Writer Spotlight: Amy Whitley
Meet Amy Whitley, the writer extraordinaire behind our NW Kids column.
Photo at right: NW Kids columnist, Amy Whitley, treks to Lake Agnes in the Canadian Rockies, about 1,200 feet above Lake Louise, Alberta.
Raised in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Tahoe, Calif., Whitley and her family now reside in Medford, Ore., where they “enjoy mountains, ocean, high desert and rainforest within an easy drive from home.”
Whitley is an editor for family travel and outdoors websites Trekaroo and Pitstops for Kids, and why wouldn’t she be? This mom of three energetic boys can often be found running, skiing, backpacking and sharing her adventures with others.
“My task is to make these sports more accessible to other families,” she says. “I am passionate about getting as many kids out into the wilderness with their parents as possible.”
As a runner, Whitley has trained for, and raced, half marathons and relays. Now, her focus is on consistency.
“If I can be out the door at 6 a.m. every morning, I consider this a win,” Whitley says. “And, so does my running partner, my chocolate lab.”
Whitley learned how to ski in the mid-80s and has never looked back.
“Downhill skiing has brought me pure joy since I first strapped on (yes, literally!) my first pair of bright yellow K2s,” she says. “And, I’ve since added snowshoeing and Nordic skiing to my list of winter sports.”
The epitome of an outdoors enthusiast, Whitley started her own adventuring as a small child, and it’s no wonder she’s become passionate about sharing her experiences with others.
“I’ve backpacked as long as I can remember, and continue the sport to achieve a peace and balance I cannot find elsewhere,” she says. “There’s something about the task of survival that allows little room in one’s head for any petty problems or worries!”
Read previously published NW Kids columns on www.OutdoorsNW.com and search NW Kids.
- Interview by Diane Rudholm
