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 16 by Kaylee Walden
Best Hardshell Jackets for Women of 2024
Our testers live and breathe mountains - and guide them, too. We researched over 40 women's hardshell jackets before...Editors' Choice
Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - Women's Review
The Beta AR is a truly balanced and versatile hardshell jacket. It is durable where it needs to be, and light where it...Top Pick
Ortovox Ortler 3L - Women's Review
This highly-breathable yet protective hardshell is among the first we'd reach for when we needed waterproofing but...Best Insulated Jackets for Women of 2024
Need an insulated jacket? We've researched over 80 of the best models and selected the creme de la creme. We promptly...Editors' Choice
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody - Women's Review
A lightweight, warm, and packable insulated jacket. We can't help but fall in love with this seemingly perfect outer...Top Pick
Arc'teryx Atom Hoody - Women's Review
This jacket is different from most the rest, with a soft fabric and a performance that's both weather resistant and...10 Best Down Jackets of 2024
We're constantly testing the best down jackets on all our adventures. We tested down jackets for women and men, and...Best Down Jacket for Women of 2024
As you venture into the mountains or around town, a good down jacket can do wonders to make your adventures more...Editors' Choice
Rab Neutrino Pro - Women's Review
This is an impressively warm lightweight sewn-through down jacket that is appropriate for both high alpine and...Best Buy
Wantdo Packable Down Hoody - Women's Review
This low cost, no frills down jacket doesn't have the warmth or technical features of more expensive options, but for...Best Buy
REI Co-op 650 - Women's 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...Best Buy
Marmot Highlander Hoody - Women's Review
For those wanting to spend a bit less, this down jacket is a good value that has decent performance and style that can...Top Pick
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody - Women's Review
This down jacket is ultralight, a solidly warm layer, comfortable, and a great choice for milder conditions when...Top Pick
Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody - Women's Review
A lightweight down jacket well-suited to moderately cold climates, it functions well as either a mid or light outer...Feathered Friends Eos - Women's Review
This jacket is remarkably warm for its light weight and compressibility, and it's also incredibly versatile. It...
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