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Megan Michelson

Writing

Megan Michelson decided she wanted to be a journalist back in sixth grade while job-shadowing a local newspaper reporter in her hometown in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills. It just took her a few more years to realize she could combine that career path with her passion for the outdoors. “People always say write about what you love, and that truly is what I do,” says Megan. After college, she worked as a small-town newspaper reporter before landing an internship, then a job, with Outside magazine. Megan went on to work as an editor at Skiing magazine, and as ESPN.com’s freeskiing editor before launching a freelance writing career. These days, she writes for the likes of The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, SKI, Backcountry, and brands and organizations like Flylow, POW, Atomic, Arc’Teryx, Red Bull, and more.

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Home Base: Tahoe City, CA, USA
Current Location: Tahoe City, CA, USA
Top Clients:
Outside, SKI, Backcountry, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Flylow, Protect Our Winters, Arc'Teryx, Atomic, Red Bull
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Megan excels at long-form profiles of people in the outdoor world who she finds interesting. “Pick someone you want to learn more about, then go spend time with them and call it work—talk about a dream job,” she says. Megan also dabbles in photography enough that she can document assignments.

Megan writes stories with depth. She also never misses a deadline. When I’m in a bind or need a pro, Megan is on a very short list of folks I can trust to get the job done well. I can’t imagine her not being part of our publication.

Mike Rogge

Editor, Mountain Gazette.

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Megan is at work on several upcoming feature profiles on subjects including ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, filmmaker Max Lowe, and freeskier Eileen Gu for various print magazines. Look for those stories this fall.

Career Storyline

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4

Books contributed to

700+

Editorial and Commercial Assignments

Experience

  • Tahoe City, California

    Editorial assignment

    09/2023

  • Chile

    Editorial assignment

    Ski
    08/2023

  • Mount Shasta, California

    Editorial assignment

    Backcountry Skiing
    06/2023

  • Iceland

    Magazine Assignment

    Backcountry Skiing
    05/2023

  • Bozeman, Montana

    Editorial assignment

    04/2023

  • Big Sky, Montana

    Editorial assignment

    WritingSki
    03/2023

  • British Columbia, Canada

    Editorial assignment

    Writing
    02/2023

  • Mount Whitney, California

    Editorial assignment

    MountaineeringClimbWriting
    06/2018

Awards and
Recognition

Photography Award Icon

20231107

Top Adventure Story, Backpacker magazine.

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20231108

John Swett Award for Media Excellence

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20230614

Speaker at 2012 Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference

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20211006

Media panelist for the 2021 PRSA Travel and Tourism Conference

Featured in Hence Journal

Featured in Hence Journal

Mask group Trade Secrets
October 23, 2023 / by Marc Peruzzi

Megan Michelson | How to Conduct Interviews in the Mountains.

megan michelson 2 Meet a Pro
October 19, 2023 / by Marc Peruzzi

Megan Michelson

Mask group

23rd Oct 2023

Trade Secret: Megan Michelson | How to Conduct Interviews in the Mountains.

megan michelson 2

19th Oct 2023

Meet a Creative: Megan Michelson

My Features in Hence Journal

My Features in Hence Journal

Photo of Cody Townsend in a beanie and goggles with his hair down in front of a snowy peak. Meet an Athlete
May 30, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Cody Townsend

Meet backcountry skier and challenge chaser, Cody Townsend.

Cody Townsend geared up for backcountry skiing with sunglasses and helmet Trade Secrets
May 30, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Cody Townsend | Failure Can Be a Success

Professional skier Cody Townsend on how failure can be a success.

Elyse and Indy looking out a train window Trade Secrets
May 15, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Elyse Saugstad | How to be a Prepared Ski Traveler

Pro skier Elyse Saugstad on how to be prepared for travel.

Photo of Elyse Saugstad in a beanie with a soft smile and eyes darting to the side Meet an Athlete
May 15, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Elyse Saugstad

Meet one of the most decorated big-mountain skiers of her generation, Elyse Saugstad.

Laura Yale taking a selfie with a rocky outdoor backdrop and sunkissed skin. Meet a Creative
April 2, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Laura Yale

Meet documentary film producer and outdoor adventurer, Laura Yale.

A smiling windblown haired Laura takes in the fresh air on the deck of a boat, standing and staring Trade Secrets
April 2, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Laura Yale | How to Get to the Heart of the Story

Documentary film producer Laura Yale teaches us how to get to the heart of a story.

Reduced DSC01401 Trade Secrets
March 26, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Chris Davenport | The 10-Second Rule

Pro skier Chris Davenport on how not to forget important stuff before a trip.

Chris Davenport pictured smiling with a double thumbs up, color blocked jacket, beanie and sunglasses, overlooking the water and a snow capped peak. Meet an Athlete
March 26, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Chris Davenport

Get to know Chris Davenport, the Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America author, Hall of Fame ski guide, and brand ambassador.

Makalu EB FS 53 Meet a Pro
March 20, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Adrian Ballinger

Meet Adrian Ballinger, prolific mountain athlete and guide.

Makalu EB FS 17 Trade Secrets
March 18, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Adrian Ballinger | How to Sleep Just About Anywhere

20141031 pondella africa 0802 Edit Trade Secrets
March 5, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Christian Pondella | Adapt to Changing Conditions

Christian Pondella on how to stay open minded in the mountains.

20180829 pondella dave Web 2694 2 1 Meet a Creative
March 5, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Christian Pondella

Meet the acclaimed adventure photographer, Christian Pondella.

DSC1606 2 1 Trade Secrets
February 4, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Emily Harrington | Embrace Discomfort

DSC6914 1 1 Meet a Pro
February 4, 2024 / by Megan Michelson

Emily Harrington

Meet Emily Harrington, one of the hardest working athletes in the world of climbing.

Photo of Cody Townsend in a beanie and goggles with his hair down in front of a snowy peak.

30th May 2024

Cody Townsend

Meet backcountry skier and challenge chaser, Cody Townsend.

Cody Townsend geared up for backcountry skiing with sunglasses and helmet

30th May 2024

Cody Townsend | Failure Can Be a Success

Professional skier Cody Townsend on how failure can be a success.

Elyse and Indy looking out a train window

15th May 2024

Elyse Saugstad | How to be a Prepared Ski Traveler

Pro skier Elyse Saugstad on how to be prepared for travel.

Photo of Elyse Saugstad in a beanie with a soft smile and eyes darting to the side

15th May 2024

Elyse Saugstad

Meet one of the most decorated big-mountain skiers of her generation, Elyse Saugstad.

Laura Yale taking a selfie with a rocky outdoor backdrop and sunkissed skin.

2nd Apr 2024

Meet a Creative: Laura Yale

Meet documentary film producer and outdoor adventurer, Laura Yale.

A smiling windblown haired Laura takes in the fresh air on the deck of a boat, standing and staring

2nd Apr 2024

Laura Yale | How to Get to the Heart of the Story

Documentary film producer Laura Yale teaches us how to get to the heart of a story.

Reduced DSC01401

26th Mar 2024

Trade Secrets: Chris Davenport | The 10-Second Rule

Pro skier Chris Davenport on how not to forget important stuff before a trip.

Chris Davenport pictured smiling with a double thumbs up, color blocked jacket, beanie and sunglasses, overlooking the water and a snow capped peak.

26th Mar 2024

Meet an Athlete: Chris Davenport

Get to know Chris Davenport, the Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America author, Hall of Fame ski guide, and brand ambassador.

Makalu EB FS 53

20th Mar 2024

Meet an Athlete: Adrian Ballinger

Meet Adrian Ballinger, prolific mountain athlete and guide.

Makalu EB FS 17

18th Mar 2024

Adrian Ballinger | How to Sleep Just About Anywhere

20141031 pondella africa 0802 Edit

5th Mar 2024

Trade Secrets: Christian Pondella | Adapt to Changing Conditions

Christian Pondella on how to stay open minded in the mountains.

20180829 pondella dave Web 2694 2 1

5th Mar 2024

Meet a Creative: Christian Pondella

Meet the acclaimed adventure photographer, Christian Pondella.

DSC1606 2 1

4th Feb 2024

Emily Harrington | Embrace Discomfort

DSC6914 1 1

4th Feb 2024

Meet an Athlete: Emily Harrington

Meet Emily Harrington, one of the hardest working athletes in the world of climbing.

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