Wild Letters is a newsletter about self-exploration and building a right-fit life.
Thank you for being here with me!
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My dear reader.
This weekend I’ll begin my attempted thru-hike of the Long Trail, a 272-mile footpath through Vermont on the lands of the Abenaki, Mohican, Wabanaki, and more.
You’ll get the next installment of Tiny Biz Letters this coming Monday, and then Wild Letters will be on a two-week hiatus with no essay on Monday July 15 or Monday July 22. Thank you so much for all your kind messages about giving myself permission to take this paid time off! (Why is it sometimes so much harder to treat ourselves the way we so badly want everyone else to be treated?! A forever question, I swear.)
Before I leave, here are a few hike-related things you might like:
I’m legit so nervous about the bonkers elevation change and steep descents of this trail, especially on my definitely-not-20-years-old-anymore knees, so I tried to get my gear weight down a little lower than usual to hopefully lessen the pressure on my joints. Fingers crossed it helps!
The vibe I’m going for here is basically: it’s the hottest part of the day and you’re standing at the bottom of a mountain and you do not want to climb this mountain but you must climb this mountain so you turn the music on annnnd go.
(Do you have suggestions for songs I should add? If so please, please drop them in the comments! I will likely be sick of all this music after the first week lol.)
If you’re interested in long-distance hiking (or in adventure memoirs more generally) then I bet you’d have fun reading my books, How To Be Alone: an 800-mile hike on the Arizona Trail and What We Owe to Ourselves: a 500-mile hike on the Colorado Trail
And… if you’ve already read either or both books I would like you to now imagine me batting my eyelashes at you in an adorable and compelling way as I ask if you would please take a few minutes to post a rating/review of the book on Amazon? It really (really!) helps new readers decide to give me and my work a chance :)
Speaking of books, and of writing more generally, I can’t wait to take so many notes on this hike and then write all about it for paid subscribers here on Wild Letters when I get home. I love hike writing! I miss hike writing!
And I’m also so delighted (and grateful) that my friend
has just launched a brand new writing group (for all levels/genres!) during which I will be doing pretty much all my word-making for the rest of the year. Do you want to join their group with me?! The link with more info is right here, and I’ll even be guest teaching in that space in August. I’d love to be co-writing buddies with you!Okay dear reader, off I go. Here’s hoping I remember exactly how to poop in the woods!
Happy trails—
Nic
i am *beyond* amazed/impressed/astounded that your total pack weight is less than 10 pounds. especially since i literally just stepped off of a plane today with a 27 pound carry-on backpack. excellent packing job nic!! and! whoa! your hiking playlist is 🔥🔥🔥!! those tunes would certainly inspire me to get shit done repeatedly. happy hiking! 🙋🏽♀️💕
Wishing you the awesomest journey!