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A Voice in the Mountains
Gabi Daugherty Owen Clarke 11/10/23 Gabi Daugherty Owen Clarke 11/10/23

A Voice in the Mountains

Finding voice amid a fractured climbing trip to Wyoming’s Wind River Range.

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There’s Something Truly Captivating About Bolm District Park
Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 10/27/23 Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 10/27/23

There’s Something Truly Captivating About Bolm District Park

The author leans into an unbearably hot day to explore the most metal park in Austin.

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The Sunken Church at Mavrovo
Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 10/13/23 Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 10/13/23

The Sunken Church at Mavrovo

Finding emptiness during a motorcycle trip across the Balkans.

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Impetus of Effort
Jon Greene Owen Clarke 9/8/23 Jon Greene Owen Clarke 9/8/23

Impetus of Effort

Musings on a morning bike ride up Monte Sano Mountain.

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The Smell of Smoke
Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 8/25/23 Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 8/25/23

The Smell of Smoke

Odor-evoked memories and reflections about my relationship with fire

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A Path Through Montreal
Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 8/11/23 Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 8/11/23

A Path Through Montreal

The author finds connections between past, present, the city and himself on a multi-day wander through Montreal

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Midnight Train to Tangier
Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 8/6/23 Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 8/6/23

Midnight Train to Tangier

Midnight musings while traveling Morocco by train.

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It Takes a Village to Raise a Dog
Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 6/16/23 Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 6/16/23

It Takes a Village to Raise a Dog

A dog father reflects on raising a troublesome dog.

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Swimming in the Snake River
Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 5/22/23 Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 5/22/23

Swimming in the Snake River

The author ruminates on the unintentional effects of his presence while driving alone cross-country.

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Strangers from the Road
Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 5/12/23 Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 5/12/23

Strangers from the Road

Everyone has a story that’s worth your time, especially on a road trip with no finish line.

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Telling the Tales of the Dead
Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 4/21/23 Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 4/21/23

Telling the Tales of the Dead

Memorializing the dead. Why I’ve always wanted to stop, and why I never will.

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The Unbearable Lightness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 4/14/23 Ryan Gossen Owen Clarke 4/14/23

The Unbearable Lightness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

My initial encounter with BJJ, its effect on my sense of self, and my evolving motivations for training over a ten-year period.

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Lost & Found
Alben Osaki Owen Clarke 4/7/23 Alben Osaki Owen Clarke 4/7/23

Lost & Found

Who am I? Also, how much does that matter?

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Fear and Far Away
Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 3/31/23 Teddy Dondanville Owen Clarke 3/31/23

Fear and Far Away

A climber’s meditations on the loss of a close friend.

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Susanhell
Cammi Norville Owen Clarke 3/10/23 Cammi Norville Owen Clarke 3/10/23

Susanhell

A long, hot day in the desert finds the author contemplating humanity’s physiological shortcomings.

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Left and Up
Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 3/3/23 Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 3/3/23

Left and Up

Take it from this author… a few AK-47 rounds over the head are the perfect motivator to get your car in gear.

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Heirlooms
Will Hoedemaker Owen Clarke 2/24/23 Will Hoedemaker Owen Clarke 2/24/23

Heirlooms

A visit to an aging aunt’s home leaves the author pondering possessions, real and imagined.

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Conquering Chekov’s Gun
Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 1/6/23 Owen Clarke Owen Clarke 1/6/23

Conquering Chekov’s Gun

Why buying a firearm was the only thing that made me certain I’d never use one on myself.

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Recent Essays

Essays
A Simple Morning
Gabi Daugherty
September 17, 2026
A Simple Morning
Gabi Daugherty
September 17, 2026

Musings from Barton Springs and being where you are.

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Gabi Daugherty
September 17, 2026
The Meaning of Water Skiing
Teddy Dondanville
August 21, 2026
The Meaning of Water Skiing
Teddy Dondanville
August 21, 2026

My imperfect association of nihilism and sports.

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Teddy Dondanville
August 21, 2026
Bloodlines
Kevin Ryan
July 17, 2026
Bloodlines
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July 17, 2026

Funerals, birthdays, and a conversation in Row 36.

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Kevin Ryan
July 17, 2026
From Ragger to Ridiculed
Teddy Dondanville
April 28, 2026
From Ragger to Ridiculed
Teddy Dondanville
April 28, 2026

An atypical Peace Corps experience.

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April 28, 2026
Ruminants
Caroline Gibbons
January 30, 2026
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Caroline Gibbons
January 30, 2026

An anxious girl goes for a walk.

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Caroline Gibbons
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Blueberry Trees
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January 9, 2026
Blueberry Trees
Carlina Grillo
January 9, 2026

A familiar dream.

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Personal Growth
Ryan Gossen
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Personal Growth
Ryan Gossen
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Growth doesn't end with youth, it just gets weirder.

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Ryan Gossen
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Tilting Skyward
Ryleigh Norgrove
November 7, 2025
Tilting Skyward
Ryleigh Norgrove
November 7, 2025

In a season when everything felt paper-thin, a novice climb up Mt. Adams became less peakbagging and more an instinctive step towards staying alive.

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Ryleigh Norgrove
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Common Fate
Ryan Gossen
October 23, 2025
Common Fate
Ryan Gossen
October 23, 2025

How I was shaped by the insanity of driving.

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Ryan Gossen
October 23, 2025
The Tail End of the Head Beginning
Owen Clarke
October 10, 2025
The Tail End of the Head Beginning
Owen Clarke
October 10, 2025

An account of my Saturday and Sunday.

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Owen Clarke
October 10, 2025
Fashion Forewarned
David Whalen
September 26, 2025
Fashion Forewarned
David Whalen
September 26, 2025

A retrospect of style and identity.

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David Whalen
September 26, 2025
The Airplane Man
Teddy Dondanville
July 25, 2025
The Airplane Man
Teddy Dondanville
July 25, 2025

And why you should not run in airports.

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Teddy Dondanville
July 25, 2025
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