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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Butt-Sliding on Cherry Mountain (aka Owlshead)
The first hour took an hour. The second hour took two. And the third hour took about twenty minutes. At least, that’s how it felt going up and down Cherry Mountain on Saturday. After a solid holiday week of skiing and sledding with a ton of family and friends, I finished vacation off with “a…
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Taking Church with You
So it’s the day after Christmas, and if you’re Christian, you probably went to church yesterday. For many, it’s the only time they go each year, or maybe the only time they go outside of Easter. And that’s fine with me. I’m not here to chastise or judge. I can’t get my family to go…
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Balancing Late-Night Inspiration
A big problem for me as a writer is that some of my greatest inspirations come right as I’m about to lay down for the night. Or the moment my head hits the pillow. If I heed the call to write at that moment, then what could have been a reasonable bedtime around 10:30 can…
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Peakbagging or Peak Chasing?
In the hiking/climbing community, you’ll sometimes come across a hiker’s profile on Instagram, or somewhere else, that says they are a “no-list climber.” This reference distinguishes them from people who are focused on peakbagging lists as part of an overall “get it done” approach to climbing. And that’s cool. I appreciate what the no-list mountaineer…