Weather or not, part 2

WEST GLACIER, MT - - The weather (Tuesday) on our trip to the Canadian side of Waterton-Glacier Interntional Peace Park ranged from heavy storm clouds at the top of Logan Pass to a passing rain shower and rainbow at Chief Mountain to strong winds on Waterton Lake....Waterton was our final destination.

Baby pics

WEST GLACIER, MT - - This week's adventure took us to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Waterton (Alberta), Canada.  In Waterton, the young mule deer roam the neighborhood lawns and backyards looking for something tasty to eat.  In Glacier, the mountain goat youngsters have a harder time finding lots to eat.

Weather or not

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Some days at work it seems like the clouds are pouring down so much rain it feels like a waterfall...then minutes later the sun pokes through...and just when you think it will get better the clouds come rolling back in

Flowers

WEST GLACIER, MT - - There were no animals venturing within any distance of us on our days off, but flowers were everywhere.  Winter is gloomy here so when the sun finally shines just about everyone gets out the flower seeds for both home and town landscaping. 

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