My name is Samantha Fairfield, I am a mom, a wife, a farmer, hobby goat breeder, adventurer, traveler, horse trainer, coach, instructor, massage therapist, holistic nutritionist, yogi, personal trainer, wilderness first responder, and still don’t know what I want to be when I “grow up”.
All I know is that I want to be better tomorrow than I was yesterday and to learn as much as I can in this beautiful short life. I strive to educate myself as much as possible and get REALLY excited about a LOT of things…
My current education which DOES somehow tie all together, you’ll see, I promise 🙂
*BA from Eastern Oregon University in English, literature and writing with a minor in anthropology and geology.
*MS in Complimentary Alternative Medicine and Holistic Nutrition from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.
*NASM certified personal trainer
*NASM certified sports nutrition specialist
*500 hour yoga training
*Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist
*Licensed Massage Therapist and Polarity practitioner from Spa Tech Institute
*Certified Wilderness First Responder through Solo Wilderness Medicine Schools
*I am currently in the middle of Girls Gone Strong training so that I can focus on women and teens moving forward.
My life is a wild juggling act that I am always trying to balance. As a mom to two young girls, wife to the best partner ever, mom to 40 + fur and feather babies (horses, goats, chickens, cats and dogs) I always have something up my sleeve or many irons in the fire. I am a type A virgo who thrives on movement and adventure. Recognizing that life is to short to say “I wish I could….(insert whatever desire here)” I find creativity and time amongst my insanely busy days momming, farming and running my massage and wellness practice.
2020’s COVID craziness threw many curveballs at me this year as it did for everyone. It forced us to be creative when our once thriving businesses were limping along day to day, and suddenly we were thrown into the world of pandemic style homeschooling without warning. Most of our horse shows were cancelled, my planned trail races were cancelled, travel plans cancelled, and things just seemed to stop. This loss of forward momentum, or at the very least the maintaining of the momentum I had worked so hard to reach over the years threw me for a loop and I needed to find a way above the level of low we were all experiencing on so many levels. So I took to the mountains.
I have always had a passion for hiking and being in the backcountry. I hiked often as a teen and in my 20’s. My husband and I lived in the pacific northwest for more than a decade where we got to get into some pretty amazing territory all over the west coast and inland. I trained FEI endurance horses for 3 years which took me to some very remote areas all over California, Idaho, Washington, and Canada. I got to experience and see country that few will ever see in a lifetime and it is addicting and inspiring.
My husband and I moved back to our home state of Maine in 2016 with our then 1 and 3yr old daughters, our lives were consumed by trying to get out of the RV we had lived in for almost a year, building a tiny house, then ultimately buying and building our little farm in West Kennebunk. Hiking, backpacking and traveling was put to the wayside until July of 2020 when I did my first longer solo hike the Mount Chocorua loop (more on this in the hike reports). I was hooked…and started my journey to complete the New Hampshire 48 4,000 footers with a goal of completing the grid in 5 years, which then led to starting other lists such as 52 with a view, the New England Hundred Highest, NE 67, and more.
All I knew is I NEEDED to be in these Mountains, and now I have a burning desire to help others achieve the same. I hear often “how do you do it”? “How do you find the time”? “Does it make you nervous hiking solo”? and more….My purpose and promise to you my readers is to help make hiking SAFE, attainable, and a real goal for those that really want to do it. You CAN do it, whether you are a mom to one kid or 20 kids, whether you work a 9-5 or are self employed, where there is a will there is a way, trust me, If I can do it ANYONE can…
This blog will offer hike and backpacking reports, educational information on safety, nutrition and conditioning between hikes, gear reviews, information on hiking with kids and dogs.
So my friends, YOU too can be in those mountains no matter how big or small they are they are ALL therapeutic and rewarding. I hope to hear feedback and am happy to answer any questions you may have along your journey to being your best, happiest, fittest self.
Cheers to a New Year 2021…”Take a hike” covid and “take a hike” to the narratives you tell yourself that keep you from accomplishing your wish lists.
Yours,
Samantha Fairfield “aka” Summit Sister
