Thursday, June 6, 2013

Two Hike Day

Hi All,

We celebrated Sandy's birthday with two short hikes. In the morning we hiked about 2.5 miles along the wetlands near Moose-Wilson Road. We had great views and lots of birds.

The lupine are beginning to bloom.


These cylindrical dirt formations are the winter work of pocket gophers. To avoid predators and harsh weather, they dig tunnels in the snow. Later, when they need to expand their underground burrows, they pack the dirt into the snow tunnels. When the snow melts, these dirt formations appear everywhere.

After lunch we hiked along a dirt road to an abandoned dude ranch overlooking the Snake River. We were treated to more mountain & wildflower views

and some neat old buildings. Notice the cloud formation in the upper right. Kind of spooky. We didn't notice it until we were reviewing the photos.
Dinner at Signal Mountain Lodge capped off a wonderful day.

On the way back to the coach we spotted the cow moose with twins. Those pictures will be in another email.

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

On the Job

Hi All,

We spent our first two hours managing a moose jam on a narrow road with few places to pull off. Carl managed the traffic while Sandy ensured visitors didn't get too close and answered questions. It was really great fun, with enthusiastic and cooperative visitors excited to see this beautiful bull moose.

One woman exclaimed,"This is the highlight of our trip" and a German visitor was enthralled, this was the first moose he had ever seen.

The jam ended when the moose wandered into the brush to escape the mid day sun.

We then went to the Rockefeller Preserve and hiked to Phellps Lake. Along the way we talked to visitors about wildlife, bear safety and wildflowers. 

Lake Creek tumbles over this lovely cascade.


Once at the lake, we ate lunch with this view

and this view!

This is one of the flowers we were unsure about. Later research determined it is a "sticky geranium".

It was a wonderful day. We realize that it will be more hectic later in the season buy so far we would pay the Park Service to let us do this!

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

On the Job Training

Hi All,

Even before we got out of the coach, we had a great wildlife sighting.

A moose cow came through the campground with her two young calves.


We spent the day cruising the park with our supervisor, Kate Wilmot, looking for wildlife and careless campers who might attract bears.

At a late afternoon "Moose Jam" we saw this view of Grand Teton looking like a volcano.
Still having a great time.

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Sunday, June 2, 2013

Jackson WY Free Day Part 2

Hi All,

The National Museum of Wildlife Art is free to locals on the first Sunday of each month. It is a magnificent collection of paintings and sculpture. Here are a few examples of the artwork.







After the museum we went back to Walt and Betty's RV and later out to dinner at a place where you walk through a liquor store to get to the restaurant. The food at Eleanor's was very good and when the check came we realized it was the first thing we paid for all day!

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Jackson WY Free Day Part 1

Hi All,

The Jackson Hole Tram is free for locals early in the season. As seasonal volunteers, the Nilsens and Greenbaums qualified so we got a free tram ride (usually $32 per person!) from Teton Village up to the mountain top at 10,450 feet.

It is a new Swiss tram installed in 2008


The view from the top was stunning

Sandy, Betty and Walt soaking up the scenery

The mountains even reflect beautifully in the office window.

North facing panorama

Then it was back down to Teton Village.
We really lucked out with the weather. Visibility was over 70 miles and it wasn't windy.

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone


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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Great Mountain Views

Hi All,

Saturday was our first day off so we explored a bit of the park. We hiked the Taggert Lake Trail, about 3.5 miles to this fabulous viewpoint.


On the way back we stopped at the log cabin Chapel of the Transfiguration to take this iconic Grand Teton photo from the altar. We got there just in time; a wedding started about 15 minutes after we left.

Life is Good.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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A Week of Training

Hi All,

We had a week of excellent training and Monday we start OJT specifically about the Wildlife Brigade. We will be on duty Sun-Wed and have Thur-Sat off.

As the week wore on the weather got better and better. We spotted this bison herd on our way to class.


This is the view in front of the Kelly, WY Post Office
Our mailing address through the end of Sept will be:

PO Box 101
Kelly, WY. 83011

The bison stay near the road but the moose walk through the campground.

This is the view after the sun sets behind the Teton Range. The glow in the foreground is from the car headlights.
We are really excited about being here.

Love,

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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