Christine Reed: Rugged Outdoorswoman
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Time to read 3 min
Christine Reed is a long-distance backpacker, climber, and trail runner whose writing blends adventure with emotional honesty. Her outdoor journey began on a whim—and quickly became a way of life. She has since hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the Wonderland Trail, accumulating thousands of miles on foot and countless lessons along the way. Her “Rugged Outdoors Woman” persona, once just a tongue-in-cheek hashtag, has evolved into a symbol of her commitment to living boldly and authentically. Christine’s work resonates with readers seeking stories of independence, resilience, and breaking free from expectations. When she’s not on the trail, she’s often traveling in her van, speaking at events, or working on her next book.
COMING THIS FALL FROM CHRISTINE REED...
BLOOD Sweat tears: A Rugged Outdoorswoman Collection
A powerful collection of essays shattering the taboos around the female body in the world's most extreme and male dominated environments.
Blood Sweat Tears dismantles the glossy myth of the fearless female adventurer and replaces it with something far more honest, raw, and powerful. This groundbreaking collection reveals a truth rarely spoken aloud: adventuring in a female body is a specific, messy, and consistently undervalued act of endurance.
From high altitude mountaineering to transcontinental running to life inside the male dominated military, these unflinching stories capture what happens when natural cycles collide with extreme environments.
Feel the panic of a climber getting her period on Aconcagua with no supplies. Run alongside a Marine officer whose cycle is mistaken for a medical emergency. Each narrative exposes both the physical realities and the quiet cultural blind spots women navigate in pursuit of their limits.
By turns harrowing, defiant, and darkly funny, Blood Sweat Tears is a rallying cry and a validation. It honours the grit it takes not only to push the body to extremes, but to do so in a world that still undervalues what women endure. Every page insists on the same truth: bleeding, pushing, and surviving is its own form of heroism.
Prior to our release of Alone in Wonderland (April 2026) and Blood Sweat Tears (October 2026), Christine previously published Alone in Wonderland in 2021 and Blood Sweat Tears in 2024.
Alone in Wonderland was the Winner of the Indie National Excellence Award in the Nonfiction Category, the Book Excellence Awards for Adventure Non-Fiction, as well as a Foreword Indies Honorable Mention and Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite!
Blood Sweat Tears was a finalist in the 2024 Banff Mountain Book Competition and was awarded a Special Jury Mention.
We're excited to reintroduce these important books and help get them into the hands of readers far and wide! You'll notice a refreshed cover that features the stunning original artwork from the first edition of Blood Sweat Tears, and a completely revamped cover for Alone in Wonderland.
RECENTLY RELEASED...
Alone in Wonderland: Longing for Connection and Adventure in the Shadow of Mount Rainier
When Christine Reed first stumbled across a long-distance hiking blog at her office desk, she never imagined it would change her life. With little outdoor experience and no real plan, she decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. That single decision sparked a journey of thousands of miles and countless transformations.
Alone in Wonderland is more than a backpacking memoir. It's a raw, relatable story of independence, vulnerability, and the healing power of wild places. With honesty and humour, Christine explores what it means to define yourself on your own terms and reminds us that sometimes, the person you’ve been looking for has been with you all along.
The Outdoorsy Women+ Book Podcast
Christine Reed is the creator and host of the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Pod—an interview-style podcast with the authors of outdoor adventure stories by women and gender-expansive folks.
The show is an extension of the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Club. Books range from memoir, narrative non-fiction, fiction and stories in all outdoor adventure sports including hiking, running, mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, biking, snow sports, etc.
Rocky Mountain Books is proud to sponsor and support this inspirational and engaging podcast! You can tune in to the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Goodpods, Pocket Casts, and anywhere else you like to find your podcasts.
Interested in joining the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Club? Find more info and join here!
CONNECT WITH Christine Reed
Keep up with Christine and her adventures on Instagram (@ruggedoutdoorswoman) and Substack (@ruggedoutdoorswoman), check out her website (www.ruggedoutdoorswoman.com), tune into the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Pod, and join the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Club!