There are some friendships that begin quietly and end up changing the shape of your life. Mine with Jamie was one of them.
We met in January 2019 at the ALDHA West Ruck in Oakland— two women-owned cottage gear makers trying to build gear that mattered. Jamie had just launched Wander Woman Gear, proudly sharing the reusable pee wipes she’d designed after hiking all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail with a single pee rag.
I remember how her face lit up when she talked about it. She wasn’t just selling a product—she was solving a problem she deeply understood. And she wanted other women to feel confident, prepared, and connected to the land in the same way she did.
From the start, Jamie—“Nurse Betty” on trail—built Wander Woman Gear with intention. She used remnant fabrics, deadstock, and scraps other companies overlooked. She shipped everything sustainably because she believed fiercely in protecting the wild places that shaped her. Every detail mattered to her. It was never just about the wipe. It was about the impact.
Over the years, we grew close. We sewed side by side, commiserated through the chaos of running small businesses, and held each other up through the uncertainty of the pandemic. Jamie was creative, hilarious, stubborn, gentle, and committed in a way that made you want to be better, do better, live better.
When Jamie died, the world shifted. Losing her left a blank space I’m still learning how to carry.
But one thing became clear with time: the mission she started still mattered. Wander Woman Gear still mattered. And taking up her work—not because it was easy, but because it was hers—became a way to keep her spirit moving forward.
So today, with equal parts grief and gratitude, I’m honored to relaunch Wander Woman Gear.
The company remains exactly what Jamie intended it to be:
women-founded, Oregon-made, sustainable, and full of heart.
Every Wander Wipe is sewn with care, just like Jamie made the first one. And every order carries forward her belief that small choices can make a big difference—on the trail and in the world.
Thank you for being here.
For remembering Jamie with me.
For supporting this tiny but mighty brand she poured herself into.
And for helping keep her legacy alive in the most meaningful way I can imagine.
Here’s to the wanderers who leave no trace.
Here’s to Jamie. 💜
