Those Who Roam: Laura Tenberg

Give a warm howdy to Laura! We met at the Austin Bouldering Project - Westgate location for the color circuit meetup in 2022 when I was getting started with my indoor climbing journey. She is such a skilled climber, and her determination on the wall to crush different projects helped to inspire me to push myself.

Let’s hear what she has to say!

 Q: Tell Us a Little About Who You Are

My name is Laura. I am 33. I currently live in Austin, Texas. I've been here for almost 10 years, and I grew up in Colorado.

I love to read and do yoga, and I enjoy indoor bouldering and hiking. I'm a huge dog person. I have a dog, my husband's a musician, and I have a teenage stepson.

Q: When Did You Start Adventuring in the Outdoors?

I started adventuring when I was a kid. My mom would take us hiking. I remember getting out and just going to the Garden of the Gods. There are all kinds of places just growing up in Colorado. I was also in Girl Scouts.

In our earlier years, we definitely went on more outdoor adventures, but as we got older, it kind of shifted. But my childhood was definitely a big early influence for getting out there and feeling comfortable, and just being in nature more often.

Q: In What Ways Has Nature Helped With Your Mental Health?

I think, as a kid, it really provided a foundation for knowing what calm and peace could be. Finding a place that is quiet, beautiful, serene, and just incredible and makes you feel a little bit small, and not worry about the little things that are going on in your life sometimes.

Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to find their space in the outdoors but is scared to take the first step?

Use your tools, use your networks, and talk about it. You never really know what people are into until you start talking about, “Oh man, I've been really wanting to do this.” Or if you don't know anyone and if you're not getting any luck with people that you meet, then the internet is great.

There are so many different tools, websites, groups, meetups, and apps – you know, all the things – that are a great resource for finding people where you are that are open and encouraging and have all kinds of different skill levels and skill sets and so many things.

Q: Who had the most significant influence on your outdoor journey?

There are a couple of people I think that I say we're the biggest influences on my outdoor journey. Definitely my mom and my dad. As I mentioned before, my mom would take us out hiking. Sometimes, we were a little underprepared, but we always had fun, and she taught me a lot about hiking in general. My dad used to take us camping every once in a while, and we just kind of drove around Colorado to find different camp spots without a big plan. We hung out in the tent, and my sister, my dad, and I would play cribbage when it was rainy or just hike around and enjoy it.

And then as an adult my friend Orion was an influence. I met him in college. He is a self-proclaimed gear-fanatic. He was always looking for the best and the lightest and convincing himself that he needed it and I think that rubbed off a little bit on me. He got me out there a lot more often to feel more comfortable and he had the tools and the resources and we always had a great time. I think some of my biggest adventures have been with him because he knew where he was going or he'd done it before.

Q: What are your goals in the outdoors?

In terms of goals, I'm interested in trying out 5K level trail running and I'd also really love to go to the Redwood Forest.

Q: What is your most significant outdoor accomplishment?

I've climbed, at least partially climbed, two 14ers, mountains over 14,000 feet, just in case you don't know.

The first one was when I was a kid. I went with my mom, some family friends, and my sister. We were unprepared and untrained, but thankfully Pikes Peak has a road alongside the trail at the top portion. My mom and I weren't feeling very well and we ended up catching a ride with somebody up to the top to meet up with the rest of the group. 

And then my other one would be with my friend Orion. We camped out near Mount Antero in Colorado, which is another 14er. That one, you can actually four-wheel up most of the way and then hike the last 45 minutes or so. It's probably one of the easier hikes I’ve done, but I did it.

Q: Where is your happy place outdoors?

I think it would be anywhere that's relatively quiet, where you can hear the wind and the trees. Pretty simple.

What is the Those Who Roam Series?

Those Who Roam is a video and blog series Victoria Rosa Flores created to highlight the stories of all the wonderful people she met outdoors to share their stories, accomplishments, and reasons for getting out in nature. From improving mental health to developing friendships, each person featured has their reasons for roaming through winding trails, paddling in rivers, climbing bouldering walls, and so much more.

If you know an outdoor adventurer who would be perfect for Those Who Roam, email me at roamtheouterspace@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can set up!