Welcome to my blog! I am Ron Terry, a retired National Park Ranger whose 36-year career allowed me to work in 13 National Park Service areas across the country. Most were in the American West and the western parks were my favorite assignments. My years in the parks gave me many wonderful experiences and I was privileged to lead a unique life because of my profession.
The American West is a vast and amazing region of the United States. Its scenery is awe-inspiring and its history is fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes tragic. Its magnificent mountain ranges were what first drew me in and changed my life forever. While attending college at the University of Missouri, I took a trip to the West to experience some of the national parks – Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain to be exact. I will never forget my first view of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains shining on the horizon as I traveled across eastern Colorado. That image is indelibly etched into my mind and I still recall the emotion I experienced by gazing on those magnificent mountains for the first time. Even today, soaring mountain peaks stir that same emotion within me.
That first trip to the West to see the parks changed the direction of my life and led me to a career with the National Park Service. After working for several summers as a Seasonal Park Ranger and completing a master’s degree in Recreation and Park Administration, I was fortunate enough to be hired as a permanent employee.
While working in the parks, I was immersed in the history, natural history, and mystique of these special places. I also had the opportunity to explore and experience much of the American West beyond the parks. An appreciation for and bond with the American West was the result. This personal connection led me to create this blog.
Most of my career in the National Park Service was in the discipline known as Interpretation. In this work, it was my pleasure to help the public understand and appreciate the magnificent resources and value of national parks. Working my way through the ranks, I eventually had the opportunity to be the Chief of Interpretation at two of the national parks of the West, Wind Cave National Park and Zion National Park.
I loved my jobs and greatly enjoyed helping to make national parks come alive and be more meaningful for park visitors. Through this blog, my passion for informing and enlightening people will continue, but the focus will be on the American West, including national parks. There are so many special places, fascinating history, and interesting natural history to be explored. I hope to share a unique perspective and my personal connection to the American West.
This will be a hybrid blog including travel destinations, natural history, and history, all relating to the American West. Some of my most memorable experiences of working in the national parks will be included when appropriate. It is my hope that this approach will resonate with those who already love the West and those who want to experience the West and its enduring appeal. The blog will highlight the well-known, lesser-known, and even obscure places, stories, and features from west of the Mississippi River, but primarily from the Rocky Mountains and west. You are invited to take this journey with me. So, saddle up and let’s head west and see where the journey takes us.