Stacy Karacostas

Stacy Karacostas has always been happiest in the woods, and the farther out in the middle of nowhere, the better. As a kid she spent eight years in Girl Scouts just to go on twice-yearly camping trips. Once she realized she could combine her love of the outdoors and her innate writing skills into a career she never looked back. 

An avid backcountry explorer, skier, whitewater kayaker, and mountain biker, she’s paddled more than 50 rivers in three countries, including self-support kayaking the Grand Canyon in 2021. She’s also been heli-dropped into remote ski huts multiple times (and made it in to even more under her own steam), worked for the U.S.D.A. Forest Service as a backcountry ranger, river ranger, and naturalist, and spent fourteen years as a commercial river guide and kayak instructor. Her last “real job” was Communications Director for a state-wide mountain biking non-profit. 

Ms. Karacostas is also the author of the multi award-winning, steamy backpacking romance novel Wild at Heart, and other award-winning outdoor romances under the pen name Stacy Gold. When she’s not writing or playing hard in the mountains with her husband and happy dog, you can find Stacy dancing, laughing, painting, traveling, and learning foreign languages.

Background

• Topics of expertise: Gear reviews, how-to guides, travel narratives, outdoor sports related environmental impact stories, dogs in the outdoors, van camping
• Years of experience in these topics: 25+ years writing for the Forest Service, and as a freelance copywriter and journalist for a wide variety of outdoor brands, magazines, and non-profits
• Favorite topic to write about: Anything women-specific that encourages more ladies to adventure in the outdoors
• Favorite piece of gear you’ve ever tested: An oldie but a goodie…The MSR Missing Link trekking pole tent, which was part of their first Fast & Light collection and remains my all-time favorite single wall backpacking tent 
• Favorite travel destinations: Anywhere far off the beaten path, with bonus points if I can speak French or Spanish, or take my dog

Education and Experience 

• Education: B.S. in Resource Management and Environmental Education from Colorado State University
• Certifications: ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor, Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Aid
• Books or other publications: Articles in print publications including Paddler and Canoe & Kayak magazines, catalog and marketing copy for a variety of outdoor brands, and the steamy, backpacking romance novel Wild at Heart, and Emerald Mountain ski romance series Just Friends, In Deep, and Never You (under the pen name Stacy Gold)

About the Writer

• Location: Boulder, CO
• Places You’ve Lived or Extensively Travelled: Jackson, WY; Stanley, ID; Seattle, WA; Atlanta, GA; Whitefish, MT; Lausanne, Switzerland; all over Colorado
• Preferred Pronouns: She/her

Follow Stacy on her Instagram