Wonders of the West

Wapiti, Wyoming

Peep the DMACC Softball shirt above 🙂

On July 23rd, my uncle, John, came to Cody to visit my brother and myself. John enjoys fly fishing, so that is what the three of us decided to go do.

I have never fly-fished before, so I was purely there to net the fish for Dalton! Dalton knew a few good fishing spots up the North Fork, so that is the direction we headed.

Our first spot was really beautiful, however, we didn’t catch or see anything! We stayed there for about an hour. After the hour we moved on to our next spot.

We moved downstream to reach our new spot (pictured above). It was a little warmer (about 92ºf to be exact) the further we dropped in elevation, but that didn’t stop us from having a good time.

We didn’t catch a fish until we were leaving, but that one fish made it well worth it. (Cutthroat Trout and Dalton Graven pictured below)

Once we got our awesome photo of this trout, it was on to the next spot. The next spot we went to was my personal favorite and located near Wapiti, WY. We caught a pretty good amount of fish, and I got to learn how to fly fish! I caught my first trout.

Dalton was an awesome teacher (clearly). John also caught some awesome looking trout in this spot as well. We ended up fishing for about 8 hours, and it was so worth it!! Fly fishing was one of the best things I have gotten to do since moving out West!

At this beautiful portion of the North Fork River, Dalton, of course, caught another great fish! I can’t help but think that it was partially because this spot was so darn beautiful! I could honestly stay here and hang out all day! Seriously, how pretty is this?

The only reason why we even stopped fishing was because a crazy storm started to roll in. It totally figures that it started as we were really starting to catch a lot of fish! The photo I’ve included below is one that my uncle took as we were walking out. The clouds above kind of show how truly crazy some of the pop up storms near Cody are!

If you ever have the opportunity to go fishing in Wyoming, I 100% recommend it!!! There is also a great spot to fish in the Powder River near Kaycee, WY. The opportunities are truly endless!

As always, Happy Hiking!

The Trifles of Tourism

Lately, things have been crazy busy here in Cody. We are entering prime tourist season, and there are people everywhere. Literally, everywhere. It’s great for Cody, because without all of these people, Cody wouldn’t make it.

However, the locals aren’t too fond of all of the tourists. Tourists make even the simplest things (like getting groceries) nearly impossible. It felt like a billion people were in Walmart last night!! As I said before, these tourists are the reason Cody is as great as it is in the iff-season.

The tourist season runs from mid-May to the first weekend of September. If you want a great time to visit Cody and Yellowstone, and can handle brisk weather, come in the fall. The fall is truly a great time to be in the park.

While the tourism isn’t always regarded with the happiest of attitudes, the people who come to Cody bring a lot to the table. These tourists come from all walks of life. People come from not only various parts of the US, but from other parts of the world to see Cody and Yellowstone.

You may also be shocked at how small of a world it is at the same time. I was wearing a DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) shirt the other day, and an older couple stopped to talk to me because of it. These two people were fellow Iowans, who retired to Cody. My own neighbor in Cody is from the same part of Iowa I’m from. It’s amazing how there may be people you know somewhere far from home.

In regards to those that come from other countries: These people bring a completely different way of life with them. While it may be frustrating to some, it can also be a major learning point. You can plainly see their values, while also learning tolerance and patience for other cultures, without even leaving your own backyard.

Possibly my favorite part about those that visit from other countries is how enamored they are with America and American values and beliefs. These people find the park and Cody absolutely beautiful, and it is cool to watch their amazement.

While tourism can create some tension and unwanted attention, it also presents a unique opportunity to learn and experience other people and their cultures.

I will have another blog up in the next week!

As always, Happy Hiking

When in Doubt… Write it out.

Doubt.

“Doubt can only be removed by action.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I have never been someone who has been big on doubts or uncertainties in my life. I am seriously someone who does everything to eliminate doubts and uncertainties at all costs. Doubt just promotes stress and worrying, which I have never had time for. However, since I have chosen to take a year off to gain residency, doubts and uncertainties have managed to creep in. That being said, I’m going to write my way through it.

I have thought (ever since I decided to take the year off) that I wanted to go to the University of Montana and study Political Science and Journalism. However, recently I have been considering becoming a veterinarian.

While that doesn’t seem to be a big deal, it changes everything. First, I really love Missoula and was dead set on living there. Sadly, the only animal science and pre-vet program is at Montana State University, Bozeman. While Bozeman is alright, Missoula has my heart.

Photos of Missoula, MT

Photos of Bozeman, MT

The next problem in sight is that there are literally no Vet Schools, or schools that give a certified Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in all of Montana. I would have to try and succeed in applying (and getting accepted) to either Washington State University or Oregon State University.

This isn’t a huge deal, but it means that I would have to move…. again. Right now, I have moved four times in two years. When I move to either Bozeman or Missoula it will be for the fifth time in three years. That, my friends, is a lot of moving, a lot of stuff, a lot of effort, and a lot of apartments.

The main problem is deciding what I want to do with my life. Yep, I’m going to be 21 and still am not certain what I want to be when I grow up. I’m just not that person who has known what I wanted to be ever since I could talk, like some people did.

If I would decided to go the Poli-Sci/Journalism route, I would attempt to be a lobbyist and work my way through politics and the government. If I would go the vet route, well obviously I would do my best to become a vet. It’s hard deciding who and what you want to be, I will be the first one to tell anyone that.

The next problem is deciding if it’s worth not being able to live in Missoula for another six years, just to get a degree. My thought process is- if it ends up being the job of my dreams, that is a very small price to pay.

Even though I have until December to figure it out, I’m trying to make a decision now. As I stated before, uncertainty is something I tamp down before it even starts. Hopefully, I can job shadow a couple of vets and see what being a vet is like. I also plan to speak with my aunt, who was a lobbyist, which should be eye opening and a wealth of information.

I plan to go on a hike and back to Yellowstone this coming week, so there will be new posts about this area before you know it.

In the meantime, enjoy this life update! I will also be creating an all about Cody post to go up in a few days.

As always, Happy Hiking!

Sometimes Late is Better than Never

The last time I posted in my blog, I was heading back to Iowa for a few days. My trip back to Iowa was great, but I am very happy to be back in my new apartment in Billings. While I may not have been very prepared to go home, I had so much fun. If you have the opportunity to do something spur of the moment like I did, jump all over it. The journey was well worth the plane ticket.

Our journey starts at 4:30 a.m on June 28th at the Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, WY. My flight boarded at 5:00, so I wanted to be there plenty early. also got the privilege (yes, I said privilege) of enjoying a crepe and caramel macchiato from the resident airport eatery Cody Coffee.

Cody Coffee has three locations in Cody, and it is absolutely phenomenal. They serve great coffee and espresso, while out-doing themselves with their crepes and sandwiches. If you are ever in Cody, the Cody Coffee Roaster, Station, and airport location are truly the place to go.

Now that I am done bragging about phenomenal coffee, I will move onto my flight. If you ever are looking for a quick, small, friendly airport in the Yellowstone area, check out the YRA in Cody. While the planes are smaller, it is very easy to navigate. My flight took off at 5:30 a.m.

The flight I chose was headed to Denver, CO first. Due a few different circumstances, I had the opportunity to practically fly over Heart Mountain AND the Rockies. That flight was truly one of the most beautiful flights I have been on, hence the two photos I have attached.

My flight landed in Denver shortly before I took off for Cedar Rapids, IA, which means that I had literally no time to take photos. Enjoy another shot of Heart Mountain early in the morning.

I landed in Cedar Rapids around 11:00 a.m. Central Time. It was hot, humid, and cloudy, so just another Iowa summer day. I met with my parents, got lunch, and headed back to their house.

All in all, I spent time with my grandparents, parents, and went to my cousin’s Bridal Shower. Before I knew it, it was time to head to Crookston, MN to clear out my apartment and head to Billings, MT to move in.

My parents and I loaded up my things, and my mom and I headed to Billings as soon as possible. We got to see a lot of cool things along the way. One of the best parts was our quick stop at the visitor center for the Teddy Roosevelt National Forest (pictured below). There are quite a few hikes and opportunities to warrant taking a whole trip the the Teddy Roosevelt National Forest. I wish I had more time to spend there.

Finally, we were on the last leg. We had arrived in Billings. We unpacked and my new place was starting to feel like home. We saw a beautiful rainbow (the first one I’ve ever seen with every ROY G BIV color) on the drive back to Cody. Lastly we got to see a beautiful sunset over the mountains. It was a fantastic trip, and I can’t wait to bring you with me on some day hikes I plan to go on while I’m in Billings.

In the meantime, Happy Hiking 🙂

Wedding in Paradise

On June 22nd, I had the pleasure of getting to attend my first wedding out West. This wedding was for my brother’s friends Cam and Gabbi. My brother, Dalton (above) was a groomsman in the wedding. This wedding could NOT have been more perfect.

Powell, WY is one beautiful place for an outdoor wedding! The wedding took place at 4:00 in the afternoon and was absolutely gorgeous. The bride and groom were so happy, and they looked so perfect together!!!

The reception was also outdoors and was SO fun! There were numerous kinds of cookies and snacks before dinner. There was a wooden backdrop (above) for taking photos, props, bags bards, and a horseshoe pit. Not to mention, there was also an awesome DJ and dance floor. I learned how to swing dance at the reception, which was way more fun than I could’ve ever imagined!

The happy couple went out through a line of lit sparklers around 11 pm. The perfect ending to a perfect night!! If you have ever wanted a destination wedding, I wouldn’t look any farther than a wedding out west. The opportunities are truly endless. I have never seen a more beautiful, well planned and put-together wedding in my life.

Now the happy couple is off to Alaska, and I will be heading to Iowa in a few days!! Keep checking back with me to see when the Cody to Iowa blog update is up! I may write multiple as I travel from Wyoming, to Iowa, to Minnesota, and then to my new home in Billings, MT. This is going to be quite the adventure.

Happy Hiking,

Taylor

About Me

I’ve decided to start this blog with a little bit about me. My intentions for this blog are to not only show my everyday life, but also to detail my experiences in the western part of the United States.

My name is Taylor. I am a 20 year old from Iowa that is obsessed with my 2.5 year old rescue Beagle named Cash and loves to explore and travel more than anything.

I graduated from a Junior College back home in Iowa with my Associate’s Degree in 2018. I was part of an amazing softball team that was 3rd in the Nation in 2018. Then, I went to the University of Minnesota Crookston to finish up college and my softball career. However, I decided to end my softball career after just one semester. I am officially a washed up, retired collegiate athlete 🙂

After I left UMC, I decided to move to Cody, WY with my older brother. During this time, I have made the decision to move to Missoula, MT in the fall of 2020 to finish my schooling studying Political Science and Management. I would like to become a lobbyist.

However, all of that isn’t for another year. In the meantime, I intend to explore the West and all of the beauty it has to offer. Stay tuned while I document my travels!