Travel Journaling workshop With Charlotte Austin & Claire Giordano

We all want to document, remember, and reflect on our adventures. Whether you’re stoked about weekend day hikes in the Cascades or planning bucket-list expeditions around the world, it's always worth taking the time to record your memories. But how often do you actually sit down do it? Do you need some fresh inspiration? Do you want to start a journal, or are you thinking about publication?

In this unique one-time workshop, join two professional outdoor storytellers — adventure writer Charlotte Austin and mountain artist Claire Giordano — to explore the potential of your own nature, adventure or travel  journal. Documenting adventures can take many forms, from tapping notes on an iPhone to scribbling memories on an airplane napkin or in longhand in a trusty Moleskine notebook. Whatever your chosen medium, you'll come away from this evening with new prompts, practical tools, constructive feedback, and a fresh zeal for bringing creativity into your adventures. We'll also dabble with sketching and watercolor, so come prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on.  Please bring your favorite writing materials as well as any art supplies you would like to use (especially paper for drawing or watercolor). There will be limited shared supplies available at the workshop.

Whether you are brand new to writing, interested in blogging, want to pursue publication, or are curious about the state of the outdoor storytelling industry today, this workshop will share helpful tools and ideas to kickstart your creative practice. No experience in writing or art is necessary. (This is also a great next step after taking Charlotte’s wildly popular adventure writing workshops.)

Mountaineers members and the general public are welcome!  A ticket is required to attend - these events regularly sell out so don't delay - get tickets today!

About Charlotte Austin

Charlotte Austin is a writer, editor, and mountain guide living in Seattle, Washington. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Saint Andrews (in Scotland) and at the University of Washington (in Seattle), where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Studies, then attended the low-residency MFA program at the University of Alaska Anchorage in creative nonfiction.

When she's not writing, Charlotte works for International Mountain Guides, where she lead climbing, mountaineering, and hiking expeditions around the world. She has guided in North and South America, Europe, Alaska, Patagonia, and Nepal. She is a Wilderness EMT, a Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer, and holds Level 2 certification with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). She also recently became an extra class ham radio operator. In May 2019, she summitted Mount Everest.

Charlotte's work has included a feature story about why there aren't more women in alpinism, a study of how understanding the science of gender can be a helpful tool in the mountains, and an essay about how debriefing after hard experiences could save your life. In 2017, she spoke at the Cody Ice Festival, led an expedition to climb Denali, guided a team of climbers to the top of Mount Elbrus (18,510'), and summited the tallest mountain in Mongolia. She also lectures and is an accomplished public speaker.

She lives in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, check out her website (www.charlotteaustin.com) and Instagram (@charlotteaustin).

About Claire Giordano

Claire is an internationally published artist and writer whose work connects people, place, and science. With extensive wilderness experience and years working in the outdoor industry as an educator and social media marketer, she crafts creative written and visual stories to communicate data, climate change, and the modern experience of nature. In her paintings she utilizes light, shadow, and pattern to emphasize the broader values of outdoor recreation and our responsibilities as environmental stewards.

Her writing and paintings were recently featured in a ten-page feature in Alpinist magazine. Her work has also been featured in the REI Journal and Force of Nature publication and by Stay Wild magazine, She Explores, and the Waymaking anthology of women’s stories. She also designed a best-selling t-shirt design for REI and creates custom graphics for skis and maps. In the last year she was an artist-in-residence at the Andrews Experimental Forest, lectured on a Seabourn voyage to Greenland, and organized an international collaboration with with CREA Mont Blanc in Chamonix to communicate climate change research through art. To learn more, check out her website (www.claireswanderings.com) and Instagram (@claireswanderings).