Teton Hostel
HideAway

How the hostel came to be...

 

I grew up in Teton Valley, just outside of Driggs, Idaho, then left for over 25 years. In the summer of 2006, my former husband and I bought 13 acres of the family farm I grew up on and built my dream log home out in the hayfield. Now that my 4 sons are grown I want to share my big beautiful home with others. Here's my main motivation for this:

The day after Thanksgiving 2013 I left on what was to be a 6 week Asia trip. After spending Christmas with my friends in Hong Kong I was to go to China but had a problem with my Visa so was not able to go. I had heard about the huge typhoon that had devastated parts of the Philippines just a few weeks before and decided to spend my last 2 weeks there doing humanitarian work. I ended up staying for 6 months! It was the most fulfilling and happiest time of my life and I decided I wanted to do humanitarian work for the rest of my life. To be able to fund my humanitarian work I decided to rent rooms out in my home. Two years later I acquired another property near Yellowstone.

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In April and May of 2016 I went to Nuwakot, Nepal and helped tear down houses that had been damaged in the earthquake and also helped build an elementary school in Jalpa a small village in the mountains. While there, I trekked to Everest Base Camp, a most rewarding experience!

 

In January of 2020, I returned to the Philippines and helped evacuees from the Taal Volcano in Batangas province. I then went to visit my many friends in Tacloban, Leyte where I had spent most of my time when I first came to the Philippines in 2014.  While there, I saw many children living on the streets, and it broke my heart. I thought, "I can do something about this!" But before I could, I had to leave earlier than planned due to covid!

 

In December, 2020, with the help of friends in Tacloban, I started a home for the street kids! There are generally 6 - 8 children living in the home, but there have been as many as 12 at a time. We also feed children who drop by who don't have enough food to eat at home.  All the children in the home are now enrolled in school and/or have part time jobs and are doing well!

 

Finally, in December 2022, I was able to return to the Philippines and meet my street kids. It has been such an amazing experience getting to know them and I'm so proud of the changes they have made in their lives. I will return every year. 
 

I love this beautiful valley I grew up in and enjoy backpacking, hiking, biking, horse riding, canoeing, kayaking and cross country skiing. I also play softball, volleyball and basketball. My favorite passtime is scuba diving but unfortunately I don't get to do that much.

I am very much a people person and love meeting wonderful people from all around the world.