Welcome to the Life at 9,318’ blog, where I share reflections on parenting, mountain living, community, and the questions that matter most. Here you’ll find long-form essays, stories from small-town life, and thoughtful insights on family, camp, and growing up in the high country.
Interested in parent resources?
Recent Reflections
When Your Child Leaves Home for Opportunity: The Resilience Parents Build Too
Watching my son ski into a crowd of teammates cheering him on reminded me of something every parent hopes for when a child leaves home: acceptance. A reflection on resilience, parenting, and the complicated beauty of letting our kids grow.
Early Morning Flights
Flying out of Silverton always means an early morning flight. A dark drive, a full moon, old music, and a quiet reflection on home, memory, and growing up.
When Winter Doesn’t Show Up
A quiet January in Silverton—no snow, fewer crowds, and a reminder that not every season arrives with spectacle.
Between Winters
It rained on Christmas Eve.
And on Christmas Day.
Rain. At 9,318 feet.
In my twenty years of living here, I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced that. Snow, yes. Cold, definitely. But rain—on Christmas—felt unsettling in a way I couldn’t quite name.