The Journey

A lot happened between accepting the internship and me actually arriving at Crooked Creek Ranch.

I managed to Graduate with a B.S. from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY

I worked at Young Life's Saranac Village on the Guest Services team. 

and finally I took a three week long road trip to get to Colorado.

The trip was meant to see some people who have influenced my life and also see and experience the Lord creation! It was an incredible road trip.

Started the journey Sept. 9th leaving Saranac Lake to head to Rochester, stayed in Rochester for five days until the 14th Hanging out with great friends and family the entire time. It was hard to say good bye to two very important places to me in less than a week but life goes on!

From Rochester I drove to Philadelphia and visit my good friends Tim Barnes and Christian Mikesell ran into my CIA buddy John Turman. Bummed around there for about five days just enjoying the time. Then drove down to Atlanta to hang out with the Fortier brothers and family. Lots of good times happening in Smyrna, GA definitely played some Vball.

From there the road trip got a lot longer with the driving but totally worth it. Drove 15 hrs from Atlanta to Austin, TX to go  wake boarding with Branden Stathes. He told me the drive wasn't bad and when you have books on tape it really isn't!

From Austin It took me two days but I drove another 17 hours to Phoenix Arizona where I hung out with Sarah Anderson and went to an Arizona State University football game. Unfortunately the Sun-devils lost!  The following day I headed to my main destination THE GRAND CANYON. 

The Canyon is one of those places even though it is full of tourists on the rim, it is a must see. 

It was definitely a spiritual high to be there in God's Creation. It seriously takes your breath away. Definitely a place I would like to return to one day.

I was at the GC for two days first night I looked out over the rim. The second day I walked 6 miles into it!

Originally I wanted to go to the Colorado river in one day and back up to the top but there multiple signs that warn against this. Seeing as I was hiking by myself I figured I would take it safe and not head the 9 miles to the river but go as far as I could. 

I took the Bright Angel trail which is supposed to be one of the more popular It also has about every 1.5 miles a drinking fountain and bathrooms which is super convenient. 

I made it to the check Point called Indian Garden which is a strange oasis in the desert terrain of the GC that was 4.6 miles down. Then I was talked into going out to Plateau point which was another 1.5 but when you get there it was totally worth it.

It was so incredible to see such a beautiful place and sit in the realization that God created both this and us and loves us SOOOO much more than the Grand Canyon. Crazy. 
Ephesians 3:19 "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to the fullness of God."