Feast your eyes on this cloudy, Autumn view of the Wind River Mountain range. =]:)

The Wind River Range, or "Winds" for short, is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States. The range runs roughly NW-SE for approximately 100 miles. The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and includes Gannett Peak, which at 13,804 feet, is the highest peak in Wyoming. 

There are more than 40 other named peaks in excess of 13,000 feet. With the exception of the Grand Teton in the Teton Range, the next 19 highest peaks in Wyoming after Gannett are also in the Winds.

The Shoshones and Absarokas (Crow) Native Americans, lived in the range beginning 7000 and 9000 years ago. Villages as high as 10,000 feet in elevation, dating from 700 to 2000 BC, have recently been studied by archaeologists. These villages were established by the Sheepeater band of Shoshone during pine nut harvesting season. 

Two large National Forests including three wilderness areas encompass most of the mountain range. Shoshone National Forest is on the eastern side of the continental divide while Bridger-Teton National Forest is on the west. Both National Forests and the entire mountain range are an important part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Portions of the range are also inside the Wind River Indian Reservation.

A couple scouting for fishing spots along the Lamar River surprised a bear as it was feeding on a carcass. The grizzly was not happy and in no mood to share. He charged at them and came within 9 feet.

But, the couple was prepared and able to diffuse the situation. Can you guess what they did? If you've read any of my bear posts, I bet you already know. Click the story to read about their scary encounter.

The bear is perfectly fine. Nothing will happen to him as he was only defending his food. The couple did the right thing to protect themselves and the bear. =]:)

Read the story here

Photo by Jessica Weiller

Pixie, kobold, elf, and sprite, All are on their rounds tonight; In the wan moon’s silver ray, Thrives their helter-skelter play. - Joel Benton

Pronounced: /səˈpəlkrəl/ [suh-puhl-kruhl]

In honor of Halloween, I wanted a spooky word and I think this one fits the bill.

Many things around you can be sepulchral. The deep and hollow tone of a foghorn, an icy draft of wind that raises goosebumps on your arm, a foreboding feeling of impending doom as you walk through a graveyard at midnight. Bwhahaha.

So, how will you use this word? How about, "As the eerie cat cult began to chant, the sepulchral tone in their voices sent chills up my spine." Now it's your turn. Scare us! And Happy Halloween a little early.

Picture from trib.com

Mountain lion sightings are becoming more common here, and I'm sure in other areas too. How can you minimize the chance of being attacked by one? Here are some tips:

1. Always hike with one or more friends. Mountain lions are less likely to attack a group.
2. Mountain lions often stash their kills for later. If you happen upon a dead animal, leave the area immediately. If it was left there, the mountain lion will defend it.
3. Most people think taking your dog with you will prevent an attack. Not true. In fact, dogs can attract mountain lions.
4. If you come across mountain lion kittens, leave the area. I know they're cute, but their mama won't hesitate to protect them.
5. If you have children with you on a hike, keep them in the middle or front of the group. And don't ever let them wander off the hiking path alone.
6. Never run. Never turn your back on a mountain lion.
7. Keep constant eye contact.
8. Make loud noises, wave your hands, strike two sticks together and any thing else to make a racket.

If you are attacked, there are some things you can do:

1. Do not play dead. Many people think this is what they should do. Don't do it.
2. Protect your neck with your arms and hands, or if you have a pack on, use that.
3. Fight back with a stick, your hands, legs or anything else you have at your disposal. Throwing large rocks can work.
4. Bear spray! Yup, bear spray can work too so always have some with you.

There you go. Some tips to stay safe. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but it's best to always be prepared. =]:)

Read the story, "Mountain lions on the move, game official says" on trib.com

In 1989, scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution heard a sound coming from their audio equipment they hadn't heard before. They had heard whale sounds many times, but this whale sounded different. They weren't able to tell what species of whale it was, but they kept listening as it drifted away into the dark abyss of the ocean and fell silent.

In 1992, they found this unique whale sound again and they have tracked the whale since then. The US Navy’s sophisticated billion dollar hydrophone system, designed to track Soviet nuclear submarines during the Cold War, has recorded the whales migratory patterns every year as she moves from central California to the Aleutian Islands in the north Pacific. Though they can track her, no one has ever seen her in the wild. They aren't even sure what species of whale she is.

She has always traveled alone, and according to a report in the Deep Sea Journal, her migration is "unrelated to the presence or movement of other whale species." She has no family, she isn't part of a pod, she's never had a mate, in fact, she is always by herself. And yet, as she makes her way through the vast oceans, she calls out, searching and waiting for an answer, or a companion that never comes.

She's now called the 52-hertz whale, or what most folks call her, the loneliest whale in the world. Because of how long she's been monitored, and how far she travels, scientists think she's in good health. But whales are social creatures, and her isolation has taken a toll.

Whales vocalize at 10 to 39 Hertz, but the loneliest whale in the world speaks at 52 Hertz, just higher than the lowest note of a tuba. That's what makes her different. It's what makes her unique. It's also her curse and what keeps her alone. The other whales can't hear her. They don't know she exists. Her cries go ignored, and her pleas go unanswered. But she never stops trying. Her calls never fade. She never gives up hope.

Over the years, scientists have noticed her vocalizations have deepened, more like 49 Hertz now. They think it might be because of her getting older, or maybe she is trying to change the sound, because maybe she knows something isn't right.

Mary Ann Daher is a marine biologist who co-authored the original research on the discovery of 52. As the paper went public, more people identified with the whale’s hopeless situation, so much so they even wrote to Daher expressing their empathy.

And so, the loneliest whale in the world continues her search, and she waits for the day when her dream will be real and the empty feeling in her heart, will be full. On that day,  her quest for companionship will be over. She will hear, off someplace in the murky distance, the answer to her calls echoing through the sea. On that day, when her pleas are met with compassion and understanding, she'll be home, and lonely no more. =]:)

Photos from: https://www.facebook.com

"Let us resolve to invest in today’s adolescent girls so that tomorrow they can stand strong as citizens, political leaders, entrepreneurs, heads of their households and more. This will secure their rights and our common future." -Ban Ki-moon, Secretary- General United Nations.

In celebration of International Day of the Girl, let's take a look at three women who helped shape the National Park Service. Please meet Mardy Murie, Betty Reid Soskin and Titus Putnam. Three girls who grew into three leaders.

Margaret Thomas "Mardy" Murie (top left photo) was a naturalist, author, adventurer, and conservationist. She was born August 18, 1902  and passed away October 19, 2003. Dubbed the "Grandmother of the Conservation Movement" by both the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society, she helped in the passage of the Wilderness Act, and was instrumental in creating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She was the recipient of the Audubon Medal, the John Muir Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom which is the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States.

Betty Reid Soskin (bottom left photo) is a current Park Ranger with the National Park Service, assigned to the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. As of May 19, 2016, at age 94, she is the oldest National Park Ranger serving the United States. Betty joined the National Park Service at 85 years old. She conducts park tours and serves as an interpreter, explaining the Park's purpose, history, various sites, and museum collections to park visitors. She has been celebrated as: "a tireless voice for making sure the African-American wartime experience – both the positive steps toward integration and the presence of discrimination – has a prominent place in the Park's history".

Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam (right photo) is an American conservationist who in 2010 won the second highest civilian award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and was the first conservationist to have ever won the honor. She founded the Student Conservation Association in 1957 and served as its President until 1990. Ms. Putnam graduated from Miss Porter's School in 1952 and from Vassar in 1955. She currently resides in Shaftsbury, Vermont, and the Vermont legislature passed act R-107 in her honor.

Three wonderful women who changed the world in their own way. =]:)

Yellowstone National Park has started using porous, or thirsty, concrete in walkways throughout the park. The new concrete, called Flexi-Pave, is made with stones and recycled tires, and Michelin has been helping install it all over the park. Forest rangers who work at the park have even donated their used tires to the project.

Flexi-Pave is a pour-in-place, rubber paving surface that is impervious to storm water. The rubber used to make Flexi-Pave comes from recycled tires. It's similar to porous pavement but has the advantage of a flexible surface that doesn't crack or develop potholes. It's been used for sidewalks, parking lots and roadways. The cost is approximately $6 per square foot installed.

Yellowstone will replace 4,160 feet of walkways throughout the park. It can absorb about 3,000 gallons of water an hour per square foot.

By using Flexi-Pave, rainwater and melted snow can be redistributed back into Yellowstone's aquifer which helps maintain the fragile ecosystem. Using discarded tires to help Yellowstone's ecosystem is a powerful example of recycling that helps the planet and in turn, all of us. Check out this short video. =]:)