Hey friends - it’s been a strange autumn here in the Pacific Northwest. Fall is the best time of the year to camp and even get one or two backpacking trips in if the weather permits. When the air turns crisp and the threat of rain looms, the crowds start to thin which makes for an objectively better experience. If you’re able to handle the smallest amount of rain, you’ll have a good chance of getting a quiet trail. Plus, sitting next to a warm fire in the cold air with a fresh hop beer in hand is truly one of life’s great pleasures.

Unfortunately the weather has felt a little erratic this year. A few weeks of unseasonably dry weather prolonged the fire season and burn bans, eating into some of that early fall camping time. Then suddenly there was snow in the mountains! Then it was dry again. Though it has led to some absolutely brilliant foliage and colors up here, so at least there’s that. It also gave us a somewhat unusual opportunity to see a vibrant forest full of the yellows and oranges of the larches alongside a light dusting of snow.

News / Updates

Speaking of photography…

Lately, I’ve been getting a bunch of people asking if I sold prints of my images. Which is great, of course, but I didn’t exactly have a great way to answer. While paid members can get a free print when they join, I didn’t have a way for someone to purchase a one-off print without signing up for a monthly or yearly membership. Until now!

Introducing my new print shop! All my current prints can be found and purchased at shop.skylarrenslow.com. Limited Editions are signed and numbered prints produced in small runs of 10. Each edition is printed on archival fine art paper, hand-signed, and shipped directly from my studio. Once sold out or removed, they will never be reprinted at this size. Open Editions are fine art prints without edition limits, meant for everyday collectors who want to support my work and bring a piece of it home.

The current member perk remains, though with a new distinction - standard paid members get a free Open Edition print and Founding members will get a free Limited Edition print.

Note, if you’re outside the U.S. and want a print, please contact me before purchasing.

Reading / Watching / Listening

I just finished Craig Mod’s Things Become Other Things memoir, which takes you on a trek through rural Japanese villages while weaving in a historical context, anecdotes on contemporary life in Japan, and Craig’s own personal journey.

In On Travel Writing, Nicholas Gill asks, “Is there still a place to write about what happens inside of us when we remove ourselves from our comfort zone and try to see the world from someone else’s eyes?” Personally, I think it’s more important than ever, as the world is continuously distilled into commodified content. But I assume there are only about five of us left in the world that still seek out this kind of writing.

Speaking of travel writing, Lisa Abend recently went to Bratislava. While we’ll forgive her for not trying garlic soup (a personal favorite of mine), I always enjoy seeing the world through her unplugged eyes.

You don’t look cool looking at your phone from Blackbird Spyplane . After bopping around Paris for a week, each day I’d mutter to myself, wow this would be a really cool photo if the person wasn’t looking at their damn phone, so yeah, I’m in big agreement with the ‘plane on this one.

David Coggins and A Continuous Lean recently launched The Print Edition, and I’m here for any and all new print releases in this travel/style/etc genre.

‘Tis the season of listening to Fog Chaser on repeat.

The Essential Guide to Pub Etiquette by Pellicle (via Tom Pendergast) was a fun (and important!) read if you have some travel to England coming up. Related, a shameless plug to read through The Morning Tipple archives…

And a reminder if you have any Tokyo or Osaka recs, send ‘em my way! Talk soon.

Skylar