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!