The pandemic came crashing in on me and I felt stuck and quite lost. I struggled really hard with who I was and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. In the beginning of June, I chose myself for the first time in forever. I came further out of the closet and changed my preferred names and pronouns. I resigned from my job of 5 years that I loved but wasn’t in love with anymore. And I went to the only place I have ever found solitude, the outdoors. I boon-docked from Arizona to Pennsylvania by myself. This was one of many beautiful places that helped me find myself again along the way. The mountains were calling, and I’m so glad that I went.
Sincerely,
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
This national park site includes 53 miles of the New River, a federally recognized Wild and Scenic River, as well as the deep gorge that surrounds it.
State(s): West Virginia
Established: 1978
“they save lives.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
This summer, my friends and I held our annual camping trip in New River Gorge National Park. As young adults, (some of us are still students) a lot of vacation spots are out of our price range, but public lands like national parks allow us to spend time together without…
-
Greetings from Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
The Brown v Board of Education National Historical Site has been the homecoming of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Supreme Court case that allowed equal access to schools to end segregation.
-
Greetings from Rocky Mountain National Park
"8 Facts About the Rocky Mountains The Guidebook Won't Tell You." The title caught my eye as I scrolled through the article online. "The Park is a wildlife paradise," it proclaimed, painting a picture of a world where nature reigned supreme, untamed and thriving. Eager to experience this wild haven,…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now