The Hummingbird Chronicles

Ms. Tik
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

One woman’s quest to follow the path of curiosity and cross-pollination in the face of unprecedented times. I’ll be reporting from trains, tents, hostels, and everywhere in between. Where this journey will lead, I cannot say, but I’m sure it will be an interesting one! thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com

  1. 22H AGO

    Trust in me?

    January 8th, 2026: The Big Dark settles on Seattle and I am coping with long walks and sweet treats. On one of those walks, I stumble on Beacon Food Forest! I share a chai and a chat with the site director, Rebeca Bonilla-Myers, and reflect on if the honor’s system can actually work. 🌱A tonic for the end of hibernation season ⛴️ An ode to Seattle’s public transit 🍑 The future is free 🤖 Whose imagination will our grandchildren live in? Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min

  2. FEB 14

    Tortoise

    November 20th, 2025: Tucked next to Pike Place Market is a hub for travelers who carry their homes on their backs. This month, I get a peak behind the scenes of hostel life as a volunteer at The Green Tortoise. I take you through a day in my life as a work exchanger and have coffee with Tiffani- artist, chef, and long term work trader. 🥜 My go-to stew for a big group on a small budget 🍽️ How to cook less and eat better 🐮 Can you co-op anything? 🐢The Things We Carry 🎵 Tortoise By: Near Peak Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    25 min

  3. FEB 7

    Down to the Sea

    October 30th, 2025: Using my creativity, I stitch together a writer’s retreat on two islands off the coast of Seattle. As I soak in my last few days in a cottage by the sea, I reflect on the precarious art of creating something new. 🍕What I cook when I’m trying to seduce The Muse 🧳Packing like Mary Poppins 🐚How to become a traveling house-sitter 🎵Down to the Sea By: Elephant Revival Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  4. 11/22/2025

    Catch the Wind

    September 11, 2025: Fireweed turns to cotton and the Wrangell Mountains change color. One by one, the businesses on main street go to sleep for the winter until finally, it’s my last day in McCarthy. Before we shuttle out to Anchorage, I have a chat with Tabi, a seasonal worker with 14 years of experience under her belt. This episode takes a closer look at the ups and downs of a migratory life. Then, I pack my bags and get ready to fly to my next destination. So you wanna try seasonal work? Cool Works is a great place to start. Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    40 min

  5. 11/15/2025

    The Mountain is You

    August 12, 2025: I spend the morning getting some much-needed perspective on a flight through Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Then, I zoom in on the tallest mountain in the Wrangells and share a story about the first woman-led expedition in Alaska. Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  6. 11/08/2025

    Wildflower

    July 22, 2025: Fireweed is in full bloom, leaving bright purple splashes all over McCarthy, Kennicott, and the surrounding mountains. Meanwhile, I am recovering from a tequila soaked night that ended with a sprained ankle and a makeout on Main Street. This episode is a midsummer peak at my diary as I write through my thoughts on wildfires, wildflowers, and wild women. Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min

  7. 11/01/2025

    It’s a Man’s World

    July 5, 2025: After working the busiest day of the year in McCarthy, I head up to the museum to have a chat with Patt Garrett. Affectionately known around here as Grandma Patt, she shares about a woman who became a successful entrepreneur, land owner, and philanthropist in the early days of McCarthy. What starts as a conversation about Kate Kennedy turns into a hilarious chat that weaves together the parallel lives of Patt and Kate. So, what did it take for a woman to make her way in a man’s world? What does it take today? Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min

  8. 10/25/2025

    Kiss from a Rose

    July 7th, 2025: By day, they are your bartenders, housekeepers, cooks, and wilderness guides. But tonight, they tighten their corsets, pull up their suspenders, and transform into the town theatre company to tell the story of the ghosts of McCarthy. But one ghost in particular has intrigued me since I got here- Rose. What started as a stroll through the McCarthy graveyard leads me to a chat with Hugh Hall, the playwright who is in town. Set against the backdrop of Cheyenne painting a mural, Hugh and I have a coffee and a chat about the history of McCarthy and the women who made it here. Get full access to The Hummingbird Chronicles at thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min
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One woman’s quest to follow the path of curiosity and cross-pollination in the face of unprecedented times. I’ll be reporting from trains, tents, hostels, and everywhere in between. Where this journey will lead, I cannot say, but I’m sure it will be an interesting one! thehummingbirdchronicles.substack.com

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