Dip Down to Rise Up (Together): Amy Hopkins, Saltwater Mountain Co.

Guides Gone Wild

Coming in HOT this week! Amy Hopkins is the founder of Saltwater Mountain Co., a cold-water dipping and wellness outfitter based in York, Maine, so I was stoked to talk to her, hoping that a tiny bit of thinking about all the cold water would translate into cooling me down in the crazy humid September summer we're experiencing!
We do indeed talk a lot about cold water dipping today - and so much more. Amy brings a unique compendium of skills and life experiences to her latest entrepreneurial endeavor, which should serve as great inspiration for all of us - basically a reminder that it’s really never too late to change your mind and try some new and different things.
This is a timely message for all those high school seniors/college freshmen out there - I hope they listen to this one and realize they doesn’t have to have their whole life figured out at 17! There will be plenty of opportunities to expand, grow and pivot to come - and bottom line, trying something new and challenging yourself with a little discomfort can have some hugely positive effects on your mental health!
Make sure to follow Amy’s Instagram page @dipdowntoriseup for her schedule of community dips, and be sure to check out the SaltwaterMountainCo.com website for more information on retreat offerings and all of the other fun ways Amy is blending her loves of cold water, yoga, bodywork, and more into uplifting experiences for her growing community.
And of course, grab a super-cozy Saltwater Mountain Co. Dry Robe or some other fun merch from her online store while you’re there!
Laps of links!:

• Saltwatermountainco.com
• @dipdowntoriseup
• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org/
• Tops’l Farm Petite Pause Retreats
• Maine Outdoor Economy Summit (November 29-December 1, 2023)
• dryrobe™
• Casting for Recovery
• Cressi Isla Booties (Amy recommends 7mm)
• Patagonia explains Yulex

And some related fun listens:

• Two Maine Mermaids on Guides Gone Wild
• Bonnie Holding, Casting for Recovery on Guides Gone Wild

Chapter

1. Guides Gone Wild With Amy Hopkins (00:00:00)

2. Discovering Belonging and Finding Balance (00:04:53)

3. Community Dips (00:17:36)

4. The Benefits of Cold Water Dips (00:27:57)

5. Dipping Experiences and Business Expansion (00:36:15)

6. Outdoor Gear and Dealing With Raynaud's (00:48:59)

7. Spreading the Word and Building Community (00:55:18)