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This is my new favorite word
I'm sure many of us can relate to this word just now. We long for the days when we can decide to travel and just go. Hang in there. Those days will be back again. =]:)
3/31/2021
3/30/2021
Hike into the heart of the Teton range
You should be in good shape and experienced at hiking to do this one. It is about 8.4 miles round trip and will take you from 4 to 8 hours with an elevation gain of 2,500 ft. Whew! So worth it, though, if you are up to the challenge.
So here's how to get there. You'll start at Lupine Meadows Trailhead located south of Jenny Lake, and you will switchback up to Three-Mile Junction, then you will follow the trail left towards Garnet Canyon. Follow this trail another mile until you reach a boulder field. Some skill is required to cross the boulder field, and again, you should be physically fit and comfortable with route-finding before attempting to cross it.
Once you get into the canyon, you will find yourself surrounded by some of the more prominent peaks in the range, including Nez Perce, South and Middle Teton, the Grand Teton, and Disappointment Peak. But you won't be disappointed. I promise!
If you do plan to try this hike, please stop by the Jenny Lake Ranger Station to speak with a backcountry ranger about conditions and so they will know you are up there. It's best to check back in with them when returning, so they will know you are okay.
I hope you enjoy the hike, and maybe see you out on the trail! =]:)
3/29/2021
Yellowstone Migrations
Yellowstone's 22.6-million-acre region contains the longest known pathways for mule deer and pronghorn. The distance, movements, and routes rival wildebeests on the Serengeti Plain and caribou in the Arctic.
At the University of Wyoming, Matt Kauffman headed an effort called the Wyoming Migration Initiative, which created a comprehensive atlas of maps to inform public and private land managers. He worked with several colleagues, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Arthur Middleton, an ecologist and research scientist at Yale University.
Middleton likes to compare Yellowstone’s migrations to the circulatory system in a human body, carrying nourishment everywhere. What he hopes is that the system doesn’t suffer its own version of a coronary episode.
I hope you enjoy the sights in this short video!
3/23/2021
Some Yellowstone Park staff won't wear clothes!
No, the Yellowstone park rangers haven't started a nudist colony, although that would be interesting, I suppose. I'm talking about the 110 non-uniformed park employees you rarely see because they stay behind the scenes for the most part.
These 110 employees are an essential part of the law enforcement rangers in the park, and every workgroup in the park has at least one of these helpful "rangers." You might see them if you trek into the backcountry as they patrol for poaching and other illegal activity. They will also be at most rescue operations as part of the trusted and appreciated team.
It's a horse, of course! And they are valuable and revered members of Yellowstone National Park. They are loyal and caring friends too if you are lucky enough to know one. =]:)
Learn more about the Yellowstone backcountry ranger: https://www.yellowstone.org/safeguarding-yellowstones-wilderness/
3/17/2021
This is my new favorite word
Whist; whisted; whisting; whists \ ˈ(h)wist \ is a verb. I love the way this word sounds. It's soothing as you speak it.
I'm having trouble using this as a verb in a sentence. If you come up with a good one, please tell us in the comments. =]:)
3/08/2021
Glad you asked!
What are the best campsites in Yellowstone?
Glad you asked! I prefer to camp outside the park in more remote areas. It's just as beautiful, but less crowded and no reservation required. I get that it's fun to stay in Yellowstone at least once, though, so here are a few of my favorite spots.
Madison Campgrounds:
With more than 270 non-electric campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs, the Madison Campground is a popular overnight spot for various reasons. If you are a fly-fishing enthusiast, this is your spot. Madison Campground is also the closest to the Lower, Upper, and Midway Geyser Basins of the park, which are places that should be on your must-see list.
All overnight users share access to restrooms equipped with running water (yeah!), and each campsite comes with a fire pit and picnic table.
This one is closest to the West Entrance and near one of my favorite little towns, West Yellowstone. You'll find several restaurants here and some of the best frozen yogurt I've had. If you like shopping for souvenirs, you'll love all the little shops. I'm partial to the fantastic used bookstore that I've spent many hours browsing, and of course, purchasing the perfect book I didn't know I needed.
Here is the official website for this one. You can make a reservation on there too: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/campground/madison-campground/
Norris Campground:
This one is located in Central Yellowstone and is a national park-operated campground. It has 100 non-electric campsites on a first-come, first-served basis.
You'll be surrounded by lodgepole pines, and grazing bison are occasionally known to pay a visit. You'll have a fire-ring and picnic table, and each campsite shares access to food-storage boxes, flushing toilets, and potable water. Most of the campsites here are best for tents and small trailers, but a few can host RVs up to 50 feet in length.
For me, the stand-out reason to camp here, especially if you have children, is the evening campfire programs hosted by Park Rangers during the summer months. These are fun for young and older alike.
Norris Geyser Basin is close by too. In fact, it's just about a one-mile hike, and you're there. You really need to do this hike. There is even a museum here, The Museum of the Park Ranger. You should check this out too.
Lewis Lake Campground:
If you want a less busy, more remote campsite, I've got one for you. Lewis Lake Campground is positioned between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes in southern Yellowstone, and it has 85 non-electric sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. This campsite allows tents, trailers, and RVs up to 25 feet in length. Overnight users share access to potable water and vault toilets.
Lewis Lake Campground is also close to the Lewis Lake boat launch, so you can get your boating and fishing permit right here. Then you have easy access to explore all the nearby water features.
What I like the most about this campground, even though it is located only eight miles from the Southern Entrance of Yellowstone, is that it's close to the Tetons as well, so you'll have quick access to some of the best hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park.
Here's the official site for this campground: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/lewislakecg.htm
There are other campsites too:
So there are my three favorites, but that is by no means the only ones for you to look at. I've listed a site below for all the other major campgrounds, as well as openings, closings, etc., to help you plan your visit. Enjoy!
Bookmark this site for updated information about the major camping sites in Yellowstone. Remember, many of these sites fill up fast, so make a reservation as soon as possible: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
My next article will be my favorite places to stay outside the park. See you then! =]:)
3/06/2021
The history of the Grand Lady
The beautiful Lake Hotel was originally built in 1891 as a barracks-like structure, then was redesigned and expanded by Robert Reamer, the architect of the Old Faithful Inn in 1903. The hotel is a relatively plain clapboarded Colonial Revival structure with two large Ionic porticoes that face Yellowstone Lake.
It was a large three-story structure with projecting bays at each end in 1891, and the construction was supervised by R.R. Cummins for the Northern Pacific Railway. They were building two other similar structures in the park at the same time. The remodeling in 1903 changed the projections to the Ionic porticoes seen today, and an extension was also added at that time, with a third matching portico.
Sometime in 1922 to 1923, construction on another extension to the east was begun, with a flat roof. Then, in 1928 a two-story west wing was added, which expanded the dining room and added a solarium to the front. The hotel was again renovated extensively from 1984 to 1990, but its original charm was preserved. The hotel completed a two-year, $28-million renovation in 2014.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's official program. The hotel is quite striking inside, and the rooms are wonderful. It's a great place to stay if you want to experience the past, but with modern conveniences.
Even if you don't stay at the hotel, you might want to stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The hotel dining room is open from May 28 thru October 3 this year. You can find out how to make reservations here: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/lake-yellowstone-hotel-cabins/
So if you're visiting Yellowstone, be sure to stop by the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and say "hello" to the great yellow lady. =]:)
3/04/2021
This is my new favorite word
Mitis-simus (phonetic spelling) is an adjective. I chose the photo of a dog because I thought it went well with the meaning. Anyone who has ever had a faithful dog will immediately see their friend represented in this word.
Can you find a good way to use this word in a sentence? If so, please leave your example in the comments. =]:)
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