Happy Holidays From Your Frozen Friends at Highland Outdoors 🥶
Dec 23, 2022 5:04 pm
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Sending warm vibes your way this holiday season 🔥
With the majority of the country deep in the icy thick of a historic bomb cyclone winter storm, I felt it apropos to send out wishes of warmth as we approach what looks to be a gnarly Christmas weekend.
With temps hovering around -2 F and windchills approaching -40 F, we're currently hunkered down in our 100-year old house in Davis, frantically putting plastic over the single-pane windows, getting sprayed with hot water while tightening the bleed screws on the radiators, and continually sweeping up the rapidly dropping needles from our Christmas tree (pro tip: Norway spruce trees, it turns out, do not hold their needles at all). Nevertheless, we muddle through, wishing for a foot of fluffy powder and hoping the power doesn't go out.
I can't help but feel that this holiday season is a fitting end to 2022, which, in a lot of ways, feels like a continued version of 2020. Perhaps we'll call it 2020.2 and hope that 2023 is *finally* the fresh start that many of us have been waiting for.
If you must travel this weekend, Nikki and I wish you safe passage and highly encourage you to bring an emergency kit including a space blanket, jug of whiskey, fire starting materials, and the Winter 2022 issue of Highland Outdoors—if you're gonna be stranded, you might as well have some reading material to keep you busy.
Happy holidays from 4,370 feet!
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Creeping toward 40 😬
I turned 38 on December 17, officially entering the middle of my late 30s. Despite the rapidly appearing eye wrinkles, daily back pain, and the realization that I'm not "cool" anymore, "38 and feeling great" was the mantra I repeatedly muttered through clenched teeth and a forced grin. All jokes aside, I had a superb weekend filled with fun and friendship.
From my first-ever photo exhibit in Canaan Valley to surprise visits from friends and three straight days of snowboarding, my 38th b-day was one for the books. Big thanks to all those who made it special! My cup runneth over indeed.
From left to right: my sister Chasta, Nikki, dad Randy, momma Daria, and me at my inaugural photo exhibit at Trail Labs in Canaan Valley.
Bro time at Timberline. Photo taken before our legs were toasted.
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It's not too late to give the gift of stoke 🎁
No matter what holiday you celebrate, it's never too late to send a gift subscription to that special someone in your life, whether if be your secret Santa, your best friend, or your crazy uncle. Because this subscription runs for a full year, it's truly the gift that keeps on giving (until it expires). We'll even include a special handwritten note if you include one with your order. Unlike our standard subscription, this one doesn't automatically renew, but we'll send a note with the final issue to let the recipient know they can subscribe to keep the stoke flowing.
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Exclusive newsletter deal: 25% off merch!
Use code 25HO22 to get 25% off all merchandise in the Highland Outstores. Shirts, hoodies, trucker hats, beanies—you name it, we got it (as long as it's a shirt, hoodie, trucker hat, or a beanie).
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You know the drill—subscribing is the best way to support Highland Outdoors. If you love the mag and want it to continue, please consider joining 340 amazing subscribers (thank you!) to get each issue delivered right to your door—and to continue reading it in the future.
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Have you seen these yet?
Epic Endurance: Rim to River 100
Ultrarunner Bryant Baker details the trials and tribulations of setting out to create and direct his epic 100-mile footrace through the trails, roads, and rugged terrain of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Lace up those shoes and enjoy!
Highland Profiles: Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson is one heck of an inspiring dude. From not letting an injury that left him a paraplegic keep him off the river to starting a nonprofit that seeks to improve accessibility throughout WV, Eric has done more than many do in an a lifetime.
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We sincerely hope all of you have a warm, safe, and love-filled holiday season. We'll catch you next year!
Enjoy, and thanks for reading #westvirginiasoutdoormagazine
Dylan Jones
Editor-in-Chief
Highland Outdoors