People who have known me for anytime at all will tell you that it takes no time to learn I’m an outdoorsman. I love going fishing, I enjoy an occasional hike, and all year long I dream of when deer season opens in the fall. If none of those topics come up in conversation, I’m sure that my regular wear of camo crocs amongst other sportsman brands will tip you off to the lifestyle I live. I was raised to go outside and be outdoors. Along the way I picked up hobbies that led me even more to this style of living. My father is an avid hunter and fisherman and raised my brother and I to track right along behind him, and I’m not even slightly ashamed of that. Growing up this way helped me learn to enjoy the outdoors. However, never experiencing nature outside of my home area, I never truly appreciated the outdoors and the beauty that it provides. I viewed nature in terms of “What can the outdoors provide me with?” and not “What I can learn from the outdoors?”
Upon learning our family vacation this year was going to be out west, I was excited but I was more interested in pretending I was a real Wyoming cowboy and less so in the aspect that we were visiting two major National Parks (for the vast majority of the trip). Despite the teasing from the rest of our family, my dad watched hours (not exaggerating) of videos about Yellowstone and places that were essential to visit while in the park. After going into the park and seeing everything I have, I wish I would’ve also taken more time to scope out what would have been the best stops for our trip.
The journey we had begun never truly set in, that is, until we headed north from Jackson, WY and topped the hill to see the view pictured above. That view is the single most breathtaking sight I have ever experienced. The Grand Teton National Park, specifically the mountain range pictured behind this fine barn, is the most beautiful natural sight I have ever encountered. The picture, in no way justifies the beauty of this mountain range. When driving beside these snow capped peaks, it’s unbelievable, it feels like you are driving beside a painting used as a backdrop for a John Wayne movie. Quite the change in scenery from my Appalachian home.
After spending a day in awe of the Teton Mountain Range, we continued, not much further north, into America’s first national park, Yellowstone. Established by President Theodore Roosevelt himself, Yellowstone National Park sits on nearly 3,500 square miles of raw, untamed, creation. We spent four days in this park and I still feel like I have missed so much this place has to offer. Amazing sights like the Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Spring, and the Boiling River are all major highlights that you can’t miss when making this trip (pictures at the bottom of this post). The unimiginable beauty that lies within these sights is almost incomprehensible. If boiling water that can erupt to over 100 ft in the air isn’t enough for you, just drive up the road a small ways and you can see a spring that has the purest shade of blue you will ever see, at the center. This same spring has a vivid ring of orange around the edges of that blue center that makes for a sight that photos can’t truly capture.
While all of this was unforgettable, it wasn’t those sights that made me feel inclined to write this. It was sights like the one pictured above. Many people would look at me and say “Seriously?? That’s what impressed you most?” To those people, I completely understand where you are coming from. I had the opportunity to snap this picture out of the RV window (This trip was maybe a little too similar to a Robin Williams movie.) while everyone but my dad, who was driving, was asleep. It was in that short span of time that I was truly able to soak in the view and for once, be able to see a completely undeveloped, untamed, open range that was there for the exploring to anyone who was up for an adventure. Sights like this helped me truly understand why Theodore Roosevelt hopped on his horse, wandered these mountains for two weeks, and made the decision to preserve this area.
Sights like these make me proud to be an American, make me feel like we are still the greatest country on earth. Yellowstone just feels like the spirit of America as you experience every step. As you see scenery, wildlife, and endless other features of this amazing place, you feel complete understanding of the need for the preservation of areas like these. I can’t say enough and pictures can’t explain what you are missing out on if you haven’t made this trip. I have always been an outdoorsman but I can say I will always be somewhat of a naturalist because of what Yellowstone has to offer.
As President Theodore Roosevelt has scripted in the arch at the north entrance of the park “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”
Comments