Life on the High Plains

My sweet hubbie came up to visit me last week.  I had to work most of the time he was here, but on his final day we were able to get up early and head to a trail. We headed to the Cascade Lake trail head, parked the car and started our journey. We go fully loaded with a can of bear spray each and walking sticks that could also be used defensively if we come across a cranky critter. We were on the right path. Beautiful ponds and meadows along the way. You would think there would be at least one critter out there grazing, but no, we didn't see a thing other than a squirrel. There was evidence that buffalo also use this trail.  Bison patties, fur, and trees that they like to scratch on. It was a beautiful day with bright blue skies.  There were a few water crossings and some really marshy areas to walk through.  Thank goodness for waterproof shoes. Finally, the lake was in sight. We found a log to s...

One of my goals in Yellowstone this summer is to learn about the wildflowers.  While Irv and I were out hiking I photographed the wildflowers we encountered.  Today I spend a couple hours trying to identify them with a book I purchased at the bookstore and the internet. I sure would like a wildflower expert to tell me what I got wrong and to help identify the unknown. Alpine Forget-me-not Alpine Sheep Sorrel American Bistort Is this also an American Bistort? Bigleaf Lupine Bracted Lousewort or Wood Bethony Glacier Lily Green Gentian Little Larkspur(??) and Biscuit Root Manyflowered Phlox Mountain Bluebell Mountain Bluebell #2 Mountain BlueBell #3 Northern Sweetvetch Prairie Groundsel Slender Cinquefoil Subalpine Buttercup Thickleaved Groundsel and ??? Wild Blue Flax or Lewis Flax Wild Buckwheat Woodland Strawberry Common Dandelion What is this?  It looks like ...

An extra special treat at the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone yesterday. We were just out walking the boardwalk behind Old Faithful when we were lucky enough to see Grand Geyser erupt. It only erupts every seven to fifteen hours, but the eruption lasts for 10 minutes or so--much longer than Old Faithful. This is the tallest predictable geyser known and was named by Hayden in his 1871 expedition.  It goes as high as 200 feet in one or more bursts.  We witnessed two bursts.  It erupted for several minutes then died down and we thought it was done, but then it came back again even higher.  It was so incredible that the crowd that had gathered gave it an ovation. I was in awe of nature's show. Linking with Skywatch Friday!

Things are settling in at work.  For the first few weeks I was wondering what I had gotten myself into.  I work 4-10 hours days each week and get 3 days off.  We spend a lot of time in the booth each day greeting visitors so there isn't a lot of time for social interaction between co-workers. Actually I have plenty of social interaction each day.  This is a typical morning at the West Yellowstone gate.  Around 9:00 each morning we have total gridlock at the gate because of the vast amount of visitors who come to the park.  You can check out the webcam here to view the current conditions at the gate. We've started having a few cookouts after work.  For this one I brought chicken enchiladas and wine.  There are always a couple people who can't come to the cookouts because the gate is open until 10:00 p.m.  Our supervisors are good at letting them come over for a plate of food during their shift. Here's Nolen starting her firs...