All my life, I have always been fascinated by the notion of going
West. The wild West. Western expansion. Ever since famed newspaper editor, Horace Greeley,
first printed the words, “Go West, young man…” It has been the direction of adventure,
untapped potential; the untamed unknown.
You can go up North, or down South, or you can go back East, but to go West, you have to go
out. Out West—even the sound of it evokes thoughts of adventure, discovery, and freedom. I
have nothing against traveling these other directions, and in fact, some of my best adventures I
have traveled in those directions. For me however, out West will always be the lure of the
unknown frontier. Out West is where your mettle is tested. Out West is where you leave your
mark.
Throughout history, civilizations have forged their legacy by going West. The Romans,
conquered Gaul, and then Britain. The Vikings found: glory in Germany, Scotland, and Ireland,
discovered Greenland, Iceland and North America; all by heading West. Spain found untold
wealth in the Americas. The pilgrims found religious freedom. Our own United States
discovered mountains, rivers, deserts, and the Pacific Ocean by sending explorers Lewis and
Clark West into the unknown. A gold rush, the railroads, and a trail to Oregon all were cemented
in history by the desire, the yearning, the urge to go West. Out West. You need look no further
than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis as to the importance of going West and how it shaped the
landscape and the power of the U.S. on the world stage. That Monument is a testament to the
unrivaled spirit that is the West. Out West.
My desire is to share with you stories of my own adventures going West. No matter the
direction, back East to New York, or down South to Texas, or up North to Alaska…every
adventure story begins with the same burning question…
Have you ever been West?
~Mark Kash