pagesofjulia

When I looked, I was a bit surprised to see that I’ve not written before about this high-quality, locally-produced magazine. Highland Outdoors is regional in its focus as “West Virginia’s outdoor magazine,” but its contents will interest those further abroad; I’ve bought gift subscriptions for friends and family in Texas and Washington state who have appreciated it. And while you can buy subscriptions – and I do, to support such a great product – it’s available for free on a number of stands in local businesses, as well as on the website above. I appreciate that free availability and am glad to pay my way to help make that possible.

I love everything about this production. Large-format, glossy, sustainably printed, with well-written and -edited articles and really great photography (the publisher and editor-in-chief is a photographer), this is the first magazine that’s ever inspired me to read even all the ads: I appreciate knowing who the local businesses are who support the mag, and figure some of them might actually interest me, and I appreciate the design that goes into arranging those ads (they tend to be grouped by location, so that businesses in the same town cluster together, and often near an article that refers to that same town, etc.). It’s just a gorgeous product…

and I and my friends love the local/regional nature of the content. It feels really good to sink into a place and a people that you know well, or are trying to know better. It’s a joy to read about (or read words written by) people we know a little, and get to know them better that way. In the words of a friend of mine (also a subscriber), it’s a great insight and way to engage more deeply with our community. I’ve loved reading about strong women like Cassie Smith (league director of WVICL, our state’s NICA chapter) and Vicky Weeks (Leadville finisher and regular competitor of mine). HO covers stories about outdoor sports, conservation, flora and fauna, and the people who help to make this place great or keep it that way. I think my more distant friends and family are pleased to get a glimpse into my life (my place and why I love it) through this lens. I’m grateful we have such a quality rag around here. And I hope you love your home like I do mine.

Filed under: book reviews | Tagged: Appalachia, nature, periodicals, sports |