Observation Peak

"Hike to a high mountain peak for an outstanding view of the Yellowstone wilderness." (YNP beginning description) And that's just what we did.


Elevation gain/loss: 1,847...11 miles...6 1/2 hours. What a view it was! So I'll start at the beginning...


We hiked 2.5 miles in from the truck to Cascade Lake. We'll revisit this later in the season because it's supposed to be a good fishing lake so Bob wants to come back with his pole.



Bob took several shots of Cascade Lake from different elevations so I'll try to show them in order.

You may have noticed that these pictures aren't crystal clear. There are two fires burning in the park right now. The Park Service lets them burn out unless structures are being threatened.








There's been a haze in the air since we arrived. And we wonder why we're coughing more this year, hmmm.








Lunch at the top of the world, or at least it seems. We could see down to the Tetons and around the park pretty well if other mountains weren't in the way.









This is a Ranger Station used only in the event of a fire danger in the close area. Otherwise, it stays shuttered and unused.













We hiked with Marie and Carla. Both have been hiking since April so they pretty much left us in the dust going uphill. We stayed with them going down. I am using 2 poles again this year and Bob is using 1. They help more than I ever imagined they would.







This is a good shot of the forest of burned out trees still standing from the 1988 fire. In other shots you can see how green some areas are but in the higher elevations the new growth takes longer as the growing season is only about 2 months each year.









Here Marie and Carla turned to wave at us not too far below.











And here is the expanded view of where they are standing!











We are back to level ground now and just have the 2.5 miles back to the truck.










The flora and fauna were nicer in the upper regions. Below, due to the lack of rain and intense heat this year, everything is dried up except in the waterway areas.

Above though, the ladybugs, bees and small butterflies were working tirelessly on the flowers.







And lastly, this little squirrel came bustling down a tree and almost ran over us before he stopped to see us. He's obviously carrying a nice meal back to a secure wintering nest.

Total miles hiked: 35

Rescue Creek Anew

We've hiked Rescue Creek every year, ahh but no, we only thought we had. This time we left our truck at the exit which is visible from our cabins, and were dropped off at Blacktail Deer Creek Trail. This meant we had to walk 8 miles to get to the truck...through back country.

And we're off!







Bob got this great shot of a wood duck. The reflection seems clearer than the duck.










This coyote was 25 yards away from us as we crested a hill. We scared each other. This is him jogging away from us.

Further on we heard a pack of either coyotes or wolves yipping and howling at the top of a nearby mountain. We were guessing there is a den up there and it was play time!

 

A few ospreys flew overhead and called out as we walked. They are always so majestic to watch.

The path to nowhere, ha!










And then there was the 1 or 2 mile stretch of tall weeds to walk through. We had been warned to wear pants. Thanks Marie!










Yes, there's a path there.











 If this was a foreboding, we weren't concerned. There was one section of meadow that had several bleached bones strewn about. It has mountains on 3 sides so probably a favorite winter resting place for the elk.








The hike started on the high side and we walked on level ground or downhill almost the whole way after the initial small hill to climb. Rather than the path being right in the gulley, it always hung up on the side of a hill. Much easier walking on that type of path.








In the dead center of this picture is a dot on a plateau. Those are our cabins! Now that's cool :)










This sweet herd of Pronghorn were ready to meet us. There were 10. They were mostly on the ground and got up as we walked on the path.

And then they crossed in front of us and promptly left. Nice homecoming we thought.

Last leg of the trip is across the bridge and up the hill to the truck.












This took us 4.5 hours and had an elevation gain of 521 feet and loss of 1,794 feet.

Total miles hiked after this: 24

Bunsen Peak - 4th Time Up!

I don't like Bunsen Peak. It's a nice enough easy incline to the base of the mountain but then it goes up harshly in a series of switch backs to the peak. I used Runtastic - a GPS activity tracker on my phone, to document the progress.

The views were cloudy from smoke infiltration this time. This bridge seems to defy nature. It's a favorite shot for us...looking back to see it. When you are on this bridge, you feel like it's suspended from somewhere, not supported underneath.



By the way, the view of the bridge means we are still on the path to the mountain, not even to Bunsen yet!


These flower bursts along with some purple ones are all that is left of the flowers this year.

These little butterflies were quite at home on the flowers along with several honey bees.










This is the last of the meadow switchbacks on the way to start climbing Bunsen.










NOW we're on Bunsen. I especially like how I positioned Bob with the tree sticking out of his head, haha! If you see the white streak to his right (your left), you will be looking at Mammoth Hot Springs.

The valley behind Bob is where the road goes to the north entrance where we are living.





This is a smoggy shot of the south from Bunsen Peak.












On top of the world and we're adding rocks to pile. We did have lunch first looking at the 360 degree view though.










From the parking area to the peak and back took 3 hours and 21 minutes for 5.36 miles and an elevation gain and loss of 1,650ft. Bob said it's PT for me. At least it isn't done in a building!









Going back down again. My favorite part.

Miles hiked: 16

Fishing - Getting Serious

About 8 years ago I bought Bob a Fly Fishing Rod for his birthday. It has mostly been housed in it's original packaging. Last year he rented a rod and waders to try it out again and had such a good time that the small amount of 'flies' he has collected and the rod and reel along with a new pair of personal waders made the trip west.






For the first fishing trip into the park we went to Slough Creek on the way to Lamar Valley. Due to the extreme hot conditions this summer, the grasses for large animal (elk and bison) in the park are dried up and brown...except around the water areas. So, for the first time, we saw 100+ bison hanging around this creek.







Fortunately they occupied the far side from the road so we drove in as far as the camping area and carried the supplies out a little further and Bob went fishing.

When he first went in, his feet went a few inches into the mud and muck and he had to grab his legs to pull them out. I took a video of him and was laughing so hard I had to cut it off :)





I brought my mobile watercolor supplies with me and "captured the moment" such as it is. My attempts are an effort to increase knowledge of using watercolor for flowing water.






Now you can laugh at me! It was a perfect, laid-back day. Results...the fish came up to Bob and checked out his feet and 'fly' but no takers this trip.

We are Here, We are Here, We are Here!!

Ok, so I stole that from 'Horton Hears A Who!' But we are so happy, it seemed quite appropriate. There's so much to tell and such little space :)


Our cabin has the green roof

The cabins look the same and even with a change of people thru the year, procedures remain constant so we walked in, unpacked and settled in within a few hours. We have a new cabin mate (Marie) this year until August 15 and then we may be alone until October 1. It's possible a new employee for Gardiner will stay with us for a few weeks in September but that is 'up in the air' for now.



Refresher course...there will be a test later on...


We work for Yellowstone Association. There are 4 cabins on 80 acres overlooking the Yellowstone River and the north end of Yellowstone.

This is the lake down along the road that comes up to the cabins.






We are assigned to live in the Caretaker Cabin and our duties are to provide support for groups and individuals that take a guided course through Yellowstone Association and decide to stay in the cabins for their lodging.

Here you see some mid day visitors to our campus... Big horn sheep.






There are 29 beds and 3 cabins we clean, do laundry for, greet the people as they come and go and tell them the campus rules about. This is our 4th year and we feel like this is our 2nd home except we don't have to pay the taxes or utilities.







Here is another panoramic shot taken on a short hike we did from the cabins. You are also seeing a lot of the vistas that we enjoy daily from our windows. Jealous yet?




Bob and I decided to challenge ourselves so we signed up for the "100 mile" hiking club. We have to hike 100 miles within the Yellowstone range system to qualify...in one year, or for us, in 2 months. So, at the end of each blog I will update our progress...for anyone that cares, ha!








Our first walk around Mammoth I saw this little guy running around under some cars. It's a Pica. The park service is keeping a close eye on these critters to see how different animals are adjusting to the climate change.








We are trying to acclimate quickly this year so we can enjoy some more difficult and longer hikes. This one is the Beaver Ponds hike. Our 4th time to take it. We've never seen any wildlife larger than a chipmunk or bird and never any beavers!  :)

Here's one of the ponds.







The wildflowers are almost all gone due to the dry hot summer. This shot shows how the butterflies and bugs are all sharing the few flowers available.








We had never seen this bird before. It's a male, Western Tanager. He was very colorful as he flitted from ground to tree and back again.



Miles hiked after this:  10