Not to be trusted with maps...

Yesterday was an exciting adventure for my young intern friend and me. We arrived at the office and everyone was gone. (Our supervisor and coworkers are either at conferences or at trainings). As a result, it was up to us to get to Old Faithful to set up for the first Wildlife Olympics. We were stressed. It takes an hour and a half to get there...so we left at nine. We had a contact to meet named Doug. It took us 15 minutes past our meeting time to finally find him. Once we figured that out, everything went off without a hitch. We had about 223 people come through the Wildlife Olympics and I watched the geyser go off three times! So cool!
After work, Devaney and I decided to go on another hike. Our destination: Bunsen Peak. What actually happened: Grant took us on the wrong trail...one that is actually an old road all the way AROUND Bunsen Peak. Whoops. Sorry Devaney! I forgot my camera for this adventure...so I apologize for no photo-evidence!
After the hike, we spent a lot of time with our (now mutual) friend Udeitha. Sadly, after hanging out, I had to say goodbye to Devaney because I was not going to see her on Wednesday. It was sad...but I will hopefully see her on Saturday! (I have to work a Yellowstone booth in Bozeman at the Montana Pride event. I'll be close enough to hang out with her afterwords! Yay!).
I miss Devaney already!
Today, Alexis and I arrived at work with virtually nothing to do. We were on top of our projects and did not know what to do with our 8 hours. We remembered that Beth recommended we shadow different Ranger talks around the park to give us ideas for our own presentations. We decided to run down to Fishing Bridge, near the Lake area, and go on a 2 hour tour down there. It was so cool! It was led by a wonderful man with the last name of Kredit. Funny thing: it turns out he knows an incoming TFA person in South Dakota named Ben Gibson. Ben and I already have several commonalities (same Oxford program, mutual friend who taught with me in Amman, Jordan). I guess this is another one to add to the list!
Once we got back from this BEAUTIFUL adventure, we found my personal uniform (that I get to keep) in the mail. So I am SUPER excited to get to wear that tomorrow!
After I finish up here at the Tumbleweed, I am going to head back to Mammoth for a curry dinner courtesy of the lovely Udeitha. I can't wait!

 

Devaney and I saw TWO grizzlies during her time here!

 

 My government Ford Explorer!

 

At Lake!

 

Some former hot springs. It is hollow underneath the ground!

 

Marmot!

 

You can see the Tetons in the distance in between the two clearer mountains!

 

Purdy.

 

Larkspur (Purple) surrounded by Grizzly bulbs (the white flowers have bulbs underground that bears LOVE to eat!)

 

A tree/root graveyard.

 

Quintessential Yellowstone.

 

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Accidental Mountain Climb

Oh. My.
Devaney and I have had such amazing adventures in the last 2 days. Attempting to fully give the events justice seems a very daunting task. But, I shall attempt this endeavor.
After Devaney arrives on Saturday, we had coffee, yummy food and jumped in the car. From there we went to Trout Lake in the Lamar Valley to observe trout swimming upstream to spawn. The walk was beautiful! We only saw one trout swimming upstream, but we were super pumped about it.
We did end up seeing a river otter. SO CUTE!!!!!
From there we went to Old Faithful. I don't want to talk about it.
After that we went to Midway Geyser Basin. At this point, it was still snowing. As a result, steam was pouring everywhere. At the peak of steam and wind blowing around us so that we could not see anything, we were in the middle of the board walk surrounded by hot springs. Devaney was not happy, but we persevered. I think this was a literal precursor to the following day's events...
For dinner we went into town and ate with Lloyd and Amanda at the Two Bit. Yummy. After the delicious food, we went back to Mammoth and played Settlers of Catan with Lloyd until around 2am. Yeah. That happened. Also, during this time, Lloyd suggested this longer hike called Sepulcher. Without thinking, we concluded that this would be the hike we would undergo the next day. If only we had known...
The next day, Devaney and I took our time getting. We sauntered into Gardiner, grabbed some grub and groceries for a delectable dinner and then headed for our hike.
About 1/3 of the way into our hike, we began to notice a trend. The trend can be best described as: uphill. Serious inclines. Curious, we sat down to rest and looked through our hiking book. It was at this moment that we realized Sepulcher was a mountain. And that this trail was 3,400 ft climb. I believe Devaney's exact words at this moment were "Why does Lloyd hate us?"
The rest of our hike was the exact same. Beautiful. Intriguing. Breathtaking. But up. And up. And up. Up. Up. and more up.
Finally, we reached the summit. And suddenly the trail vanished. Beneath snow. After much deliberation, we decided to turn back. **It is also important to note that we were parallel to Gardiner at this point. And we started in Mammoth. WE WERE PARALLEL TO ANOTHER CITY!!!!**
We eventually made it back. About 12 miles and 5 hours later.
We drug our bodies into the house. And then Devaney cooked. THE MOST AMAZING FOOD EVER! And then we got ice cream. And then we slept. And then I got up and went to a boring orientation all day. And now we are back at the Tumbleweed, sitting outside, drinking a pot of tea. Perfect.
That was so much writing. So I'm going to move on to pictures. Needles to say, it was a wonderful weekend. And very challenging. We are currently trying to figure out a way to keep Devaney at Yellowstone all summer. Updates forthcoming.

 

Trout Lake!

 

The stream we looked for trout in!

 

River Otter 

 

Midway Geyser Basin 

 

The steam...

 

So pumped for the hike!

 

Pretty pond!

 

Then we realized it was a mountain.

 

Then it got cold.

 

Pretty. And pretty cold.

 

SO COLD!

 

Winter Wonderland!

 

Summit!

 

We reached the top!

 

Then the trail vanished into snow.

 

Upset.

 

Then proud.

 

Then excited to double back and get food.

 

The AMAZING food Devaney made! 

Where the Yellowstone Goes...

Things have not been NEARLY as exciting since the last post. So this will probably be a fairly brief post.
Dinner on Thursday was phenomenal. We went to a restaurant that I have wanted to go to for dinner for a while now. It was the same place that I went to eat lunch with my office at the start of the week. The Raven. SO GOOD! Shanna and Jonathon both ate this deliciously grilled chicken with sweet tomatoes and a sweet/spicy glaze while I had a greek red sauce penne pasta. SOOO YUMMY!
After that we went back to the house and hit the hay pretty quickly.
Friday at work was...interesting.
There were a lot of odd jobs that Alexis and I were able to accomplish. We were pretty proud of our dividing and conquering skills. But the strange part was that we were the only ones in the office because most of the other people work 4 10's. (That means 4 days a week, 10 hours). So, it was kind of spooky. Especially when Alexis had to leave early at 3 and I spent the last two hours alone! EEK!
After that I met up with Jonathon and Shanna. We collected our stuff and went with my roommate Eric over to the girls house for a grill-out potluck. Udeitha, Christina and Amanda (need to double check her name) created such yummy foods and Eric provided delicious grilling skills (brats, bison, hamburger, zucchini, squash and pineapple all spectacularly grilled!) I brought chips, dips and salsa...but I need to provide something better next time!
After that we ran to the fourth documentary showing of 'Where the Yellowstone Goes.' It is a documentary about a group of people who boated for 30 days from the start of the Yellowstone River (outside the park) all the way to where it meets up with the Missouri. It was so great! You should definitely check it out!
http://www.wheretheyellowstonegoes.com/
And now I had to say goodbye to Jonathon and Shanna this morning. I was so sad to see them go. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends! I can only hope and pray that they have safe journeys back to their homes!
Now I am sitting at the Tumbleweed awaiting the arrival of my dear friend Devaney! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

 

The Food Farm. Where I get groceries.

 

Yellowstone River

 

Yellowstone River

 

At dinner

 

I was being a creeper

 

Continuing

 

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Still creeping

 

Oh the things I got them to do...

 

Momma elk and calf out my window

 

Close up!

 

CUTE!!

 

We were in a weird mood

 

Love this girl

Bears and Bear and Bears, OH MY!

So much has happened since my last blog post! I'm having so much fun with Jonathon and Shanna! I am so blessed to have great friends who are willing to come visit me...in one of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the world!
After my last entry, we ran to my supervisor, Beth's house. We ate delicious burritos and played Balderdash and Catchphrase! SO FUN!
The next day was pretty slow at work. But after work was AMAZING! Jonathon, Shanna and I decided to do a 5 mile hike I had really been wanting to do around Beaver Pond. (Mom, this is the hike I started on and you didn't want me to go. The further explanation of what happened on this hike will probably make you happy it started raining and I had to turn back.)
First, and foremost, it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Such gorgeous scenery! And we came across SO MUCH wildlife. A coyote, a grouse, several elk, two deer, and two other exciting animals.
About 2 miles from the end of our hike, we came to a spot in the trail that was PURE MUD. I wanted to walk right through it, but Jonathon and Shanna thought we could go around the outskirts. As we move around, I look to my left and see a massive brown figure lumbering through the brush. Yes, about 20 feet away was a full-grown Grizzly bear. He did not seem to notice us. Or he wasn't interested. Luckily, no cubs. I calmly told my hiking partners "Oh! There is a bear. Let's just walk quietly but quickly across the mud." And so we did. I took a moment to snap a picture.
After escaping, we quickly began singing to let the grizzly know where we were and that we were moving away. We were so relieved. Until a little more than a mile later.
As we turned another corner singing, our final animal visitor stood in the middle of our trail. A black bear stopped in its tracks and stared right at us. We definitely had its attention. And once again we were far too close.
I knew we couldn't double back because there was a Grizzly. And I knew we were sitting comfy with two things of bear spray. So I decided the best approach would be to shout and be loud in order to drive the bear the other way. (This would only work because it did not have cubs. When bears have cubs, such actions would may provoke her.) Luckily, this plan worked, and the black bear moved up the hill and over. As soon as it was gone, we finished the last part of our hike.
WHAT AN ADVENTURE! By this time it was 8:45. We rushed into Gardiner and grabbed some grub at the Two Bit. Delicious!
I think I've had my fill of bear encounters. Hopefully that was the end of it!

Today I got up and ran into work. I did some quick research on vertebrates and invertebrates to prepare for my first Skype conversation! I ran over to the visitor center and prepared for my Skype convo with 60 4th graders in Walpole, MA. IT WAS SO FUN! We had such a fun time over Skype. Our 30-40 minute session turned into an hour! The only question they asked that I did not know how to answer was how fast water shoots out of Old Faithful. None of my supervisors even knew! I'll have to do some research! From there we ran to Canyon for the Wildlife Olympics. Trudy, Alexis and myself went and it was, once again, so much fun to work with the kids!
Now Jonathon, Shanna and I are chilling out at the Tumbleweed before dinner. I think we are going to have a chill night because they had a busy day! Yay!

The Skype setup with Beth and Alexis.

Lots of props!

The computer! There is a box below with pelts, paws and bones!

Alexis and I went roving (when you walk around and answer questions).

The start of our hike around Beaver Pond!

This is when we knew it was going to be a good hike!

Beaver Pond!

So pretty!

More pretty!

Love these people!

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Coyote!

This is my terrible attempt at the picture of the grizzly. I was walking backwards, pulled out my camera and shot. No zoom. He is EXACTLY in the center of this picture...but all you can see is his back. He was down a little incline from us. I can show you this picture on zoom sometime if you don't believe!

I snapped a picture of the black bear as his retreat from us was almost finished!

Wildlife Olympics setup at Canyon!

A elk calf underneath a porch nearby. Mom was nowhere to be seen, so I snagged a photo!