An "Ass-Kicker," Indeed!

Bill and I love to hike, and there is one hike that had been on our to-do list for a few years...Seven Mile Hole.  Well, Saturday was the day.  We had read about the hike and knew it would be a tough one.  The trail is called "Seven Mile Hole" because once it gets to the bottom of the canyon, you are seven miles down from the Lower Falls.  The trail itself actually descends five miles into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone to the Yellowstone River.  You can see where this is going...if you hike five miles DOWN, what do you think you have to do next?   If you guessed climb five miles UP, you are correct.

Here's the sign at the trailhead:

We had some nice views of the canyon before we headed down.  Notice the blue skies...it was a perfect hiking day!

After hiking through the forest for a couple of miles, we came across this meadow.  That is Mt. Washburn rising behind the trees.  Mt. Washburn is one of our favorite hikes...a must-do each year.  We'll tackle that one once the snow is melted.

Before the extreme down-turn, we came across this geothermal feature.  This one was dry, but we saw several steaming hot pools with hot water flowing out and down the side of the mountain.  The smell of sulfur was very noticeable.

Lots of nice views as we climbed down into the canyon.

 We're getting closer and closer to the Yellowstone River at the bottom.

We made it!  Here is the Yellowstone River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

And here we are relaxing and enjoying the view.

After a nice break, we knew we couldn't avoid it any longer.  We began the climb back up to the top of the canyon.  It was tough, but we did it!  Actually, we had no other choice.  :-)

The other day, when Bill and I came back to the rig, there was a note on the door from our friends, Jerry and Kim.  The note said something like, "Sorry we missed you.  We just hiked Seven Mile Hole.  It was a real ass-kicker!"  Jerry and Kim...Bill and I agree with you 100%!

You have probably figured out that, since we are out hiking, things must be going well at Canyon Campground.  I actually took both of my days off...not bad for just being opened a week.  Also, on Thursday night, while Bill and I were enjoying our time off, Canyon Campground filled for the first time this year!  We're off to a great start!

Welcome to Yellowstone's Canyon Campground!

On Friday, May 31, at 7:00 a.m., Canyon Campground opened for the 2013 summer season!  This was one of the best openings I have ever experienced.  Thanks to a great staff!

The bears even seemed to happy we are open.  We had a grizzly in the L-loop of the campground, and a big black bear came right by the registration building and hung out grazing in an open area nearby.  Of course, no one had a camera.

Last night, we had 120 sites occupied...about 47% full.  I predict we will fill within the week.  The way things are going, I also predict we will have great summer season!

A Quick Post

As I was writing last night's post, we saw our neighbor running towards our rig.  Bill opened the door, and she said, "Scarface is on the ball field!"  Scarface is the famous grizzly bear who hangs out around Canyon.  He's old...some say at least twenty...and he's big.  He gets his name from all of the scars on his face, which proves he's been in lots of fights.  And he's also missing about 1/2 of one ear.

We put on our shoes and head out through the woods behind our rig.  Sure enough...there is a bear near the ball field...but it's a beautiful, big black bear...not Scarface.  But, still, what a great way to end the day.

 

We're Still Here!

In my last post, I mentioned how busy I would be once the Canyon Campground folks arrived.  Well, they arrived...and, boy, have I been busy.  I spent a week training my front desk folks, and then the campground/camper services attendants arrived.  Today, we were finally all together, and it looks like we have a super crew.

Bill and I moved down to Canyon last week and are settled in nicely in our summer site.

As you can see, we had a little snow overnight.  Tomorrow the entire Canyon crew is taking a bus tour of the lower loop of Yellowstone.  This will be an educational, as well as entertaining, day.  We have a busy week ahead, before opening day on Friday, May 31.

Swapping Hats....and More Yellowstone Bears

Fishing Bridge RV Park, the second campground I trained opened today at 8:00 a.m.  Two down and two to go!

As you can imagine, I have been up to my neck in training Guest Service Agents, but last week I had to swap hats and put on my "manager" hat for a couple of days of manager training.  Today...I put my "trainer" hat back on.  Bridge Bay Campground checks in today and training starts tomorrow morning.

The real interesting part is when the Canyon folks arrive next week...I get to wear both my "manager" hat AND my "trainer" hat.  Is there any wonder I'm waking up at 3:00 a.m. with my mind racing of everything I have to do.  Thank goodness for to-do lists (and a supportive husband)!

OK - enough about my craziness.  I'm sure you are more interested in the bears I mentioned in the title.  Although I've been working hard, I still get time off.  Bill and I went into the park yesterday and saw 5 bears!!  You read that right...F-I-V-E bears!  They were all black bears and seen within an 18 mile stretch between Mammoth Hot Springs and Roosevelt.

Here ya go.....

Bear #1

 Bear #2

After walking around a bit....

 

 ...he decided to take rest by sitting on a downed tree.

  

Bear #3

 

Bears #4 & #5

The picture isn't great, but this looked like a mom and a yearling. 

 

 Seeing the bears was fantastic, but Yellowstone's scenery never disappoints:

 

 

When we stopped for lunch, we had this pull-out all to ourselves.  In a few minutes, we were joined by a group of bison.

The moms were very careful to look both ways before crossing the street.

Working and living in Yellowstone...it's tough, but somebody has to do it!!

   

We Had a Bear-y Good Day

The east entrance road is open, and Bill and I headed out Saturday morning to take a long drive.  We were out of the door before 7:00 a.m.  The day was overcast, spitting rain/snow/sleet, but what fine day it was!

First stop was at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to see the waterfalls.  Here is the upper falls:

And here is the lower falls:

As we continued through the Hayden Valley, we spotted this guy near Mud Volcano.  Why do bears seem to always put their butts towards the road?  I have so many pictures of bear butts.

Digging for whatever grizzlies dig for must be tiring, as he promptly took a rest.

But our patience paid off.  He was soon up again and walking around.

After enjoying the show for a while, Bill and I continued our drive.  We stopped at LeHardy Rapids to see if the Harlequin Ducks had arrived.  These colorful ducks come to breed in the cold fast-moving water of the Yellowstone River.  We've only seen them at this particular location, and they don't stay very long.

First, Bill and I had to walk down a staircase covered with about three feet of snow.  Fortunately, other folks had been down and had made some nice "steps" in the snow.

And they have arrived!  They weren't very active today.  In fact, they seemed to be sleeping...standing on one foot...in fast-moving water.  How do they do that????

After watching the ducks, and getting very cold, we climbed back up to the truck and drove out the east entrance road (after stopping by Fishing Bridge RV Park to say hello).  We drove up to Sylvan Pass, where there was just a little more snow.  :-)

After turning around and heading back down, we came upon this mom and yearling near Steamboat Point.  Steamboat Point has always served us well when we want to see grizzly bears.

The yearling was so much fun to watch...he was digging, digging, digging!  At times, his whole upper body was in the hole.

Next, we stopped by Lake Village, where we had lunch in the Employee Dining Room.  And yes, the Yellowstone Lake is still frozen.

After lunch, we headed back towards Gardiner.  Of course we had to make few stops along the way.  As we were sitting in a pull-out in Hayden Valley, this big guy came sauntering by.

 He walked right by my side of the truck.

Our final stop was at Rustic Falls.  We drive by this waterfall any time we go into the park from Mammoth, but I hadn't gotten a picture yet.  This is one of my favorite falls.

And last, but not least, here is the Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance to Yellowstone.

The park is really waking up now.  We even saw a few tour buses and rental RVs.  Summer is right around the corner!

Now That's a Snowplow!

Today NPS opened more roads in Yellowstone.  Bill and I took advantage of my short day at work and headed over to Canyon Campground to check out our summer home.

These snowplows were parked just south of the closed road that leads over Dunraven Pass.  Located between Canyon and Tower and at almost 9,000 feet, Dunraven is the highest pass in Yellowstone.  We couldn't tell if they were getting ready to plow, or if they had already plowed.  Either way, the road is still closed.

We were fortunate to find the gate open at Canyon Campground.  Not knowing who opened it and when they would close it, we didn't spend a lot of time in the campground.  We sure didn't want to get locked in.

So, here is where we will be working this summer (once my training gig is complete).

I was happy to see there wasn't too much snow.  In the campground itself, the main roads have been plowed but none of the sites.  We still have a month before we open, so I'm not worried...yet.  :-)