Goodbye Mountains

Yesterday was my last day in Jasper. After a full five months in the mountains, I am moving on with bittersweet feelings.

This summer has been amazing. In a lot of ways it wasn’t what I expected – being back in Jasper felt like being home again, but with a whole host of different people. In time, though, those people all became friends. I also didn’t expect to stay right until the end of the season – my original plan was to stay just until the start of September – but I’m glad I was here longer. The end of the season was quieter, more peaceful, and had a different vibe to it. Two days ago we had the last day of rides, and that afternoon we put everything away – the benches, the mounting blocks, and even the entrance doors got shut.

I won’t miss the early mornings, but I am going to miss waking up to work with this view. PC: Vic.

Over the next week, the horses will be trucked to British Columbia, where they’ll spend the winter. They get to hang out in a giant field and from now until April, all they have to do is run around and eat. I said a very sad goodbye to Bert, my wonderful mountain horse, and gave him an apple.

Here’s Bert, grumpy at being woken up from a nap on a cold day this September. Thanks for another great season of rides, friend:

I’m leaving Jasper with sadness, but I know that’s not the end for me and the mountains. I love them too much. I don’t know when it’ll happen, but I do know that I’ll be back.

And for now, I’m busy moving on, down the track to the next adventure… thanks for reading this far, friends. Stay tuned.