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......