Meet Sam Schild | Writer & Adventure

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

Hi Sam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to inspire others to get outside and experience this beautiful world we live in. So, I created a copywriting business to use my abilities as a writer and creative to do this. Now I work with outdoor brands and publications, using my outdoor experience to help them craft a message that inspires their audience. Even when working with clients outside the outdoor space, my experience as a human-powered adventurer helps me craft a message that moves their audience to action.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is storytelling. I have more stories than I’ll ever even have time to tell. But, I’m trying to tell them all. My stories are from my own lived experiences. I’m what I call a “human-powered adventurer.” I adventure by bike and on foot. I have backpacked nearly 10,000 miles and bikepacked even farther.

My stories aren’t just travel journals, though. My storytelling is inspired by my lived experiences, yes. Those experiences give me a special insight into the world we live in that reverberates into every story I tell, whether it’s my own or someone else’s. I bring the inspiration I gather from the world into every story I tell. And no matter the story I’m telling, that healthy vigor I bring back from adventures comes through in the words I craft.

It wasn’t easy getting to where I am now as a professional. I started my writing career as a newspaper journalist while in college. Then, the 2008 financial crisis shook the newspaper industry. So, I went to graduate school to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Writing. After obtaining my degree I spent some time working as an academic, but that life wasn’t for me.

Then my story as a human-powered adventurer began. I quit working as an academic and rode a bicycle across the United States, creating a route as I went. Seven months and 7,000 miles later, I moved to Colorado with nothing but my bike and the gear I was carrying on it. Once in Colorado the adventures really picked up. I bikepacked the 500-mile-long Colorado Trail, then backpacked it 2 years later. Then, I hiked the entirety of the Pacific Crest Trail, 2650 miles. The following year I hiked the Colorado Trail a second time. I’m so lucky to have the Colorado Trail in my backyard.

After hiking the Colorado Trail a second time, I decided to use my abilities as a writer and storyteller professionally again. I started by building a personal website and blog, which I used to grow my career as a writer. From there, my professional copywriting career grew to what it is today. I’m still learning and growing. And, I’m still adventuring. Last summer I hiked the Continental Divide Trail, which stretches 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico. Now I have that experience to bring to life through storytelling, too.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
On the first day, we would stay local. I’d bring them to City Park and have a drink and some snacks in the shade of one of the many trees. After that, I would take them on a bike ride to Confluence Park to take in the city. Then we’d bike over to Santa Fe and eat smothered burritos at El Taco De Mexico

The next day, we would bike the Platte River Trail and grab a coffee at Nixon’s Coffeehouse next to Hudson Gardens. Then we’d continue biking south, all the way to Waterton Canyon. We’d bike to the top of the canyon and have lunch next to the river before starting the long ride home. When we get back to Denver, we’d grab a beer at Ratio Brewery. Then we’d head to my house for a late dinner.

The following day we’d go hiking at Three Sister’s Park in Evergreen. On the way back, we’d get burritos from Bonfire Burritos in Golden. When we get back to Denver we’d stop at Pablo’s Coffee for a late afternoon drink on their patio before heading home.

Now that we’ve had a few days in Denver, we’d spend the next 3 days backpacking. We’d either go to Indian Peaks Wilderness or Lost Creek Wilderness. If we have the time, I’d take them to both of these areas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friend and mentor Josh Erickson inspired me to make the jump from outdoor industry employee to full-time freelance copywriter. Josh is a small business owner, too, and is always pushing me to continue the work to grow my business.

We were on a backpacking trip in Rawah Wilderness, on top of a mountain overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park, when he convinced me to begin my own small business journey. If it weren’t for Josh I’d still probably be working in a bike shop and not running a freelance writing business. Now, I get to tell my own stories and help others do the same.

Website: https://samschild.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samschild/