Blair Braverman is a writer and adventurer. She’s a contributing editor for Outside, a long-distance dogsledder, and bestselling author, most recently, of Small Game and Dogs on the Trail. She’s completed some of the toughest dogsled races in the world, including the Iditarod, the Kobuk 440, and the Canadian Challenge.
Blair’s a contributor to The New York Times, Vogue, Esquire, This American Life, and elsewhere. She recently hosted the BBC Radio 4 show Animal and is survival correspondent for the podcast You’re Wrong About. She’s spoken about resilience in the wilderness for companies including Microsoft and Google.
Her favorite pieces she’s written for Outside are about competing on the Discovery show Naked and Afraid, being a woman alone in the woods, learning to write, and mischievous sled dog Blowhole.
Published
After two decades away from the slopes, I've decided that smaller hills and lower stakes are surprisingly rewarding.
At Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, the oldest carving factory in America, a team of former archaeologists and butchers creates ephemeral art designed to be licked, touched, and eventually, lost.
At a Chicago-area training studio, moving ski treadmills and simulators promise to build confidence, technique, and muscle memory before you ever hit the mountain.
Norwegian outdoor culture doesn’t separate beauty from utility. These are the pieces—and ideas—that shaped how I dress in the wild.
I’m terrified of leeches, but desperate to stop avoiding lakes. So I called a leech therapist, learned what a leech facial actually involves, and discovered that exposure therapy isn’t always what you expect.
A full day inside a suburban rink revealed how one place can hold ambition, grief, faith, and escape—sometimes all at once.
I joined a taxidermy class and discovered a craft that’s far more thoughtful than I expected
I tagged along on a ghost hunt to explore why we keep looking for something beyond ourselves
A skeptic set out to see if the Japanese wellness practice works outside of the forest
An hour of darkness, silence, and floating changed how I think about stillness
Dogsledding taught me how to endure the cold—but cryotherapy felt like a different beast. Here’s how my body reacted to the rising health trend.
Sometimes the best adventures start in your driveway
As an outdoors advice columnist, I often tell people to get their nature fix by camping in their own backyard. I finally took a taste of my own medicine.
Adventure couples share their tips for handling jealousy and FOMO and supporting their partner in pursuing a dream.
Science doesn't have the answers. But after overcoming her own fear of the dark, this writer does.
“If we want to combat loneliness, we can’t just find the places where people are connecting. We have to build those places intentionally."
Most sled dogs are huskies and pointers, but Muppy didn’t get the memo. With sheer determination and a whole lot of heart, this little dog is rewriting the rules of racing.
The themes addressed on shows like ‘Naked and Afraid,’ ‘Alone,’ and ‘Survivor’ are more relevant than ever
Writer and dogsledder Blair Braverman wrote Tough Love, a bimonthly outdoors-themed relationship advice column, for the past eight years. Here’s what she learned from countless strangers’ problems.
In our chaotic world, maybe preparing for the worst isn’t such a bad idea. But when does it go too far?
I understand that it’s important to be a good neighbor, but I just want to relax when I get home from my physical outdoor job. How obligated am I to help others?
The owner of a hiking gear company notices that younger employees maintain a strong boundary between work and life. Is their attitude healthy or lazy?
Guests at Milkweed fall on a spectrum: on one extreme, foodies who rarely step outdoors, and at the other, outdoorsfolk who—like myself—have never experienced a tasting menu
As an environmentalist, I’m turned off by my boyfriend’s love of ATVs, dirt bikes, and his giant diesel truck. Am I wrong?
I’m planning a river trip with a friend who follows an overly restrictive diet. As someone in recovery from an eating disorder, how do I avoid slipping back into unhealthy habits?
Hyper-fixating on individual actions won’t save the planet
The answer to your problems isn’t an endless supply of chocolate or a personal nanny. Our Tough Love columnist shares advice on how to prevent tantrums and meltdowns.
Sometimes throwing in the towel is the best thing you can do for yourself, but don’t give up in the heat of the moment
My friends make a lot more money than I do, and they tend to plan vacations that are way out of my budget
When I think about other people watching me fall, I get a pit in my stomach
I’m worried that my Airbnb guests are annoying locals in my mountain town
I feel the urge to shake up my life, but I don’t want to stress out my wife and kids
I’ve asked him to return my skis three times, and I feel like I’m nagging him
Before you take an ill-prepared trip to honor your loved one, consider looking for solace in your own backyard
We both miss stuffing everything into a backpack and hitting the road. But between diapers, changes of clothes, and a ton of other necessities, it’s just not that simple anymore.
I helped them get their foot in the door. Now it seems like they think they own the place, and it feels disrespectful.
As her dad, I want to give her the space and privacy she needs, without making her feel like she should be embarrassed
She’s mad at me because I took a wrong turn and she’s terrified of lightning. But I think she owes me an apology, too.
He’s a regular customer where I work, and I’m new to the community
Meet the famous Alaskan husky—and Iditarod finisher—who got miffed at a musher and chomped her truck’s brake lines. (Allegedly. Because a lot of people think this pup is innocent.)
She seems too busy to hike right now, and I’m not sure whether to let our relationship fizzle out
She’s very active, and I’m worried that my schedule means she’s not getting enough exercise
I still get outside for long days in the mountains, but my inner anxious voice saps my energy
Our child is struggling with complicated mental health challenges, and we can’t get outside in the way we used to
She didn’t mention it when we came back, and I’m not sure she noticed—do I have to bring it up?
He just got into team sports for the first time, which is great, but he only seems to enjoy it when he wins.
I cherish this annual tradition and spend months looking forward to it, but I already know this one won’t be fun for me
He often comes by unannounced while we’re working from home
She’s become more restrictive with her own diet recently—now it feels like she wants to control mine, too
I was having a health emergency and asked him to leave with me, but he insisted on staying put
Racing the Iditarod means braving gnarly cold. Here's the gear that kept me (and my dogs) going.
No task is too tough for this year’s crop of winter workwear
My wife and I have been supporting his training, but I don’t want him to learn the wrong lessons
Isn’t it my responsibility to give him a reality check?
We may have botched the relationship reveal, but I care deeply about my friend and don’t want to lose him
We first connected over a love of riding bikes—is it possible for us to find a compromise here?
I’m an experienced solo backpacker, but she’s a marathoner and a natural athlete
She’s always asking me to volunteer in our community. I wish I could help, but I have a busy job and two young kids.
Am I being overprotective, or dismissive of something my wife finds meaningful?
The Yeti Camino Carryall 50 is the last hauler you’ll ever buy
Plus, what to do if your off-leash dog is making someone anxious
We have lots of fun when things go smoothly, but he gets in terrible moods if they don’t
Twelve testers put 33 boots to rock, dirt, and sand. These nine vaulted to the top.
Lots of people struggle to find new friends for outdoor activities. But taking initiative (and acknowledging your awkwardness) goes a long way.
I think he’s overreacting, and it feels embarrassing
Whether they’re for yourself or for someone else, here are some tips for taking NSFW photos in nature
My sport is a huge part of my identity, but I’m not as good as I hoped I’d be. What if this is my peak?
5 tips to help you feel less critical and embrace your body
He’s a big fan of survival shows, and I have a hunch he’s trying to recreate one on our trips
I used to be the life of the party, but now I’m having trouble meeting people
Our difference in perspective is causing tension as we plan the next big adventure
What do you do when the mind wants to heal but the body has other ideas?
I want to add a storage unit, but he says it will sully the view
Tips on getting to the other side
I know he means well, but I hate to see him waste money on something I'm not that into
My friend is building a yurt and asked me to live with him, but I’ve always thought there might be something more between us
Traveling with a mix of people can lead to tension. Here’s how to defuse a tough situation.
In an excerpt from ‘Small Game,‘ her first novel, Outside contributing editor Blair Braverman introduces a cast of characters who will be dropped in a remote landscape for a survival competition. An ominous future awaits them.
He likes to cozy up to animals and take their pictures. I prefer to keep my distance.