Leaving Wyoming

And I am really sad about it. I just got off the phone with mom and honestly said, I wonder if I can come back next summer.....my, how things change. The adjustment was rough, but the thing is - I did adjust and am going to completely miss waking up to horses and quiet and mountains and well, it feels pretty odd that I spent all summer anxious about being on the ranch and now I am anxious about my return to city life. Obviously I am excited to see all my friends and family, but I am nervous about making the transition back to the life I left behind. It will be different now - there is no doubt about that. This experience showed me what I can do and what I did do and what I might be able to do in the future.

For Lindsay:

Part of me was clearly unhappy to be sitting behind a desk gazing down at the wranglers as they saddled horses and set off on half day trips into the wilderness. Being a receptionist in such an incredible setting was sort of the pits, and yet, I did get to take advantage of simply living in such a different and amazing place. No matter what happens in my future, whether you'll be reading another ranch blog this time next year or not, I am SO HAPPY I did this. I made friends that I will have for life. The Crossed Sabres Crew. And now I can go visit them - North Carolina, Georgia, Utah, Ohio, California. I also fully intend to keep steering my life towards the country. Sorry B - I doubt I will settle in the city. I've just always felt pulled towards the middle of nowhere and after this experience, I definitely know why that is.


More blogging from the road. Just waiting for Ryan to fly in so we can hit the road back to Portland. I am most excited about driving through the Tetons! Such gorgeous mountains. Jackson will be a fun city to see as well. Then it's on to Southern Idaho. I've never been, but I hear it's garbage. Ha! I'll have to see for myself. I do know that they have one of the largest raptor conservation sites in the country and that is pretty dang cool. Ah birds, love them so. Alright. That's all from me for now! Talk to you all again soon and in some cases I will actually see your beautiful faces! Hooray!

Love, Lucy

Countdown to P-town

If this picture doesn't scream Wyoming, then beats me. Forgive the writing in this post. I am currently recovering from too much to drink. Last night was a celebration. A celebration of the people I've met, our time on the ranch, and of PBR. I've been going on a lot of solo walks lately. Walking to the top of ridges to watch the sun set while candy-colored clouds roll in. Walks by the river where I can sit and contemplate the time I've spent here on the ranch. Walks where I can soak up the beauty and the quiet of this place. I do truly believe I will miss these things. However, the pictures in this post tell a different story. This is the story of nights on the ranch. It's amazing how similar life on the ranch has become to life in the city. Instead of sitting in bar stools, I sit under the stars in the back of a pick up. Instead of worrying in my head about walking by the wrong, threatening drug addict, I sit searching the tall grass with my eyes-wary of the mountain lion that might have stalked me.

It hardly feels like I've been here at all now, and yet when I had more than a week, it felt like I had been here for ages. It took me 3 months to adjust to being here and now that those 3 months are up, I'm leaving and it's somewhat bittersweet. What matters most though is that I can safely say I am leaving here with no regrets and to make sure this feeling remains, I am going to live up every second of my time on the ranch, whether that means basking in the beauty of the raw wilderness, or consuming too much alcohol with my new found friends, it doesn't matter. It's all the same. I've appreciated it all for it's all contributed to this experience that I will most likely never forget.

So. Who misses my filming skills?!?

Cause it's your lucky day! A miracle occurred and I accidentally made a video today. I am rating it PG for some slight language. Watch at your own risk.

Well played Wyoming

So, since my last post, I have been camping in Montana with some of the family, the ranch had the first staff/guest cookout of the season, and I met a new horse friend, Abraham. The consistent vein throughout these past couple weeks has been the sheer enjoyment of nature. Being out of the city and surrounded by the silence of breezes through the trees and the constant rush of rivers running from here to there. I took a nap on the first day of our camping trip at the Sloway campsite just off Clark Fork river west of Missoula, MT. The sun beat mercilessly down into the tent, but there was something so inherently pleasant in feeling my bare legs stick to the sleeping bags that surrounded me and hearing the buzzing of various insects trying to infiltrate my temporary bed. Even though sweaty naps are somewhat miserable, this one just felt SO good.

Of course, now that I am just getting used to life in Wyoming, it is almost time for me to leave. I am going to miss the emptiness that pervades this state. The way life leeches along at a snails pace because there simply isn't a whole lot going on. Everyone seems to make time to stand in rivers fishing out a fresh catch for dinner. They know how they would survive if they found themselves lost in the woods and eat meat at every single gosh darn meal. Meat they probably shot and killed and skinned themselves (keeping the bones and furs for gory decoration of course). There is a basic elemental feel to this state where everyone resorts to gun-toting animalism and also a fond appreciation for nature. It has sort of scared me since my arrival, but now I find it also somewhat appeals to me....not sure what that says about me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it all immensely intriguing. Real life mountain men, dead animals gracing every wall, and an unnatural obsession with rodeos and cheap beer - maybe I should have pursued anthropology. But as it is, I would just as soon sit in awe of it all.

Barring Northern Minnesota, I have never enjoyed the beauty of a place so much in all my life. I can appreciate scenic sights, but there is something different about spending a significant amount of time in a place so that you experience all the temperments of a season and become familiar with the way life conincides with the natural world. Overall, the last couple of weeks have just felt right. The camping, the horseback riding, the cookouts - this is what I came to Wyoming for and I couldn't be happier that I have finally found my stride as well as my appreciation for this experience. In order to help you understand what I mean, allow me to present you with some photos.

I met my match

I had a friend visiting me the other day here on the ranch. I didn't know he was my friend until he started sitting in the gift shop staring at me as I worked. It was sort of awkward, but you know, I generally don't mind awkward people. Especially when they are teenage boys who clearly aren't all there that like to show me the goofy comics they create and who then proceed to draw things for me like THIS! Remember my drawings from earlier this summer, posted here for all to see on this very blog? Well, I am just saying, maybe I should have proposed to this kid?
I didn't propose. Don't worry. Instead I spent last night doing a little of this:
Yes, that is reading and sleeping at the SAME TIME! A little something I learned to do while here on the ranch. And now I am here!
Having a lovely day off of work interneting in my new favorite coffee shop. Cody's very own, The Beta. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Tune in next week for Elizabeth's requested fiction story. I have some grand ideas currently finding their way onto the page. Until then, long days and pleasant nights.

Love, Lucy

Snow makes me a happy girl

This time last week, I was hiking up Mt. Washburn in the heart of Yellowstone Park. This is one of the most popular hikes in the park and climbs to an elevation a little over 10,000 ft. I went with the housekeeper Rhonda, and we were initially surprised to find the trail relatively empty. Our surprise diminished however when we eventually discovered our path covered in feet of slippery, slushy snow. Only the most hearty souls kept up with the hike, and I admit, there was a point where I wanted to throw in the towel what with the steady, breath-stealing incline, and the exhaustive snowy obstacle, but needless to say, I stuck with it. And boy was it worth it!

At the top of this moutain is one of 3 lookout towers that is still inhabited during the summer months by some mellow park ranger. I assume they must be mellow to live on the top of a mountain where they tout books and radio as the most exciting forms of entertainment. I think it sounds pretty rad, and yet, I struggle everyday with weening myself from constant connectivity. I mean, I think it took hours for the news of Michael Jackson's death to reach me!

Mt. Washburn provides a panoramic view of the park and you can see all the way to Montana as well as a gogeous view of the Tetons to the south. During the summer months, the path is supposedly packed with hikers and the hillsides sport the beauty that are Wyoming wildflowers. Once fall arrives, these hillsides become a buffet for hungry grizzly's. I still can't believe I currently live in grizzly country. It is so rad.

Anyways, this hike made me very happy because there was a part of the trail where the snow stretched on for 800 yards (some old man's estimate, not mine, but he had a trustworthy look about him) and I was reminded of Northern Minnesota. I had all these very tranquil memories of going up north during the snowy months to spend the days hiking or cross country skiing only to find myself at the end of the night in cabins warmed by the fireplace. And even though Rhonda kept exclaiming that I must be cold, I insisted that I had a thick skin. I will admit now though, it was hella cold on the summit. Because of the WIND! I hate wind. However, even though I finally felt my blood chill, I am still a badass for summiting this beast. Have a look at the picture diary below:

The beginning of the hike
Me at the first vista


These yellow-bellied marmots were everywhere! They make their dens in the mountain rocks and when they hear you coming the chirp like a bird. They are so fat and will sit munching on the side of the path while you walk mere feet from them.

The first taste of snow

Oh gosh, there's more!?
Rad trees


Ok, so I guess this isn't so bad...very lovely....

Wait, what?! Seriously? I chanted Duluth, MN, Duluth, MN, Duluth, MN, to get me through this stretch. It was loooooong and treacherous.
Ooo, look at how little the road is getting!

Oh look! The ranger station waaaay off in the distance. I can do this.

Wait, what?! Seriously?

Stupid incline! I beat you! Take that!
Ha! Suck it moutain!
Cozy and informative. I like it.
What a view :)
Have a look for yourself....
If you lived here, you'd be home by now.
Ever wondered what a chilly badass looks like?
Ok, I guess we will start our descent. The trail is only, oh, like, a million miles away! Waaaaaay down there, swithcbacking away and laughing at me too. Damn! Mountain 1, Lucy 1. Well played Mt. Washburn, well played.

whoa, whoa, whoa

One last post before I go. How could this GIGANTIC Rooftop RIFLE have gone unnoticed by me for so long. It is right outside the window where I sit listening to the soothing sounds of some lovely lady singing along to her acoustic guitar. Ok, so maybe that's the reason I am able to ignore GIGANTIC GUNS so well. Cause when people pass me on the street, or ride through our ranch packing heat, I visibly cringe at the all too-obvious and violent sight. Seems I need a piper to follow.

P.S.

I like this picture. It is....help me out with the adjective....Johnny looks like the host of some show Edgar Allen Poe might have orchestrated and that is a complement! And just for fun, I love this picture too:

Anyways, real point here is that I am headed back to the land of no interweb and may not be able to post again until next Friday. On some happy notes, I found an amazing used book store in Cody, they have super duper health food stores here to satisfy the hippy in me, and we have started having bonfires complete with acoustic folk singing and booze...also to satisfy my inner hippy I suppose. Keeps me going out here on the range. Until next week, long days and pleasant nights!