Off-Grid in Cody, Wyoming.

The trip into Wyoming through Montana and crossing Beartooth Pass was a journey itself. This is widely considered as one of the most scenic drives in the country. The kind of drive where you find yourself pulling over just to take it all in, multiple times.

After a brief stop in Cody, I headed toward the ranch, about 45 minutes outside of town in the heart of the Shoshone national forest, much closer to Yellowstone National Park.

Life at the ranch moved at a completely different pace which is exactly what I was looking for. The mornings were spent reading around the fire, the air was crisp, and the landscape stretched endlessly into the fog. No rush, no cell service or wifi, just ample time to take in the mountains, the wildlife, and the feeling of being somewhere far removed from the everyday.

There is something humbling about being on horseback surrounded by this kind of landscape. Moving slowly through the wilderness and up the mountains gives you a different perspective when you’re someone who’s spent most of their time in cities.

Beyond riding, I experienced some of the classic ranch activities like archery, axe throwing, fly fishing and skeet shooting. The whole experience reminded me to slow down and made me realize I have been moving through life way too fast.

I also spent a day in Yellowstone, a place that almost feels impossible to describe. The scale of the landscape, the wildlife, the geothermal features, and the feeling of standing on top of a super volcano while staring across a quiet Yellowstone Lake and feeling the irony in the peacefulness is something I won’t forget.

One evening, I made my way back into Cody for the Cody Nite Rodeo. Under the lights, surrounded by the energy of the crowd, it felt like stepping into a piece of the American West that is still very much alive.

I joked that I came back a simpler man but in hindsight I think thats actually true. My desire for fast paced vacations and seeing busy cities in general has dwindled. I think moving forward, I’m going to move through life at a slower pace than I’m used to. I was never big on plans or itinerary to begin with but this was the reminder I needed to take things slow.