The who, what, why, and how's it going
Plus, readers' 15 favorite high-altitude essays.
Let me start by saying: it’s a delight that you’re here.
I’m Kelton Wright, and I’m a writer. I’ve written books, songs, brand guidelines, UI flows, menus, whatever. But my favorite style of writing is the essay. And that’s what Shangrilogs is: weekly essays about living with nature, pushing yourself, being a good neighbor, and finding community. It’s a high-altitude tale of renovation, reinvention, and recreation, all set in a town of 180 people and 51 dogs.
I’ve lived a lot of places including six states, one district, and one set of islands. I’ve moved within those places over 20 times. So when I was looking for a place to root, I was looking for something pretty special. And pretty specific. I was looking for my own personal Shangri-La. When I found it, it just happened to be made of logs.
You can see where this is going.
But weekly, readers are never sure what they’re getting. It’s a surprise to me, and a surprise to them, and that’s what keeps it fun. But if you want to get a taste, here are some of the pieces that have tickled a few feathers:
Someone’s best one-night stand. Blood bags, tumors, and screaming in public.
But does it have character? What we mean when we say we want a house with character, and what we lose when that character is taken away.
So you want to live in a cabin in the mountains. Living at 10,000 feet isn’t a walk in the park; it’s a marathon in the wilderness. Here’s what they don’t tell you on HGTV.
In the land of dogs. Dogs run free here, and that kind of freedom can teach us a thing or two about living. And dying.
This is gun country. Growing up with and growing away from guns.
What makes a ski bum? Taking a look at lineage, locals, and lifties.
How to rescue someone in an avalanche. The perils of living life on the cornice.
This is your body on altitude. Into thin air and thriving.
The best and worst of mornings. A ranking of snow days, early flights, and bad ideas.
Is this making friends? Desperation only works when it works both ways.
Hilarity in grief. Even dead cats cause chaos.
The pulsing drive of fear. Contemplating motherhood.
Everything could be wonderful. Becoming a local is easy. Being part of the community? Not as easy.
Winter at 10,000 feet. When reality sinks in.
Have you lost it? Your mind?
How can I support this newsletter?
Subscribe, open, read, like, comment, and share. The weekly Sunday edition is free, and always will be. Your enjoyment of it is what ensures that. Sharing this newsletter in Substack Recommendation threads, on your socials, via email — all those things make a big difference and do not go unnoticed.
That said, writing a free newsletter every week is a hard way to pay the bills. For those of you who have the means to support this newsletter for $5/month, I also write a weekly Wednesday edition for paid subscribers only that includes what I’m reading, what gear I’m buying, what adventures I’m planning, and other things of the like.
For one-off contributions to keep this going, I’m on Venmo and CashApp. 🪵
Shangriloggers are special people who are ever investigating their relationship with big nature and their own natures. We keep it kind and curious in these parts. Trespassers will be humbly reminded of their place within the universe.
Welcome, enjoy, and I hope to see you in the comments.
