Moose and Sheep and Bears, Oh My!

The past two days have reminded me of just how incredibly lucky I am to be here.

Yesterday, I went out with a group. We drove over the newly opened Dunraven Pass where the snow was easily 8 or 10 feet tall in some places. On the other side of the pass near Tower Falls, we saw a mom black bear with two yearling cubs. I didn't manage to get any good pictures though because they were in the trees and doing a pretty good job of staying hidden. We then drove to Lamar Valley, where we saw a group of big horn sheep. On the way back out, we saw a mom grizzly and her cub. They got into the water to bathe and started tussling, then they got out and ran up the hillside. It was unreal. Then on the Canyon side of the pass on the way home, we saw a lone male grizzly. He was hard to see and get pictures of, but it was still pretty amazing.

Dunraven Pass, 5/27/17.

Bathin' Bears, Lamar Valley, 5/27/17. 

Thinking that we had reached the end of our luck, we were skeptical about going out today. We were almost to Norris Junction, when we saw a bunch of cars pulled over. We joined them, and found a bull moose in the grassy meadow. Haileigh took my camera because she forgot hers, so photo credits go to her (begrudgingly haha). We watched him for probably 20 or so minutes. We went and hiked the small loop near Fountain Paint Pots, which I had never done before. There are a ton of thermal features all in a small area, and the sun was starting to set, so it was pretty amazing. We were almost back to Canyon when we saw a mom grizzly and yearling off the side of the road. It was pretty dark, but we were still able to see them.

Bull Moose near Norris Junction, 5/28/17. 

View from Fountain Paint Pots, 5/28/17. 

So I have now seen 6 grizzlies (two female, two male, and two cubs), three black bears (a mom with cubs), 7 big horn sheep (one male, six female), a bull moose, two swans (a mating pair), two ospreys and chicks (from pretty far away), and the usual countless bison. Not too shabby of a start to the season!!

Ridin' Solo

I didn't realize it until I got here, but my start date was scheduled a week earlier than last year, so the only people here were management and employee dining room staff. New arrivals just started yesterday, so it has been a quiet week around here. In addition to not having a roommate, the dorm was almost empty all week, and combined with only working a few hours a day, I've had a lot of time to myself.

It's been a lot harder being back than I thought it would be. More times than I'd like to admit, I've thought about leaving. I'm desperately missing everyone from last season, and I haven't yet met anyone who I see myself staying friends with throughout the summer. I'm hoping that once training starts that I will meet some people who want to hike and explore as much as I do. Most of the people that I have met so far just want to drink and get high, and I have zero interest in being around all of that. I've mostly been sitting in my room reading, which is nice since I don't have much time to read during the school year, it's not exactly what I want to be doing when I could be out exploring.

Lower Falls. 5/20/17.

My first full day back, I went to the Canyon. It was snowing lightly, as it was when I first went last season, but I managed to get some good pictures. There have been a couple days of sun, but it's mostly been overcast and/or raining. It's supposed to snow and rain the next 5 days, so I'm glad I'll be busy with work and training.

The road that goes south out of Canyon finally opened today after a water line break, so I was finally able to go to some of the places that I've been wanting to go back to. I left early this morning and drove down to the lake, stopping at a lot of the pullouts on the way. The first time I went to Mud Volcano last season, it was with about ten other people. Today, it was just me. It was sort of peaceful though to wander around, stopping whenever I wanted to take pictures and not having to worry about making other people wait for me.

Frozen faces make for funny smiles. Mud Volcano, 5/26/17. 

Mud Volcano. 5/26/17. 

A lucky shot, Lake Yellowstone. 5/26/17.

They also opened the road over Dunraven Pass today, so I might go to Lamar Valley this evening. There are a couple guys that I worked with last season who are back, so whenever they are done with training, I might drag them with me depending on what the weather is doing. Here's to hoping that things get better soon!

Yellowstone Round Two

It's that time of year again!! After enduring the desert all year, I'm beyond ready to be back to country where 100 degree days are few and far between. I packed up my apartment, left my stuff at home (thanks parentals for storing my crap for 3 months!), and headed off.

The biggest thing to come of this road trip is that, after 9 months, I finally named my car! Drumroll please.... his name is Eddie! He still is in need of a middle name, but I'm sure that'll come in time.

The first night of my drive, I camped at Quail Creek State Park right outside of Hurricane, Utah. It was gorgeous, and the color of the lake was unreal (see my Facebook for that picture). The next morning, I had to go to the next town over to get coffee at River Rock Roasting Company. Their chai was amazing, so it's a good thing that I don't live close or I would spend all of my money there. The cafe is on a cliff overlooking a canyon; it was cloudy and dreary so the pictures don't do it justice, but it was the perfect view and the perfect drink. There was a trio of rock climbers sitting at the table next to me who were in the midst of a climbing tour of the southwest; they were talking jubilantly about their trip. I tried not to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help but be amazed by how perky they were for having just gotten their coffee.

The view from River Rock Roasting Company, Le Verkin, Utah. 5/17/17. 

After finishing my chai, I left Hurricane in the direction of Provo. My lovely friend Kaitlyn lives there with her husband, and they were sweet enough to let me crash on their couch. Coming over one of the passes north of Cedar City, I hit a huge storm. It started with rain which turned to sleet and eventually snow, and it quickly turned into the most adventurous and hair-raising driving that I have ever done. Thank goodness I didn't have any passengers, because there was a lot of swearing and panicking involved. But I survived, and made it to Provo in good time considering the weather. I have never been to Provo, so I was shocked to find that it is bordered on one side by enormous mountains. They were covered in new snow and were absolutely gorgeous. I had a lot of fun with Kaitlyn, and we ended up staying up way too late eating sweet potato fries and taking care of her bunny, Yeti. I dragged myself out of bed around 6 this morning and snuck out quietly.

Reunited!!! 5/17/17. 

The drive today was the longest by far. With only taking three short breaks (one to get gas at this tiny station where I couldn't help but pull out my camera and take a few shots, once to stop at Taco Bus in West Yellowstone where I randomly met two of my sister's coworkers, and once more to get supplies in Bozeman), I made it to Livingston in around 8.5 hours. I think the excitement kept me awake, because I did the whole drive without coffee.

Newly snowy mountains, Cove Fort, Utah. 5/18/17. 

The Famous West Yellowstone Taco Bus. 5/18/17. 

I'm now sitting in my tiny hotel room in Livingston (I sprung for a hotel because I was not about to camp in 6 inches of snow). Because of the storm, the road into Canyon Village is still closed, so I'm sincerely hoping that they get it plowed in time for me to get in tomorrow. If not, I guess I'll just have to be a drifter until they get it open.

The Drive from Bozeman to Livingston. Last year on May 20, this was totally green. 5/18/17. 

This almost never happens. Courtesy of some random person on Facebook. 5/17/17.

I'm anticipating that the cell service and internet situation will be as dismal as it was last summer. I can usually get texts, but they usually come in way after they're sent. Phone calls sometimes make it through, but it's easier for me to call out when I find a strong enough signal. Snapchats do not load, but I can check them whenever I go into one of the surrounding towns, so every 2-4 weeks usually. I promise I'll reply to whatever communication as quickly as I can. It just may take a little time.

I'll continue to post updates whenever I have the time/signal strength. It's good to be back, and I'm hoping that it shapes up to be another amazing summer!!