Endurance

The world is full of possibility. It’s also full of peril.

In the winter 2019 issue of Hidden Compass, we bring you stories about those who withstand the latter in search of the former. This is an issue about Endurance.

On the wetlands of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, Alexandria Scott looks to the endurance of her ancestors for our written feature. In this beautiful and haunting Chasing Demons story, accompanied by vibrant, custom artwork by Latasha Dunston, we meet men and women who resisted enslavement. And we follow the hidden meanings of spirituals that led them to Wade in the Water in search of freedom.

In our photo feature, we venture into the Sumatran rainforest with Hayli Nicole, as she introduces us to the individuals who stole her heart. This Portrait showcases those facing an industry that has waged war on their ancestral home and unleashed a slew of threats that endanger the very existence of these mysterious People of the Forest.

Then, Karen Burshtein brings us into the harsh and challenging world of the Yukon Quest — the most grueling dog sled race on earth. Why do mushers like Michelle Phillips endure such brutal elements and punishing terrain? Because remarkable things happen in the struggle between The Wild and the Woman.

Sometimes, it is a concept that endures. In The Walls We Build, Kelly A. Harrison visits a series of borders, and contemplates the innocent people who get caught in their crossing. In this Time Travel story, we don’t just venture back to the Cold War — we consider our present, and what it bodes for our future.

Finally, our Human and Nature story examines the endurance of an island under the siege of Invasion. In this piece, Shannon Donaghy showcases Iceland’s fragile native ecosystems and explores what it feels like to be an invader.

As always, we extend our deepest gratitude to our readers, who share our vision of powerful storytelling, and to our contributors, who send us stories worth sharing.

Yours in wanderlust,

Sabine Bergmann and Sivani Babu, Hidden Compass Co-Founders

Liz Shemaria, Hidden Compass Editor-at-Large

Sonya Pevzner, Editor