Going To The Sun Road opens

WEST GLACIER, MT - - The Going To The Sun road opened yesterday, connecting the park's West Glacier and East Glacier sides and saving about 80 miles of driving.  Construction slowed traffic a bit as did the mountain goats frolicking and fighting on the side of the road near the top of Logan Pass.

Pronghorn display

 MISSOULA, MT - - We've worked 4 days and now we have 4 days off.  So we left our campsite outside Glacier NP and headed toward Missoula.  On the way we took a drive through the National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge near Ronan, MT.  While the bison were out in far smaller groups than we saw in Yellowstone, we were more interested in the Pronghorn antelope who were just lying around...if you could spot them.  These two are a good example of why they are called pronghorn.

Out on a limb

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Good balance is a trait you had better have if you're out on a limb...or a couple of thin limbs like this cinnamon-colored Black Bear.  Lydia and I spotted this animal having a late breakfast while we were on a walk up a closed portion of the Going To The Sun road.  We left before the reality of getting down overcame the urge to gorge on greenery.  Check Lydia's blog link for more pics and other info.

Man's best friend

WEST GLACIER, MT - - The campground where we are living next to Glacier NP is very equal-opportunity.  Whoever gets to the couch or the chairs first in the 'community break room' sleeps there.  In this case, Pork Chop has squatter's rights.  The man on the floor works/helps out in the campground and usually can be found around 7pm snoozing away...on the couch.  Not so tonight.  So, he apparently grabbed a pillow or maybe wrestled it away from Pork Chop and racked out.

Purple

WEST GLACIER, MT - - This neat purple flower is unnamed,,,for now.  In other news, we are now have jobs as (Dodge Sprinter) drivers for the free shuttle/transportation system in Glacier National Park.  By the numbers, we were out of work for five days.  When we quit Yellowstone last Friday, we were starting our two days off.  The main route...Going To The Sun or Logan Pass, its correct name...is still closed from record snowfall.  We'll probably start 'real' work about Tuesday.  Until then we're doing some training and getting  paid better than (YNP base pay) to do so.

Images of Glacier NP

WEST GLACIER, MT - - We've been out of wi-fi territory for the past 4 days or so.  We left Yellowstone NP and headed to our favorite NP - - Glacier.  The first picture is of Two Medicine Lake and lots of Glacier NP.  On our hike to Grinnell Lake we encountered a number of miniature waterfalls descending from snow-melt higher up.  And then there's the Horse Family portrait.

On the road, again

BOZEMAN, MT - - We've left our jobs at Yellowstone.  Today is the first day of our wandering around seeing the country.  To get the full report, click on the link to Lydia's blog.  More as the miles roll by.

Bubbling hot spring

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - This bubbling hot pool, the Firehole River and the rust colored water streaks running into the river  - - caused by bacteria in the hot (160-degree) water - - are only a 10 minute walk from our dorm.  I have the morning off before leaving OF at 2:30pm for a tour from another lodge.

Birding on the Madison River

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - On our weekend we found Greater Scaup ducks with orange legs; a Sandhill Crane with rusty feathers and a red winged blackbird.  The weather forecast for Sunday and Monday (June 19-20) calls for rain and snow showers.  No global warming here.

Geyser Art, 2011

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - Geothermal art comes in many forms, like the geyser at top (a repeat pic), or the gold  colors in the middle shot to the paw print (probably wolf) which is 200-300 years old given the depth of the impression.  The colors come from the water temperature.  Lighter, more brilliant golds on the geyser signal that the water temp is in the 190-degree range.  The two other pics probable temperatures are in the 160 to 140-degree range given the darker hues.

Catch up

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - As you can see from the above pics we do have some sunny weather...just not much right now.  On our off day travels we've come upon American White Pelicans parked in formation heading into a stiff wind; an ever-vigilant Yellowbelly Marmot and White Dome geyser which has built up it's cone over hundreds of years and will either become extinct as all plumbing gets filled in or blow it's stack.

Off the road again

 OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - We're back from our final days touring the park as part of our training.  Of course, we couldn't go everywhere we needed to because of (1) heavy snow; (2) avalanche danger on a road that has been cleared and (3) a rock slide which blocked another road.  This is normal life as winter (hopefully) heads our of here.  In the meantime, the bison still like taking steam baths and, when the sun come out the scenery is spectacular.

Snowy delight

 OLD FAITHFUL,WY - - It was snowing when we got off work late Friday afternoon.  It was snowing harder when we finally turned out the lights about 10pm.  So we expected some white and fluffy on Saturday morning....which was our day off.  But not the 3-4 inches covering the 'bus' (second vehicle from left) at 6:30 am.  We wandered over to Old Faithful where the snow on the benches was undisturbed and OF was teasing folks with small steam bursts.

We needed to go to Bozeman, MT to shop but the snow and the various cloudy spots in the sky made us think about leaving .... for about five minutes.  We made the trip, ran into snow, sleet, hail and combinations thereof.   And when we got back to OF nearly all the new snow had melted.

On the road

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - It's Tuesday morning, 37-degrees and snowing.  It's not sticking, yet, but we can see the mountains in the distance having their white mantle replaced.  We've got class this morning and afternoon.  After that we jump in a bus to head out to the high country for more touring and classes and where the weather forecast shows nothing but rain and (maybe) 40's as the high.  People who fail as Florida weather people easily find work in Wyoming and Montana.
        The trip is a good news/bad news thing:  Good - we get to see parts of the park Lydia have never been to; Bad - three days without computers. 

Hot and cold

 OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - On our day off, Sunday, we went exploring some places in the park where we won't be stopping on our tours.  Norris Geyser Basin, has plenty of up-and-coming beginner geysers...the ones just learning to spout hot (180-degree) water.

On the other side of the coin, there are a lot of streams carrying snow melt runoff which makes the water pretty cold.  This elk was  tentative in her first steps into the stream and then moved quickly to the other side in search of  green-ish vegetation.

The Grand Canyon reappears!!

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is impressive, just not quite like the real GC.  Hers's The Lower Falls on an overcast day with a little green to add accents to the photo

It's yellow, but it's not the bus

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - Today's training ride took us the Grand Teton National Park.  At the height of the horse-and-buggy era (1888 - 1916) in Teton and Yellowstone NP nearly 400 carriages toured the parks.  The above example resides in a barn in Jackson Hole. 

Steam bath or, how to warm up on a cold day

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - A maid in the mist...Lydia seeks a warm spot.

Geyser, steam, morning light and snow

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - The early morning sun (27-degrees), good light and Jet Geyser at Black Sand Basin combined to kick off our second day off.  now, it's tour guide school time so no double clutch shifting for  few days.

Theater time

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - We went touring on our first day off, Sunday, and came across plenty pf photographic items.  Some actually liked posing like this Uinta Ground Squirrel.  Home sweet home is usually a burrow but there was also evidence of condo dwelling.

How to make the evening news

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - You see plenty of things when you're out on the roads in Yellowstone.  The example above is one way to get on TV:  Park half onto the road; set your camera tripod in the middle of the road;  set the timer for a remote shot; turn your back on the two bison ambling toward you (I know, it looks like only one); and wait for the timer to go off.  Fortunately, the bison walked around which is not always the case as bison cause the most injuries to park visitors. 

Hidden deep in the snow

OLD FAITHFUL, WY.  We hope the fire hydrant buried in shadow and about 8 feet of snow works better (if needed) than the internet connection and the cell phone service where we are living in Yellowstone NP.  Time spent training for our bus driver / tour guide positions is leaving little time afterward for much of anything else so far.  There are plenty of American Bison, coyotes, elk and big horn sheep around....but only at times when we are driving or don't have a camera handy. 

Update

BOZEMAN, MT - - We're sitting in a coffee shop in Bozeman sucking in free wi-fi to check up on things.  It's about 45 and raining here so it will probably be snowing in Gardiner, WY where we are headed later today.

Little Bighorn

BOZEMAN, MT - - Two nights ago, we styed in Rocky Mountain NP, where the campsites came with elk at no extra cost.  Between there and Bozeman, there's been a lot of rolling interstate and lots of grazing country for the cattle and the pronghorn antelope.
     Today, on our way to Bozeman, we stopped at the Little Bighorn Battle Field National Monument near Billings, MT.  After reading books about the battle of the Little Big Horn it was very interesting to see the actual place where the battle took place.  Today, the rolling countryside, cut by ravines, is inhabited by wild horses and dotted with gravestones to show where the native Americans, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, fought Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his US Army troops to maintain their way of life.  A video introduction to the site, a very informative museum and visitor center plus a five-mile drive among the sites of the many battles made this a worthwhile stop.

It was snowin' and blowin' at the top

MANITOU SPRINGS, CO - - Today dawned bright and clear, but we could see snow covering and blowing on top of Pikes Peak from our campground site.  We called the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway info line:  yes, there were still seats available and sorry, but the railway would 'only' ascend to about 12,000' rather than the top at 14,115'. due to heavy snow and strong winds.  The above picture shows the work train with the snow plow in front waiting for the 'go' signal to plow ahead. So our train reversed its action and trundled back down.  Unlike a powered locomotive, the train depends on cogs/gears which rotate through a groove of teeth in the middle of the track.....something like watching a bicycle chain and gearing work. 
     
     We made a stop on the way back at 10,000' to stretch legs and take photos.  A dandy three level bird condo (top photo) with duct tape accents had plenty of activity.

Mississippi lunch

LAKE D'ARBONNE STATE PARK, LA - - We're on the road headed to Yellowstone National Park for summer jobs.  This is Day Two.  We left from near Pensacola, FL this morning and drove thru a small part of Alabama and into Mississippi and now into Louisiana where we are camped for the night.  Road food can be boring unless you ask the locals where to eat as we did in Pensy and hit on a good catfish place.  Today's lunch was a crayfish po'boy sandwich in s little place in Seminary, MS which caught our eye as be blew past, turned around and were glad we did.

Moving into the neighborhood

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - A Yellow-crowned Night Heron family has moved in nearby and nest building/renovations have begun.

Bumble breakfest

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - These bees were buzzing after all the nectar they found at Lake Woodruff WR.  Note wing movement on bee right.

I think I can, I think I can

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - This Sandhill Crane chick had plenty of confidence. We found him/her working on dance steps and doing a bit of wing movement at the same time. Viera Wetlands.

Airborne styles

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - There was plenty of activity at Viera Wetlands today. In the 'soaring' category we had Ospreys overhead; a Great Blue Heron skimming the water and a Tricolored Heron powering away from us.