Dear Kula Diaries,
Today I’m going to be sharing a short piece that I wrote for my friend Glen Van Peski’s newsletter. Glen is the founder of Gossamer Gear and also the author of a book called take less. do more. Glen also writes a bi-weekly newsletter that is 100% entirely worth subscribing to (it’s one of the only newsletters that I actually read!).
Glen and I share a love of backpacking, hand written notes, and writing. A few weeks ago, he asked me if I would write something for his newsletter, and I asked him if I could also share it with all of you.
To be honest, I didn’t know what I was going to write about. I’m not nearly as adept at ultralight backpacking as Glen… so that eliminated ‘the latest ultralight backpacking tips’ from possible topics… and then, I magically walked myself right into the answer by making a pretty embarrassing and seemingly serendipitous typo in my own newsletter that I subsequently e-mailed to over 70,000 people. Whoops.
So now, I’ll present this short piece — and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.
Hello friends!
My name is Anastasia Allison, and I'm the founder of a gear company called Kula Cloth -- and I'm totally honored to have the opportunity to write a note to all of you today. Many years ago, a company called Gossamer Gear emailed me out of the blue and inquired about designing and producing a custom Kula Cloth. I still remember sitting at my desk in absolute shock: WAIT... GOSSAMER GEAR knows who WE ARE?! When you are a fledgling brand in the outdoor industry -- and when you have looked up to companies like Gossamer Gear for most of your life, it feels magical to suddenly be standing next to these other companies -- particularly in the early days, when imposter syndrome can feel like a constant companion.
A few years ago, during COVID, I started hosting a monthly book club for Kula Cloth, and I've never stopped. These days, I host the Book Club through my substack, The Kula Diaries. A few months ago, I decided to include Glen's book, take less. do more. in our book reading repertoire. Our group devoted two meetings to discussing Glen's book -- and he was even kind enough to attend one of our virtual calls in person to talk about the book. As Glen spoke, I don't think there was a dry eye in the virtual Zoom house.
A few weeks after that call, I wrote a newsletter for Kula Cloth where I shared some personal thoughts about Glen's book, and the impact that it had on me and the folks in our group. On the day that I sent out the e-mail to the over 70,000 people on my mailing list, one of the members of our book club wrote back to my message and jokingly remarked something about my 'typo'. I quickly scrolled back through the e-mail that I had sent and I realized -- in sheer horror -- that I had transposed the title of Glen's book. Instead of take less. do more..... I had written the exact opposite... take more. do less.
After allowing myself to feel really silly for a few minutes, I had to laugh: after all, this 'alternative title' of the book is exactly what Glen is talking about -- not just in backpacking, but in life. Many years ago, I was unhealthily addicted to hiking and backpacking. While simultaneously trying to lessen my load (carrying 60lbs up Mt. Rainier, including 3 different weights of long underwear was not helpful), I mistakenly believed that if I could just spend more time climbing and hiking, that I wouldn't have to deal with my inner discomfort and misery. As my backpack got lighter and lighter, I'm sad to say that my heart did not. Eventually, it didn't matter how many miles I hiked or how much elevation that I gained -- nothing was ever enough to numb the gnawing pain that I felt inside myself... a constant state of anxiety, dissatisfaction and a feeling of disappointment with who I had become. I had to accept the truth that I didn't want to hear: no amount of backpacking could make me love myself. Eventually, after a particularly strenuous hike, I had exhausted myself to the point where I was unable to hike anymore -- I could barely get out of bed for over a month. As I carried around this oppressive weight in my heart, I had lost the thing that I thought would 'fix' me. A question bubbled up during that difficult time: Who am I without hiking? If I am not walking in the wilderness... What is left in that place?
I have carried some ridiculous and unnecessary things into the backcountry: a fold up 'kitchen sink', an entire half dozen eggs, and once I carried multiple pairs of pants on the same trip, 'just in case'. But as I look back at those trips, I've realized -- with compassion -- that the heaviest thing I ever carried was emptiness that I felt inside. At the time, I was doing my very best, but there was an emptiness that I believed could be filled by the wilderness. Except, that it couldn't.
It took me many years to discover the peace and love that had always existed within me. As I let go of the stories I had carried, I began to feel that familiar zest for life stirring again. When I first started mountaineering I believed that climbing peaks would 'complete' some missing piece of who I was. But now... with a newfound sense of lightness in my feet ... I knew that wasn't true. My sense of awe and wonder for the wild places we seek now comes from a place of deep gratitude and appreciation -- not from a sense of needing to 'conquer' anything or 'check off an objective.' When I sit outside at sunset and watch the alpenglow melting across the North Cascades, I can see something else ... something I didn't notice before: a universal love that connects each and every one of us.
I'll end with a tiny poem that I wrote, which hopefully helps to capture the essence of what we are 'looking for' when we venture outside. Friends, please remember that the beautiful world out there is not independent of you ... instead, it is a reflection of who you truly are!
Friends — I’m sending you all so much love today… and all days. Wherever you are right now… take a deep breath. You are alive, and today includes you.
On the note of more... feel free to share more reminders to vote for best gear in the USA today poll! :D