Still the Best Job in the Park

Hi All,

The black bear sow and two cubs were back in the Moose housing area. It took us three hours to get them out. It is difficult to haze a sow with cubs. When we clap and yell, mom starts to move but the skittish cubs jump up into a tree. We stop and back off as mom comes back to the cubs-back to square one!

The brushy area was full of hawthorn berry and choke cherry bushes. When we finally got them all moving they went ten feet then stopped at another berry bush for a snack. After about 90 minutes we had moved them perhaps 90 feet. Then it was time for a nap. We watched mom roll onto her back to let the cubs nurse then they settled in the shade.

When they were good and ready they walked down the street, gave us time to stop traffic, and crossed the highway. 

They could make us pay for these experiences.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

A Busy Week

Hi All,

Lots of animal activity including a black bear sow with two cubs near the park headquarters building. Here Sandy tries to haze the bears away from the building. Mom and one cub are just under the fence rail. Unfortunately, the second cub was up a tree.

Friday night we attended services with the Jackson Hole Jewish Community. We enjoyed a pot luck dinner after services. Someone imported these interesting looking multicolor bagels.

Unfortunately, with so much food coloring, the bagel tasted like Playdough!

The fire is still spreading slowly and the road to Yellowstone is still closed.

As if a big wildfire was not enough, yesterday we had an earthquake.

We were out hiking and did not feel it but many people in their RVs reported shaking and swaying. 

What next-floods or volcanos???

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Fire Update

Hi All,

The Berry fire has moderated some with lower winds but it is still very dry. The road to Yellowstone is still closed and likely to remain closed through the weekend. Even after the fire is clear of the road there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of burned trees near the road that pose a traffic hazard and must be cut down.

Yesterday at 6 AM, a national Type 2 Incident Command Team arrived to fight the fire. 260 people, 4 helicopters and a small village to house them.

For more info on our or other fires, check www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

Last week before the fire jumped the lake, this is what it looked like at sunset.

This is the Berry patrol cabin with its structure protection blanket.

This is what it looked like just before the fire jumped Hwy 89.

These photos came from the Inciweb web site.

We are still fine though smokey.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Smoke & Ash

Hi All,

We had a busy day with moose and bears as we watched the mountain vistas disappear in the smoke. The sunset sky was an angry red.

Only with the sunset backlight did the mountain silhouette reappear. The sign in the foreground warns drivers that the road to Yellowstone NP is still closed.

Standing outside we noticed flecks of white and gray ash drifting out of the sky. 

Our campground loop houses park employees and volunteers. With the evacuation of the two northern campgrounds, we are full to the brim with evacuees.

The bright spot in our day was a visit from friends John & Tracy who rode along for a while and enjoyed a moose jam with a cow & calf.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

We are OK

Hi All,

You may be hearing news reports about fires in Grand Teton, road closures and campground evacuations. High winds and very dry conditions caused the Berry Fire to blow across Jackson Lake. Within an hour it had burned across Highway 89, the road into Yellowstone.

All of this is happening about 50 miles north of us so for now we are OK.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Action Picking Up

Hi All,

Saturday we drive out to Buffalo Valley and had lunch at the Cafe.

We checked our boots

Things are heating up on Moose Wilson Rd. We put out new signs.

This sow and two cubs has crossed the road several times.

Meanwhile, back at our campground, the moose are moving in.

At the bridge in Moose, this cow moose with two calves put on a show.

A busy day with lots of enthusiastic visitors.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Panoramas

Pioneer Settlement

Hi All,

Here's a look at the Barberville Pioneer Settlement where we will be volunteering next winter

Original high school circa 1919

Volunteer telling kids about carding and weaving. This might be Sandy!

Blacksmith shop. Carl may be working here.

Garage with two antique fire engines. Carl would like to help restore them.

Settler cabin with newspaper insulation.

Old print shop.

We are looking forward to a great winter.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone

Finally Animals

Hi All,

Animals have been scarce recently. We have not seen a moose along Moose-Wilson Rd since July 25th!

Tuesday we hiked around String Lake and this mellow white-tailed deer was feeding along the trail.

Beautiful views along the west side of String Lake.

Action is finally picking up along the roads. Wednesday we had an elk jam then a black bear sow and cub. The cub is not as scrawny as it appears. They just came out of the pond.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Catching Up

Hi All,

The fire smoke got worse before it got better. Here we can barely see the mountains.

Last Tuesday we attended the park's volunteer appreciation dinner. At the dinner we both received the Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,000 volunteer service hours each.

Unfortunately, that same day, we were notified that Fort Caroline in Jacksonville rescinded their commitment to have us return. Long story, too convoluted for an email. We scrambled for a week looking for a different volunteer position in Florida.

Today we were invited to volunteer at the Barberville Pioneer Settlement. It is a private non profit living history facility near Deland, FL.  (www.pioneersettlement.org) We had visited last winter and were impressed with the facility and the programs. It was a great relief to have a volunteer position and we are excited about spending the winter there.

Meanwhile, here in Grand Teton the skies have cleared and the mountainsides are as beautiful as ever.

Unfortunately, due perhaps to the hot dry weather, wildlife has been scarce. Some days the biggest mammal we see is a chipmunk!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Missing Teenager in Grand Teton has been found

Hi All,

It has been a tense and anxious couple of days here as the park mounted a huge search operation involving over 100 ground searchers, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. 

Here's the latest park news release:

https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/news/missing-girl-located.htm

Otherwise it has been quite with very few moose or bear sightings.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502