There are strategies that we can instill in ourselves and confidence that we can gain when

sometimes we do go off trail on purpose.

And we challenge ourselves literally to do the hard thing so that next time when the hard

thing comes up and it's not our choice, we have that frame of reference to say,

okay, I've done this before. I know I can do it again.

Episode number 12, Leslie Fry.

This is the Adventure Sports Podcast.

Brought to you by 180Tack.

Get out there and have some fun.

Our guest today is Leslie Fry.

Leslie is the founder of Off Trail on Purpose where she applies the skills and lessons she's learned over nine seasons as a wilderness instructor to prepare young people

to navigate the most challenging terrain they have faced yet, the journey into college and

career. By combining life lessons of outdoor experience with 15 years of educating and coaching

adolescents, Leslie helps young people

determine their destination, develop the navigation tools to move through failure, and provides

positive non-judgmental mentoring. Leslie, welcome to the program. Thank you, Travis. So, Leslie, you're

here to talk about off-trail hiking. Take a few minutes to tell our listeners about yourself and your

connection to off-trail hiking. Okay. Well, like you said, for the last nine summers and this

upcoming summer will be my 10th. I have camped and backpacked in Western North Carolina,

primarily with high school students from all over the United States.

I have worked with adults, but primarily it's been high school students. And we spend our time

backpacking, camping, and then we also will do rock climbing and whitewater canoeing.

...