Did you know that former teen heartthrob, Andrew McCarthy, of ‘‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ currently writes for Travel and Leisure, and also wrote a memoir ‘The Longest Way Home: One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down’?

Andrew shares, ‘It was in the mountains where I discovered that simple connection- not only to the natural world but also to my place in it. I felt ‘at home’ in myself when I was deep in the wilderness in a way that I never had before.” Who knew an 80’s posterboy could run so deep? I love it!

Well…..my husband, Dr. Kot, had his magic mountain moment last week in Wyoming as he  hiked deep into the canyons of Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Dr. Kot shares, “I was awestruck each day as I hiked through the Grand Tetons and the majestic mountain trails within Yellowstone National Park. Hiking 12 miles a day, seeing elk, buffalo, and moose pass by, taking in great golden sunsets, and completely immersing myself in the majestic splendor of northwestern Wyoming was simply an unforgettable experience.”

Adding, “The natural communities include: alpine, forests, sagebrush flats, wet meadows and wetlands, lakes, ponds, and rivers. Different flora and fauna inhabit these zones. The bulk of my exploration of Grand Teton National Park consisted of day hikes throughout the various canyon trails: Cascade Canyon, Death Canyon, and Paintbrush Canyon. The sheer magnitude of the canyon’s granite walls, the towering lodgepole pines, cascading streams and stillness inspired a sense of awe.”

Doc is a great nature photographer, so I thought you might like to see his hiking photo diary……Enjoy & go hug a tree Hamptonites!

The mountain Doc shares, “Moose, elk, deer, pika, red squirrels, and red-tailed hawks were spotted. Lakes created by the receding glaciers from the ice age occupied moraines. Geologic forces continue to shape this landscape. Towering granite walls with clinging lodgepole pines and cascading water falls from the melting glaciers.”