Eli Strand
Contributor

Eli Strand

Eli is a trail runner, gear obsessive, and five-year sober adventurer from Colorado Springs. He writes about practical outdoor skills for the sober curious.

Stories by Eli

A person sits by a campfire in the forests of Utah, creating a cozy nighttime atmosphere.
Recovery and Nature

What Nobody Tells You About Camping Sober for the First Time

Nobody warned me about the grief. That first night without a drink by the campfire, I was not craving alcohol. I was mourning a version of myself that no longer existed. Here is what five years of sober camping has taught me about getting through that disorientation and building something real on the other side.

May 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Scaling the Icy Wall of Recovery: How Ice Climbing Saved My Life by Mike L.
Community Spotlight

Scaling the Icy Wall of Recovery: How Ice Climbing Saved My Life by Mike L.

Hey, I’m Mike. I’m 34 years old, three years into my ice climbing obsession, and almost six years sober. If you met me at a party before I got sober, you probably thought one of two things: “This guy’s hilarious!” or “Wow, this guy needs to chill.” I was always the loudest one in the room, the guy cracking jokes, challenging people to arm wrestle for no reason, and somehow always ending up wearing a lampshade on my head by the end of the night.

January 31, 2025 · 8 min read

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