Dear Moss People,
The reason why the final hiking newsletter for 2022 is taking the form of a missive as opposed to the usual episodic narrative is twofold. First, we’re in the middle of that hazy interlude between the winter holidays and New Year’s Eve, when you temporarily regress to an invertebrate state and your days revolve around snacks and armchairs. The closest that I’ve come to hiking in the last 72 hours is walking to the local CVS to buy peppermint patties that were steeply discounted the day after Christmas. While I’m sure some of you have actually wandered into the sticks or bushes (good for you), this is a hallowed week of endemic decadence and sloth, and I want to respect that.
But the second and more crucial reason why I’m writing all of you a letter as we gaze into 2023 is because I want to thank each of you for helping Mind The Moss become the peaty publication that it is today. And I have some exciting news to announce…
When I launched Mind the Moss in August of 2021, my goal was to establish a space where I could regularly publish New England hiking stories that would be difficult to sell to the outdoorsy publications that pay living wages. I figured maybe a hundred or so people would subscribe in the first month. From there, I had no idea what would happen with Mind The Moss and no expectation of the newsletter becoming a pillar of my livelihood as a writer. But thanks to you, it has become a pillar. As we head into 2023, Mind the Moss is close to hitting 1,000 subscribers, and well over 100 of you have generously chosen to buy paid subscriptions. What this means is that I can now commit even more time and resources to making this newsletter bigger, bolder, and more bizarre in the months ahead. And on that note, here’s the big news for 2023.
Up until this point, Mind the Moss has been something you read and study. But the art of storytelling has other dimensions, and over the last year, one of them has wormed its way into my imagination. I’ve done some research, fiddled around with gear, and talked with several of you about this germ of an idea. And I’m thrilled to announce that this January, Mind the Moss will expand to become a newsletter and a podcast.
To confirm that I’m not blowing smoke, click the PLAY button below for a first listen.
Allow me to explain what the Mosscast is going to be. Imagine an audiobook version of each Mind the Moss newsletter and you’ll have a solid idea of what each podcast will sound like. Going forward, I want the newsletter to be something you can listen to, as well as read. I’ve really enjoyed talking about New England hiking on public radio programs like WBUR’s The Common and the coming podcast will be a regular outlet for this kind of thing. Plus, with a hiking newsletter like Mind the Moss, there’s real potential for doing some rustic field recording to spruce up each adjacent podcast! Sometimes a hiking newsletter serves as a guide for future adventures, and other times, it can offer a tangible sense of escape from whatever we’re stuck dealing with at the moment. The way I see it, adding a podcast to the newsletter is a means of enhancing both functions. It struck me as a logical choice, and a gateway to more fun.
If you’re a paid subscriber to Mind the Moss, then I have good news: you won’t have to do anything to get the Mosscast once it drops! Your subscription includes access to all of the podcast episodes, which you’ll find here at mindthemoss.substack.com along with the newsletter archives. Each newsletter that lands in your email inbox will include a direct link to the adjacent podcast. If you’re a free subscriber, you’ll get 1-2 free podcast episodes each month. These will also be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other auditory joints where people stumble upon new podcasts.
One disclaimer I will make before you start hearing the Moss is that the first month or two of the podcast will not be entirely without mud splotches. The audio EQ won’t be perfect, the transitions won’t be 100% seamless, and you might recognize a recycled background sound. (“Hey, I’ve heard that loon before.”) But these little wrinkles will be smoothened out with time, as I fiddle with my gear setup and recording process. And from there, the podcast could evolve into something bigger, longer, and multi-layered.
All of that said, the heart of Mind the Moss will always be the words on the page, and to that effect, here are some of my favorite newsletter stories from 2022: a couple of which were directly suggested by some of you!
- And suddenly the waterfalls disappeared: Chasing Fall River’s lost subterranean cascades.
- Take back the golf courses: They have clubs, but you’ve got hiking boots.
- Weird Old Tom: A love letter to the Pioneer Valley’s lonely mountain.
- Something bad happened here: A haunted hike to Sin and Flesh Brook.
- The other White Mountains: Exploring New Hampshire’s mysterious Pilot Range.
- What happens in the Bennington Triangle: Vermont’s infamous Glastenbury Wilderness.
- Hike every city: How to go for a robust urban hike anywhere.
- Hark! The Leatherman is coming: Chasing Connecticut’s mysterious vagabond into a cave.
- Legends of the mall: Hiking through a consumerist hellscape.
- Stopping by VT 125 on a snowy evening: Suffering the Robert Frost Wayside Trail.
It’s been a pleasure, an honor, and a long, strange trip being your ambassador to New England’s weirder trails and hiking destinations. Thank you for believing in this hiking newsletter. Who the hell even knows where the year ahead will take us? I can’t wait.
Thanks, and Moss bless,
Miles
Your voice sounds great on the Mosscast 'trailer,' Miles. Looking forward to your adventures in 2023, wishing you great discoveries and success, and looking forward to covering some miles and raising a glass with you soon. Cheers-Patrick
Looking forward to hearing your silky voice in future casts, Miles. One possible episode/letter: the kinds of conversations you can have when you're hiking single file. Why is it that you can say things you wouldn't be inclined to say otherwise? I can recommend a witty Boston area shrink (and a great hiker, you should meet him anyway) if you want a dialogue. -Jay