By Adam Gostel
Before my journey at Thunderbird began I was living in the least populated state in the U.S. That’s right Wyoming. You may be wondering why Wyoming? What’s there and who cares? Wyoming is one of the most beautiful places you can imagine on the earth. It is home to the oldest national park in the U.S. Yellowstone National Park which was established in 1872. Yellowstone is home to Old Faithful Geyser which is the most popular attraction in the national park. Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes and spews water up to 184 feet (or 56 meters) in the air to the delight of crowds from all over the world.
If that is not enough of a reason to entice you to visit the wondrous state of Wyoming there are beautiful mountains everywhere including the Teton Mountain Range. In Grand Teton National Park, which is on the way to Yellowstone if you are staying in my former residence Jackson Hole, the views are astounding. Make sure to hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point which is only a 4 mile (or less than 6.5 kilometer) hike round trip. The views and scenery are well worth the trip.
What else is there you might ask? The answer is simple, wildlife galore. Jackson Hole, WY is one of the few places on earth where you can see moose walking on the street. Furthermore, there is the National Elk Refuge just outside of the town of Jackson Hole where thousands of elk and other wildlife migrate to in the winter to ensure a safe haven during the cold winters that Wyoming endures.
If that is not your cup of tea and you prefer adventure Wyoming is still a great spot. Whitewater rafting down the famous Snake River is enough to get even the most adventurous of travelers’ heartbeats racing. If you visit in the winter the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will satisfy your skiing and snowboarding needs. For all these reasons and more I have to say I really enjoyed my time in Wyoming and am ready to make the approximately 17-hour road trip sometime soon. Now the big question is who wants to go with me and when?