My last edition came out more than a month ago. And as subscribers, you’re certainly entitled to an explanation. Things haven’t been quite the same for me on Cole’s Climb, I’d say since last October when I was wrapping up work on The Alpine Amusement Park.

It was a finish line that I’d been running toward for more than a year. When I crossed it, I felt lost looking for something new to divert that same long-term energy toward, while still sending out the typical weekly articles, interviews, and the like.

Then came the most difficult months of my life thus far. I’ll spare you the cause. But the result was complete exhaustion. Summoning the energy to get through my day job felt Herculean. I couldn’t make the time to actually get away and go on adventures, or interview new people. I had nothing to give to the community we’ve built here. So I sat on my hands.

Just as I felt I had finally surfaced from the situation, I was offered an incredible opportunity at the aforementioned day job: a big promotion, but one that will take me across the country. All of this is an exciting prospect, but certainly one that will come with changes. The climate will be tropical, the land, flat. Obviously this presents some problems for someone who likes writing about the mountains. I’ve thought about it carefully, and decided that I love doing this too much to give up; but I still don’t know the shape this publication will take during the next few months.

Right now, my tentative plan is to continue on — more or less — business as usual. I love writing about conservation, and inspiring the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. I plan to keep doing this. Same goes for trail talk. But the personal essays I sprinkle in, may sway a bit more toward different kinds of adventures.

For now though, I hope you can forgive my absence a couple weeks longer. Packing up everything on short notice is a tall order. I feel like I’d been drowning for so long. I’d like to catch my breath a little longer before I dive back in.

Thank you all for bearing with me, and I’ll see you soon!