BEAR X Youngest Child
inside voices
BEAR X YOUNGEST CHILD
Angell by name, angel by nature. Lily and I met in 2019 when we were staying at the same hostel in Slovenia. We played cards at the dinner table, followed each other on Instagram, and stayed in touch ever since! Here’s Lil.
Give us an elevator pitch.
Turns out, I'm an artist. I had no idea.
I knew I loved the company of my camera in the mountains, the puzzle of composition and color. I knew I was curious and easily captured by beautiful details and anything handmade. In the game of dream jobs, I always said I wanted to be a candlestick maker.
I’ve definitely wondered, for a few years now, that I might be ever so slightly creative, to claim anymore or indulge in titles would embarrass my British upbringing. How vulnerable it feels to recognize myself as an artist, a photographer or maker of tiny beautiful strands of beads. How terrifying to put your creativity out into the world, and how wonderful when it resonates with others.
Tell us about your latest passion project, Youngest Child Beads.
Youngest Child came out of nowhere. I have always had restless little hands, most likely from my Northern Irish mother who never sits still. I have tried my hands at bread making, knitting, writing, photography, and somewhere along the way they came across some glass Japanese beads, and the rest is history. I love the reward of a slow and meditative task, stringing beads is really very similar to climbing mountains. One step at a time gets you to the summit, one small bead at a time slowly forms a beautiful little prize to wear or share.
I named the project Youngest Child, to celebrate the fortuitousness of an unexpected passion. I am the youngest of three sisters and my most classic youngest child expression is the freedom to be utterly random, and prioritize everything other than the traditional ducks in a row.
You’re an avid skier, what is the most magic day you’ve had in the snow?
While skiing down is the main objective of most winter adventures, it’s all the moments along the way that offer up the magic: watching the sunrise, funny sunburns, sweat moustaches, bad moods, good moods, poopin’ with a million dollar view, crazy storms and frigid nights.
One of those magical moments, captured below, is my guy and I taking it easy in a white out. Sharing a slice of leftover pizza and waiting for the clouds to shift.
Your film photos are something so special. Share your favourites?
Foggy Lake
Red Bluff
Loowit scape
Ptarmigan Traverse
3 songs that belong on every roadtrip playlist…
Broncho - Sandman
Cowboy Take Me Away - The Chicks
One Hell Of A Woman - Noelene Hofmann (the whole album)!
Tell us a memory from the mountains that left a lasting impression on you.
The Pacific Northwest offers endless mountains, but a classic cascadian adventure is a slog. Two summers ago, one such slog introduced me to the concept of ski mountaineering and it was exactly how I want to travel in the mountains.
It began with skis and boots tied to the side of my very heavy pack, runners on my feet, and many miles of thick forest between me and the alpine. We were both in a pair of shorts and looked like we were going to the beach, not up a 9,000 ft glaciated mountain. Hiking in tennies eventually turned to skinning on skis when we hit snow, and to test my nerves and gear, we ran into an afternoon thunderstorm with lightning cracking above us.
As evening fell, we built a camp, heated up some grub, and watched the sky settle into night. I woke up at 4am for a traditional alpine start, it should have been 3am but I was too cozy to leave the warmth of my snooze-bag. Now we’ll have to race the relentless summer sun all day, trying to get down the mountain before the snow is too soft. We sip coffee and gear up before setting off across the ancient glacier that offers safe passage to the rocky pyramid of Mount Shuksan. We scramble up to the summit and relish in the view until the clouds swirling around us threaten a white out. We repelled down and clipped into our skis to do the ascent in reverse.
Climbing Mount Shuksan linked together hiking, glacier travel, easy rock climbing, and downhill skiing. This trip is exactly what I want to do in the mountains, and what I will be doing most weekends between now and July.
Bryan sharing some cheese before scrambling up to the summit
Water damaged film from Mt.Shuksan, looking down the sulfide glacier
What is your favourite hiking snack?
Leftover pizza for sustenance, skittles for morale.
What are some hidden gems in your hometown (Seattle)?
Delancy for a slice of pizza and her sister bar, Essexs, for dressing up and a drink.
Golden Gardens, a local beach, for an icy dip and if you are lucky the mobile sauna is parked nearby.
Editor is a consignment store that I stop in whenever possible, always searching for an excellent pair of pants.
Tell us a story from this winter.
This winter hasn’t been the most fruitful in terms of skiing. Between starting a new job as an EMT (paramedic for those of you in Australia), trying to launch a small business, and getting really into rock climbing, time seems fleeting. However, one of my favorite moments from this winter was a trip up to Table Mountain outside the Mount Baker Ski area.
It is the antithesis of the slog I mentioned earlier, you arrive at the parking lot, gear up and head straight up to the mountain. At the shoulder, my ski partner and I dug a pit, the pit said go, and we went! It was some of the best skiing conditions I can remember this season. The day ended with our traditional tailgate; cold beers, a tin of smoked salmon and a box of crackers.
A tin of smoked salmon and box of crackers
What are your top tip for prioritising adventure?
When it comes to spending time outdoors and in the mountains I’ve traded in a weather forecast for the motto, “you don’t know if you don’t go”. The adventure is going, trying, and if you have to turn around that’s okay.
*Within reason of course, for skiing knowing your local avalanche forecast and storm cycles is a must!
You can read more of Lil’s adventures, and see more of her gorgeous snaps on her website Lily Of The Valley. Or Youngest Child on Instagram.
Order some beads and go on a hike.
Stray beautiful,
BEAR.