In July 1980 I got on a Greyhound bus at midnight in Philadelphia and arrived in Idaho simultaneous with the inception of the “Frank.” 45 years, thousands of river miles, horse trails and guests later, I’ve raised a family, ran a successful family-owned outfitting business upon the Frank, and have become intensely aware of the values of the Frank on the individual and the nation. To say that the Frank has had a positive effect on my life and those of the multitude of guests and coworkers throughout my years, is as gross as an understatement gets. I have never seen the values of wilderness more at risk than they are today.

Growing up in the foothills of Virginia’s Blueridge Mountains gave me a deep appreciation for getting to be out in nature’s wild spaces early in life. I used to run around in the woods on my family’s horse farm until the sun went down each summer–and it was one of the best parts of my childhood. Later in life I experienced the overwhelm that comes from living modern life, between schooling, working multiple jobs and caring for family. It was at this time that the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a deeper way came back into my life. I distinctly remember how cleansing and restoring those early trips into the wilderness truly were… and how grateful I was for those moments of peace. Today I am blessed with the opportunity to share the wilderness with others and to help them get to have their own moments of quietude, freedom, awe and just simply to have the time to step away from our busy world for a few days. I believe that the world we live in needs these wild spaces now more than ever. 

My first experience in the Frank Church Wilderness was on a Middle Fork float trip in

2011. At the time I had no idea what this trip entailed or how it would shape the way my

life has turned out. After much time spent, many miles floated, horses ridden, trails run,

meals cooked, and friends and family made, I can honestly say that this wilderness has

shaped me into the person I am today. I am a confident and creative person who is

always willing to learn and try new things, and every time I leave another wilderness

experience, I believe I am more of each of these things. I have abundant gratitude and a

sense of who I am as a person that I wouldn’t know if it weren’t for the experiences I’ve

had in the Frank Church Wilderness.

To say the Frank Church Wilderness changed my life would be an understatement. It saved me. My first experience in the Frank was in 2014. I was about to finish college and was going through the darkest time in my life. I was deeply struggling - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Being forced out of my comfort zone, away from the stress and pressures of daily life I felt as a young woman about to embark into adulthood; having the opportunity to be completely disconnected, to feel the exhale of the wilderness, and truly be free - to think, to laugh, to connect, to realize how much more vast the world is outside of my own little bubble, and to realize the importance of following your heart rather than keeping up with the Jones’ - freedom of the Frank saved me in every sense of the word. I can’t imagine not having the solitude, the reflection, and the joy that the Wilderness affords me - and it would be an absolute disservice to the world to not have that same opportunity for future generations.

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