Pancakes, Wild Horses, and a View That Never Ends: Our Escape into Beauty
- Tami West, PhD
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
In 2020, the world hit pause. Tim and I lost our work. Lindsay moved home. And like so many others, we were suddenly still. But one day that May, Tim looked at me and said, “Let’s go to Yellowstone.” Just like that. No big plan, no agenda. Just a need to move, breathe, go.
We loaded up our SUV and drove across the country. Somewhere in the middle of that long stretch of open sky, we landed in Cody, Wyoming—an hour from Yellowstone—and decided to stay a while. That’s when I stumbled across something I never knew existed: wild horses. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns massive stretches of land out there, including designated Herd Management Areas (HMAs). That was the beginning of what’s become a yearly soul-reset for us.
Our first year was exploration. The second, we tent-camped on 140,000 acres. Then came the mattress-in-the-SUV upgrade. This year? We ditched the camping due to torrential rain and stuck with hotels. (Though don’t worry—our hearts are still wild, even if our pillows are plush-ish.)
We started our 2025 trip in Flagstaff to visit Michael, who’s a wildlife biologist for the state of Arizona. Jamie flew out with us, and we all made a stop at the Grand Canyon. Tim and I have been before, but Jamie hadn’t—and seeing it through his eyes was magic.
Flagstaff also marked the beginning of our not-so-luxury accommodations. Case in point: The Quality Inn pool looked decent… until we actually went to swim. I ran to Walmart for a suit, came back, and we said nope! But it’s part of the story now, right?
From there, we made the 14-hour drive to Cody. Along the way, we passed through sleepy small towns that somehow felt like home, and once we got to Yellowstone, Tim got to photograph the Grand Tetons. Breathtaking doesn’t begin to cover it.
We stayed again at the Beartooth Inn. Safe, clean, no frills. But McCullough Peaks—our first HMA ever—made every rough towel and wobbly nightstand worth it. It’s so vast there. You can turn in a full circle and see nothing but land and sky. Sometimes horses. Sometimes people camping. But mostly silence and beauty.
I even worked from there—mental health webinars and trainings. I stacked books on a chair for a nightstand and powered through. (Remote life is real!)
We photographed a yellow-headed blackbird, a Ferruginous hawk, and of course hundreds of horses. And I did something I’ve never done before when we've been out finding horses: I sat on the ground. I did It just to record a video for social media, not thinking about the horses In the distance. It’s not encouraged to approach the horses, but I didn’t. I just sat. And they came. Behind me. I didn’t even know they were there. I had this mix of awe and adrenaline and respect. It was unforgettable.
That wasn’t the only surprise. Twice this year, herds ran toward us—once in McCullough Peaks and once in Onaqui, Utah. It's in the video of me squealing somewhere between panic and bliss.
There were small joys too. Like the pancakes at Denny’s in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Multigrain magic. I’ve eaten a lot of pancakes. These changed me. (Yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds.)
We also learned something fun: If you swipe up on your iPhone photo, you can see exactly where it was taken. That’s how we found our way back to Onaqui. Technology + intuition = wild horse GPS.
Our final night was spent at a rustic cabin outside Salt Lake City—Tim’s photographer friend Wendy hosted us at 8,000 feet elevation. Aspen trees, Douglas firs, mountain air. Also, I did smack my head on the sloped ceiling, but that’s just part of the charm, right?
We closed our trip back in Flagstaff, this time with hotel points (thank you, Holiday Inn!) and an outdoor dinner with Michael and his friends. The next day it was Chick-fil-A, a drive to Phoenix, and finally, home.
And as much as I loved every second of our road dust, wine bars, camera clicks, and horse encounters… there’s no place like your own bed.
Here’s what I learned (again):
You don’t have to go far to find peace. Start in your own neighborhood.
It’s possible to work and wander at the same time.
A pancake can be a memory just as much as a mountaintop.
Home matters. But so does breaking away.
We’ll keep going back. We’ll keep telling the stories. And if you need a little break, even just through a screen, I've added photos and videos to help you step outside, even if it’s just in your mind for now.
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Which of these topics helped you most this week? Drop a comment below or send me a message—I love hearing your stories. And if you want downloadable quote cards, images, or deep-dive guides for any of these posts, just let me know!
Love & Hugs,
Tami
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Tami West, PhD
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.
Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.
Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In any given year, Tami speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people.
Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her with her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.
Tami connects with audiences through real experience, cutting edge research, and transparent stories – all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.
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Contact Tami at tamiwest@tamiwest.com
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