Born in Northwest Montana and raised along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, Wes graduated Summa Cum Laude from his father’s Alma Mater – Auburn University. He married his high school sweetheart – Natasha Lawson, also an Auburn graduate, but they were never meant to work in a corporate world. Instead in 2012 they moved to the mountains where they managed the Big Sandy Lodge at the edge of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Wilderness. There, they introduced thousands of hikers to the Bridger Wilderness and under their management the lodge became THE Destination point for Wind River Range adventurers.
In 2020 after their children were starting school, Wes and Natasha put their outfitting and guiding experience to work at Camp GROW. What better way to introduce today’s youth to the infinite balance of nature that is found so exquisitely preserved in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem? Wes and Natasha had served as a volunteers with Green River Outreach for Wilderness from its inception in 2010 and this was their dream. Tragically Wes died in an accident on July 13, 2022, but whether it was marketing and website management, floating and fishing trips, equine program development, these were just a few of Wes’ many contributions to Camp GROW. Wes left big shoes to fill and a light that continues to shine in our hearts and minds.