you have 30 minutes!!!
peak colors + summer trip launch :)
A waterfall hike after work, a day spent fully inside. Empty carton of apple cider, a rainy weekend paddle. A new house, a new job. Pizza on a week night, leftovers on a monday. Blaze of fall color then suddenly, frost—
This is what my thirty minutes of fall has looked like this year.
Like it was summer, full green leaves and sweat on my back until just days ago. Like it’s hardly been fall at all but I can already feel winter breathing down my back. Which is okay, of course. I’ve made my peace with the winter.
how i’ve used my 30 minute of Fall
I moved to Ashland, Wisconsin. My fiance, Andy, and I live in a house now, for the first time in a long time! We’re pretty familiar with the area, having lived in Two Harbors, Minnesota for a while and worked in the tourism industry in the Bayfield Peninsula on and off throughout the years. I like how it’s walkable here, and quiet, but with things still to.
I’ve been shopping on Etsy a lot, and got this adorable vintage Hornsea mug set, as if I didn’t have enough mugs. Oops.
I binged watched Mayfair Witches on Netflix. It was really excellent, and atmospheric and I might even watch it again before Halloween. Halloween (October?) is my favorite season. You know what I mean. Now Andy has us watching Agatha All The Time, which is simply not hitting the same.
I started a new job. find me here 👀!! It’s a full-time remote job, and will I worked remote as a freelance writer before this position, it is indeed the first time I’ve downloaded Slack in a long time. Truth be told, I very much wanted the stability of a long-term gig, and I strongly prefer editorial work to commercial. Freelancing and even influencer projects can be really fun, but truth be told its a lot of work, all the time, and that doesn’t always translate to good pay. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it does, but in general at any given time it felt like I was putting so much more into it than I was ever getting out. This way, I can still take freelancing projects, but have the freedom to focus on things that are really fun creative work.
Find me at Copper Falls👀, Now that I work set hours, I’m squeezing in adventure time where I can. Lucky for me, Ashland is super centrally located adventure-wise, especially for weekend full day trips. I’m about an hour and a half from the North Shore and Porcupine Mountains, and closer to Bayfield, the Penokees, and some of the Western UP. Check out the best waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin :)
exploring copper falls state park Speaking of drives🌊🚣 … we made a quick trip up the North Shore over the weekend to paddle Split Rock Lighthouse State Park with our friends. I always wear a drysuit for fall/winter paddling. It was kind of magical— there’s something about moody, rainy fall paddling that really gives me spooky black ragged shore shipwreck vibes. It reminds me of coastal horror, dark romance set in Maine. Monsters on the English Coast. All my favorite fall vibes
paddling a black north shore cliff with Split Rock Lighthouse in the distance-- can you see the face in the rock? I am not unpacked. It’s been… three weeks ish since we moved in and no, I am not totally unpacked, and the house is not in order at all. Actually, it’s a bit of a mess. And I’m okay with that for now. Sometimes things take time, and it’s okay to leave dishes in the sink over night, and mess is beautiful too.
I’m reading Iron Flame. I picked up ACOTAR (that fairy book, I know) on my Midwest road trip this spring and it was something nice to read while I was camping alone (which to be honest is really fun for three days, really fun in hindsight, but over a week is more than I need). I usually gravitate toward nonfiction because I’m the kind of person who needs to feel productive, always —I knit while I watch TV because I genuinely do not know what to do if I’m not actively doing something. I have trouble turning my brain off, which is why it's 8pm and I’m writing all this and know I’ll continue this newsletter no matter how busy I get. The thing about fantasy though, is I really can not think. These books are as deep and as layered as you want them to be, and for me that is not at all. I really like just reading a good story.
I had planned to miss peak color this year. I find fall, the rush of we need to get out there and appreciate the colors while they last a little overwhelming. But I had last Monday off, and the Porcupine Mountains are so close. I’ve wanted to visit the Porkies in the fall since I first started reading about hiking in the Lake Superior region— so like, high school.
Lake of the Clouds, Porkies Hiking the Escarpment Trail at peak fall colors in the rain!!! the weather was such crap that I almost turned around, but I’m really glad I didn’t. I forgot that peak fall colors… actually looks like that. And the Escarpment trail is fairly easy, gets you away from the Lake of the Clouds crowds, and is super scenic. Check out my guide to visiting the Porkies here.
from Escarpment trail My knitting shop is live again! I make sweaters, mittens and hats year round and roll them out on Etsy October- December :) It’s a fun, holiday-themed thing I like to do.
fresh knits!!
midwest outdoor events + 2025 women’s paddling trips!!
November 22-24, Grand Marais, MN: Winterer’s Gathering and Arctic Film Fest
I’m hoping to make it to this one, but this is one of my absolute favorite events! Celebrates folk arts, winter camping, and just winter culture in general. Getting into the things that make winter special has changed my entire outlook on the season; now, there’s something in every season, every month and weather I’ve come to appreciate.
Come Paddle with me! 2025 Women’s Paddling Trips Just Dropped 👀✨
For summer 2025 I’ll be bringing back (and bringing more!) women’s paddling adventures with my friends at Chicas Abroad! I met the Chicas team while guiding in the San Juan Islands and had so much fun working for them that I decided to join the team.
for all of these trips, the code Maddy25 will get you $50 off! I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you:
June 24-29, 2025: Sea Kayaking in the Apostle Islands
Bringing back last years Apostle Islands sea kayaking adventure! I ran two of these last year and they were truly both so much fun— the first trip we had wild weather got paddle the Bear Island sea caves, some of my favorite in the park. The second trip the weather was… perfect? It was eeire beautiful and I honestly look back on it as one of my favorite trips of all time as a guide. These trips are always extra fun because of the people though :)
code Maddy25 for $50 off
August 6-10, 2025: San Juan Islands, Washington
When I first met the Chicas team, it was when I was a coastal kayaking guide in the San Juans! I was the sea kayaking guide for the sea kayaking portion of this exact trip, while Jocelyn took on the Chicas coordination and logistics portion with Chicas. I’m so stoked to be running this trip again, this time joining for the entirety of it, along with Jocelyn, who is so much fun! This is truly an awesome trip— come see orcas and wildlife and camp in one of the best places there is!!
code Maddy25 for $50 off
August 22-25, 2025: Boundary Waters, Minnesota
Come explore Minnesota’s BWCA, paddle into a remote BWCA lake, basecamp and hop on the Border Route Trail to beautiful, remote BWCA overlooks! Here, we’ll focus on practicing reading topographical maps and introductory canoe camping skills. This is a great trip to join if you’re a beginner paddler, or a more skilled canoe paddler looking to learn from experienced guides to set yourself up leading your friends in the future! This is a super small group, with me and another female guide along for the best possible hands on learning experience.
code Maddy25 for $50 off