Hiking in Yellowstone

As of today, I have hiked 90 miles in Yellowstone. With under 4 weeks to go I am aiming for my 100 mile pin and shirt. And I can do it.........Last week I hiked 12 miles to Osprey Falls, and thought I would die on the trail. As 1 1/2 mile of the trail is straight down and of course you have to come back up. It was one beautiful waterfall, but you could only see it by making the trek down. Today we headed to Slough Creek and hiked 6 miles, what beautiful country as you will see by the pictures. We sat for about 1/2 hour just admiring the surroundings.

Well, I am getting excited about heading home. Karen is flying in on the 12 of Sept. and we are heading for home on the 15th. I am hoping to get off at noon, so we can start our way to North Carolina. I am so looking forward to seeing my children, grandchildren and dogs. And we are going to be having a new baby around the 30th of September and I do want to be home for her birth.

Enjoy the scenery of Yellowstone.....

Fishing and Camping

Just got back to my Dorm after going fishing and camping this week. Fly fishing I do love, enjoyed being in the river with water up to my thighs with no one around and casting my heart out. Didn't catch anything, but my flies stayed on and the one my instructor put on came off. So I was full of myself. We went to Slough Creek, as this is a fly fishing paradise. So Kevin and Jeff I am now ready to go fly fishing with you two and show you a few tricks of the trade.

When we finished fishing, Carolanne and I headed to the Tetons on the Snake River for a few days camping, meeting up with the other gals. I have realized that I really don't enjoy sleeping on the ground, not being able to shower for 3 days, swatting off the bugs and wondering if the bears were going to visit. But I did have a good time, even through it rained for 3 nights, and just before we started cooking supper. On our last night, while in the middle of domino's, the Sand Cranes were creating a ruckus. So we decided to see what was up, and lo and behold a grizzly was crossing the Snake River, about 250 yards from our camp. We watched him until he got loss in the high grass. As you can imagine I didn't sleep very well last night. We took a side trip to Teton Village, hoping to catch a glance of Harrison Ford, as he has a ranch in the area. Then headed over to Jackson, had a fantastic lunch at Sweetwaters, and did some shopping. Then we drove back to the campsite in the rain, and spent the evening trying to figure out how to cook in the rain. Oh the campsite in the pictures were free.

My next big adventure is going to be a tour guide for Jan and Thom Williams. Looking forward to their visit to Yellowstone and showing them the sites.

More later..........

Hiking

This month has been taken up with longer distance hiking, and some other interesting activities.
I have, as of today, 56 miles of hiking. I hope to make 100 miles by the time I leave in Sept. I know it has been a month since my last blog, but what a month. I went on my first white water
rafting trip and what a blast. Sorry I don't have any pictures to post of that water trip. But, I have put some on the site of some of the areas that I hiked. The longest was Garnet Hill and I thought that was going to be the end of Betty, as I didn't have enough water. Planned for a 3 mile
excursion, and it ended up 8 miles long. But, after some resting up, later that week I went 4 1/2 miles thru the geyser basins, which was very informative. This past weekend I went canoeing with some of the ladies from my dorm. What a beautiful ride-We didn't do hardly any paddling, as we had a wonderful current and the water was crystal clear, with the mountain ranges in the distance. I am ready to canoe again. Today we went on Beaver Pond Trail, which is 5 miles. Every hike I have taken is an adventure, and the sites are spectacular. Love this park more every day.
More later.......

Grand Teton

Friday, after spending a day resting, I went to a Montana Rodeo. Well, I have been there, down that. Saturday morning we headed to the Grand Tetons, my first picture is using some of the expertise of my photo safari. Then we start with the Tetons. This park is so different from Yellowstone, It is hard to believe that 2 parks are so different.....The one pictures has a yellow rope due to bear activity. And I have had request for pictures of me, so hope these are enough. I even posed for one......You will see Moose and bear as we came across plenty of animals this time around. Came back Sunday evening, and we are all tired

More later...........

Western Cookout

This past weekend I had 3 whole days off, and what a treat. Friday, I went fly fishing with out
flies, and yes I did get my fishing license. Had some wind so it just added to the challenge. Then Friday evening Reservations went on a Old West Cookout, as in the pictures, we rode out in covered wagons. Enjoyed a Steak supper and entertainment. What a great evening.....Of course we saw Black Bear on the way home.
Saturday, we headed out and saw black bear, wolves at a kill, eagles and coyotes as we went for a ride on the Chief Joseph Highway toward Cody. Again pictures showing what a wonderful drive.....
Sunday turned out to be my day of rest.
More later........

Photo Safari

Reservations took us on a Photo Safari today, we left yesterday after work and headed to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Checked into our dorm rooms at Lake and headed to the pub for Pizza. Great time was had by all and then headed back as we had to meet the boss at 5:30 a.m. We had the fab 5 in one room, and if I (grandma)hadn't told them to settle down we would have been up all night.
We did get to the pick up sight on time, but the men were late.......Our photo session started at 6 a.m and it was very informative and helpful. We rode in one of the Old Yellow Buses, and had a continental breakfast an hour later. I have put some pictures on the blog of different sights in Yellowstone, but I did take more shots with my 35mm. I almost forgot we happened upon Rosie the bear, she is collared, as she is a little trouble maker in the park. She likes to invade the Rv Park to chew tires, sewer lines and she is a camera show off. Hope you enjoy, More later.......

Beartooth Highway

This week has been great, I have had a few days off and did some exploring. The first pictures are of the the snow we had here in Mammoth this week. I know you are all feeling the warmth in North Carolina, so I thought I would cool you all off a bit. Next is some of the flowers coming into bloom in the Rockies. I headed to Chico Hot Springs, nice resort, Thursday and discovered Paradise Valley. Told my Children, if I ever move here this is where I would settle for the rest of my life. It is so beautiful.....The next pictures are of me and My roommate, when we hiked the Canary Springs. Then the rest of the pictures are of the Beartooth Highway. It was suppose to open Friday, so we headed north to see it, and surprise, it wasn't open. So when we got to the top,
a small line was forming so I asked and was told when the snow plow came down they were going to open it. So we were the 10th car to go on the Beartooth this year. What an experience and what sights we saw as you will all see.
More Later......

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

This is a little late, but here goes. Sunday, as everyone else was working, and I had the day off I decided to take a drive to the Canyon area- I really wanted to find a Moose, but didn't. So of course the camera went along and you will see all the beautiful sights that I was able to see in the course of a 5 hour drive. It is unbelievable just how big this park is, over 2 million acres. So enjoy the pictures.

More later

Another bear

We went for a drive the other evening and hadn't gone to far from our home base when a grizzly decided to cross in front of the car. So we stopped in the middle of the road to take some pictures.
He was an older grizzly, and just took his time checking his out location. This time I decided to share just how beautiful this park is and I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I have tomorrow off so I am going to head to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, as I understand Moose have been spotted.
I also have to get some hiking gear, meaning a decent backpack, to carry my binoculars, camera
and food. So I will be prepared for the longer treks that we all want to take.
More later.......

Mudpots

The mudpots are bubbling pots of splattering mud, sorry you might not be able to make them out in the pictures, and they are surrounded by a palatte of colorful hot springs...This is one of those features that you just want to stand and watch them bubble away.....

More later......

Eagle

Headed out to West Yellowstone today after lunch, my first picture is the Madison River, where a lot of fly fishing will be taking place this summer. West Yellowstone is a neat little tourist town, not to active now. Coming back I couldn't resist the photo of the bison. Then we happen on the Eagle, I just can't believe what I come across. We then headed to the Artists' Paintpots, where we hiked for 1 mile to see the "mudpots". I couldn't resist again the view from the top of the trail. What beauty this place is, I don't think my pictures do it justice.....
More later

Black Bear

Yesterday, after lunch we decided to go on a small hike on the upper terraces of Mammoth. So four of us hop in my car and I drove up to the location, and we exited the car. We were walking
over to the path, when our resident comedian announced that she had hiked enough and turned around. Next thing we heard was BLACK BEAR, very nicely. Of course we thought she was joking but when we turned around their he was walking right toward us. One of the other girls said "move to the car slowly" which we did while taking pictures. That beautiful bear headed right up
the path we were going. I still can't believe that Carrie turned around when she did or else we would have had a bear on our tail. I do have more respect for the wild and this wonderful park.
Today, was my first day on the res floor, and are all of us new trainees tired...We put in a full day, and I booked quite a few rooms.
More later......

Old Faithful

Saturday, Four of us picked up our packed lunches and headed to Old Faithful, stopping at
Norris Geyser basin for a short hike. I couldn't believe all the geysers at Norris, but Steamboat
seems to be the favorite. After Norris we headed to Old Faithful with all the other tourist. Everyone keeps telling me this place isn't the same in the summer with lots more tourist, but I am just going to find out for myself. Ha Ha Old Faithful was amazing, sitting waiting for the show
you can watch 6 or more other geysers get ready to erupt just before the big one. I can understand why people would want to spend a couple of days at this site. Old Faithful erupted right on time....After this show we head back to Mammoth for a regrouping and then headed to Lamarr Valley to see more baby bisom, and got the treat of our lives by seeing wolves. We spotted a total of 6 with binoculars, wishing we had a scope to see them better. Sunday is going to be my
day of rest....More later

Sheepeaters Cliff

This evening after supper, we decided to make a trek to Sheepeaters Cliff...What a wonderful
hike. We meander along a very active river and ended at a beautiful falls. The only wild animal
we saw was a coyote, but not along the trail. My training will end tomorrow, and then we
are going to sit with agents and listen to calls. I do hope I will be able to retain all the information.
Starting next week we are booking for 2008, their isn't much left for 2007. Hope everyone
enjoys the pictures.l

More later

My Home away from Home

Think back to the old college dorm days, and my room will remind you of the good old
days...I am located in Mammoth Hot Springs, living above the Mammoth Dining room.
It is called the Terrace Rms, and for ladies 45 and older. If looking at the picture of the
Dining room, my room is is the middle, first one above the canopy that is open. My bed is
the one with the quilt. I work in the Hotel on the second floor, you can see the hotel in the background. So I have plenty of steps to go up as we have no elevators. To get to our Dorm it is 3 flights of stairs. Of course, no bath in the room, but it is right across the hall, along with the washer and dryer.

More later.....

Baby Bisom

After a day in training we went for hike to clear our brains. We went about 9 miles from
our home base and took 1/2 mile hike. On our way back home we came upon these
wonderful creatures. The first picture is of 2 pronghorne locking hornes, and the next
is of the Mother and babies. I am so lucky to be in this wonderful location, it is so
beautiful here and it is my home for the next few months.

More later.

Day in the Park

As part of our training we had a tour of Yellowstone Park

along with the Hotels,of course. Headed South in snow

and saw some wonderful sights. The highlight was seeing

2 grizzly bears, eating and playing beside the road. We spent

an hour in the van taking pictures. It was wonderful being

in the park with no one else around, and snow falling all

around. Some places is was 4 ft deep and others just

skimming the ground. We returned back to our place of rest

about 5:00. I didn't see any geysers, as we weren't timing

it right, so I am going out in a couple of weeks before the

tourist season hits and spend some time looking at geysers.

Talk to you later.......