March 4th, 2025 | by Carina Hamel
We have been talking a lot about adventure in the Bivo office. Sam recently skinned up Bolton Valley with his friend to build a jump and hang out. Keaton, Lily and Caitlin took advantage of the amazing snow Vermont has had for an early morning skin to take photos of our new bottle colors. Robby and I took the kids out in the recent snow storm that left 13 inches of snow to ski up to the Butternut Cabin at Sleepy Hollow, our local nordic center, to show them both the joy of being outside during a snowstorm. Honestly, there were some tears, frozen thumbs and unexpected excessive hunger, but it was the best. And we think the kids thought so too. Our daughter, Svea, loved the cabin so much that she went home and wrote a list of things to pack for next time when we get to go up there to camp out. None of these activities our team went on were to stay fit. Their sole purpose was to have fun—something I believe is far too often forgotten.
We have been talking a lot about adventure in the Bivo office. Sam recently skinned up Bolton Valley with his friend to build a jump and hang out. Keaton, Lily and Caitlin took advantage of the amazing snow Vermont has had for an early morning skin to take photos of our new bottle colors. Robby and I took the kids out in the recent snow storm that left 13 inches of snow to ski up to the Butternut Cabin at Sleepy Hollow, our local nordic center, to show them both the joy of being outside during a snowstorm. Honestly, there were some tears, frozen thumbs and unexpected excessive hunger, but it was the best. And we think the kids thought so too. Our daughter, Svea, loved the cabin so much that she went home and wrote a list of things to pack for next time when we get to go up there to camp out. None of these activities our team went on were to stay fit. Their sole purpose was to have fun—something I believe is far too often forgotten.
I distinctly remember a run we did when I was around 13 years old - the Seven Sisters in Western Massachusetts. We had a huge group of kids, ranging in age but all welcoming and ready for an adventure. The Seven Sisters is a popular route, but people typically stop on the eastern side of the Connecticut River. Not us. We had plans to cross the river (no, there was not a bridge to run over) and finish our day by running Mt Tom on the other side. So the river…. It’s not small. It would be a solid swim. We didn’t have canoes stashed, and we knew it wasn’t safe for such a large group to swim across without support. The plan? Ask for a ride. The river is a popular boating area and we figured someone would be willing to take us across.
I was young enough to not think this was that big of a deal, but looking back, I laugh at my dad, who was our coach and master planner of this activity. And I laugh at all the parents who knew the “plan” and just accepted that their kid would eventually end up on the other side. And we did just that. We found a guy, clearly not into running or hiking himself, yet ultimately impressed by the route and our adventure. He was beyond happy to take us to the other side. We hopped in, enjoyed the breeze and the break from being on our feet. Jumping out on the other side, we laughed and kept going.
I distinctly remember a run we did when I was around 13 years old - the Seven Sisters in Western Massachusetts. We had a huge group of kids, ranging in age but all welcoming and ready for an adventure. The Seven Sisters is a popular route, but people typically stop on the eastern side of the Connecticut River. Not us. We had plans to cross the river (no, there was not a bridge to run over) and finish our day by running Mt Tom on the other side. So the river…. It’s not small. It would be a solid swim. We didn’t have canoes stashed, and we knew it wasn’t safe for such a large group to swim across without support. The plan? Ask for a ride. The river is a popular boating area and we figured someone would be willing to take us across.
I was young enough to not think this was that big of a deal, but looking back, I laugh at my dad, who was our coach and master planner of this activity. And I laugh at all the parents who knew the “plan” and just accepted that their kid would eventually end up on the other side. And we did just that. We found a guy, clearly not into running or hiking himself, yet ultimately impressed by the route and our adventure. He was beyond happy to take us to the other side. We hopped in, enjoyed the breeze and the break from being on our feet. Jumping out on the other side, we laughed and kept going.
Sweet treats: The most important item on any adventure.
Sweet treats: The most important item on any adventure.
My childhood was filled with days like this. Full days out with a whole bunch of kids cross country skiing, only to come in for some quick snacks before heading back out to play on the snow mounds and race down hills. We skied down the back side of Wild Cat Mountain in NH, breaking skis and losing poles in the powder (pictured in the heading image is Carina and her friend Amber on this Wild Cat ski). I just remember smiling and thinking it was so cool to be out with my friends. Sure, I raced, but my big memories from sport growing up aren’t from my race days. They were from my adventures.
Bivo is one giant adventure for all of us. We are learning every day. We make mistakes, have plenty of oh shit moments, only to laugh, pick ourselves up and keep going. I get asked all the time how I like running Bivo. While there are certainly moments that make me feel like I am failing or cannot do it, my reaction is always “I love it.” I love to learn, to test, to figure out new things. We are constantly learning.
And just like any good adventure, running Bivo is about embracing the unknown, rolling with the unexpected, and finding joy in the journey. Whether it’s racing ourselves to unload a full container at our warehouse (our record is 2.5 hours and lots of sore arms), running through 10 inches of new snow for Run Club, or launching a company built on passion and curiosity, the best moments come when we lean into the experience—bumps, mistakes, and all. At the end of the day, it’s not about perfection; it’s about the stories we create along the way. And if we’re lucky, those stories inspire others to get outside, push their limits, and, most importantly, have fun.
Carina
My childhood was filled with days like this. Full days out with a whole bunch of kids cross country skiing, only to come in for some quick snacks before heading back out to play on the snow mounds and race down hills. We skied down the back side of Wild Cat Mountain in NH, breaking skis and losing poles in the powder (pictured in the heading image is Carina and her friend Amber on this Wild Cat ski). I just remember smiling and thinking it was so cool to be out with my friends. Sure, I raced, but my big memories from sport growing up aren’t from my race days. They were from my adventures.
Bivo is one giant adventure for all of us. We are learning every day. We make mistakes, have plenty of oh shit moments, only to laugh, pick ourselves up and keep going. I get asked all the time how I like running Bivo. While there are certainly moments that make me feel like I am failing or cannot do it, my reaction is always “I love it.” I love to learn, to test, to figure out new things. We are constantly learning.
And just like any good adventure, running Bivo is about embracing the unknown, rolling with the unexpected, and finding joy in the journey. Whether it’s racing ourselves to unload a full container at our warehouse (our record is 2.5 hours and lots of sore arms), running through 10 inches of new snow for Run Club, or launching a company built on passion and curiosity, the best moments come when we lean into the experience—bumps, mistakes, and all. At the end of the day, it’s not about perfection; it’s about the stories we create along the way. And if we’re lucky, those stories inspire others to get outside, push their limits, and, most importantly, have fun.
Carina
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