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
-
The Depth of the Zone
How could they miss that, they gripe. Why can’t they see? Who’s training these guys, don’t they have a TV? This isn’t rocket science, the box is right there. Could it be that they don’t know, or not really care? Perhaps they made a bet or need to get their eyes checked. Maybe something’s wrong…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…