Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Happy Birthday, Nancy!

I had a really nice birthday dinner party last night! Leigh Anne made yellow fin tuna, cole slaw, and fruit salad, Shari brought a green salad, Heidi brought a cake covered in rose petals, Chris brought limeaide, and Matt brought himself! Yummy food and good company! It was lots of fun to visit and enjoy a pleasant birthday party! I even got a pretty sweet Smokey Bear happy birthday hat! Whoop!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Still Hot

We could really use a thunderstorm here. It's freaking hot. And people still want to go soak in Boiling River. They're nuts. Everyone is a bit dazed, confused, and cranky (meaning the visitors, although some of the rangers are those adjectives as well. I'm mostly dazed and hot.) Maybe I'll go swimming in the Yellowstone.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Owlets Have Fledged!

Like sentinals, the great grey owl parents monitored the progress of their owlets. The owlets lived near the visitor center. They quickly grew and before we knew it reached independence and fledged! They are off in the great wild expanses exploring the world around them! Best of luck owlets!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Wildlife Watching

I audited a wildlife watching tour this morning. We left Mammoth at 6 am and drove out to Lamar Valley. What a tour! We saw beautiful sandhill cranes and many mammals, including two grizzly bears, one black bear, seven mountain goats, two coyotes, and lots of bison. One of the grizzlies forded the Lamar River as we watched. The coyotes took chunks out of a carcass and then played with each other. They ran and leaped all over the place! The mountain goats were perched high on a cliff side - three babies! Wow! What fun!

Monday, July 13, 2009

National Anthem

At the end of the Fort Walk, as we lowered the flag and folded it, one of the people on my tour started belting the National Anthem. It was quite patriotic.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Hot!

It was the first truly hot day today - over 80 degrees. Oh boy! It's a good day for limeaide and tonic. Yesterday we had a good hike up Sepulcher Mountain. It's a 3600 ft elevation gain from Mammoth to the Summit. Great views of the Tetons, Mt. Sheridan, Mt. Washburn, and the Absaroka mountains.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Coyote and Big Horns

A coyote trotted along the stone wall by Roosevelt Arch, then hopped behind it into the park. It move quickly and quietly before disappearing. Big Horn sheep perched on the Gardner Canyon walls. It's amazing how steep of slopes they can climb. The mama and its baby acted casually as they hung out on the steep face.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Flowers Blooming

Lots of flowers are blooming in Mammoth. The spring flowers are dying and summer flowers taking over. Bitterroot, that beautiful plant, is blooming. Lupine, heartleafed arnica, and prickly pear are all blooming too. Pretty!