Journalist

Iceland! June 3-9th Hiking to the summit of Hvannadalshnúkur

In early June, I’m flying to Iceland on assignment for Oxygen magazine to hike to the summit of Hvannadalshnúkur (6,922-ft.), Iceland’s highest peak. I’m anticipating an amazing athletic and visual experience. The 14-mile hike is said to be packed with panoramic views, as we hoof past Vatnajökull glacier overlooking glaciated rivers, boundless sandy plains, and various Icelandic wonders. While in Iceland, I’ll also take adventure trips with the Icelandic Search & Rescue Organization (SAR), leaving from Skaftafell, to the highlands small fishing villages on an actual search and rescue mission. Before returning to the NYC’s Urban Jungle, my trip will wrap up with a revitalizing visit to the Blue Lagoon, the legendary geothermal source of seawater known for its healing power, wellness and beauty. Eye candy for the body and soul. Now we’re talking!

10 Best Winter Activities in New York!

If New York City is the city that never sleeps, than New York state is the state that never rests, even in the hibernation-friendly months of winter. With nearly 55,000 square miles of rolling farmland, snow-dusted forests, craggy mountains, fish-stocked lakes, and sleepy towns, life outside of New York's titular city offers more outdoor activities than you're likely to accomplish in a lifetime—never mind a single season. The Adirondacks' granite rock faces shimmering with a thick coat of climbable ice, pristine cross-country and snowshoeing over the snow-covered Tugg Hill Plateau, over half a dozen ice rinks that keep city and suburban dwellers gliding straight through March, Lake Placid's Winter Olympics allure… The list really is infinite, which is why we've honed in on the state's ten best—and included honorable mentions as well (just to widen your options). You can read the rest of my story on Away.com: http://away.com/feature/top-ten-winter-activities-new-york-state-1.html

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoes thru Finger Lakes Wine Country!

With more than 100 wineries and endless networks of trails winding past splashing waterfalls and cavernous gorges, New York's Finger Lakes region during the winter is a sipping, snow-covered mecca for outdoor-obsessed oenophiles. Almost all of the allure can be attributed to the area's geography; 11 finger-shaped lakes, each dubbed with Native American names, define the landscape to create a natural playground that has drawn the active-obsessed, 365 days a year, for as long as humankind has known it exists. And vineyards have been there since the 1860s, naturally fortified by the sunshine that reflects off the lakes onto the vines.

The deep lakes also absorb considerable amounts of heat, which is then released during the winter to maintain moderate microclimates and prevent early frost in hillside vineyards—geographically unique conditions that help produce a variety of award-winning wines, from Riesling and Gewürztraminer to chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and a grab bag of indigenous varietals. You can read the rest of my story on Away.com: http://away.com/feature-article/cross-country-skiing-vineyards-finger-lakes-region-new-york-1.html

Tubbs Romp to Stomp ~ Snowshoeing Family Adventure!

"Go Team Grandma Helene!" "Go Team Grandma Helene!" chanted my niece and nephew with every step my out-of-breath mom took as she raced along the 3K Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer Snowshoe. That crisp, sunny morning, my mother, Helene, a breast cancer survivor who is currently battling lung cancer, strapped on snowshoes for the first time in her life.

 

"These are pretty cool," she said, tapping them together fascinated with their sleek, lightweight design. "They're not what I expected." She envisioned wooden slabs with leather mesh. Give her a break; she lives in the Sunshine State and doesn't see much snow.

 

You can read the rest of the article on Active.com:

www.active.com/running/Articles/Snowshoe_Series_Aims_to_Stomp_Out_Breast_Cancer.htm

 

6th Annual Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer – Snowshowing for the Cause!

On February 7th I’ll be in Salt Lake City, UT participating in the Tubbs Romp to Stomp snowshoe walk with my Mom (a Breast Cancer survivor), brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We thought it would be a fun day to spend as a family, while raising money and awareness for Breast Cancer. The event takes place in five cities around the country (NJ, VT, OR, CO & UT), offering a 3K or 5K benefit snowshoe walk or a 3k race along gentle, marked trails along. Tubbs supplies free snowshoe demos for newbies to experts. Since 2003, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer has raised nearly three quarters of a million dollars for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and its Affiliates and inspired thousands of to get out snowshoeing. I told my Mom, who lives in Florida, "Don't worry, it's as easy as walking!"

New Jersey: Jan. 24; Vermont: Jan. 31; Utah: Feb. 7, Oregon: Feb.21; Colorado: Mar. 7

www.tubbsromptostomp.com

Biking Colorado Wine Country!

I spent three summer days spinning and sipping through Palisade, Colorado’s wine country. It was a great opportunity to ride through some of America’s most beautiful landscape, sandwiched between the Book Cliff Mountains and Grand Mesa, and taste terrific wine while chatting with winemakers. My article appeared in The New York Times Travel section (October 5, 2008). http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/travel/05biking.html

Uganda ~ March 2008!

On March 20, 2008, I flew to Uganda on assignment for NPR “Weekend Edition Saturday.” Much of my two week visit was spent with Dr. Jessie Stone, volunteers, and local educators visiting villages in rural eastern Uganda to teach residents about malaria prevention. The clinic and malaria outreach program are run by Jessie Stone, a medical doctor from Westchester, NY and professional whitewater kayaker for Jackson Kayaks.

 

Soft Power Health clinic, a solar-poweredfunded by Soft Power, in Bugajali opened in January 2008, but four years earlier Jessie started an anti-Malaria program. She and her colleagues offer Malaria treatment, research, education and teach prevention; while selling subsidized nets. They have educuated over 100,000 people and sold more than 25,000 nets since April 2007. www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=soft+power+uganda

Jessie also runs a kayaking outreach program in America that is part of “Right to Play,” an organization focusing on health education, prevention, and child development through sports and game playing throughout the world. Splitting her time between Uganda and America, for the past six summers Jessie has run a kayaking program for inner city kids from Harlem, NY. Last fall, some of the U.S. kids visited Uganda. Jessie said, “It was really incredible to have the kids in Uganda in the villages helping with the education and follow ups - and of cours, we took them rafting on the Nile.”

My trip will wrap up by driving 15 hours on rutted roads to the Bwindi area to trek to view the Mountain Gorillas. On our way back to the clinic, we will visit Pigmy villages that Jessie treats.

You can hear my profile of Jessie and all the cool things she does on NPR "Weekend Edition Saturday." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92705089. Mweraba!

Blindsight the Movie in Theaters - March 7, 2008

In fall 2004, I was part of Erik Weihenmayer's Climbing Blind team. Our goal was to lead six blind Tibetan teenagers to the summit of Lhakpa Ri (23,000ft), a glaciered mountain on the north side of Mt. Everest. Weihenmayer, the first and only blind person to summit Mt. Everest, invited me on the expedition to lead Kyla, then an 18-year young woman who has been blind since birth, and to cover the adventure in the media. In addition to writing about our experience for magazines, I produced and narrated a first-person story for NPR “Weekend Edition Saturday,” www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4652231. Our journey was also made into a film called Blindsight www.blindsightthemovie.com/ that is being release nationally after scooping up awards last year’s film festivals worldwide.

Blindsight opens in NYC in March 7, 2008 at the IFC Center (325 Sixth Ave) in New York City. Tickets available:www.ifccenter.com/film?filmid=55443. The movie will be opening in other cities across America throughout the March. Check local listings.

Would love for you to see it and hear your thoughts!

Enjoy the show!

Stefani

The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run – January 27- February 1, 2008

At the end of the month, I’ll be in Costa Rica covering the fourth annual The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run www.thecoastalchallenge.com, dubbed “The Route of Fire.”  It’s a six day, 120-mile running stage race hosting nearly 70 international racers who will run across the arid northwestern coast and volcanic region; completing a set distance (between six and 28 miles) each day through canopied jungles, inland lakes, windswept highlands, and along the Pacific coastline.

Race Overview: The race begins on January 27, 2008 in the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the Arenal Volcano, an active volcano with frequent eruptions. It ends on February 2nd in the cliffside resort town of Bahia Salinas.

The route is peppered with staffed checkpoints flushed with water, energy drink and snacks – so racers needed only to carry minimal supplies. There are two categories: “Expedition Run,” requiring competitors to complete the entire 120-mile course, and an “Adventure Run” category with shorter daily distances. This encourages competitors of all abilities to participate. 

Luggage is transported to the stage finish and each night competitors enjoy a sprawling buffet dinner prepared by local caters. It’s a great time to catch up with family and other racers to swap stories about the day’s adventure before falling into tents for a short sleep under starry skies.

Mayor's Cup Kayak Race ~ Circumnavigation of Manhattan! Oct. 14, 2007

At 9:30 on Sunday morning, October 14^th, I will line up with nearly 60 paddle-clutching kayakers at the North Cove Marina, in Battery Park City on the Hudson River, to compete in the second annual Mayor’s Cup Kayak Championship, 26.7 mile, circumnavigation of Manhattan. Pro’s like Greg Barton, who scorched the course last year in 3:21:28 hours – setting a world record – and local favorite Joe Glickman, 2^nd place finisher, will return to claim their titles and share of the $15,000 prize purse. While enthusiasts like me, who is more of a long distance runner with a passion for kayaking, hope to finish within the seven hour time limit and not be too exhausted to enjoy the fisheye view of the Manhattan sites.

Paddling north on the Hudson, we will splash past Chelsea Piers, the 79^th Street Boat Basin, under the George Washington Bridge, and eventually head east on the Harlem River where the Columbia Crew team trains. Exiting the Harlem onto the East River at Hell’s Gate will be perhaps, the scariest section. Accruing energy from the Long Island Sound, Harlem River, and East River, water often becomes swirly with forceful whirlpools and unpredictable standing waves. I anticipated a lot of breath holding and hopefully, little swimming.

Continuing south on the East River under the guise of the Silver Cup Studio sign in Long Island City, past Randall’s Island, the route continues clockwise around the southern tip. Dodging the Staten Island Ferry, we will stream alongside the South Street Seaport, until sighting the Statue of Liberty and dumping into the chaotic choppy Battery for the much anticipated final sprint to the finish line at North Cove – and celebration. www.nymayorscup.com.

My first-person story appeared in The New York Times Sports section, October 31, 2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/sports/othersports/31outdoors.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.