The (Saturday) Sunday supplement: no. 75
New additions to my backpacking kit (including a superlative fleece), the iPhone hack still surprising people, a science fiction trilogy for non-sci-fi readers
Due to some scheduling difficulties, there’s no Saturday essay this week, so I’m sending the Sunday supplement to everybody (a day early). Have a great week.
I spent last week backpacking in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness. I’ll write a longer piece about it soon for supporters, mosquitos and all, but here are a couple newish pieces of gear that made the trip more fun:
A friend gave me a MiiR “pourigami” and it works great: three stainless steel panels that clip together for an easy pour-over setup. Pair it with a mug, a JetBoil, some favorite coffee and a sunrise on a backcountry lake… back in civilian life, coffee doesn’t taste the same.
My favorite new purchase is one of Senchi Designs’ Alpha hoodies. These are tough to nab (sign up for the newsletter or follow them on Instagram) because it’s a very small studio in Portland, Oregon, and they sell mainly through drops. But the hoodies are amazing: the lightest, most breathable fleece I’ve encountered (raw Polartec Alpha), where it’s great both under high exertion and when you’re resting. Throw a light shell on top and it’s nearly as warm as a down sweater.
Matador makes handsome bags for keeping things dry and organized. Just a little more sturdy than the offerings from Sea to Summit or OR.
Some favorite indie brands for ready-to-eat backpacking meals that you can’t find at REI: Stowaway Gourmet, Gastro Gnome, Farm to Summit
For a sense of security, the GOES app is pretty great for wilderness first aid
There’s an old iPhone hack I recently showed a friend, and he was surprised he somehow never heard about it: hold down on the space bar and you can control the cursor as if moving a mouse. I bet most readers know this one, but if not, hey! Much easier typing and editing.
Some books that have recently proved riveting:
Hiroshima by John Hersey. This is a classic, but I’ve been re-reading and it really holds up: the 1946 book that tells the stories of six survivors of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Extraordinary storytelling.
Ann Leckie’s "Imperial Radch" series. I don’t read much science fiction and don’t know the genre well, but these three books are fascinating studies of emotional intelligence… as found in space ships that are basically human women. Really puts all the recent AI chatter in a different light.
Books currently underway: Rogues by Patrick Radden Keefe, Bottoms Up by Kerry Howley, The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias, The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer, The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
On the listening front, for anybody looking for guided meditations, I’ve found Abigail Poulton’s “As You Are” series on Spotify to be a decent Headspace substitute.
For some 2023 music, I’m really enjoying the “Pet Rock” capsule by Taja Cheek/L’Rain. Very much looking forward to the new album.
In case L’Rain is new to you:
Have a good week. - Rosecrans
What the what
Meditations in an Emergency is a weekly dispatch from writer Rosecrans Baldwin about something beautiful. Paying subscribers receive a Sunday supplement with 3+ things to love, along with a monthly longer piece sent from the road, for some inbox wanderlust. ⛰️
Rosecrans is the bestselling author of Everything Now. His latest novel, The Last Kid Left, was one of NPR’s Best Books of the Year. Books mentioned in Meditations in an Emergency are stored in a Bookshop list.