About

 

Hey there! I'm Nicole, an Environmental Scientist & Mountain Guide, turned Metalsmith.

 

Fashion merchandising? Nope. Marketing? Nahhhh. I was being pulled to the outdoors. I bounced around and then eventually left college with a degree in Environmental Science.

So what now? Well, I slept a couple hours after graduation then hit the road with friends up to Southeast Alaska to work as a guide for the summer. After that I worked at a gear store in Massachusetts, taught skiing in Montana, researched ground squirrels in Idaho, guided canyoneering and climbing in Utah/Nevada, and then came back and guided some more in Alaska.  

On a post-season road trip, I was climbing in South Dakota when I took a small but serious fall climbing – I had landed on my feet, but unfortunately broke both heels and an ankle. This left me in a wheelchair for a while and unable to be outside doing what I love, which was my biggest fear. It was a rough time. I needed to move my body, to do something, to create… so I turned to art. I started painting then moved onto jewelry. Being able to work and create with my hands channel my love for these wild places and mountains I missed so much helped get me through.

Once I was back on my feet, I settled back up in Alaska and spent a few years running the environmental programs for local tribe and watershed council. It was a mix of the hands-on field work I loved and craved, balanced with the “fun” grant and report writing. As I moved up and time went on, I found myself more indoors then out, and at a desk instead of bushwhacking through the woods and measuring fish. I remember daydreaming at an invasive species conference about how I could make plant inspired jewelry that also educated people on the issue of invasives, combining environmental science and art.

So I quit. I left my cozy job to go back to guiding while I figured out how to get my jewelry business going on the side. My desire is to take the passion from my environmental background and my love of exploring wild places to create jewelry that educates and inspires others to get outside, protect, and learn about these beautiful wild places surrounding us!

And this is how Trail Spice was born.