Work and Play

We've had a number of questions about what we are actually doing up here and is it all work and little play? Here's the setting: there are four cabins in this group called Overlook. Two cabins are 12-14 person size. One is called Electric Peak and the other is Davis Cabin. One cabin is for 5-7 persons and is called Bunsen Peak. The cabin line-up is Bunsen Peak, Caretaker, Davis, Electric Peak. We are living in the Caretaker cabin, 2nd from the left. (Yes, that is obvious, but there I said it anyway!)

Overlook Cabins

Our cabin has 2 bedrooms, one bath, kitchen, living/family room, lots of closet space and a nice back porch. We are sharing this duty with another woman, Barbara Snow. She is single so took the smaller bedroom. Most of the wonderful closet spaces are filled to the brim with cleaning supplies and various things needed to stock the cabins as groups leave and the cabins are re-cleaned to be ready for the next group.

We are 'on-duty' from 7 to 9am and 4 to 9pm every day. We are encouraged to 'take off' two days each week but someone has to be around during those hours. We're finding that it is fairly easy to work in a hike and/or sight seeing throughout Yellowstone Park between the 7 hours of off time and Barbara and we have easily covered for each other thus far.

So, when a family or group checks in up here, we greet them, give them a pre-arranged talk of who we are, what to do, etc. and when they check out, we three descend like locusts and wash all bedding and towels and clean the cabin from end to end. It is work, there is no denying that, however, the benefits still out weigh the work part!

Bob on the South Rim of Yellowstone Grand Canyon

For instance...today Bob and I left at 7am and got back at 6pm. We drove all over the northeast side of the park and wound up taking a nice 6-7 mile hike around what is called "The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" where we saw 2 terrific waterfalls and a lot of water! We hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim and back again.

Upper Falls of Yellowstone Grand Canyon

And on Thursday, Barbara, Bob and I took a 4 mile hike with an elevation change of about 1200' where we discovered an old hydro-electric mill down by Yellowstone River. There were also two areas with numerous bones from what appeared to have been elk. A clear indication of dangerous wildlife in the area. This hike was just a few miles up the road from Overlook.

Yellowstone River Trail-head - 1200' elevation

And there you have it. Where we are and what we are doing when its not time to play!

Barbara and Barbara at the "Mill"