backyard, and spending time in and around various lakes in northern Wisconsin. Those experiences taught me universal lessons of self-reliance, preparedness, and comfort being in the elements.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self about exploring the outdoors then vs. now?

If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self that I’m on the right track. I had many life chapters with varying degrees of athletic and scholastic endeavors, but throughout it all, I kept returning to the outdoors as a comfortable, safe place.

What would you say to a woman who is trying to get into a new outdoor activity at a later stage in life?

Trying to break into new activities later in life is hard, so be kind to yourself. There are increasing resources out there that cater to women doing things in the outdoors. Find a women’s intro group or class to join…you’ll have immediate allies in learning new skills. If there are no groups in your area, the internet is a great place to connect with likeminded women of a similar skill level.

What would you say to a girl/woman who wants to get into a male-dominated outdoor activity?

In many outdoor activities, the perceived level of physical strength needed tends to be overblown. Instead, competence with skills and honed technique matter so much more. Practicing those skills and improving techniques should be the focus when getting into a new activity. Having those attributes alone can get someone quite far in most outdoor activities.

What does being a female MYSTERY RANCH ambassador mean to you?

MYSTERY RANCH packs are known for quality and durability. Unfortunately, both of these attributes are frequently missing in much of the outdoor gear made today. As a MR ambassador, I love showing fellow females that these packs fit perfectly into ANY adventure, big or small, they are willing to take on.

What is your favorite MYSTERY RANCH women’s pack style and why?

The two MYSTERY RANCH packs in my arsenal that get the most use are the SADDLE PEAK and the TOWER 47 (a unisex pack). These two packs cater to skiing and climbing and perform flawlessly day in and day out. And, because MYSTERY RANCH sizing is so accommodating, I’m able to adjust these packs so that they fit me perfectly.

Learn more about Becky, here.

ANDREA CANNON

MYSTERY RANCH Outdoor Ambassador

What does being a woman in the outdoors mean to you?

This immediately makes me think of solo time in the outdoors as a woman which is incredibly empowering. Hiking solo as a female was one of the first steps I took in a series of doing big things independently in my life such as international solo travel.

Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

I fell in love with the outdoors when I moved out west as an adult. The proximity to amazing hiking trails, beautiful national parks, and incredibly vast wild spaces inspired me to get outside. As I spent more and more time outside, I realized that I loved the solitude, the challenges, and the connectedness that comes with being in nature.

How do you personally help represent women in the field in your position in this space?

I show up online via social media and my blogs to represent women outside. My account goals are to “inspire YOU to travel, get outside, and share your story”.

Did you grow up recreating in the outdoors? If so, how have those experiences contributed to who you are now?

I was a Girl Scout that was more focused on crafts than the outdoors. Besides playing outside as a kid, I didn’t do much of the classic outdoor-related things like hiking, camping, etc. and I also didn’t seek these activities out.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self about exploring the outdoors then vs. now?

Go ahead and get started, even if it is intimidating.

What would you say to a woman who is trying to get into a new outdoor activity at a later stage in life?

Don’t compare your “beginning” to someone else’s “middle” or “end”. No one is good at an activity the first time they try it, and everyone makes mistakes. You can do this.

What would you say to a girl/woman who wants to get into a male-dominated outdoor activity?

If you don’t have another female in your life that is interested in starting new outdoor activities with you, look online for support. There are plenty of groups and online communities where you can ask questions without judgment that can support you in your new endeavors.

What does being a female MYSTERY RANCH ambassador mean to you?

This is a male dominated space, and I am excited to represent other outdoor ladies. Additionally, I am glad to be partnering with a company that recognizes this need for representation.

What is your favorite MYSTERY RANCH women’s pack style and why?

I love the COULEE – the top pocket allows for easy access for my important items, while the rest of the pack is accessed easily with the 3-way zipper. It comes in a variety of sizes depending on your needs (short day hikes, long day hikes, overnights, etc) and there are some great colors.

Learn more about Andrea, here.

FRANKIE FOSS

MYSTERY RANCH Hunting Ambassador

What does being a woman in the outdoors mean to you?

I do identify as a woman, but I don’t relate gender to my experience in the outdoors. I’ve been really fortunate to marry into a hunting family that took me under their wings and treated me like I was just as capable as them, sometimes to my frustration. Both Cam and Adam treated me the same as they treated each other. Reflecting back now, I feel so fortunate that they never put the idea in my head that I couldn’t do something because I was a woman or inexperienced.

Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

My love of the outdoors comes from the enrichment that it has brought into my life. I’ve always felt energized by the sun, soothed by a walk on the lake, or a boost of confidence from a challenge in the backcountry. When I started spending more time outdoors and taking on bigger endeavors, I noticed my confidence in other aspects of my life also grew. After days spent outside, I would feel a renewed zest for life. The community is also a huge piece for me, I fell in love with the community of people that have a shared passion for outdoor places. Their interests, pursuits, and mindset are equally inspiring and energizing.

How do you personally help represent women in the field in your position in this space?

I’m pushing for more female representation in the storytelling and advertising projects I work on as a producer in the outdoor industry. I also want to help portray women in hunting accurately and at all stages of life. I think representation has proven to be very influential for folks who are interested in trying out a pursuit.

Did you grow up recreating in the outdoors? If so, how have those experiences contributed to who you are now?

The PNW’s culture is heavily steeped in the outdoors. I grew up in the inner city of Seattle, I was fortunate to have been raised in a place that puts natural beauty on a pedestal. So much of Seattle’s identity is linked to the landscape that surrounds it, it’s hard not to think the outdoors contributed to who I am.

I went to outdoor summer camp, played in tree forts in the backyard, splashed in tidal pools, swam in the lake and combed beaches. My experiences as a kid weren’t necessarily hardcore by any means. But time outside and an understanding of the importance of human connection to the natural world is a guiding principle in my life.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self about exploring the outdoors then vs. now?

Say yes! Don’t hold yourself back because you’re nervous about being in the back of the pack, holding up the group, or that you don’t know what you’re doing. Learning through experience is invaluable but you have to take the leap to get there.

What would you say to a woman who is trying to get into a new outdoor activity at a later stage in life?

There is no time like the present to get into outdoor pursuits. It doesn’t come all at once, but if you keep at it, you’ll get to a place where things start to click. There are so many aspirational women out there who have set a beautiful example of what hunting can look like for all types of pursuits at all different ages and experience levels.

What would you say to a girl/woman who wants to get into a male-dominated outdoor activity?

Go for it! It can be a struggle to find your way in a male-dominated industry, but the struggle is worth it. These experiences are highly empowering, and increase a woman’s belief in herself and her beliefs around her ability to lead. Pushing through the struggle of being in a male dominated field is not only beneficial for ourselves but for our community as well.

What does being a female MYSTERY RANCH ambassador mean to you?

Working with MYSTERY RANCH is a dream! I feel so special to be chosen as a hunting ambassador for a brand I admire so much. As a company, MYSTERY RANCH aims to make the best load-hauling backpacks in the world, and over the years I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand their dedication to the mission. What they do for folks, specifically in the military and fire, is admirable.

What is your favorite Mystery Ranch women’s pack style and why?

I primarily wear a METCALF or BEARTOOTH for extended expedition-style backpack hunts. I’m super petite, so having the ability to adjust the yolk and waist belt to fit me has been a game changer. When we’re in the rare circumstance of being lucky enough to be packing out, separating the yolk from the frame to carry a heavier load is clutch.