Throughout my journey of twenty one years I’ve regrettably never traveled that far. Whether it was the comfort of home or the fear of leaving it, my ideals of how to expand my life didn’t involve getting far.

There are certain special times in life however when a precarious risk combines with perfect timing to bring about sweeping changes that ultimately pave the way for future endeavors.

When I left my home in mid-August I had no idea where the thought of volunteering in Yosemite for three months would bring me. To be honest I was scared beyond belief, wondering if I’d made a serious mistake by abandoning my creature comforts for a tent barely big enough to sleep in and a valley I knew absolutely nothing about. Below the layer of enthusiasm stoked by the notion of discovery laid complete doubt. I was going to a extremely unfamiliar place filled with complete strangers, hoping that my pure determination would overpower any sense of fear or doubt that stirred up.

Breaking out of my comfort zone

In truth what I’ve learned is that it’s alright for those feelings to linger. They are a natural part of living, evolving, along with expanding as a person. Without risk we cannot grow, likewise without the threat of failure the notion of success is nullified.

My previous life experiences could not be held up as evidence in order to provide an guide on how to live this new chapter. Instead I would have to write my own, heading into the complete unknown in order to bring about the change I needed.

Entering Yosemite

Yosemite’s massive scale is immediately recognized, nothing could really prepare me for it. From the point of entrance into the valley your entire world is bordered by massive cliffs jutting upward from the floor below.

Here the biome is also completely different, the mountains make their own weather independent of the forecast. One minute it could be bright and sunny then pouring down rain an instant later. The valley is also one of the most visited places in all of park’s districts.

Even while arriving during the tapering off the tourist season I was astonished at just how many people could cram themselves into it. My first nights in Yosemite were spent adjusting to my new environment, thinking about the amount of information that I would need to learn in order to not only direct people around the park but also take care of myself while staying there.

Extremely overwhelming would be an appropriate series of words to describe how I felt waking up the first morning after I’d arrived.