Writers Residency Spotlight: Adam Edwards

Name: Adam Edwards
Location: Portland, Oregon
Where to find me: Website | Instagram

What’s your day job?
I’m an arborist by trade. In addition to that I’m a freelance writer, photographer, model, actor and content creator.

What first drew you to the outdoors?
I grew up near the beach in Florida. Weekly trips to the ocean and fishing in the everglades were the basis of my love of the outdoors.

What are your favorite things to do outside?
Whitewater kayaking, trail running, surfing, riding bicycles, climbing, fishing, campfires, cider, rose, exploring little known reaches of the mountains and hills.

What’s your favorite hometown adventure?
Probably trail running in Forest Park for IN Portland. Or paddling on the Willamette and stopping on Ross Island.

What's on the top of your must-do adventure list right now?
There are a few creeks my friends and I have been working on mapping out I’d love to paddle if the weather aligns. Also a desert climbing and biking road trip. It’s been a while.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to the outdoors?  
Ask questions, research where and what you want to do. You don’t need expensive gear and with a little searching you can find an easy access point to most outdoor activities.

Who are some writers/photographers/creators who are inspiring you right now?
A lot of my friends like Kenneth Hammlett, Faith Briggs, James Harnois, Joshua Newman are out there doing amazing things in each of their fields. They’re awesome filmmakers and photographers and I love to see their work.  Writers and creators I’m loving now range from Thrashers Skateline to poet Eva HD and writer  Baratunde Thurston

This has been a challenging year - how have you managed your physical and mental health? Any tips?
Tenuously haha I try to run everyday but my day job is pretty physical as well so finding time for exertion isn’t hard. But finding time to calm and center that’s been more difficult.  Carving out time to actually relax, and actually committing to it, have been the biggest helps to my mental state of late.

What does it mean to you to be a part of the outdoor industry and why is it important to make the outdoors more inclusive?
Being a part of the outdoor industry allows me to pair my work and my passions. For me that is a really important aspect of how we want to love through life.  I think that opening doors for more people to enjoy their outdoor experience is imperative. I believe improving inclusivity benefits the industry and conservation efforts. By embracing new users we can share the appreciation of these spaces  and protect our outdoor resources together.

What is the biggest challenge (or challenges) you’ve faced in the outdoors?
I think some of the near misses and rescues I’ve been a part of across multiple sports have definitely been some of the harder challenges for me. Learning how to work through that trauma safely and in a healthy way is hard and a lifelong process in some instances.

What’s a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?
I’m afraid of heights.

What would your personal motto be?
...Let's see what happens