Friday, June 30, 2017

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Hi All,

Today we drove to Arco, ID to visit Craters of the Moon, a National Monument created by Calvin Coolidge in 1924.

The lava covered landscape was starkly beautiful. The trailside signs offered more insights. For example, this is not just any lava formation. It is a piece of the upper crater wall that was blasted out in a subsequent eruption and floated downhill on the flowing lava.

Limber pines have a tough life here.

Bright yellow and orange lichen were common. You all know about Alice Algae and Freddy Fungus taking a lichen to each other. Sadly their relationship is on the rocks.
The acid produced by the fungi eat away at the rocks to help create soil.

The shapes in the ribbons of lava are seen clearly here along with some hearty pioneer plants.

We climbed this cinder cone for a panoramic view. Those dots at the top are people, 28 stories up🙀.

The sticky molten lava bubbles with gas giving the hardened rock the look of Swiss cheese.

Many lava tubes formed caves large and small. Visitors gain access through sections of collapsed ceiling.

Walking through the lava cave we spotted other sections of collapsed roof. The small white spot is the moon. This is Craters of the Moon after all.
Fascinating history and geology plus another stamp in our bulging National Park Passport.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Another Four Days on Patrol

Hi All,

One spot where we have our picnic lunch is the parking lot at the Craig Thomas Visitor Center. This is the view of Teewenot Mountain from "our" picnic table


Monday we had a busy bear jam up north. The weather turned ugly with lightning, wind and hail. The crowds dispersed then so did the heavy clouds, leaving us with this view from Pilgrim Creek. Amazingly, 20 minutes before the sky was black.
Our famous grizzly bear 399 with her two cubs were out a lot, drawing crowds like this.
Yesterdays bear jam was in the rain. The cubs were up a tree and lots of people came to see them. We worked the jam for two hours in a steady rain. When we got home we spread everything out to dry.

As we came on duty at  nine this morning there was an interesting low cloud layer in front of the mountains.
We are busy but still loving it.

US News & World Report just ranked National Parks worldwide. GRAND TETON WAS NUMBER ONE!!! 

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Two Ocean Lake

Hi All,

Two Ocean Lake is in the northern part of the park near the Moran entrance. A trail circles the lake with bright flower filled meadows on the east side and deep, dark almost spooky woods on the west.


We stuck to the east side with wildflowers everywhere.

Sulphur Buckwheat

Common Yarrow

Lupine

and sticky Geranium decorated the meadows.

Thick clumps of Arrowleaf Balsamroot dotted the field below Mt Moran.
Great weather this week. More forecast for tomorrow when we go back to work.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, June 22, 2017

An Interesting Week

Hi All,

Driving home after dinner in town we enjoyed this beautiful sunset.


The river erosion has gotten worse. We still have a long detour to avoid this stretch of road.

Mid day we spotted this beautiful moth at the Craig Thomas Visitor Center.

Along our detour we spotted this old bull bison on antelope flats.

Yesterday the sky was crystal clear with an interesting cloud above the Grand.
The bears and moose are keeping us busy. We also had a marmot jam this week.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Friday, June 16, 2017

Arizona Friends and an Expedition

Hi All,

Last weekend we had a wonderful treat when two couples we had volunteered with in Arizona arrived (independently!) at our campground. It was great to catch up with Anne, Bob, Steve and Nancy.

Monday evening we set out for dinner at Signal Mountain Lodge. We were greeted by heavy, horizontal blowing sleet and snow. Forget about seeing the mountains, we struggled to see the road.


It was much nicer in the dining room
and the snow had stopped by the time we headed home.

As for the expedition, two weeks ago Sandy got a birthday card from the Governor of South Dakota. It reminded her that this was the year to renew her drivers license. No problem we thought, we can renew on line this time instead of appearing in person. Unfortunately one of the items we needed was proof that we had stayed in a SD motel or campground at least one 
night in the last year . . . ruh-roh. Oh, and Carl's license had expired in March so he needed to take the written test.

The good news was we did not need to go to Sioux Falls, 900 miles away. The bad news was that the closest DMV location was Rapid City, only 530 miles away. 

Thursday we drove the car to Rapid City and checked into a motel to get the needed receipt . Friday morning we went to the DMV with our paperwork and
left with new licenses. Back in the car for the nine hour drive back to Grand Teton.

We didn't take time for sightseeing but we could not miss the massive coal trains. This is about half the train and there are about 50 cars in this photo.
Nice to be back home.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Monday, June 12, 2017

Our Busiest Jam Ever

Hi All,

When we went on duty yesterday at 10AM we immediately drove north to Pilgrim Creek Rd. There on a hillside was bear 793 nursing her two cubs. Over 100 cars and about 200 people stopped to watch.

A half hour later, with 793+2 still visible, bear 399 appeared on the other side of the road with her two cubs. Soon after that a small group of elk appeared and a visitor reported seeing 399 take down an elk calf. Six grizzlys plus elk. What a show. Then the radio squawked to life reporting a medical emergency and we realized the ambulance would need to get past us! We stopped most traffic and cleared a lane just before Medic 2 arrived. It was exciting, at times stressful and we were so busy with people and cars that we didn't see much of the wildlife.

However, when Carl cropped out the cars and cameras, the scene was stunning.
Still the best job in the park!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Saturday, June 10, 2017

Dump Trucks & Dinner

Hi All,

The road to the campground is still closed and probably will be for quite a while. Here's an aerial shot of the erosion with huge dump trucks blocking the road. The trucks have since been replaced by concrete barricades. You can see where the river has begun to eat under the road pavement.


Last night we went with Laura & Doug  to the Granary, a very fancy local restaurant. We toasted the views and Sandy's birthday

This morning there was fresh snow on the mountains.
Lots of bear activity up north. Tomorrow we are back to "work "

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Water & Moose

Hi All,

We patrolled up north today. This is the Jackson Dam with the mountains behind. The lake has been filling rapidly with snowmelt resulting in the decision to increase the water release from 2500 to 6500 cubic feet per second.


The extra water causes the downstream river to rise. The parking lot at Cattlemen crossing is now accessible only by kayak and canoe.

Later we came upon a moose jam on Moose Wilson Road. This young cow was feeding close to the road. Light traffic gave folks good looks and photo ops.
Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Mountains & Muddy River

Hi All,

If you worked at the Grand Teton HQ, this might be the view from your cubicle.


Or you could picnic along Jackson Lake.

We spotted this at Colter Bay. Anyone know what it is?

The Gros Ventre River is raging with massive snowmelt. This road to our campground is closed as the river erodes the bank and threatens the pavement. We have about a ten mile detour to get to/from the campground.

We even spent some time staffing the barricade.
Never a dull moment.

Happy Birthday to Carl's beautiful bride, a 1947 model🙀.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Saturday, June 3, 2017

Back in the Tetons

Hi All,

Our jet lag is just about over and our first shift is tomorrow. For the past couple of days we have been touring around the park.

There is still a five foot snow pile at String Lake.

The trail to 4 Lazy F Ranch still has great views

and wildlife.



The old cabins from the former dude ranch are being rehabbed for park housing.

That includes water and hydrant installations.

Some of the cabins are close to the Snake River where we watched a float trip drift by.
Still love this place and the bears are keeping everyone busy.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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