How I was Wrong about Virtual...Plus my 2021 Reading List

And a special thanks to those who recently signed up!

This person is enjoying a book in an iconic location. If you know the spot, let me know in the comments.

Virtual Connections Have Fueled Me this Fall

I’ve contended in the past that I wasn’t very good at virtual speaking engagements. Before the pandemic, these came largely in the form of webinars. You talk into a screen without seeing peoples’ faces or reactions. You’re unable to read the room as well as in person. You can’t look someone in the eye and answer their question. I told myself that I connected best in person, where a group’s energy affected my own energy and enthusiasm. In fact, at one point I decided I just wouldn’t do any more webinars. And then the pandemic changed our lives and how we gathered.

An in-person gathering still may be my ideal scenario, but I think I was wrong about not being “very good” in a virtual setting. I’ve learned over the past 20+ months that we can establish meaningful connections and have rich, reflective conversations from the safety and convenience of our own homes.

I’ve learned to be a better speaker and facilitator, find ways of connecting, and use the tools that platforms like Zoom have afforded us. I’ve even found I can have fun in connecting online. Over the past month, I presented at the:

• Appalachian Trail Community Network’s quarterly meeting

• Love Maine Trails LIVE Event

• Genesee Valley Trail Town Summit

I found each of them to be personally rewarding. Seriously…I got to talk with people in Maine, New York, and from along the Appalachian Trail, all of whom love their trails! I also co-hosted a “Talking Trails” program with Rivers of Steel. It was a celebration of my book, Deciding on Trails, as well as a community conversation about how communities can embrace their trails. It was fun and people were eager to engage.

Honestly, there are people who sign up and participate in online programs who end up minimally participating. It’s easy to see that they’re distracted and disengaged. Even in small group work, some people just sit and stare in a way that they wouldn’t if gathered together in person. I’ve seen moderators and group leaders struggle with this to the point of discomfort. But let’s not fall into the trap of thinking meaningful interaction and connection aren’t possible online. We have to plan a little better, work a little harder, and bring our full selves to the programs for which we’re signing up. It’s making the most of the time you’ve invested.

Speaking of signing up, thanks to those of you who’ve signed up for the newsletter following the recent events! One of the perks of this work is being able to connect with people who are passionate about their local trails and communities. We’re all trying to achieve similar goals, and staying connected beyond the event is a great way of building a broader community.

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What I’ve Been Reading (Somehow Almost Entirely Non-Fiction)

I've experienced a renewed commitment to writing since moving my Cycle Forward newsletter here to Substack. There’s nothing like having an easy-to-use tool (whereas before I never wanted to wrestle with my email management platform). In brainstorming content, it occurred to me the I could share my 2021 reading list, which, honestly, makes me a little nervous. Does anyone else feel exposed when sharing their reading list? Attempting to minimize my exposure, I first thought I’d share only the books that are professional in nature and provide just a list with no explanation. Ultimately, I decided the “whole person” reading list with a few notes is more interesting than the “professional Amy” reading list without any. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought.

Lost on Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine, Peter Firstbook

Alpine climbing doesn’t make a lot of sense to me (in terms of the environmental impact and the risks involved), but for some reason I do enjoy reading about it. This book was a little dry, but it was interesting to read about some of the early twentieth century expeditions and conditions on Everest.

Hudson Bay Bound, Natalie Warren

Years ago, while gathered around a campfire in the Arizona desert, I heard Natalie Warren tell the story of her 2,000 mile paddling trip from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay. Her gift as a storyteller was evident that night. I’m glad she went on to write such a page-turner of a book (with a forward by Ann Bancroft!) that tells the story in detail.

How to be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi

I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through this one (it’s not the easiest read), but I’m glad I stuck with it. As I noted at the time, as much as I think I know about race in America the more I realize how little I know. It’s books like this that allow us to keep learning, questioning, and uncovering. It’s part of the work that’s required of us.

Broken Horses, Brandi Carlile

This was a fun spring read for me. If I close my eyes, I’m right back on the front porch of my favorite little cabin in West Virginia, with a coat and hat on, the sun warming me. I sat and read for so long that a hummingbird flew up to me and buzzed my ear. Any Brandi Carlile fan should be so lucky to enjoy her telling memoir in such a setting.

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, Dan Egan

This is the book I’ve probably recommended the most this year. If you care about the Great Lakes and water quality in general, it’s a must-read. There’s also some interesting Great Lakes history throughout. At times, I grappled with the reality that tourism and economic development are often at odds with environmental stewardship.

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments,
Aimee Nezhukumatathil

I didn’t read this one cover to cover, but the author reminded me of Rachel Carson in the way that she sees details in nature that a lot of us might overlook. The illustrations are fantastic, and I was really moved by her writing about fireflies in relation to climate change. (See my Fireflies Add Magic to the Allegheny National Forest blog post about synchronous fireflies for more on this…scroll all the way to the bottom where it says “2021 Update”).

Get Up and Ride, Jim Shea

Anyone who uses the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath will enjoy this easy-to-read book about two friends (who are also brothers-in-law) who ride the trails together. I met the two this summer after Jim and I had read each others’ books. It was a fun meet up and they’ve become great advocates for the GAP and C&O.

The Mystery of Flight 427, Bill Adair

When I was a senior in high school, I was driving home from working on a school project and turned on the car radio. A plane had crashed in nearby Hopewell Township. I remember that my dad was somehow involved in the clean up effort and mentioned how awful it was. Fast forward 27 years and I decided to read about the tragedy. Had this crash not occurred in my own home county, I wouldn’t have read this book, but it held my interest and I learned some things about commercial aviation.

The World to Come, Jim Shepard

This is a short story collection. I only read one of the stories (“The World to Come,” for which the book is named). It’s about two women who face hardship in nineteenth century Upstate New York. I checked this out of the library after watching the movie it inspired. The movie was quiet and devastating. It stayed with me for weeks.

Chatham Village: Pittsburgh’s Garden City, Angelique Bamberg

Those of you who are interested in urban planning might want to pick this one up. It’s focused on Pittsburgh’s Chatham Village (a 1930s planned community) and the social, economic, and political climate in which it was built. The book also addresses how Chatham Village and similar developments inspired New Urbanism.

A Walk on the Beach, Joan Anderson

The author met a 90-something Joan Erikson (wife of psychologist Erik Erikson) during a chance encounter on a Cape Cod beach. The book focuses on the friendship and all that Joan A. learned from Joan E. during their time together. I enjoyed it. A quote I made note of: “You really can’t know what it is you are supposed to do unless you depart from the mundane and refine your spirit.”

Reading Now:

Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer

Native Country of the Heart, Cherríe Moraga

The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown

The Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook, edited by Ben Gwin