Bear Wallow Mountain outside Asheville, NC
We, Seth and Emily, met two years ago while spending time on the coast of North Carolina. We have both lived in North Carolina pretty much our whole lives but have shared one dream. To get out of the Southeast to explore, travel, and move out west. The west represents a land of extremes and wide open spaces, a land with space to explore and live without stepping on someone else’s toes.
About a year ago, we looked at our lives and they were far from the glamour of our dreams. Waking up every day to go to work, only to hate it, then returning home to eat dinner in front of the TV is not what we had in mind. This life was robbing us of our fire, passion, and inspiration that used to fuel us. We refer to this lifestyle as the Rat Race.
Devil’s Courthouse at Sunset
Therefore, on New Year’s Day 2018, we flung ourselves out of the Rat Race and into our new home in Wild Wyoming. In taking this step, we decided not to sacrifice our dreams because of what everyone told us our lives should look like. We chose to design our life together exactly the way we envisioned, despite its challenges and unconventional ways.
This was a big risk, but we have been rewarded beyond our expectations. We now live a life full of adventure and have hobbies we have the time to pursue. In addition, we draw inspiration from everything around us in the wild, open west. The journey has not only given us confidence in ourselves as individuals but has strengthened us as a unit. This quest has already taught us so much and we’ve relied on many other blogs to help us find our way. Our wish is to show you that your dreams can be achieved on an everyday basis, without having to go to extremes. We hope that Hillbilly Pioneers provides readers with the knowledge and inspiration to pursue any dream you have, especially if it’s similar to ours. Screw the Rat Race.
Seth
Hello everyone, my name is Seth. I was born and raised in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina (hence the hillbilly part). Having spent most of my life outdoors, I have participated in hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. I often refer to myself as a “Hippybilly.” Part hippy, part hillbilly. For example, two of my most beloved pieces of attire are my well worn Chaco’s and camouflage Boonie hat. If you would have asked me five years ago where I would be today, my response would have been “I don’t know, on a mountain.” Fast forward to the present day where I work enough to buy gas so I can drive to my favorite fly fishing spot. I stay busy tying flies and preparing myself for whatever upcoming season is about to occur in the outdoors, so stay tuned for all of my adventures and misadventures.
Emily
Hi, I’m Emily! I grew up in the Piedmont of North Carolina and lived all over the state ever since. Most of my childhood is marked by bare feet, outdoor exploring, and my hair in a practical ponytail. Whether it was blackberry season, 4-wheel racing, or fish cleaning time, you could usually find me and my siblings outside. While I find hunting cold and boring, I love fishing. Since moving out west, I have tried my luck at fly fishing, but there is quite a learning curve. I also love hiking, dandelions, boxers, crocheting, and cooking. But most of all, I live for the summer and I am a southern girl through and through. I have always dreamt of exploring and pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone. So far in life, that has landed me in some of the most beautiful places in America. Throughout this blog, you’ll find more about living out west, assimilating into that environment, and, of course, all of my hobbies!
