Welcome!
My name’s Matt, and I love to write and hike. I’m the author of 4000s by 40 and am currently working on book two. When I’m not working on that, I come here to share tales from the trail, reflections on the writing process, and whatever else I’m exploring at the moment.
If you’ve got a moment, check out the latest posts and drop a comment if you have an experience to share or if something rings true for you. Whether you’re a hiker, a writer, or just someone who loves a good story, I hope you find something here that resonates as you pursue your own discoveries.
What’s New
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Climb Where You’re At: Jasper Mountain
The plan was to climb Mount Hayes, but the route I picked was blocked. I didn’t know much about the area, and I thought one of the roads I saw on satellite images was a way through. Turns out it was a hydroelectric power station on the Androscoggin River that was off-limits to hikers. I…
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Reading “The Beauty of Ordinary Things”
Recently I read The Beauty of Ordinary Things, by Harriet Scott Chessman, and I thought I’d share because it’s so different than most of the literature we typically come across today. It’s contemplative, understanding, and forgiving—very much like the spirit of the abbey Chessman presents within its pages. I came upon this book through unusual…
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All Alone on Smarts Mountain
I didn’t expect this. On a beautiful sunny October day, with weather hovering in the high 60s, surely, I thought, someone else would be here. But as I made my way down a dirt road to the start of the Daniel Doan Trail, passing over a couple of wooden bridges that made me wonder if…
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A Ghost on the Trail
He came upon me like a ghost, a wisp of wind along the trail, but how he startled me the most by looking anything but frail. Ascending, strong and agile, one part bear, one a weathered fox, he thundered past with a smile, a panther pouncing on the rocks. I was caught looking at my…