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Kristen Lodge – How to be a ‘Mountain Babe’

Kristen Lodge / Outdoor Adventures
Grand County, CO Colorado

At 29 I got my first ski industry job and moved to my first ski town. Part of the job included traveling to ski resorts to train sales and marketing staff on sales software. The best part of the job was wandering around the ski town, eating breakfast and reading the local newspaper before a training class.

I clipped articles and photos from each town’s newspaper to remember the town and would add it to the list of places I might live someday; it’s a habit I’ve never lost.

I remember the day I read Kristen Ulmer’s article, How to Be a Mountain Babe, while sipping coffee and eating a bagel in downtown Park City. The article made me laugh out loud and wish my hair was long enough for pigtails.



I clipped the article and have re-read it over the years. It still holds true, even 10 years later, about ski town living, and it reminds me to live a healthy, outdoor lifestyle. Reading it now reminds me of all the cool mountain babes I’ve met over the years in all the ski towns I’ve lived in. Here is an excerpt of my favorite lines; used with permission from the author:

“In a mountain town low-maintenance women who are excellent at sports and tell the occasional dirty joke are perfection.



“A base ball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes is standard. Two pigtails are now trendy and adorable, but remember their purpose is to keep hair out of way. And long nails … no way. If you’re a true mountain babe they’ll break.

“Smoking cigarettes is NOT cool (no exceptions), and drinking too much will hinder your athleticism. It’s OK to party, but remember, being in the mountains is about living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying the outdoors. And be careful who you “hook up” with, next week you’ll probably meet and fall in love with his best friend.

“Don’t expect to meet men, you’ll only meet boys (with toys) – and lots of them. Almost all have gorgeous athletic bodies and college degrees, but under that dirty baseball cap is a mono-dimensional play hog who’ll always choose climbing or powder mornings over cuddling or going for coffee.

“This is where “no whining” stickers are birthed. Even if you can’t keep up, a “wow that was great!” positive attitude goes a long way.

“A crummy, beat-up car is cooler than a new 4X4.

“Must-haves are limited to top-shelf sports gear. Pick one sport, and obsess. Not only is it exceptionally fun to be really good at something, but you also want the glory of being called ‘that sick mountain biker with the honed legs’ or ‘the Betty who launches monster halfpipe tricks on a snowboard.’

“Take up other sports occasionally, just to prevent burnout and narrow mindedness.”

Kristen Ulmer wrote this in 1999. She was a pioneer of Extreme Sports and a mogul specialist on the US Ski Team. In 2003 she started sports training, introducing mental and Zen aspects to winter sports in a clinic called Ski To Live. She is a called the “Ski Guru” by Outside Magazine.

“I’m proud of my ski career, and jumping off 70 foot cliffs was exciting, but not nearly as exciting as helping people access what they’re capable of – not just as athletes or business men and women, but as human beings.” (Visit her website http://www.kristenulmer.com)

She went from mountain babe, to mogul specialist, to life/business coach.

The mountain lifestyle can be tough at times, especially in a down economy. I’ve thought of leaving many times. I have friends with bigger homes, nicer cars, and larger 401Ks, but I like it here; trying to be a mountain babe.


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