My skin is red...

Today was a much more exciting day!
I started out by shadowing a wonderful woman named Mel on the Terrace walk. I followed her around on 3 tours to 3 different 2nd grade classes. It was so fun to be with the kids. I forget how much enthusiasm and energy smaller kids have compared to my 6th graders. It was refreshing.
After that I shadowed another ranger give a talk on the Palette Terrace. Cool stuff.
Then I dashed over to a conference room to hear a talk on fish preservation in the park.
I'm learning so much! I also was fried. I need to wear sunscreen...
I'm still not ENTIRELY sure what I am going to be doing over the next few weeks...but I think I'm going to love it!
Anyway, I wanted to go on a hike tonight. Much to momma's distaste, I went alone. My roommate was kind enough to let me borrow his bear spray. There have been a black bear and her cubs spotted near the pond I was planning to hike. Unfortunately, it began to rain and I had to turn back.
Come visit me so I don't have to go on hikes alone!
That is all. Picture time. ( :

Some next door neighbors. 

Delicious sandwich at the Tumbleweed (where I get internet)

The Tumbleweed

The drive from Mammoth to Gardiner

Shadowing the Mammoth Hot Springs tour!

"Who saw sticks and leaves covered in travertine?"

Dormant Liberty Cap hot spring cone.

Palette Terrace

More Palette Terrace

Still Palette Terrace

Since I'm making this post later in the day, my pictures tomorrow may be scrawny. But I will definitely have time to run over to the hotel and hack their internet for lunch. We shall see! 

Picture Journal: A Better Title

It is 24 hours later and here I am writing again on lunch break. I think my original idea of a picture-a-day blog didn't quite capture what I intend to do with this blog. I will inevitably be taking lots of pictures, and I think it would be a great organizational/communication tool to post those on this blog as a photo journal!
So, here we go!
The rest of my day yesterday was excellent. I spent most of the time with the Youth Conservation Corps training. I am not a part of this group, but may be spending a lot of time with them. They oversee two 4.5 week groups of 15-18 year olds who come in as conservation workers. Seems like a really cool program. And most of the staff are around my age and seem cool. A potential pool of friends.
After that training, I visited my cat, finished unpacking and ran into Gardiner. What a fun little town! I picked up some groceries and ate dinner/checked internet at a little bookstore/coffee shop called the Tumbleweed.
After that, I ran up to Mammoth Hot Springs and jogged around the terraces taking pictures and getting some exercise. Good stuff.
Today, a College intern and I went to Canyon to get our uniforms. I have a full set coming in the mail, but it might not be here before I need to have a uniform!
Anyway, I'm back in Mammoth. So, here are the pictures!

A better look at where I live. I am the last house in the distance.

This is where my office is located. The Youth Programs door on the left. I don't think I will be spending much time indoors, though.

This is where I live. ( :

The North Entrance to Yellowstone: 10 minutes from my house.

The purpose of National Parks. Roosevelt's words.

I decided to go for a job on the Terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs (where I live).

Pretty rad colors and formations in the springs.

Beautiful. I had to start heading back though. Don't want to get caught out after dark!

More to come in the upcoming days!

Peace.

Picture-A-Day Journal

So...I am currently on lunch break during my first day of being a Park Ranger at Yellowstone National Park. It is so surreal that I am here. How did I wind up with this amazing/crazy opportunity? All I know is that I feel blessed. As I walked over to the cafe in Mammoth Hot Springs, I ran into an Elk mother. Luckily my supervisor had JUST told me to watch out for female elk around our housing. She said they tend to hide calves under our decks and WILL attack if you are nearby. With this bit of advice...I slowly backed away. At that moment I noticed the calf under the deck near where I was about to walk.
This is going to be a wild adventure!
There are so many things to describe:
The old and ornate housing that I live in that is a part of the original Fort Yellowstone.
The amazing drive through Teton National Park that led to the South entrance of Yellowstone. My quarters are in the northern end, so I was able to drive through the entirety of Yellowstone. SO BIG! Also, driving down a 6% grade during road construction DURING rain (so mud) was TERRIFYING!
Immediately entering Yellowstone, observing a grizzly and people being arrested for trying to get too close.
Countless bison, elk and pronghorn.
Gorgeous geysers.
Chilling out with a rogue Bison on the road. Waiting for him to decide to move.
Getting my Ranger badges.
I can't even begin to describe how amazing this is. And I haven't even finished my first day.
ANYWAY,
the point is that I want to challenge myself to take a picture a day and post it on this blog. (Some days may have to be presented on multiple days since internet access is limited). But, to start out, I am going to put a few pictures:

                                       This is where I live in Mammoth Hot Springs. Fort
                                       Yellowstone. The door with the yellow kayaks. Two
                                        cool roommates, Eric and Matt. I ran into the Elk mother
                                       as I turned the corner around the house.

                                                             Going for a refreshing swim!

                                        I thought he was going to climb on my car for a moment.
                                                            But he chose not to. ( :

Over and out! Back to my supervisor!