Hi, I’m Mel with Shadow Mountain Life which was created out of a great love of being outside in nature. Like me, you may be tired of our modern fast-paced world where our time and days seem dictated to us. Nature provides us with an escape, a way off the daily treadmill, even if only for a few hours.
I have long been a lover of the outdoors. As a kid, I remember the first time I went on a ranger-led nature hike at a small lake in Idaho. The park ranger identified the trees, wildlife and plants that we saw. I’ll never forget the smell of the Ponderosa Pine tree bark she gave us-vanilla!
During college, I worked in Grand Teton National Park for three summers and experienced amazing adventures and life-long friendships in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Later I returned to the same area to live year round.
The name Shadow Mountain Life goes back to 2009 and is a reference to a group of us friends who enjoyed camping here together year after year. It’s a wild place with outstanding views of the mountains. Many summer nights were spent around the campfire watching the sun go down and stars appearing in the dark night sky.
I know for myself, some of my happiest memories have been camping, cross-country skiing, or hiking with friends in beautiful places. Multiple studies have shown that being outside on a regular basis and making it a part of daily life has numerous benefits for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. I always feel happier and calmer after I’ve been outside in nature.
I hope this blog can be a helpful resource for those who are seeking a more natural, healthy life outdoors.