This blog is written from the perspective of Jessy McLavey – a new Hideout seasonal employee who helps out where needed.
My Life at The Hideout: A Newcomer’s Perspective
Entering my third week of life as a newcomer at The Hideout, I can confidently summarize my experience in two words: welcoming and rewarding. From the moment I first drove my travel-weary self up to the main lodge last month and met AJ’s warm handshake and Peter’s energetic smile, I knew I had found a place to call my temporary home.
The last few weeks have been a blur of work and learning, and I can say that no two days of working at The Hideout have been quite the same. My tasks have included helping our talented chef, Sheena, plate food and then serving our guests with pride, learning the ins and outs of housekeeping with Guille and her team, doing cattle work alongside wranglers and guests, and helping AJ with the countless tasks of the office and gift store.
It has been a busy few weeks of memorization and execution, and I am beyond thrilled to be working alongside such a talented, encouraging and professional team. The staff here at The Hideout, regardless of their specialization, is truly committed to hospitality; both the guests and the employees seem to feel right at home here at the base of the Big Horns.
There’s something to be said about looking forward to going to work in the morning, and I’ve slipped into a comfortable routine of serving, organizing, riding and living here at The Hideout. From the moment I see the sun hit the western peaks of the Big Horns in the morning to watching the last bit of pink light seeping through the trees after work in the evening, I am always reminding myself how lucky I am to be here. My coworkers are all like-minded people working towards a common goal, and the guests bring a liveliness and enthusiasm to The Hideout that keeps each day fresh and exciting.
While the nature of working at a guest ranch means there is always work to be done, my experience thus far has shown that The Hideout is not a place of “all work, no play.” Just yesterday morning, the seasonal wranglers and myself drove up the mountain to have a snowball fight and enjoy the peaceful quiet outside of town. The staff at the barn have also been kind enough to let me indulge in my passion and ride on my days off, leaving me with a big ol’ smile plastered to my face after a long day of moving cows around the property. I’m also going to be slapping on my hiking boots and camelback in a week or two, once the snow recedes further up the Big Horns.
I am looking forward to the experiences I will share with my new coworkers, friends and guests over the next few months; if they go anything like these last few weeks, I know I will have a hard time saying goodbye to this little slice of heaven when the aspens turn their fiery yellow and the guest season comes to a close.
