SHAINA MAYTUM
WRITER, ADVENTURER, EDUCATOR
RECENTLY PUBLISHED WORK
OUT ALIVE: FALL FROM A CLIFF
Backpacker Magazine
"The blue Utah sky filled my vision as I lay motionless on my back. My right arm was bent at a grotesque angle, my back felt like it had been shattered by a boulder, and I couldn’t move one of my feet. Only one person knew where I was, and she’d left me like this an hour ago..."
DAD'S OLD YELLOW OARS
The Duct Tape Diaries - NRS.com
I sit on the beach, watching my father struggle to step out of the boat. His Camelbak dangles awkwardly from one hand and he tries to catch himself with the other as the sand falls away beneath him. I take in his black tennis shoes, tall white socks and matching neon-and-black t-shirt and shorts combo. For someone who is so vocally skeptical of inventions like dry boxes, he really has embraced the worst of what modern outdoor apparel has to offer. I should get up and help him, but instead wiggle my toes deeper into the sand as someone else offers to help him ashore.
CLASS III FUN AND WHY I LOVE LATE SEASON BOATING
The Duct Tape Diaries - NRS.com
High water guide training on the Shoshone section of the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs is terrifying. It’s a short section, no more than a mile, so new guides train by doing quick laps through the rapids, somewhat affectionately named “Shoshone Bombs.” Many of the other rookies seemed to love the huge waves and near misses, but I hated it. I hated watching the churning whitewater through the window of the van, I hated listening to our trainer yell over the roar of the entrance rapid, I hated the constant feeling of dread every time we pushed our boat into the water.
I NEVER HAD A REAL PET. THEN CORONAVIRUS MADE ME A CAT PERSON.
The Colorado Sun
"...There I was, scouring Humane Society websites and watching cats disappear almost in real-time as people scrambled to adopt the few animals available. I read their profiles like someone desperately searching match.com, and much like with online dating, the good ones went fast."
GUIDEGAP MEDIA
Check out my regular blog posts!
Moab, Utah is Full of Outdoor Adventure
Western Colorado is Full of Outdoor Adventure
What to Pack for a Colorado Hike
Dispersed Camping - What is It?
CARBONDALE MAGAZINE
I have been a regular contributor since 2019 - pick up a copy if you're in the area!
ABOUT SHAINA
Shaina Maytum is a writer, educator, and adventurer living on Colorado’s Front Range. She loves exploring the wilderness of the American West, but never forgets that these special places need protecting. Shaina strives - through writing, education, and advocacy - to make sure future generations of humans and animals will also be able to sleep under silent, starry skies.