Jul 22, 2022

The Wild West

This summer I have spent my time exploring the West for the first time. Although the mountain landscape is a big adjustment from the ocean scenery back home, the mountains have not disappointed. I have enjoyed every second traversing through the West and can’t believe that my time out here is coming to an end in a few weeks. But before I go, I would love to share with y’all a few of my favorite things I have done so far.

A few weekends ago, I was able to get up to Harriman State Park were a few of the interns rode horses through park. It has been a while since I have ridden a horse, but my horse, Boots, was fantastic. Although he was a little older and slower, he had no trouble getting around the terrain and up the steep hills. Riding our horses through the park was magical because we were able to travel through a part of the park that only horses are allowed to be on.

Throughout the summer I have also been able to explore Rexburg, ID and Jackson, WY. In Rexburg I have found a few restaurants with amazing food that I will definitely miss when I head back home; I was able to dig into some delicious pizza at Righteous Slice and some amazing barbecue at The Pit Barbecue. In Jackson I have been able to explore the downtown area as well as hike in the Tetons. My hike through the Tetons was 12 miles long but the views were definitely worth it, and the downtown of Jackson has such an upbeat and fun culture that I did not want to leave at the end of the day. If you are even in Jackson, I definitely recommend hiking in the Tetons and stopping to get a bite

to eat at Café Genevieve or Healthy Being Café & Juicery once you are done.

In addition to exploring Ashton, Island Park, Rexburg, and Jackson, this past weekend the interns ventured to Glacier National Park where we camped and hiked for three days. This was my first time camping in a National Park and it 100% lived up to its expectations. I enjoyed spending time on the trails conversing with the other interns and nights around the fire cooking dinner and sharing stories. We were able to see and hear so much wildlife on our trip, which made me appreciate the untouched landscape that National Parks give us. I was so sad to leave such a serene place and I can’t wait to visit other National Parks in the future.

So far, I have loved my time out West, and I have enjoyed exploring all the wonders that nature has to offer out here. It has been a blessing to be able to get in so much outdoor recreation in a place that looks nothing like home. My time has allowed me to appreciate all the wonders of the world and I look forward to spending some more time in the West in the near future.