Notions from May
A recap of my month's work, mood boards, purchases, and more
Two Fridays ago, I finished working by noon so I could drive to Seattle before Memorial Day Weekend traffic got bad. I-5 is notoriously messy on holidays. I tossed my suitcase and tote into the Prius, filled my water bottle, kissed Kona and Steve goodbye, and headed to the gas station. My playlist and podcast were already queued up and an energy bar was within reach for the three-hour journey.
My goal was to get to the Populus Seattle hotel by 4 p.m. check in so I could work a little more before joining a dinner hosted by the local specialty outdoor retailer Windthrow alongside Klättermusen, a Swedish outdoor brand making lightweight hiking, mountaineering, and climbing clothes. I mobbed up the interstate, made it at the expected time, left my car with valet, got my key cards, kicked off my flip flops, and promptly made myself a cup of decaf coffee from the pour-over kit in my room. I finished sending some emails and left myself 30 minutes to go from road trip greasy to evening glowy—and from Friday sleepy to socially energetic. There were people at the rooftop bar to meet!
Over the next 24 hours, I got to know a group of 17 creatives from across the outdoor space, from designer to athlete to brand sales rep. We had a beautiful candlelit dinner in the basement of the wine bar Otherworld. As we left around 11 p.m., a gaggle of us scootered back to the hotel, the cool spring breeze making my teeth chatter. I immediately fell asleep between the crisp, white sheets and woke up early for our 8 a.m. departure to hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
We spent the day following our trusty leader, the owner of Windthrow, through patches of snow and spiky bushes up the Commonwealth Basin Trail and down the Pacific Crest Trail from Snoqualmie Pass. Mileage: 7.54. Elevation gain: 2,759 feet. We ate delicious sandwiches on the side of a scree pile, and we stopped to appreciate a gushing waterfall. I nearly ran out of water and the cascade made me even more thirsty! At the end, we stopped by a market and several of us got gallon glass bottles of sparkling water to chug on the ride home—which was slightly interrupted by the doors of our bus that kept flying open While we waited for another bus, we hopped off at North Bend, and split a cherry pie and banana cream slices from the Double R (RR) Diner, famous from the show Twin Peaks.
Bye bye to the bus wrapped in an American flag, and an hour or so later, hello to the bus painted with a rainbow stripe. We made it back to the hotel around 6 pm., I called my car from valet, then zipped back home to arrive just slightly after dark. So grateful to Klättermusen and Windthrow for the adventure.
That’s all the reportage for this month.
Amelia
Latest Stories
For Field Mag: How KEEN builds shoes in America, and why it’s focused on lifestyle first. With a manufacturing facility in Kentucky and a new take of the iconic Jasper, the Oregon brand is charting a new course for USA-made shoes.
In the works + need sources: I’m reporting a story about how hiking style has evolved over the last few years, beyond granola and hippie types to include many different fashions and personalities. If you have strong opinions on this, reach out. I’m mostly set with sources but I’ll never say no to a hot take.
Monthly Links
Reading: I’m speeding my way through Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool by Clara Parkes, who goes on a year-long journey following a 600-something-pound bale of wool from farm to finished yarn. So far, we’ve been to a ranch, a dye house, and now a carding factory. At this point in my wool series, I have a good handle on the industry but this book is filling in all the gaps.
Watching: My girl Kellyn Wilson of TOGS started a YouTube channel and her first two vlogs are so cute and cozy. You’re probably already following her but if you’re not, get on it! She’s for the outdoor gals who also care about fashion.
Buying: This AllModern mirror was on sale for Memorial Day. The algorithm got me and I bought this Magic Hour eyeshadow for events that call for a little glam. TBD on if I like it. An Oregon creative made this little zine for things to do around Portland. Perfect for summer adventures.
Wearing: Klättermusen cap and Eckhaus Latta crop. Joseph Atelier tee layered over a red Outdoor Voices longsleeve. New Giro helmet and Marimekko shirt.
Building: For the past 10 weekends, Steve and I chipped away at building this patio and pergola in our backyard. Admittedly, I asked ChatGPT to outline a manageable plan that included removing sod, digging the space, pouring cement bases, assembling the structure, and so on. I’ll send it to you if you want it.
Planning: I’ll be in Stockholm in June. Send me all your recs for cafes, book stores, thrift shops, restaurants, museums, parks, swimming holes, etc. Ty!
May Mood
