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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No, the Other Black Mountain
Black Mountain, a ski destination in Jackson, NH, rests fondly in the hearts of many New Englanders. It’s quaint size and beautiful location speaks to the adventurer in all of us, nostalgic for a time most of us can’t remember. It’s also one of the first mountains—perhaps the first mountain—where I learned to ski, as…
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Hillman’s Highway: Learning and Earning Late-season Turns
It’s been a year of bucket list items. Ice climbing for the first time was at the top of my list, but second was a wish to return to Tuckerman’s for a shot at skiing the ravine. The last time I went was years ago, and when we got to the Hermit Lake Shelter (aka…
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Not Smarts Mountain
Some days, nothing goes as planned. I was supposed to ski Tuckerman’s, but then the weather didn’t look right for it. Then I was supposed to hike with a buddy, but he had to cancel. So, instead, I found myself hiking alone on a 7.5-mile wet pile of stew that should have taken four or…
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How Hiking Became Part of My Writing Process
In between talks about 4000s by 40, I’ve started work on my next book. The writing process feels different this time, but some things are surprisingly the same. One thing I didn’t expect? Recording audio notes again. Since 4000s by 40 was an active adventure about hiking, I recorded a lot of notes while climbing…