Magnetic.

Have you ever, in our life, felt pulled towards something you knew was for you, without explanation? Drawn to the unknown without fear because your heart knows this thing, this something, or someone, this need is one of the only things right side up in an upside down world.

Nature is my safe place (obviously), it has always pulled me, especially when I am in need of healing. But the mountains….they’re magnetic and they were calling me long before actually being able to see them was a reality. Recently my head said “I can’t be here anymore”, in this place, this mindset, this mundane routine spiraling me to crave more and my heart said “go.” I needed the peace I knew I’d find in a place I’d never been and I didn’t give it a second thought, I booked a plane ticket 5 minutes later and decided I’d figure the rest out as I went.

Owning a VW Westfalia has been a dream of mine for most of my adult life, a restored little home on wheels to set off into whatever adventure I wanted. While this is still far off, I did the next best thing and rented a campervan to take me on my travels in the West. I went with a company that, after my experience, I would recommend to anyone. Karma Campervans has been exceptional throughout the booking process, their vans are stocked with everything you need if you're flying in to pick it up and the customer service and personal touches are unbeatable. To top it off, the van is solar powered meaning besides being earth friendly, there's no need to find campsites with electrical hookups.

It's funny, the things that make us uneasy. For me, it was driving to the airport and parking. I am not a city girl and any aspect of city driving gives me a certain level of anxiety. Pair this with the unknowns of airport parking/navigation and I couldn't let myself be excited about the trip until I had that out of the way. I left home thinking I had plenty of time to spare, got caught in traffic, ended up taking 20 minutes to find a parking spot in a lot I had prepaid for and got stuck in the longest security line I've ever seen. It all worked out though, as it does, I made my flight with time to spare and it was easy soaring all the way to Calgary.

Day one consisted of so much adrenaline and excitement I thought my head was going to pop off. Picking up my campervan had me feeling like a kid on Christmas and I couldn't check out everything fast enough and I hadn't even seen a mountain yet. I drove to the MEC to grab supplies that wouldn't fly well and then to the grocery store to stock up for my 5 days of food before heading to my first campsite. The drive to Bow Valley Provincial Park was emotional. I couldn't decide whether to smile or cry and half the time, ended up doing both at the same time. I had waves of every kind of emotional imaginable and to be honest, as I'm writing this those waves haven't stopped.

Once I got to my campground I set up my van, unpacked a view things and then did the thing I was most eager for, I strapped on my hiking boots and set off to find a trail. Luckily, I'm easily impressed since mountains have been consuming my dreams for as long as I can remember and the Bow Valley River Trail that starts at one end of the campground and ends at the other was exactly what my tired but excited butt needed. I took my time, snapped way too many photos, cried some more and soaked in every single second of mountain air, sunshine and views I don't think I'll ever get enough of.

The pure wonder from the top of my head to the tips of my toes that I am in the mountains is still not subsiding. I am in constant awe of the beauty that surrounds me, how insignificant I am but simultaneously how magnificent and powerful I feel for existing in these moments. Magnetic. Like my heart can finally find a moments rest knowing I am where I always knew I would find a level of healing. Where the sun rises and sets and I am equally as excited for both because the capacity for gratitude in them is overwhelming. Where I let myself feel the power behind my every smile, my tears (the happy, the exhausted and the emotional) and where joy is in every single footstep.

I went to bed my first night utterly exhausted, jet lag and pure adrenaline for 14 hours will do that to you. I had my hikes picked for the next day, my windows open to the fresh air and pride that I was finally doing what I had always dreamed of.

I've had a few people tell me "I wish I could do that" when they hear I'm setting out solo and after this first leg of travel all I have to say is just do it. One step at a time. I'm getting better at solo adventures, being my only company, adjusting to the uncomfortableness of being the solo person in a world of friends, families and loves. But if I had let any part of this day hold me back, I wouldn't have gotten here. Book that plane ticket, that dream campervan, hotel, campsite. And then, tackle each step of your journey one thing at a time and before you know it, you'll be doing that thing you didn't think you could do.

As always, if you have any questions, advice, comments or just want to say hi, head over to my Instagram (@thebackwoodsblonde) or drop a message below I'd love to hear from you!