I’ve never cared for souvenirs. Unless I needed a new hat, I wasn’t interested in anything that said “I was here.” The only exciting part about souvenir shopping was the extremely rare opportunity to run through a store and pick out whatever I wanted (well, anything under $15). After that initial rush, it was just a piece of clothing with a pretty design.
What I always loved, though, were photos.
Rarely would a shirt or bumper sticker clearly remind me of my time at a beautiful place. But a picture does. It shows me the most beautiful things I saw – the things that made me stop, stare, point, and shoot. I get to look at a peak and say, “I did that.” I’ll look at a group of people and say, “I shared this with them.” I’ll see their faces again. I’ll feel their memories again.
I compiled my favorite pictures from my time in the West. They’re the ones I come back to the most whenever I want to be reminded of the great memories I made there.
Some I think just look pretty. Some I love a person in them. Some are beautiful because of everything going on outside of the picture, including the thoughts running my mind.
Now they’re yours, too. Enjoy.
Collection One
The Tetons
Look at her go.
Look at her go.
If there’s one national park that has a special place in my heart, it is this one. It was the mountain range that turned my interest in mountains from a casual hobby to a true passion.
Collection Two
Landscapes
The 5-mile hike to Lava Lake wasn’t easy, but the views at the end more than made up for the struggle
speaking of struggles, this hike was a 16-mile gauntlet. It hurt, but we peaked. And it was gorgeous
Collection Three
Hiking
Collection Four
Glacier
I mean, come on
Collection Five
Friends
Jumpscare.
Jumpscare.
Hyalite Peak was
kind of a struggle
Hyalite Peak was
kind of a struggle
You know her, you love her,
you may have even read
a blog edited by her…
It’s Hallie
You know her, you love her,
you may have read a blog edited
by her.
It’s Hallie
Collection Six
Stars
