At almost 8,951 feet elevation, there’s a rugged 4x4 road that crawls along one of my favorite high alpine creeks. Getting there takes skill and the right vehicle, but it’s worth the journey. The water is fast, with pockets of small pools tucked behind boulders and fallen branches, but the cutthroat and brook trout are plentiful.

As the creek climbs past the treeline, the trees begin to open up. It’s the perfect place to disconnect and breathe. You have no worries, no distractions. You’re present.

When my son, Colter, was only three weeks old, I took him on his first fishing trip. It was only a day trip, but I had our Ford Bronco packed with a week’s worth of supplies. The Bronco is a part of our home and a place where he has been fed and cared for during our adventures into the wild. I strapped him onto my chest, rigged up my fly rod with a simple parachute Adams pattern, and caught a small, vibrant brook trout almost immediately.

I keep my fingers crossed this will be a core memory for Colter someday. I imagine that 20 or so years from now, he will say, "Yeah, my mom has been bringing me up here since I was a month old." It just feels really good that we are creating these memories.

I was born and raised in Michigan. I spent my summers as a child running barefoot through cornfields and wading in creeks, looking for worms to fill my mother’s bait canister. We practically spent the entire summer at the end of a dock in northern Michigan, fishing for bass and walleye. I inherited my passion for fishing from my mother, who would be awake before the sun, determined to catch a big bass before anyone else even made it out of bed.

Growing up in Flint, I was immersed in a community shaped by hard work and resilience. My family’s roots in the automotive industry instilled in me a deep sense of pride. It’s a pride born from more than just employment; it’s a connection to a company like Ford, dedicated to craftsmanship and perseverance. It only made sense that my first car would be a 2006 Ford Ranger, followed by an Explorer, and eventually a 2025 Badlands Bronco.

Being in nature, out on the water where I can center my attention on the fish and connect with their behavior, grounds me. That creek gives me a place to reflect and be myself. Nature is good for the soul.

As a guide for more than 11 years, I love being able to connect others with the river and the fish and help them experience the sacred remoteness of the outdoors.

I get to share my knowledge and pull people out of their own world of work and emails and commitments. I encourage them to disconnect from their phone and be present in that same meditative space that keeps me coming back to the wild.

When I first moved to Colorado and went out fly fishing, there weren’t many women in the sport, but that’s changed. Now, I see more and more women embracing fishing, even deciding to become guides and inspiring others to explore their passion for the outdoors. They are saying, "I do belong. I can go fish. I can do this, too."

For our adventures, I rely on my 2025 Bronco Badlands, which I outfit with a rod vault and rooftop tent. As a mother exploring remote sites with young Colter, a trustworthy vehicle is essential for navigating gnarly terrain and helping to ensure our safety. I need to feel confident in my vehicle, whether going to school or on an adventure.

The Bronco is more than just a vehicle. It’s our home base for every adventure and an essential part of our journey. It connects me to my roots and fuels our spirit of exploration. Most importantly, it ensures that my son and I can create countless memories together, inspiring him to embrace the wild and the adventures that lie ahead.

Shyanne Orvis is a Team Bronco ambassador.