‘Statement Shoes’ are shoes that I painfully select prior to every trade show I’ve ever had the wonderful opportunity to attend. Being in sales and marketing, it seems the most arresting and interesting shoes pave the way  for conversation with even the most fashion-phobic, granola eating, bouldering lover of all things outdoors. Is it vanity–or just the fact we all have a little shoe fetish?

These shoes come to us from a collaboration between Grey Ant and Teva. From Grey Ant’s description, “They’re calling it the most comfortable, performance high heel on the planet–we call it the most daring mash-up of the decade.”

What we all agree on is that they DO look great paired with socks. Who knew?

[Via: New High (M)art]

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

Dear Anna and Dave

So, I’m dating this guy and he’s awesome. We adventure outside any chance we can get, have great, intellectual conversation and click really well. But here’s the thing–he’s a total hermit and I’m a social butterfly.

-Sent from my iPhone

Dear SFMIP

We’re going to be brutally blunt here SFMIP: you should spend less time tweeting on your iPhone and more time with your man. Ever consider that he’s a social hermit because he thinks your constant need to be connected is just a little on the verge of social craziness? You say that you “adventure outside” but how much of that time is tracking where you are with the latest GPS application?

Sounds to us like you don’t actually have a problem in your relationship; you’re just having issues with your own insecurities. This guy likes the outdoors, you have uber intellectual conversations and you’re concerned that he won’t take part in the regular forms of a superficial exuberant social life? Girl, you need to go spend some solitary time in the woods and start thinking about what’s really important to you. Hopefully you realize how great this guy is instead of hastily dropping him for a sorry excuse of a man that attracts you simply because he throws a lot of meaningless get-togethers that he promotes on Facebook.  Switch out your social life for some more nature life and we’ll sure you’ll feel better immediately.

Seriously, sometimes women have a tendency to over-analyze, and this is a prime example.  [Note that one of us is a female and knows this tendency all to well] If you’re happy and he’s happy and you’re both happy together, then that’s fantastic.  Sure, your hermit isn’t exactly what you imagine your awesome guy would be like.  But he is still awesome -  Deal with it. Plus you don’t need big social parties to have hot, outdoorsy loving – usually that stuff is done in private.  If not, tweet us when and where.

Love and social networks,

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

Here in the NW, we love visiting hot springs, so it’s no surprise that today’s question is all about just what to wear on your first hot spring visit with your new love interest.

Dear SATW-

A girl from one of my classes that I’m really into invited me to go on a hike this weekend to some hot springs. At the hot spring that she invited me to go to, I’ve heard that most people hang out in the nude, but that makes me a little nervous as this is sort of our first date. Should I bring my board shorts or should I assume we’re going naked?

Nervous About Nudity

Dear N.A.N. -

We’d like to start our response by giving you a congratulatory internet high-five. It’s not everyday that you get invited to embark on a hot spring adventure with a hawtie you’ve been ogling during lectures. Plus, if she’s inviting you on a trek into the woods followed by a hot soak then she sounds like a low maintenance, dream-worthy, eco diva… nice work!

Now let’s get to your question: naked or not? Our standard SATW answer is “when the decision is tough, go buff” – but let’s take a moment to analyze why.

First off, being naked is in fact the most sustainable option. Those synthetic fabrics used to manufacture your bathing suit are made from petrochemicals, meaning you shouldn’t have bought your trunks in the first place. Show your commitment to the environment and leave them at home! Everyone likes a little wild in the wilderness, especially when that “wild” shows you’re green.

Secondly, there’s nothing more seductive than demonstrating that you’re a supremely confident individual with no crazy complexes or issues. You don’t need to go stripping down every time you come across a body of water, but having the courage to go nude in places where it’s socially acceptable (hot springs, naked bike rides, nude beaches, Burning Man, hiking trails in Switzerland, etc.) shows that you’re a chill guy that knows how to relax in any situation.

Keep in mind however that there might be some skeezy old wrinkled hippies rocking out at the hot springs. As much as we love our environmentally conscious heirs, it will spoil the birthday suit mood. Since this is your first date, you might want to forgo the hot spring altogether – nothing ruins a day like wandering eyes from an eighty-year old that reminisces about their time on the Dead tour.

This all being said, our answer is based on the assumption that said love interest is in fact an environmentally conscious, outdoor loving, super cool chick that’s all about going sans clothing every now and again. How sure of this assumption are you? If she doesn’t possess the above qualities, then she might be a bit scared off by your love of the au naturel. The safe bet is to pack the trunks just in case… but if she does turn out to be a swimsuit-at-the-hot-springs kind of a girl, we’ll save you some pain and tell you right now that you don’t want to be dating her. Break it off before it gets too serious and find yourself another lady who’s more comfortable with getting a little wild in the wilderness!

Good luck

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

This week we tackle the issue of helping a coworker lead a more conscious lifestyle.

Dear Sex and the Woods,

I’ve got this pretty cool co-worker. He’s fun around the office, ultra reliable and competent (unlike pretty much everyone else I work with). However he just doesn’t get the whole I-should-care-about-the-environment thing. Well he cares, he just doesn’t DO anything about the fact that he cares. Like he brings bottled water to work everyday. How can I get him to start manning up and ditch the wastefulness?

-Eco-concious co-worker

Well ECC, bottled water is a huge pet peeve here at Wend’s stylish new offices. Not only do single use plastic bottles quickly find their way to landfills, they’re also harmful to both our and the environment’s health. We’re also huge supporters of Ban the Bag, a campaign to end the use of single-use plastic bags here in Portland. Simply put: plastics got issues yo. Here are some hints to move your co-worker in the right (green) direction:

1. Hack that shit. Nothing’s better than changing someone’s homepage to something they don’t expect. We’re not talking anything vulgar (we know what you did to your roommate’s computer back in your college days). You want eco-changes and to remain employed, so throw up a site with great info they can read, digest, and create positive influence in their lives. Maybe Huffpo’s green section or Wend’s very own Greenery? Want some more sass? Try our personal favorite, Ecorazzi.

2. Educate them. Send them some great, easy to read green living information. Avoid those dire, the-earth-is-dying-and-so-are-we diatribes and empower them to make positive changes in their own lives. Being eco friendly can in fact be fun. For example, you can make messenger bags from plastic bags. Pretty sure that will up your coworkers cool factor. Which in turn will make him more liked by eco hawties, which we fully support here at SATW.

3. Take it slow and make it easy. Your co-worker is going to be much more amenable to little baby steps in the right direction, rather than huge giant leaps towards Al Gore’s ideal citizen. If you really want them to stop using plastic bottles, help them out: invest in a reusable water bottle. But don’t go flaunting your eco friendly ways in their faces by forcing a BPA-free stainless steel bottle upon them. Buy one, wrap it up in some recycled paper, put it in your desk and save it for when they need a little surprise to make their day better. Or surprise them with a nice reusable bag placed on their desk while they’re out at lunch. Everyone loves a green gift every now and then.

4. Lead by example. Here at Wend we believe in the ideal of “people who live in solar powered houses shouldn’t throw stainless steel water bottles“… or something like that. Seriously though, if you want your co-worker to take more environmentally friendly steps, you better make sure you’re doing the same thing, and just drinking your coffee out of a reusable mug isn’t enough. Make this is a great opportunity for you to improve your own green behaviors.

5. Make it worth it. You want someone to compost or buy locally grown veggies? Bring them fresh tomatoes or a seasonal fruit salad. Bribery works every single time. By showing your co-worker the benefits of these new changes you want to inspire, you’ll help them get through the little bit of work it’ll take to get started. Plus you’ll probably make a new friend, or at least someone who will head out on a fair trade coffee run for you.

Good luck!

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

This week we tackle the issues of traveling with your significant other.

Dear Anna and Dave

I know my question isn’t “woods” related, but I figured you guys would be the ones to ask anyway. My boyfriend and I are planning a 3 month trip to Southeast Asia. I’m really excited about going, but the problem is that we’ve never traveled together. Ever. Not even a road trip. Lots of my friends have traveled with their significant others and I know that sometimes it can put a strain on the relationship. Do you have any tips that will keep us from hating eachother at the end of our trip?

-Anxious for Asia

Dear Anxious for Asia,

Wait a second — you’ve never gone on a trip with your BF??? Not even a weekend camping excursion? Please, maybe before you book those tickets to Asia, you need to get out in the woods. Nothing will tell you more about a person than spending some alone time in an unknown place. We’d suggest figuring out a two-day trip, stat!

Back to the question at hand: yes, travel can be hard for two adventure seeking lovers, but it can also be a blessing. Your trip can go two ways: either you will come back nitpicking eachother’s every single annoying habit or you won’t be able to pull yourself away from eachother. Obviously you’d rather avoid the first, but remember that even if the trip goes well, you don’t want to come back a sappy, lovey dovey couple that can only talk about “this one time when we were in Asia…” You’re friends will never invite you on another weekend hike again. Stay far away from that route.

Hopefully the two of you are intelligent enough to be able to find a happy medium. First things first: travel can bring out the best and worst in a person, so know your partner’s positive and negative qualities before you leave. If you know that he is uncomfortable in situations where he isn’t in control, don’t go booking an elephant-riding jungle trek the minute you get off the plane. Let him adjust and then move forward accordingly.

Stay flexible and enjoy the moment. Nothing’s worse than a high maintenance travel partner that keeps their Western world expectations and attitudes when traveling abroad. Let go and live it up! Don’t overpack, don’t whine when you have to use a squat toilet and don’t be updating your Facebook status every time you come across an internet café. Otherwise you’ll find yourself dumped at the foot of a tuk tuk station in Phnom Penh faster than you can say “Sex and the Woods.”

Keep lines of communication open. Have the PTRT, otherwise known as the “Pre Travel Relationship Talk.” Outline your own wants and needs for your journey and have your significant other do the same. Think you might get homesick? Say so. That way when you want to break down and eat at an American restaurant in Bangkok, he won’t have any room to judge you (although we certainly will).

And finally: book a private room every now and then. Bunking up in shared hostel rooms with fellow dirty backpackers is a great way to make new friends and save some money. But you’ll want to be sure to get some international lovin’ in, and even though we believe in good ‘ole sex in the woods, you probably don’t want your first amorous experience abroad to be in a malaria ridden jungle. So just make sure to find yourself a nice private suite once in awhile.

Happy travels!
Anna + Dave

p.s. Anna says, “remember to pack an antibiotic ointment, you’ll never know when it will come in handy.”

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

Today we deal with the touchy issue of vegetarianism.

Dear SATW,

Here’s my question:
I started dating a super-hot, outdoorsy girl who rock climbs and snowboards all the time, and everything was going great until a backpacking trip last week.

We hiked into a secluded lake in Western Washington, and set up our camp. We have an awesome night drinking a bunch of wine and making out in front of the campfire. And without sounding crass, this was the first time we hooked up. The next morning I unpacked my fishing gear and found a good spot to cast, while she was still sleeping. The worms I packed in were the trick, the trout went nuts for them. I quickly caught four 12-inchers and whipped up a trout hash for breakfast. When she came out of the tent and saw the meal, she totally freaked out and started screaming about killing animals and that she was a vegetarian. After a few minutes she finally calmed down, and I said? “I thought vegis ate fish?” Then she started screaming again. What am I going to do She called me murderer, and that I disgust her. We hiked back in silence.
-Outdoor Meat Eater

Dear OEM

Your question raises some interesting issues, but the one we’re most concerned about, for your own sake, is the fact that you failed to realized that she was a vegetarian in the first place. How long had you been hanging out with her before said backpacking trip? Even after only a couple of dates you should have picked up on the tips that she didn’t eat meat, leading us to conclude that the first thing you need to work on is not your relationship with this woman, but your listening skills. Seriously man, no woman, no matter how cool or outdoorsy, is going to stick around with an egotistical guy that can’t shut his mouth for long enough to hear about her ideas and passions. Trust us, this is definitely not the way to score future SATW-type dates; stick with your current attitude and you are destined for spending many a night alone and cold in your tent.

That being said, we’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are a well-rounded, caring individual (although we sort of doubt it). If so, we can only guess that your understanding of vegetarians is totally off – which still makes you an uneducated dumbass, certainly not an attribute of a SATW worthy individual. Hint: vegetarians don’t even eat fish. What you’re thinking of is a Californitarian, and those types come with their own set of weird issues.

But to get to the actual problem at hand: she’s a vegi and you’re not. She called you a murderer, that’s pretty extreme, so you might want to check yourself and make sure you’re not dating a PETA enthusiast. But many vegi/non-vegi couples go on to live perfectly happy, outdoor loving filled lives. Explain to her that you believe in the value of sustainable/organic/free-range/locally grown meats and are not a mass-produced, factory-farmed, chicken nugget eating kind of guy. Because if you are, you’ll certainly never get any eco-hawties. Just because you eat meat doesn’t make you a bad person, but make sure it’s coming from the most sustainable sources possible. That, along with a caring personality that LISTENS [see above], is the only way to ensure your abilities to seduce vegis and non-vegis of all kinds.

But seriously man — and trust us, because we’re professionals — start working on those listening skills. No amount of outdoor skills/sexiness and ability to charm women in the woods is going to replace an honest man that knows how to shut his mouth.

Best of luck,

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

Dear SATW-

I started dating this guy. He’s great – loves the outdoors, sweet to me, super cute, and great in the sleeping bag. Problem is, he drives a Hummer. WTF? What do I do?

-Prius Princess

Dear Prius Princess-

Well, this is certainly a dilemma that raises several questions. Does he just have a Hummer because his parents decided to give him the hook-up and he actually would prefer to be in a Prius? Does he not realize what a waste of EVERYTHING his car is? Or is this vehicle representative of his deep-seated, environmentally destructive personal values? For your sake, we hope it’s the former rather than the latter, but it’s hard to imagine that a man that drives an unusable monstrosity that’s only good for transporting an over-inflated sense of self-worth has good intentions. Seriously, a Hummer?

Without some additional info, let’s just do the typical SATW thing and assume the worst: This guy is a gas-guzzling, earth-hating, mass consumption worshipper. What the hell are you doing? You can’t find a guy with respectable tastes who actually gives a damn about waste and over-use? This guy is clearly over compensating, but for what? This guy’s massive insecurities are going to drag you down into his pit of despair and neediness that only a bottle of whiskey and a weeklong trip in the backcountry can fix.

At the very least, if you continue to date this guy, your friends will mock you, as they damn well should. Dating a character of this type is a slippery slope that will only get worse: he might have other excellent qualities, but if you start making exceptions here and there, your dating standards will quickly fall by the wayside. What’s next? A coal baron? An oil exec? A whaler? Next thing you know, you’ll be banging Dick Cheney.

If you actually love the outdoors and care about protecting it, then dating this guy is just as hypocritical as a vegan dating a butcher. Lucky for you, if his intentions are good, you can use your sexy eco ways to encourage him to switch out the monstrosity for something with less of an impact; a bike perhaps??? Let’s hope he just needs a little push in the right direction to be SATW-approved mate.

There is however a quick fix for this problem: establish a clear ultimatum. From now on, Hummer drivers should be off your list of eligible bachelors, and if he wants to keep enjoying your company, he’s going to have to drop the car. You hold all the cards in this situation, so use them to your, and the environment’s, advantage.

Good luck. We hope he’s worth it.
-Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer. Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com.

Today we deal with the touchy issue of breaking up, when you and your significant other run in the same active circles.

Dear Sex and the Woods

I moved to a new city about a year ago. I’m a kayaker, so the obvious first step when moving was to find a fellow group of paddlers. After connecting with some cool people, I soon started dating one of guys. Life was great, and I hung out with a lot of fun people, but lately I’ve been realizing that getting into a relationship so soon after moving here made me less able to break out and do my own thing. The relationship is making me feel a little claustrophobic to say the least. Problem is, that this guy is really into me, and since we’re both avid kayakers, we have a lot of mutual friends. He’s a great guy and I really want to keep our amazing friendship, but I’m just not ready to be in anything this serious. How do I break it off without hurting him and making things awkward with the rest of our friends?
- Confused Kayaker

Dear Confused Kayaker-

You seem pretty worked up about this, and we’re sure you’ve spent laborious hours analyzing this with your girlfriends. Our advice however is going to be short and simple. Unfortunately, you might not like it. But we’re not here to make you happy, we’re here to give you advice to help you live your modern adventurer life to the fullest. So here goes:

1. Trying to “stay friends” is like trying to patch a tent that has been attacked and ripped apart by a bear. It might do the job for a little bit, but as soon as it rains, you’re in for a miserable night.

2. You’re in a rut and you need to find a new sport. Nothing’s as un-sexy to a modern adventurer as merely sticking to a routine you’re comfortable with, so it’s time for you to go out and do something new.

This may sound like harsh advice, but let us explain. Let’s start with the friends part. This guy might be great, but let’s be honest, you’re about to do some serious heart breaking; he’s going to feel like he just got a terrible, gratuitous beat down and all his friends will see him get worked. That doesn’t make you a bad person, in fact many modern adventurers already know the importance of keeping their own priorities first, but you need to acknowledge that your former-sweetie is now going to want to keep you much farther than a paddle’s distance away. Make it clean cut and let him move on. Otherwise you’ll be that annoying, raw blister that keeps distracting you from enjoying the hike, and I’m sure you envision better things for yourself.

You’re also a female, which means you know perfectly well that your sport offers the lovely 10 to 1 male to female ration… so in your new single state, expect some of his friends to be after you. Because you roll in a crew with so many possibilities, falling for one of your exe’s friends is almost inevitable, but emotions run high and unless you want someone to get drowned in an outburst of revenge, it’s time to find a new sport. Preferably one with lots of eco-hotties and outdoor lovers.

You’re also ready for a change of pace. You relocated to a new town and didn’t know too many people, but now you’ve found your place and you’re ready for more. In fact, you’ve probably noticed that there are better fish in the sea – or river, as your case may be. And seriously, what’s better than taking special lessons from an attractive, knowledgeable individual that can teach you the ins and outs of your new game? Go out and explore!

Best of luck!

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer.  Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com. We answer every Thursday!

Dear Anna and Dave,
Recently, most of my climbing trips have been taken with a certain someone. This woman is smart, funny and loves the outdoors as much as I do. And she is way hot.  But I want to move to something more than just climbing buddies. I really just don’t have a clue how to make that move and don’t want to be like every other jerk who hits on her at the gym.
-Climber in Distress

Dear Climber in Distress,

Taking the step from low key friend to hot outdoor lover is never easy, but the fact that you two are climbing partners will actually facilitate the process. Clearly, the simple, and most viable, option is to threaten the life of your new love interest. Now, we certainly don’t want to imply a direct threat, but “surprise” storms, steep slopes and gnarly terrain are your best bet in the game of eco-love.

Understand that in your quest for adventurous romance, you’re walking a delicate line, as you don’t want an actual injury (or death) to spoil your shot at love. Remember, when in the woods, safety first!

Your best option in attracting the attention of your sporty and sexy climbing partner is simply to “save” her life. Risk and danger are in fact powerful aphrodisiacs, particularly for adventure loving enthusiasts like you two appear to be. For example: “Pretend” to lose track of the trail on the way to a new climbing route, but be sure to hide your compass in a good place so she can’t find it. Wait for a few hours until you both start shivering, then bust out your space blanket and hug her tight until she warms up. Nothing’s hotter than body contact that’s necessary for survival.

Just be sure to plan ahead. After going through any life threatening predicament, be it a heroic recovery from a tangled harness or pulling a pinned leg from under a small boulder, you’ll want to allow your friend’s emotions to flow freely. To assist, be sure to pack a reusable bottle full of wine (carrying glass on trail will only weigh you down) and maybe a bar of organic, fair trade dark chocolate. After the rush of adrenaline induced emotions die down and the chocolate induced serotonin kicks in, your friend will realize that she owes you – big time. Simple as that. So let the eco loving commence.

Perhaps you don’t think of yourself as crafty, or pulling scams isn’t your ideal way of starting a relationship. But seducing modern adventurers takes more than the standard dinner and a movie date. That’s just a recipe for an urban coma, and that’s certainly no way to attractive a fun-loving eco-hawtie that loves adventure as much as you do.

Wishing many an outdoor rendezvous,

Anna + Dave

Welcome to this week’s Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer. We’re excited to bring you our first question, and hope that it will inspire all you modern adventurers out there to submit more. Remember, we’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries which means we will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Just email advice@wendmag.com.

Today’s question comes from Steve.

What’s up guys. Greatly enjoy your blogs. So not sure if this quandry is what your looking for but any input would be appreciated. Bout a month ago I met a girl through a friend of mine. She was just visiting for the week and I only hung out with her twice while she was in town. Problem is she was amazing. Although I found her extremely attractive, it was her personality that really got me hooked. I didn’t think about it too much until a week or so after she left and I realized just how much I had enjoyed her company.

Like me, she is big into hiking, camping, biking, you name it. That’s hard to find in a girl and those are the things I live for on the weekends. I just got out of a relationship about 6 months ago and it ended pretty badly. Am I just attracted to this girl because she is the polar opposite of my ex who was clingy and high maintenance? Maybe I just find her relaxed and easy going personality refreshing.

Whatever it is, I would like to get to know her more. What’s the problem then, right? She lives in New York and I’m in Nevada. I’m sure I could get her info from our mutual friend but is it stupid to even try to start something – even a friendship? Should I wait another month and see if I can just forget about it. At 32 I figured I was beyond the whole “crush” thing so feeling kind of lame right now. From a woman’s perspective – do you think she would find it sketchy if I contacted her in the chance she completely forgot who I was? hit me with your wisdom.

- Steve

Dear Steve,

Stop questioning yourself – do you really want to miss out on potentially the hottest Thermarest loving you’ll ever have? This woman sounds amazing, and unless you want to continue dating clingy, Vogue-reading, Evian-sucking women that don’t love (and thus, don’t make love in) the outdoors you’re going to have to bite the bullet and get in touch.

You have nothing to lose, and it sounds like you’ve wasted too much time on concrete-loving, cosmo-drinking divas instead of hot and muddy forest nymphs. Let your friend know that you’d like to get in touch with the woman and send her an email, or better yet, a postcard from some mountain peak. Tell her that you had an amazing time with her, and you’re hoping for more adventures. Hell, go all out and tell her that there’s nothing hotter than outdoor loving. If she’s interested in you as a friend or something more, give her the opportunity to share the sleeping bag with you, just be sure to make her breakfast on your camp stove the morning after. And don’t mention your ex. Think of it in terms of H2O bottles: this woman is the super sleek, eco-friendly reusable version and because she’s so fabulous, mentioning your old, outdated, enviro-hating disposable plastic one would be pure insult.

As for the distance: it’s not unheard of for people to move. Start by contacting her and see where it goes. You might love weekend trips in the Sierra Nevadas but you wouldn’t turn down an ultimate excursion in the Adirondacks, now would you? And even if it doesn’t work out, remember this: Don’t settle! Would you embark on a weekend backpacking trip wearing a pair of Crocs? Hell no! Same goes for women. Pick out the high end, heavy duty yet eco-fashionable pair of boots every time. They last longer and feel better.

Wishing many an outdoor rendezvous,

-Anna + Dave

Being an adventurer has its perks. You enjoy traveling to exotic and intriguing places which makes you cultured, you care about the environment which gives you a good conscience, and you’re active so you feel and look great. But even you need help from time to time. That’s why we’re bringing you Wend’s new advice column – Sex and the Woods: Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Adventurer. We’re here to give fresh perspective on age old questions and solutions to new quandaries.

Who exactly will be doling out this advice? Wend’s very own intrepid kayaking iWend Ambassador Dave Hoffman and Senior Editor Anna Brones. We feel that every question deserves a well rounded answer, so we’re here to express both the male and female voice. Sometimes we might come up with the same thing, other times our advice may differ, but you’ll always be able to count on tips and suggestions that 100% represent the Wend spirit. We will take questions on sex and relationships in addition to everything from eco-etiquette to adventure tips. Being a modern adventurer was never so easy.

What kind of questions are we looking for? Any query that you come across in your modern adventurous lifestyle be it green/lifestyle/friend/food/etiquette/etc. related. Just send them to advice@wendmag.com.

Keep reading for more about Dave and Anna.

Dave: I’m a semi-professional 26 year old living in Portland. I kayak as much as possible and consider flip-flops, boardshorts and a frisbee essential to living. Once I told Peruvian federal anti-narcotics officers that I was a narcotrafficante. They laughed.

Anna: I’m the Senior Editor at Wend. That means I spend a lot of time editing Dave’s iWend posts for poor grammar and spelling. I have a craving for green design and speaking Swedish. One time I got in a motorbike accident in Thailand and skinned off part of my leg. I fixed it with Thai iodine and learned to never again travel without antibiotic ointment.