Kaylee grew up on her family’s farm in Montana, chasing her ski patrol dad around on the slopes as soon as she could walk, and spending long summer days on mountain trails. Curiosity and a love of wild places have shaped her life. After studying English/Writing and French at MSU - Bozeman, Kaylee did a stint of teaching French in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Upon returning home, she followed a strong draw northward to Alaska, where she discovered sharing the outdoors through guiding, a passion she has developed for the past decade. She’s traveled widely around the world to ski and climb but thinks the most satisfying adventures can be found in her own backyard. Her current home base is 9800 feet in the San Juan Mountains. Kaylee is an American Mountain Guides Association Aspirant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (ASC), and has completed a Pro Level 2, the capstone of avalanche education in the U.S. She guides year-round in southwest Colorado, with a focus on backcountry skiing and teaching avalanche courses, and guides spring ski expeditions and mountaineering ascents of Denali. These pursuits have brought about a deep fascination (obsession) with gear, centered around the value of having precisely the right kit to have your back.
Author Profile
Kaylee Walden
Review Editor
Showing 1-15 of 23 by Kaylee Walden
The Best Down Jacket for Women
As you venture into the mountains or around town, a good down jacket can do wonders to make your adventures more...10 Best Down Jackets
We're constantly testing the best down jackets on all our adventures. We tested down jackets for women and men, and...Editors' Choice
Rab Neutrino Pro for Women Review
This is an impressively warm lightweight sewn-through down jacket that is appropriate for both high alpine and...Best Buy
REI Co-op 650 for Women Review
This light jacket is a solid choice for those needing a down layer on a budget, for casual or infrequent use. It's a...Top Pick
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody for Women Review
This down jacket is ultralight, a solidly warm layer, comfortable, and a great choice for milder conditions when...Best Avalanche Airbag Backpacks
We bought the best 11 avalanche airbag backpacks and tested them throughout several seasons in the backcountry. Our...Best Hardshell Jackets for Women
Our testers live and breathe mountains - and guide them, too. We researched over 40 women's hardshell jackets before...10 Best All-Mountain Skis
After testing 45 pairs of skis throughout last winter, our panel of experts have hand-picked their favorites. This...Best Insulated Jackets for Women
Need an insulated jacket? We've researched over 80 of the best models and selected the creme de la creme. We promptly...How To Choose an Avalanche Airbag
What is an avalanche airbag, how do you choose one and how does it work? Below we look at the technology and point out...Editors' Choice
Ortovox LiTRIC Freeride 28L Review
Not to be hyperbolic, but this is it. This is the airbag pack you've been looking for, with solid comfort, a smooth...Best Buy
Arva Switch Ride 18L & Tour 32L Review
This avalanche airbag is essentially two packs in one. The carbon canister air system is intuitive to setup, and the...Top Pick
Scott Patrol E2 30L Review
This sleek, lightweight and thoughtfully featured avalanche airbag pack would be our first choice for days that take...Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket for Women Review
A reliable workhorse for a broad range of activities, it strikes a good balance of all our metrics and is available at...Top Pick
Backcountry Access Float E2 25L Review
Durable but still lightweight, this pack utilizes Alpride's revolutionary E2 airbag system. With it's comfortable ride...
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