Meet Micah Ling | Freelance writer & adventurer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Micah Ling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
One of my least favorite words is “lucky,” especially when used to describe a situation that someone has worked hard to achieve. I hear, “You’re so lucky,” all the time. And I get it — I live in a picturesque mountain town within walking distance of everything I need. I have incredible trail access less than a mile from my house, and I bike, run, ski, or play in the river pretty much everyday. Adventure is a huge part of my life. But I’m not “lucky” to be here. I took risks — tons of risks — and worked hard to get to where I am now. Risk taking is the only way to truly learn anything. There’s no growth in safety. Which is not to say that life should be lived recklessly. I think about risk taking as a way to move forward — and sometimes necessarily backward. Without trying, you’ll never know. And sometimes, you get burned, but there’s learning in that, too. I quit my teaching job three years ago, to move to the mountains and write freelance for magazines and outdoor industry brands. It wasn’t easy, and the rewards didn’t come immediately, but it was worth it. And I’m still taking risks. One thing I’ve learned about myself, and maybe why I’m averse to living the “safe” life, is that I’m rarely satisfied. If I climb a mountain, I’m looking at the next one before I’m back down to the trailhead. If I publish an article that took 9-months of reporting, I’m already pitching something even bigger. Don’t get me wrong, I can sit back and admire the view from the top, but then I’m pretty quickly thinking about what’s next.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I went to a tiny liberal arts school in the Midwest where I fell in love with creative writing. My professors encouraged me to apply to MFA programs, which I did. I loved my MFA experience, and fell naturally into teaching before I had even completed my dual MA/MFA degree. I taught creative writing for more than a decade — at private universities, state schools, and community colleges. In Indiana, Tennessee, New York, and Colorado. But after teaching for so long, I was beginning to see the underbelly of academia and I didn’t like it. And, besides a few small-press books, I hadn’t actually written much, even though I had taught tons of other people how to write. I decided that I wanted to actually be a writer — not a hobby writer who tinkers with “their work” when they have time — a writer who gets…paid to write. So I quit my teaching job and started learning (teaching myself) how to be a freelance writer. It took a while. I signed up for an online class and became a student again. I pitched and pitched and pitched articles to editors. I got a lot of radio silence. But then I sold one. And then another. I started finding stories that mattered to me, that I really cared about. It’s still a hustle, but truly enjoy what I’m doing now.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Road trip! I love where I live (Salida, CO). So. Much. If you’ve got a mountain bike, you could spend a week just riding the trail systems around town, never get in a car, and be very happy. But the surrounding communities — Buena Vista, Poncha Springs, and Twin Lakes, are also worth checking out.

Get coffee and breakfast at Bunny & Clyde’s — try the vegan burrito. Lunch at Sweetie’s — so many sandwiches to choose from. Excellent salads and snacks at the Boathouse Cantina — overlooking the Arkansas River. And we’re blessed with two excellent pizza pubs: Moonlight, and Amicas. Also hit up Howl Mercantile for coffee and ice cream, and Wood’s High Mountain Distillery for a cocktail. In Buena Vista, definitely House Rock — something for everyone. And in Poncha, Elevation Brewery. If you mountain bike the famous Monarch Crest Trail, stopping at Elevation for falafel and a beer is an absolute must.

But back to the mountains. My favorite hike / trail in the area is Hope Pass. It’s tough, but the views are incredible. I’ll also take you to the Horn Fork Basin, where we can climb Mount Harvard, Mount Columbia, or Bear Lake. The basin itself is the true gem — with views of four 14ers. In the summer, you have to take a raft trip through Browns Canyon, and camp at Cottonwood Lake (bring your SUPs!) In the fall, the trails around St. Elmo Ghost Town are perfect for seeing the aspens change colors. In the winter, snow shoeing the Interlaken Trail in Twin Lakes, skiing at Monarch Mountain, and fat biking in Leadville.

Then, to relax. Mount Princeton Hot Springs and Cottonwood Hot Springs are both worth visiting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always been a little obsessed with Amelia Earhart. I love when people — against all odds — are like, I’m doing this. In that way, I feel like I’ve surrounded myself with strong women. I have so many women friends who are doing badass things and being constant role models — I appreciate them so much.

Website: https://www.micahelizabethling.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealmicahling/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-ling-752b6124/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/micahling007

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8jUomZC9_6IOG4ElAUbYsg