A Day in Yellowstone

I had a great day today. One of the perks we get as an employee of Yellowstone is free access to the park tours which run daily. A guest would normally have to pay $63, but we get access for free. So, today, I decided to participate in the all-day “Circle of fire tour.” It began at approximately 7:45 A.M. and ended at 4:15 P.M.

The bus first stopped at the Upper and Lower Falls of the Canyon. This just happens to be what my area of the park is popular for, hence the name “Canyon Village.” I was able to get closer to the falls than I had before and I have great photos.

We next moved on to pick up other passengers at Fishing Bridge and Lake. While at Lake, I snapped a few photos of the beautiful view from Lake Hotel. It’s a view to die for. I’m serious. The hotel overlooks Yellowstone Lake and it has many mountains in the background.

From there, we stopped at the West Thumb Geyser Basin. We got to see a couple of thermal features. It’s was a bit of a quick walk and we did not get a chance to see everything. This area seems to be popular for all of its hot springs.

After that, we headed over to Old Faithful where I got a chance to see her blow at 12:49 P.M. It was slow at first and then a big burst of water. I was sure to take photos. I also ate a lunch of hamburger and potato salad at the Old Faithful Lodge Dining Room. The place has a rustic feel as it’s a very old log cabin.

Our next to last stop before coming back to Canyon was at the Fountain Paint Pot area. This was the highlight of the trip. There, we got a chance to see all four thermal features, including: mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles and geysers. The mud pots are interesting because they make the strangest noise. We also came across a very loud boiling fumarole. It sounded something like boiling water as it overflows on the stove. Lastly, we saw a couple of geysers. We specifically saw the one called “Celestine Pool.” This was the hot pool of water where a guy was killed when he jumped in to save his dog. He failed to realize the temperature of the water before diving in.

And last, we stopped at Norris Geyser Basin. This was a real rush, so we only got to see the steamboat geyser.

On a different note, I read on CNN this morning where an individual was killed just at the edge of the park by a Grizzly Bear. That acts as a constant reminder that you should practice safety where you are out in the park.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

A few days after I arrived here in Yellowstone, I decided to head over to the Canyon. It's often referred to as "The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone." From my understanding, the lower falls is twice as large as Niagra Falls. It was snowing at the time, so some of the pictures aren't as clear as I would prefer. I am going to visit it again once it stops raining, so expect more pictures later.

The trail head to visit the Canyon is the near the P area cabins here in Canyon. Once you reach the head, the trail is approximately 1/2 mile and goes through a very beautiful wooded area. As you will see from some of the photos, it was snowing. Snow made the trail all the prettier.

Enjoy (to make the pictures larger, click on them)

Work

First, I will say that work has been going great. I have been staying very busy. After we completed our orientation process on Friday, we started working almost immediately. For the past couple of days I have been cleaning cabins and hotel-style rooms located throughout Canyon Lodge. Because we are preparing the cabins for the first time since last year, we are “deep cleaning.” As part of this, we have to do some extra cleaning. That means having to spend time on your knees scrubbing toilets and showers; and even worse, cleaning the floor with a hand rag. The work is hard, but I am managing.

I stopped by the on-site Canyon Visitor’s Center today. It’s amazing. It has a movie theater and everything. There is also a bookstore in the visitor’s centers that has a lot of books that relate to Yellowstone.

Canyon Lodge will open on Friday, so that’s when things will start to get pretty interesting. I’ve been told that this is the hardest week we will ever work, considering we are having to “deep clean” every location in the park. After it opens, we only do general cleaning which is much easier.

Took a look today at my countdown calendar, 86 days remaining in Yellowstone National Park!

My first impressions

Early this morning I woke up and made my way to the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Bozeman, MT. When I was choosing my hotel, I specifically chose one that was closest to the bus terminal. In fact, it’s right across the street. The hotel -- Western Heritage Inn -- was very nice compared to other brand name chains. The rooms and facilities were modern and up to date. The hotel also served a delightful continental breakfast that included muffins, bagels and juice. If you are visiting Yellowstone for any reason and must stay in Bozeman, I would strongly suggest the Western Heritage Inn.





At approximately 7:15 AM we boarded a big yellow tour bus which took all of us up the mountains to Gardiner, MT where we checked in. The drive took an hour and a half, but it was the best hour and a half of my entire life. Never have I seen such magnificent beauty. It was like something from a film. The bus was making its way up the mountains by driving through other surrounding mountains. We also encountered beautiful roadside streams that were truly picturesque.



After arriving in Gardiner, MT, I completed loads of paperwork and received my employee uniforms which consist of black pants and a red button-up shirt. We then headed to Mammoth Hot Springs which lies just within Yellowstone. There, we ate lunch and attended an orientation. While exploring, I came across some elk that were grazing grass just a few feet away from humans!


After some additional traveling, I was dropped off at my final destination which happens to be 7,734 feet above sea level -- Canyon Lodge. At the moment, the lodge is still closed, so it’s very peaceful. There are but very few people here. We begin our employee training tomorrow morning. I hope it will be great. I am definitely looking forward to the experience.

Oh, and this evening I saw a groundhog (locally known as a whistlepig) trying to get some food from a dumpster. It was the cutest little rodent. And, earlier today on our way up the mountain to Canyon, we were forced to stop for a few moments because a heard of buffalo was blocking the traffic. It was a most amusing sight.

My Summer Address

For those who would like to send me postal mail, I have included my new mailing address. In order for the mail to arrive at the correct destination within Yellowstone, it's important for the address to include "Canyon" as I have included below.

For Regular Postal Mail: (including packages)
Michael W. Barker
General Delivery - Canyon
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

The Countdown

I'm recognizing that I have but eight days until I begin this great adventure. I will be exposed to many things that will be completely new to me. I'm set to fly into Bozeman, MT on May 26th. I'll be staying at a nearby motel for the night. The next morning I'll cross the road to hang around the Bozeman Greyhound Terminal while I wait for the bus that is supposed to take all of us to Gardiner, MT where I will check-in and get my uniforms. From there, we're supposed to head to Mammoth Hot Springs for lunch and orientation. After that, we will head to our work locations where we will finally get to unpack and figure out where we will be living for the next three months! I'm ready to start cleaning some rooms!