Out There

On this bonus episode, we bring you tales from Out There’s live storytelling night earlier this month. Each story touches on the theme of being a beginner in the outdoors. Ashley White shares the story of his son’s injury on their first-ever backpacking trip together; Jessica Taylor explores the lessons she’s learning as she transitions from life in a house to a life on the road; and Natasha Buffo reflects on the intertwined experiences of falling in love with backpacking and losing a parent.

Melanie Chambers loved traveling alone. So when she set off on a four-month solo bicycle trip through Japan and Korea, she wasn’t worried. But almost immediately, loneliness set in. On this episode, Melanie shares her story. It’s a story of trying to prove yourself, of discovering the limits of your independence, and of making sense of a worldview that prizes self sufficiency.

When Out There turned five earlier this year, we promised to throw a party. That party is happening tomorrow, in the form of a live storytelling night. The theme for the evening is “beginners,” and five storytellers from across the country will share personal tales of first times in the outdoors. On this bonus episode, we give you a taste of what you can expect if you join us.

Susan Conrad was supposed to begin a three-month expedition up the Inside Passage on May 16. But like so many plans that have been derailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, her voyage has been cancelled. On this episode, we talk with Susan about how she’s coping with a disappointment of this magnitude.

On this episode, we share a story from the podcast Shelter in Place, about a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail. The story takes us into the mountains of California and explores the parallels between hiking in the wilderness and adapting to a life of social distancing. We also chat with Shelter in Place Host Laura Joyce Davis about how producing a daily podcast is helping her ward off depression and find bright spots amidst the hardship.

For Ben Montoya, summer camp was more than just a place to play outside: it was his community, his tribe. As a teenager, he remained friends with fellow campers. And as a college student, he taught at the same camp he had attended as a child. But in grad school, he started feeling the need to wean himself off the camp community. He told himself it was time to grow up. Then Coronavirus struck. Quarantined with flu-like symptoms, Ben began to re-evaluate the role that community plays in our lives.

Is it ethical to do a thru-hike during a pandemic? The wilderness might seem like a good place to hide from COVID-19. But the organizations that care for many of the nation’s long-distance trails are asking thru-hikers to cancel their trips this year. The concern is that hikers could spread the virus to trail communities when they stop to resupply. On this episode, we talk with two hikers who have cancelled their trips. We discuss ethics, emotions, and silver linings.

When we lose a loved one, we often experience competing emotions and urges. On the one hand, we cling desperately to memories and mementos; on the other hand, we strive to “move on.” Balancing the two can be tough. On this episode, journalist Matthew Schneeman brings us the story of a fatal accident, and of one woman’s efforts to preserve the memories of her fiancee. It takes us from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone, and explores how you can remember someone, while still moving forward.

When Elizabeth Miller teaches kids to ski, her goal is to introduce them to the joy of winter. But lately, she’s been wondering whether it’s cruel to help children fall in love with something they’re about to lose. With climate change threatening to shorten ski seasons by as much as three-fourths in some parts of the country, winter could become a rare commodity. On this episode, Elizabeth explores the merits of introducing children to natural wonders they won’t be able to enjoy as grownups.

When Kristina Marcelli Sargent was nine years old, her father was struck by lightning. Immobilized by fear, she watched helplessly, wanting to help but unable to make herself move. As she grew older, Kristina found herself freezing up over and over again in scary situations. Then one day, a hike in the mountains changed everything. On this episode, Kristina shares her story. It’s a story about how we react to fear — and about what happens when our natural responses don’t serve us.

In 2015, Sarah Allely was hit by a car while riding her bike. She suffered a mild traumatic brain injury, and in the ensuing weeks and months, she found it impossible to function normally. Only one thing seemed to help: spending time in nature. Now, several years later, Sarah has turned her experience into a documentary podcast series called Brain on Nature. On this episode, we share an excerpt from her show and talk with her about why nature is so important for the brain — for all of us.

Stories about Mt. Everest usually focus on the people trying to summit the mountain. But what about life for those who live near the world’s highest peak? Journalist Adam Popescu first went to Everest to report for the BBC, but while there, he realized that there was a deeper story he wanted to tell. And he needed fiction to tell it. On this episode, we talk with Adam about his debut novel, Nima, which is about a 17-year-old Sherpa woman trapped between tradition and ambition.

How do we learn to communicate with one another? On this episode, writer Chelsea Biondolillo shares an essay from her new book, The Skinned Bird. It’s about birds learning to sing, and humans learning to speak, and the complicated web of causality that shapes the way we interact with others.

Growing up, Becky Jensen wanted to be a writer, and she wanted to live in a little cabin in the woods. But then, real life happened, and her childhood aspirations faded. On this episode, Becky takes us on an 18-year journey from life-threatening pregnancy to new motherhood, from marriage to divorce, from an existence centered around kids to a dogged pursuit of her own individuality. Her story is about fledging the metaphorical nest, reconsidering neglected dreams, and redefining who you are.

Growing up, Lara McCaffrey loved going outside. But then one day, something happened that left her with a chilling fear of driving into the countryside. The open spaces she knew so well came to fill her with dread. On this episode, Lara shares her story. It’s a story about a paralyzing anxiety — and about the struggle to lead a “normal” life, when you feel too sensitive to function.