Christian Oittinen is a writer for REI. A Washington native, he grew up in the shadows of the North Cascades exploring trails, swimming in cold bodies of water, and only getting lost once or twice. Moving back in in 2012, he renewed his love affairs with rain, strong coffee, and furry animals. REI member since 1988. REI employee since 2015.
If you think about it, riding a bike is a very zen experience: tires, gears, hubs, working together in harmony, propelling you forward purposefully. With each p...
When you ask somebody where they’re from, and they say, “I’m from Chicago,” chances are they’re not from Chicago. They’re from St. George or Wilmette, Illinois,...
