Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Last Grand Teton Email for 2014

Hi All,

As many of you have already heard, Sandy's Mom's 94 year old heart is giving out. Sandy will fly to Boston tomorrow and Carl and Ginger will drive east in the motorhome. Sooo, this is our last email from Grand Teton this year.

Earlier today, before we got the news about Mom, we went to inspect the latest "Wildlife Closure" in the park. Lakeview Picnic area is closed due to Toads!

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of these one inch long Boreal Toads have hatched out from the lake and are moving through the picnic area looking for a place to hibernate for the winter. If they are successful, they will grow into four inch long adults like this.


This is the view from the picnic area. They did pick a beautiful place to hatch out.
We'll keep you all posted about Mom.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Friday, August 29, 2014

Delightful Day Off

Hi All,

After a usual Thursday of chores and shopping, today was all free time. Carl began his day with an 18 mile bike ride while Sandy walked the campground in search of birds and other wildlife.

Late afternoon we met Walt & Betty at Dornan's for dinner. On the way, we spotted this large herd of pronghorn close to the road.


After dinner the four of us went to Schwabacher's Landing where we enjoyed stunning scenery

and beaver swimming behind the dam.

We brought our park radio and soon heard a report of an elk jam a few miles away. When we got there we spotted a huge herd of about 80 elk and another harem with a big bull shepherding about a dozen cows. Sadly too dark to photograph. However, the sunset was amazing

as was this sliver of a moon above the mountain peaks.

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, August 27, 2014

Granite Canyon

Hi All,

Today was our "back country" day and we chose to hike into Granite Canyon.

We didn't see any big wildlife but lots of birds including American dipper, Townsend warbler and mountain chickadee.

The start of the trail goes past this lovely aspen grove


then across the meadow.

This mountain stream is great dipper habitat.

The trail then climbs into the canyon. These steps make it easier.

Next comes this huge talus slope

and peek a boo views across to the steep canyon wall.
It was about  seven miles round trip. A nice hike on a beautiful 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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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Happy Birthday NPS

Hi All,

Yesterday was the 98th Birthday of the National Park Service. All the Visitor Centers had cake for visitors and staff. 


After cake we patrolled Jenny Lake Campground. This site has one of the better views!
Not too much wildlife out this week but we saw this beautiful double rainbow on the way home tonight. It was right behind the campground.

Hard to believe it is almost September. We just made campground reservations for October in Mass and NH.

Oct 17-24 in Bellingham, MA
Oct 24-31 in Brookline, NH
Oct 31- Nov 5 in Bellingham,MA

Then we drive to Florida to start volunteering on Nov 15.

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, August 23, 2014

Native Plant Field Class

Hi All,

We have had several straight days of rain; yesterday it was so wet that we stayed in the coach the whole day. 

Today's forecast was lousy (55° and rain) but we went on the plant walk anyway. It turned out cold but not too wet.

We drove onto the Elk Refuge and up into the National Forest.


If anyone wonders where the Elk Refuge begins, there's an elk spine and pelvis at the boundary.

Our instructor, Klara, showed us dozens of flowers and plants on the sage flats and hillsides.

This is Curtis Canyon, a beautiful spot in Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Klara calls this "belly botany" as we all got close to the ground to examine low growing plants.
It was all great fun and we learned a lot.

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, August 19, 2014

Another Back Country Day

Hi All,

Today we hiked to Bradley and Taggart Lakes. It was about five miles with a lot of climbing.

The view of Grand Teton from Bradley was spectacular.


Our hike was put in perspective when we heard one of the volunteer climbing rangers call in on the radio, " Mid day check-in from the top of the Grand (13,707 ft). "

These guys are awesome.

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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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Evening Drive in Grand Teton

Hi All,

Most of today was a typical Thursday; laundry, coach cleaning, Jackson for lunch, Internet and shopping.

In the evening, we went to the AMK presentation about the geology of the Teton Range. Very interesting as usual- very young mountains (10 million years old) made of very old rocks (2.6 billion years old).

On the way home we found ourselves in a bison jam! This big bull walked back and forth in front of us.


The sunset looked colorful so we stopped at the Snake River Overlook for a few photos.



These do not match Ansel Adams' iconic photo of the Tetons shot from this same location but pretty neat none the less.

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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