Somewhere Else in Wyoming

Sep 18

4 min read

Last month, I had the most special opportunity to head to Wyoming and stay at Wilderness Trails Outfitters.

And if you know me, you know this trip was about so much more than simply visiting a new state.

For the past three years, I’ve dreamed about creating a Yellowstone group trip. I had tried to make it happen before, but endometriosis got in the way. So when I finally reached a place with my health where I felt ready to start planning it again, I knew I wanted to be intentional about who I partnered with and, more importantly, what I wanted this experience to feel like for the people coming with me.

Then, this past winter, I was scrolling TikTok when I came across a video of the most incredible meadow filled with horses and wildflowers, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains.

I immediately clicked on the page that posted it.

And that’s how I found Wilderness Trails Outfitters.

I fell in love with them through their storytelling, but what really drew me in was their authenticity. There was something about the way they shared their world that felt so genuine and so different from the polished, overly curated version of travel you often see online.

I remember thinking, I think I finally found the place.

So I sent them an email.

Within a day, I was on the phone with Melissa Clover, and somehow our conversation lasted about an hour and a half. By the end of it, I felt like I must have known this woman in a past life!

I later learned that Wilderness Trails doesn’t partner with many travel creators or influencers, which made Melissa’s willingness to connect with me and ultimately invite me out to experience their base camp for myself even more meaningful.

So I packed my bags and flew to Wyoming for the very first time.

And from the moment I pulled into camp, I knew I was somewhere special.

I was greeted by the friendliest dogs, who immediately covered me in kisses before running off to bring me their sticks to play with. Melissa greeted me with her warm smile, and we hugged like we’d been friends for years.

She introduced me to her incredible team, and somehow, within minutes, I felt less like a guest and more like I was part of the family.

And the glamping tents? The beds were some of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in while camping.

I learned how to use bear spray (and thankfully never had to use it). Although, if I’m being honest, I would have loved to see a bear from a very safe distance.

We went on an evening horseback ride, where I had the opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world.

There was a family who had traveled all the way from France. A 19-year-old solo female traveler originally from Hawaii who had moved to New York City for college. Another incredible woman from Washington State who had just completed their Cowgirl Camp and decided to stay an extra night. She and I ended up connecting over our very similar stories of marriage and heartbreak.

And that is one of my favorite things about traveling.

You can sit around a campfire with complete strangers, people you’ve known for approximately five minutes, and somehow find yourself having conversations that feel incredibly familiar.

You realize that despite coming from completely different places, you have so much more in common than you ever could have imagined.

That night, we shared an incredible dinner around the fire, drank homemade lemonade, listened to the stream trickle nearby, and laughed and talked.

And I remember thinking:

I cannot wait for my people to experience this.

The next morning, we had breakfast together and sat down to plan the group trip. I could barely stop smiling. Because I knew exactly what we were creating.

Twelve months from then, I will be sitting in that same cook tent with a group of travelers, some from the Somewhere Else with Chels community and some I've never met before, getting ready to experience the best of the American West together.

We decided to collect emails from people who wanted early access to the trip.

And then something happened that I honestly still can’t believe.

In less than 48 hours, the entire trip SOLD OUT.

My heart is so full of gratitude. Not just because the trip sold out, but because of what it represents.

Three years ago, I wasn’t sure when or if I would get to make this dream happen. Endometriosis forced me to put this dream on pause. But it didn’t take it away from me.

And standing there in Wyoming, surrounded by horses, mountains, incredible people, and a team who believed in the vision with me, I realized that sometimes the dreams we have to wait for end up meaning even more when we finally get to live them.

I hope this story inspires you to experience Wilderness Trails Outfitters for yourself, whether that’s with me on our Yellowstone adventure or through one of the incredible retreats they offer.

But more than anything, I hope you take this with you:

Don’t give up on the dream just because the timing isn’t right yet.

Sometimes resilience looks like continuing to believe in something even when you have no idea how or when it will happen.

Last month, I had the most special opportunity to head to Wyoming and stay at Wilderness Trails Outfitters.

And if you know me, you know this trip was about so much more than simply visiting a new state.

Then, this past winter, I was scrolling TikTok when I came across a video of the most incredible meadow filled with horses and wildflowers, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains.

I immediately clicked on the page that posted it.

And that’s how I found Wilderness Trails Outfitters.

I fell in love with them through their storytelling, but what really drew me in was their authenticity. There was something about the way they shared their world that felt so genuine and so different from the polished, overly curated version of travel you often see online.

I remember thinking, I think I finally found the place.

So I sent them an email.

Within a day, I was on the phone with Melissa Clover, and somehow our conversation lasted about an hour and a half. By the end of it, I felt like I must have known this woman in a past life!

I later learned that Wilderness Trails doesn’t partner with many travel creators or influencers, which made Melissa’s willingness to connect with me and ultimately invite me out to experience their base camp for myself even more meaningful.

So I packed my bags and flew to Wyoming for the very first time.

And from the moment I pulled into camp, I knew I was somewhere special.

I was greeted by the friendliest dogs, who immediately covered me in kisses before running off to bring me their sticks to play with. Melissa greeted me with her warm smile, and we hugged like we’d been friends for years.

She introduced me to her incredible team, and somehow, within minutes, I felt less like a guest and more like I was part of the family.

And the glamping tents? The beds were some of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in while camping.

I learned how to use bear spray (and thankfully never had to use it). Although, if I’m being honest, I would have loved to see a bear from a very safe distance.

We went on an evening horseback ride, where I had the opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world.

And that is one of my favorite things about traveling.

You can sit around a campfire with complete strangers, people you’ve known for approximately five minutes, and somehow find yourself having conversations that feel incredibly familiar.

You realize that despite coming from completely different places, you have so much more in common than you ever could have imagined.

That night, we shared an incredible dinner around the fire, drank homemade lemonade, listened to the stream trickle nearby, and laughed and talked.

And I remember thinking:

I cannot wait for my people to experience this.

The next morning, we had breakfast together and sat down to plan the group trip. I could barely stop smiling. Because I knew exactly what we were creating.

Twelve months from then, I will be sitting in that same cook tent with a group of travelers, some from the Somewhere Else with Chels community and some I've never met before, getting ready to experience the best of the American West together.

We decided to collect emails from people who wanted early access to the trip.

And then something happened that I honestly still can’t believe.

In less than 48 hours, the entire trip SOLD OUT.

My heart is so full of gratitude. Not just because the trip sold out, but because of what it represents.

Three years ago, I wasn’t sure when or if I would get to make this dream happen. Endometriosis forced me to put this dream on pause. But it didn’t take it away from me.

And standing there in Wyoming, surrounded by horses, mountains, incredible people, and a team who believed in the vision with me, I realized that sometimes the dreams we have to wait for end up meaning even more when we finally get to live them.

I hope this story inspires you to experience Wilderness Trails Outfitters for yourself, whether that’s with me on our Yellowstone adventure or through one of the incredible retreats they offer.

But more than anything, I hope you take this with you:

Don’t give up on the dream just because the timing isn’t right yet.

Sometimes resilience looks like continuing to believe in something even when you have no idea how or when it will happen.

And sometimes, the most fulfilling adventures are the ones you had to wait for.

I’ll see you out West.

Courage Over Comfort, always

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