Ashley grew up in North Texas but spent her summers at a cabin in Ontario, Canada. It was rustic enough that there wasn’t much to do inside, so we went on adventure after adventure. Whether it was hiking, jumping off a waterfall, swimming in the Great Lakes, finding a cave, or rolling down some sand dunes, we were up for pretty much anything. Combine that with family vacations abroad and you have a young girl with a full heart.
Fast forward to high school, where my priority became sports, and then on to college where my studies captured my attention. After college, we took a family trip to Crested Butte during the summer and I immediately fell in love with the mountains. We vowed to move there one day, and a few years later we did it!

Since then, my focus has been hiking as much as possible during the summer months. Once the higher elevations turn from snow to dirt, my feet hit the ground hard. I hiked hundreds of miles while we lived in Breckenridge, Colorado, and now I continue my passion in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Our weekends are full of dirt trails, campfires, and maybe even a send or two at our local crag.
Ashley’s role in Know Nothing Nomads is to bring the content to life through easy-to-follow how-to’s, knowledgeable guides, honest product reviews, and anything else that helps you get outdoors. All this is based on her real-life experience and what she’s learned her entire life. When she’s not at the computer writing, you can find her exploring and adventuring with Derek.
Ashley’s Writings
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20 Beginner Climbing Tips to Help Get You Started
New to rock climbing? Here are the top 20 beginner climbing tips that will help you be successful, have fun, meet new people, and much more.
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Foot Care for Hiking
Do you struggle with blisters and sore feet? You may be doing something wrong, but you can learn the right way with this guide to foot care for hiking.
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9 Tips for Hot Weather Hiking: What to Wear This Summer
Have you ever wondered what to wear hiking in summer temperatures? It’s hot, but following these tips and tricks will help you stay cool in the heat.
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Is Merino Wool Worth It? Everything You Should Know
Let’s talk about the advantages of Merino wool and why your clothing for every day wear, hiking, and backpacking should include it in the materials.
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How to Clean Hiking Boots & Shoes: Dirt and Smells Be Gone!
Knowing how to clean hiking boots is an essential part of gear maintenance and should be done frequently and correctly – learn how here!
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How to Break In Hiking Boots
Foot care is especially important for hiking and backpacking, and knowing how to break in hiking boots is an essential part of staying happy on trail.
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Ethan Pringle: A Multifaceted and Skilled Climber
Ethan Pringle is a very skilled American rock climber who has notable ascents in both sport and trad climbing, as well as bouldering.
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Alex Johnson Climber Profile
Alex Johnson climber profile: American female climber who’s claimed multiple first ascents and iconic first female ascents in the bouldering world.
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Jonathan Siegrist: An Accomplished Sport Climber
Jonathan Siegrist is an American rock climber from Wisconsin who is well known in the climbing world for his achievements in sport climbing.
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Adam Taylor Climber Profile
Adam Taylor is a climber who made news in 2009 and 2011 for several notable climbs in Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
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Jeff Lowe Climber Profile: An Unforgettable Legend
Climber Jeff Lowe is one of the greatest climbers of his generation and has over 1,000 first ascents to his name, as well as many other accolades.
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Carlo Traversi
Carlo Traversi is an American rock climber who has many notable boulder sends and owns his own bouldering gym in California.
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Alexander Megos
Alexander Megos is a German climber that’s made the news plenty of times for taking on some of the toughest problems of this generation.
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Chris Sharma – From Prodigy to Deep Water Solo
Chris Sharma is an American rock climber who is known for claiming several first ascents of some of the most important climbs in recent history.
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Adam Ondra: The Best Climber in the World
Adam Ondra has been called the best climber of this generation and has so many firsts and onsights that it’s hard to list them all.
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Daniel Woods – The Best American Boulderer
Daniel Woods is an American rock climber who’s known for pushing the limits of bouldering – he’s one of only two people to climb a V17.
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Jimmy Webb: A Climber Who Excels at Flashing Boulders
Jimmy Webb is an American rock climber who is one of the greatest boulderers of all time, with numerous flashes that make him one of the best.
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Alex Puccio: An Accomplished Female Boulderer
Alex Puccio is an American female climber that focuses on bouldering and has won several world cups and championships in the past.
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Tito Traversa: A Young Life Cut Short
Tito Traversa was a young boy who was one of the most advanced climbing prodigies of his generation, but his life was cut short in a tragic accident.
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Paul Robinson Climber Profile
Paul Robinson is an American rock climber and boulderer that has surpassed over 1,000 boulders graded 8A (V11) or harder.
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Ashima Shiraishi: A Climbing Prodigy
Ashima Shiraishi is one of the best climbers at the world and has shocked people with her extraordinary climbing skills at such a young age.
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Bouldering Training
Committing to a bouldering training routine can help take your climbing to the next level, but where to start? Let’s dive in.
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How Much Wind Can a Tent Withstand? Your Questions Answered
Knowing how much wind can a tent withstand is important for planning your next camping trip. Taking into consideration your tent’s shape and materials…
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What is a Tent Vestibule? Why Do You Need One?
What is a tent vestibule and why do you need one on your next camping tent? There’s so many difference benefits and uses!
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What is Bouldering? Here’s A Beginner’s Guide
Bouldering is a type of rock climbing that can be social, physically demanding, and lots of fun! But what is bouldering exactly? Let’s talk about it.
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What is a Guy Line? (How to Use Them and Why You Need Em)
Here’s a step by step guide for how to use guylines when camping and a full explanation of what they are!
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Ape Index Calculator: What Is Your Ape Index?
Use our ape index calculator to find your index and compare it to famous climbers. Also, what is ape index and how does it affect your skills?
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Sport Climbing for Beginners: Everything You Need To Know
Here’s everything you need to know about sport climbing as a beginner: gear suggestions, safety tips, and a piece of advice you MUST read.
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Do You Wear Socks With Climbing Shoes?
There’s an ongoing debate about do you wear socks with climbing shoes – and we’re here to provide all the answers.
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Is Rock Climbing Dangerous?
Rock climbing is a relatively safe extreme sport, but it does come with some risks for both indoor and outdoor climbing of all types.
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Rock Climbing Gear for Beginners: What You Need & What You Don’t
Here’s a list of the essential rock climbing gear for beginners – it’s all the info you need on the necessities and when you should purchase them.
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Indoor Climbing Gyms for Beginners – The Complete Guide
Learn the ropes of everything you need to know about indoor climbing, including how to be successful in the gym, what to wear, and much more.
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