I've been in Yellowstone for almost a month now. So far, I have split my time between Mammoth and Old Faithful. I've run out of books to read having already read five (Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell -thanks Wilson, Squatters in Paradise by James Perry, A Cup of Friendship by Deborah Rodriguez, Mark's Story, and Luke's Story both by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins), and the weather for the next two days is looking pretty dreary. As a result, I have decided to start a blog. I've never written anything like this because my attitude has always been: "Why would anyone want to read anything I wrote?" At the suggestion of a friend, I will try to do this. I have no idea the kind of regularity in which these will be written, but I will do my best.
Aside from my first week in the park (management training), my daily tasks have been simple. Monday through Thursday, I, and the other trainers, do whatever needs to be done to get the locations ready to open. That could mean distributing linen, preparing trainer rooms, etc. On Fridays, easily my favorite workday here, we train the new RAs for each location. It's fun to meet new people and to see the looks on their faces when they say: "I have to clean WHAT?!" The only downside to training day is having to dress nicely and tuck in my shirt. Seriously, why do housekeepers have to tuck in their shirts? I guess looking nice while cleaning toilets and making beds is a must.
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| A cabin, smothered in snow, that I had to work in at Old Faithful Lodge |
While I'm at these locations, I am given a room in whichever inn or lodge I am working. This is easily one of the coolest parts of the preseason so far. While Mammoth Hotel was cool, I have always wanted to stay in the Old Faithful Inn. We trainers were living here in the Inn for two weeks before any guests were allowed to step foot inside. It was an eerie feeling walking through the massive lobby with 80 foot ceilings at night knowing that I am one of the few residing here. Google "Old Faithful Inn ghosts" and you'll know what I mean. (
http://www.ghostinmysuitcase.com/places/faithful/index.htm )
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| Road conditions when I moved from Mammoth to Old Faithful |
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| View of the snow from the Snowlodge lobby |
My days off, for now, are Saturday and Sunday. These days have been spent outside the park fly fishing. I will try not to go into much detail with the fishing because that could be an entirely new blog in and of itself, and I am aware of the fact that most do not share my passion and enthusiasm for the sport.
While in Mammoth, I reported a Native American site that Steven and I had discovered near the southern arm of Yellowstone Lake last summer to the rangers in the visitor center. I expected them to write down my information and to mark the spot on the map and say thank you. Instead, a call was placed to the lead archeologist in the park who also happened to be stationed in Mammoth at the time. Within minutes, she was in the visitor center with a large map and very excited. After she got the approximate coordinates, she thanked me and explained that an archeology team is coming from Montana State University this summer to help her dig, and they were trying to decide where to begin their work. She said that since the lake's shore line is disappearing due to volcanic uprising in the center of the lake, archeological sites are slowly being covered by water. This along with limited funding allows them only one summer for substantial digging. Our information ensures that they will be beginning in location with a high probability of success. As a reward for reporting the site, she invited Steven and I to visit and possibly participate in any of the digs in that area this summer! It may be nerdy, but finding 2,000 year old arrowheads sounds like fun.
One day while fishing here, I hooked into a large Rainbow (probably close to 20 inches). It was my second fish of the day, and I was having a hard time making any progress with it. This fish was very good at using the current to make itself much stronger. After about 5 minutes of fighting the fish, I was close to netting it when suddenly I heard a splash behind me. I turned around, and only 15 feet from me, a large bull moose had entered the river. I looked up the hill from which it came and saw a car sitting on its crest. The tourists, who did not seem to mind the danger in which they put me, just sat there smiling, pointing at the moose, and taking pictures………… Did they really think I hadn't noticed?! I quickly began moving backwards and toward the opposite bank while the moose stared at me. In the process of backing away, my line broke, and I lost the fish that I had been trying to land. Luckily the moose turned the other way, and crossed the river. While terrifying, this incident definitely gave me a good story and was well worth the lost fish. I'm also lucky that it was spring instead of fall. Once the calendar hits October, the bull moose is known to be the most dangerous animal in North America (rutting season).
Also while I've been stationed in Old Faithful, I have been able to take advantage of the close proximity to West Yellowstone. I've been to two restaurants there that I know all of us from Grant will have to visit at some point this summer. One is a small burger joint called Kiwi Burger I believe. It is owned and operated by a lady from New Zealand that has lived pretty much everywhere……….very good food and a very interesting person.. The other is the TACO BUS! I believe the picture will suffice………very cheap, good food.
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| Taco Bus! |
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| Tacos from Taco Bus! |
Monday, I move to Lake Hotel to help get it ready and to train the new RAs. We've heard tales of snow drifts as high as two-story buildings in that area, and I am excited to see it for myself…………that is as long as my small, 2 door Honda Civic will get me there. I will take pictures and post them here. To any Grant Village people that read this, I will be moving in either May 15 or May 17!
Nice. You should write about fishing too.
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