“Are you from around here?”

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Nope.  I moved here six months ago,

leaving almost everyone I ever knew back on the east coast…

...and I have been loving it!

 

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“Why?”

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Mostly I just needed to head west.  Growing up in Northern Virginia, and even when I went to college in New York state, The West was always a romantic idea in the back of my head, so when I found myself as a college graduate, living with my family in the suburbs outside of DC, I figured I needed to chase that dream while I could. 

 

 

“How did you end up in Lander Wyoming, town of less than ten thousand people?”

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Dumb luck.  After graduating in May of 2016 I went on a 2.5 month road trip, hoping that I would find some place that spoke to me… I found A LOT of places where I could picture starting a new life in.  So I went back home, worked, and plotted my westward move. 

I decided that I wanted to move to a small town.  Some place with community.  And somewhere near the mountains.  So I started sending emails to the owners of various rock climbing gyms in small towns throughout Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming…Most people didn’t even respond to the random email they received from some kid on the east coast, but Steve Bechtel did.

Steve runs Elemental, a fitness center and climbing gym in Lander.  This seemed promising, so I did a little research and found that Lander seemed to be a little climbers haven next to the foothills of the Wind River Mountain Range.  In addition, one of my good friends from college, Hannah Akre, had spent a summer ranching near Lander and spoke highly of the town.  This was good enough for me, so before I had gotten any sort of work contract, any type of living situation, or really knew anyone, I packed my minivan and headed west right after Christmas of ’16. 

 

 

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“How’s that working for you?...I guess you’re still here…”

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SO GOOD.  Lander is probably my favorite town in the world!  I love being able to ride my bike around town, constantly in sight of the foothills.  I love how you find folks from all over, from all walks of life here.  From the NOLS community of crunchy outdoorspeople, to the lifetime Wyoming cattle ranchers, everyone’s got their own story and beliefs, and for the most part, everyone lets everyone do their thing, live their life, and seek their truth. 

I came west partially to find myself in bigger mountains and bigger, wider open spaces, but I also came to escape something cultural.  The east coast is objectively more populace than out here, and I think there is just something about that environment that breeds competitiveness and materialism.  From academics to sports, finances to looks, I grew up constantly comparing myself to others – my peers, my seniors, and even the young up-and-comers.  Out here I feel like I have more space and enough quiet that I can better listen to my own tune, and really start figuring out what it is that I want, not what I was taught to want. 

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Not only do I feel more self-directed, out here I have far more role models that are chasing dreams not made of stuff.  Here in Lander I have met so many people (climbers, NOLS instructors, artists, carpenters etc.) that work to support a lifestyle, and not the other way around.  Back east it felt like most of my friends and influences were working office jobs for paychecks, but out here it seems like more people are working seasonally, freelance, or work with their hands - work that is flexible enough to allow the life style that they want to live. 

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Oh, and people get out.  It’s not just that Lander has unbelievable outdoor access, people use it too!  And I think a shared love of the outdoors is part of what brings all these seemingly disparate communities of people together.  We all lead different lives, but we share a passion for being outside, and that is enough to foster respect and collective good will – you can feel it in the air! 

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“Sounds like a fairytale, but we all have to make a living.  There isn’t much industry in Lander, so what do you do for money?”

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To start with, rent is cheap (relative to most of the east coast), and an inventive person can easily create trade relationships for food and lodging… If I had no debts, I’m not convinced I would have to work at all!  But I do have debts, and I don’t mind a little work!

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It all started with freelance film and content creation work for the Elemental climbing gym and the International Climber’s Festival.  Next, the Methodist Church in town payed me to paint walls and sent me to Costa Rica as Mission Trip photographer!  Next, I started working at Sprouts, a local greenhouse a few days a week.  Then NOLS started employing me in their admissions and marketing department.  Finally, the schools started getting back to me with substitute teaching work…So for the last 2 months I have actively been working at least 3 jobs a week!

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“Woah!  What happened to coming out to Wyoming to live and be free?”

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The last few weeks have been a little crazy, but I honestly can’t imagine a more enjoyable 40+ hour work week.  3 days at a desk in NOLS HQ, 2 days at Sprouts, and ~1 day at the Wyoming Indian Schools definitely keeps me busy, but the variety of work environments and people keep the monotony at bay. 

…And maybe the best part of all of this work is the flexibility.  I can work now, so that next month, I don’t have to.  I am not committed to spend X number of days at any work place, and this gives me the freedom to plan future adventures and gives me the peace of mind that if work ever starts to stretch endlessly towards the horizon, I can make a change and get free of the regularity. 

 

 

“Any cool adventures recently?”

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This past weekend I visited Ten Sleep, WY with a few friends.  Tiny little town leading up to a HUGE dolomite canyon – very similar to Sinks Canyon (15minutes from Lander) except bigger and with more and better rock climbing. 

We slept better than we had in a long time, curled up in sleeping bags to ward off the crisp mountain air.  In the morning we stretched, meditated, and soaked up the sun until it felt time to go climb something.  As we hiked and climbed we were buffeted by all manner of weather, not all of which was ideal for climbing…but it sure showed us the power and beauty of the Big Horn Mountains, and reminded us that the best “climbing trips” are really not all about the climbing.  Climbing is a motivator to get outside.  It’s an activity that we can pursue and challenge ourselves through, but really the adventure lies in heading off the beaten path with a few good friends and finding peace away from the comforts and technology of the modern world.

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“Any good times on the horizon?”

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Oh man, I’m psyched!  Tonight I have to choose between yoga and theology pub, and then I will probably go on a bike ride in the setting sun.  Tomorrow I plan to have a friend over for a pancake breakfast, then head to the Casper, WY to meet Kilian when his flight comes in.  We will probably hit the Split Rock climbing area on the way back to Lander.  In the next week, I will try and take Kilian to meet as many of the communities I have come to love as possible, while also planning a 2-week, climbing and camping road trip around Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah…and then we will road trip. 

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After that, Kilian will continue his tour of The States and I will catch a ride with a friend back east!  Two weeks catching up with family and friends in Virginia.  Then the wedding of one of my oldest friends!  Finally, I will return to Lander for the 4th of July festivities, with the Climber’s Festival and all kinds of summer fun on the horizon…

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Good times ahead!

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