Yellowstone day 9

Yellowstone day 9

Please go to day 1 first. Friday morning our last day. Up at 4:00 A.M. to get ready to make one last trip into Lamar Valley. Ten of us took the optional trip, four chose to make one trip to the Mammoth Terrace. The pictures tell the story at Lamar, just an opportunity to say good-bye. It is if we have a new friend, a new friend I knew I will visit again.
Then it is load up the Van and the two hour ride to Bozeman and the seven hour (time change) flight to Raleigh.
Some final thoughts. I will end as I started. If you are an NC educator I highly recommend this experience, professionally and personally. Start searching the NC Museum of Natural Science website in January for your application. I can truly call it a life-changing-experience professionally and personally.
Our leaders Mike Dunn and Melissa Dowland are true examples of professionalism, leadership, excellent planning, flexibility. We were extremely fortunate to have had them with us, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
My roommate Scott could not have made it easier to share a room. Helpful, pleasure, and knowledgable, I could not ask for more.
My teammates, Amy H. and Karen were just great, the absarokas rocked. Thank you for doing most of the work. The Burke County two were hard to beat.
The rest of the group Amy D., Becky, Diane, Sarah, Priscilla, Beth, and Deb, thank you all for being who you are and allowing me to be a part.
My talking partner has literally changed my life. No matter what the future brings I will be eternally grateful. I plan though on doing all within my power to one-day-at-a-time keep Susan as my talking partner.
Keep checking back for I will be getting picture from everyone on the team and I will be publishing those, unless someone ask me not to. Their cameras were a lot better than my point and shoot. They have much closer shoots of the wolves, bears, elks etc. Let me hear from you.
Take a deep breath, get some rest, and let's go educate some NC youth.

Yellowstone day 8

Yellowstone day 8

Please go to day one first. Thursday, the last full day. It is sad to think it is almost over, I want it to continue on. But thinking back, I have learn some much, skills to use for a lifetime. I have grown as an educator, and a person.
An early walk around the geysers at Old Faithful, then word begins to spread Beehive is about to go off. Excitement as all rush to the site. We are rewarded with the eruptions of Beehive, and then as we watch beehive a l00 yards behind it off goes Old Faithful, we were to see and photograph the rate double. Then we were off, stopping at the Firehole canyon and seeing another Falls, and our second team head dunk.
Stopping now and then on our way back to Mammoth to observe the wildlife. I feel I have neglected mentioning the many stops all week as we observed unique collection of wildlife found at Yellowstone. Two Vans pulling into a pullout, 14 people scrambling in a ballet of coordinated movement, grabbing cameras, spotting scopes, binoculars, fingers pointing, instructions given. It was an incredible sight. Okay, the first day it was not a ballet, but it was by now. We were rewarded all week with wolf, coyote, bison, grizzly, moose,elk, pronghorn,bighorn sheep,badger, weasel, squirrel, marmot,pica,mule deer, black bear, owl, nutcracker, more duck species than I knew existed, more birds than I ever imagined, eagle, osprey, falcon,crane, swan, pelican,geese. And I have not come close to naming them all. My observation skills have increased from non-existent to hey I can do this.
The day ended at Mammoth on a hill overlooking the Valley surrounding the Gardner River. Discussing the unbelievable trip we had just taken. Thinking of that spot and looking back at the last eight days a tear comes to my eye. From this breath taking spot of peace and beauty thinking back on the time now behind us and thinking of the changes it has pressed upon my life a tear of joy, a bittersweet feeling wanting more and gratitude for what I was given overwhelm my tear ducts. Tomorrow, one last look at Lamar Valley(my vision of Eden) and then to the airport.

Yellowstone day 7

Yellowstone day 7

Please go to day 1 first. Breakfast at Yellowstone Lake and then Pelican Creek and the Yellowstone River. What a glorious day by 10 it is 56 degrees, low humidity, beautiful blue sky. A short hike through the woods to a shore line to look for and identify animal tracks. Water fowl, birds, coyote and grizzly tracks are IDed. A cast of the grizzly and coyote are made, check out the size of the grizz. The right in front of us an Osprey for ten to fifteen minutes does his food hunting thing, finally hovering just above us, he heads to the water, slaps the top and comes up with a fish, Awesome!
While waiting on the Osprey, we observe Blue Heron, and a cormarant among multitude of others. You will have to ask Scott.
Then went to the Geothermal features at West Thumb. It was closed for a Grizzly to finish consuming the Elk it had killed earlier in the day. No, we could not see.
So we moved on to Artemethia, the Old Faithful complex, and a late hike up a steep hill to get an overview of the Grand Prismatic Spring. If West Thumb was an improvement on these places, I must see West Thumb someday.
We came back to Old Faithful, where we are staying in the cabins. Day ended with a late night walk around Old Faithful and its sisters geyser, with an awesome view of the night sky.

Yellowstone day 6

Yellowstone day 6

Please go to day one first. Another early start, no one would have it any other way. We take a quick look back across the Yellowstone River to the side we hike up a couple of days ago, looking at the Osprey nest from the other side. We drove up to Antelope Creek for a roadside picnic breakfast. I believe that the statement was made that breakfast does not get better than this.
We drove up out of the Yellowstone Caldera to stop above and look across the Caldera. The Yellowstone is an oval Caldera over twenty miles in one direction, and over thirty miles in the other, one of the remaining evidences of a huge, huge volcanic explosion 640,000 years ago.
We then drove to the Yellowstone Falls above the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Upper Falls is pretty cool, the view of the Lower Falls is breath taking, I mean that symbolically and actually(see the pictures. ) The pictures do not come close to transmitting the power and beauty of that location.
We then moved on south in search of the Great Grey Owl. Following a map written on a napkin by Dan Hartman, we move into the woods. Fourteen, not exactly Rangers, teachers move with silents and stealth looking for our elusive predator. Over downed trees, under downed trees, through snow and standing water. Then, suddenly some of us saw this two feet tall package of power and grace swoop down and across our path and out of sight. Now we had to go on. Deeper into the woods we went but no luck. After a long silent searching we turned back for the vans. Karen bringing up the rear, stopped turned back for one last looked and there he was. All of us rushed back silently, maybe not gracefully, to get a view, and it was glorious. We got a look at maybe the rarest bird still in Yellowstone, up close and personal, Sweet!
Supper at the Yellowstone Lodge at Lake Yellowstone, we stayed in the cabins, easily the finest cabins of the trip. Then a walk down to the beauuuutiful Yellowstone Lake, where on a bench I had a short conversation, that ended a chapter in my life, and pointed me toward a new beginning.
You kind of had to have been there.

Yellowstone day 5

Yellowstone day 5

Please go to day one first. 5:45 start to the day watch two Pronghorns fighting next to the road. At Specimen Ridge a lone Black Wolf is spotted. My journal says a incredible power and beauty walking around 250 yards away, a rare sight.
8:45 start our hike up to Trout Lake. A wonderful hike up to the lake only to top a knoll and look down on unbelievable beauty. A crystal clear lake, with a semi-circle of fraser furs on one side and open meadow leading up to snow capped mountain on the other. Awesome mountain stream feeding into and out of the lake. Trout visibly swimming ten feet off the bank. Ducks flying in and landing flawlessly on the glass top lake. Fifteen people sitting in silence, hear the ducks, the Clark's Nutcracker, the rushing pond, smell the fragrance, clear and fresh, feel the sun on your face. One wishes he could sit here everyday. It is easy here to keep things perspective, I want to carry a piece of this time home with me.
Down the mountain take to the vans for a trip out of the park up to Beartooth Mountain. The pictures tell it all, 10 feet high snow, snow everywhere, stream rushing by with four foot snow piled on either bank. Snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights, yes it is June 16th, in the afternoon.
Down the mountain for some time off trail on a hill overlooking the Yellowstone back in the park. They group took some time to practice observation skill, analytical skills, teamwork and journaling at a wonderful spot.
This has been my favorite day, Trout Lake is incredible, Beartooth Pass is out of place to this NC mind on June 15, an unexpected beauty in mid-summer.
Mike picked a spot for our end of day meeting, a spot of peace and beauty to top off a day of inner peace and beauty. One warning in this part of the west be sure and check for cactus before sitting down. A day filled with learning, growth, group work, and wonderment comes to an end.

Yellowstone day 4

yellowstone day 4

Please go to day 1 first. Sunday June 15 another early chilly start. Day starts with wildlife observation in Lamar Valley. Two wolves are spotted near a young buffalo, cliff swallows building nests. The extra ordinary are common place here. I look around at adults with that look of wonderment on their faces generally only seen on children.
Next a hike above Pebble Creek Campground led by Wildlife Photographer Dan Hartman and his daughter Cassie. Dan and his wife Cindy and daughters are renown photographers and Yellowstone experts. He has photos and articles in National Geographic. He is also consulting with the people who did Planet Earth for a Yellowstone feature. Our trek up the woods and meadows above Pebble Creek was awesome, the pictures tell a small part of the picture. Later we move down the valley to Fishermans and observe the Bison herd in our teams. We collected data on the herd using description and pictures provided to us. A lesson in observation skills that helped me.
On a personal note, this is day four and our talking partners, ours teams, our entire group, and our leaders are awesome combination of great people. Separated by age, gender, personality,lifestyle, and NC location, united even cemented by our commonality as professional educators and our love for learning and our growing love for the place. Just a fun group to be around. Last personal note, today is father's day. Normally a day I find difficult. I spent the day feeling Casey and Courtney near by. The place translated an awesome peace to me. I know my new friends without saying a word were caring for me on the difficult day. It was a glorious day, and I only lost it once. Thanks to everyone, God continues to watch over me.

Yellowstone day 3

Yellowstone day 3

Please start with day 1. Saturday, day three started at 5:30, chilly 47 degrees. Nothing like a 4:30 A.M 20 yard walk outside to go the bathroom to wake you up. I am sunburned and my face is chapped, but it does not hurt, really. Does that stuff have lanolin in it? Each day tops an untoppable day. On our way from Roosevelt toward Larmar Valley someone spots a bear. We get out just in time to see a Grizzly chase a Black off a kill and up a tree. Merlin Perkins eat your heart out. Also at Speciman Mountain a Bald Eagle soars within fifty yards. I have no pictures of this, as the team shares photos I will post.
Then to the Yellowstone river picnic area trail. Pictures tell the story here. We stopped for a lesson on wildflowers and some teamwork. The trail, the hike, the view, the lessons, the journaling was all wonderful. On the trial we got an up close experience with Pronghorn sheep, Coyote, Osprey, Buffalo skeleton, Ground Squirrel, Badger, Buffalo to name just some. Lunch at the picnic area, and for desert and Bighorn sheep is just across the road.
Later that day we meet four young persons, either in College or just out, working in the summer in Yellowstone on a coyote watch. Following the animals electronically, or visually and recording the data. What a great summer for a young person. It is a great big world out there young people, do not limit yourself. After supper in Cooke City, wildlife observation in Lamar. I have few of the birds we have seen, and other animals, too many to list.
One thing I forget yesterday, a few of use were able to spot a grizzly find and kill a baby Pronghorn. There were other animal around almost oblivious to the killing. It is just part of the life in the wild. Food web, food chain it is all around us.
As the stress of the school year falls off of me, this place begins to grab a hold of you. Peaceful, powerful, overwhelming, majectic, soothing. It becomes easier to see the real priorities in life. What are great place, what a great group of people, what an awesome leadership. My only regret, my face looks like I have leprosy.

Yellowstone day 2

yellowstone day 2

Please go to day one first. Day two starts at the visitors center, crisp and chilly yet beautifully sunny. We meet Ranger Beth Taylor, a Wilmington native, State graduate(Go Pack) who visited Yellowstone fell in love with it and move out to work. She led us on a hike up a hill across from the visitors center to some wonderful views then off the trail down the sloop to a Native American Wichiup, or type of lodging. She then instructed us on the lives of the Native American in Yellowstone, and some of the geology of Yellowstone. We then had an opportunity to work with our talking partner and then some journaling. Sitting quietly and working perched high on this wonderful spot looking down into the Gardiner Valley, the place inself begins to speak to your soul.
Reluctantly leaving, we walked back to the visitors center, lunched and then to Slough Creek for a talk from the Wolf interpreter Ranger. Standing on a knoll with a wolf den far to our left and another straight ahead we listened to an Wolf expert. During our talk a Golden Eagle soars by. Then some Wolf watching, and one is spotted. {The sighting of Elk, Buffalo, Pranghorn sheep are a daily occurrence, I am sure I will miss mentioning many of the mammals and birds we see, group help me out, send a comment.}
Dinner in Cooke City, a Moose and child sighting,( the fence in the picture is to keep you out of the creek, this is real habitat. On the way back a Black Bear chilling on the hillside. The day ended with wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley. Sunny day a little warmer, high in the low fifties, low below freezing. Getting to know everyone, what a great group. Fatigue and sensory overload, you fall into bed, excitment about tomorrow keeps you awake. Feel free to comment, I will be checking. Later.

Yellowstone day 1

yellowstone day 1

First day, awesome! First of all if you want to see more pictures just click on the picture above, and then on slide show. You can also click on order photo and have them printed(your dime) Second this journal is being written after I have return home( no internet in Yellowstone) from notes taken during the day. I will try to stay in the day it happened and not look ahead but it will be tempting. I stray from that formula this once though. This was a fantastic adventure, a life changing experience. Teachers you need to think about applying to the NC museum of Natural Science. For the proper effect go from day 1 to day 9.
Left Raleigh early on a NC hot and muggy day, five hours later we are in snowy cold Bozeman, Mt. and two hours from Yellowstone. Stopping for a geology lesson even before we reach Yellowstone, this place is remarkable. Huge, beautiful, breath taking awe inspiring and I just got here. We reach Gardiner turn the corner and there is the Roosevelt Arch we are at the park.
Just inside the park in Gardiner Valley, Bighorn sheep, the landscape only increases the wow factor. Getting to know the group, our teammates and talking partners, what a great start.
Arrive at Mammoth, check into our cabins at Fort Yellowstone, boy it is a chilly walk from our cabins to the bathroom and shower. We visited Mammoth Terraces. The Terraces are created by calcium carbonate deposited by the magma heated water flowing down the hill side. Check the pictures to see the name of the calcium carbonate and how it forms. Check out the sheer beauty of Mammoth and everything around. After a long day of travel and getting starting on our adventure, journaling, working on team project, and group meetings, we were ready for sleep, all five hours of it. Eighteen hour day will not be unusual, but once you are here you do not want to waste time sleeping. The high today was in the forties, the low below freezing and overcast, much like a NC February day. What a great start. Scott is my roommate, Amy and Karen are my teammates, and Susan is my talking partner. I am blessed with all three groups. Well tomorrow is a new day.

Itinerary

Thursday June, 12 Fly to Bozeman, Montana. Drive to Yellowstone, evening wildlife observation near Mammoth, Wraith Falls or Tower. Lodging at Mammoth budget cabins.
Friday June, 13 Leave for Lamar, hike Yellowstone River Area trail, meet the NPS wolf interpreter, evening wildlife observation near Lamar.
Saturday, June 14, Mammouth Terraces hike with NPS interpreter, visit Albright Visitors center, afternoon wildlife observations in Lamar Valley, lodging at Roosevelt Rough Rider cabins(sweet)
Sunday, June, 15 Early morning wildlife observations, hike with wildlife photographer, visit one room school house and Hartman gallery, hike trout lake
Monday June, 16 Early morning wildlife observation in Lamar Valley, hike in Beartooth Mts. , evening wildlife observations, lodging in Roosevelt cabins
Tuesday June 17 Hike at Mt. Washburn and discussion of caldera, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Artist Point, Bird study through Hayden Valley, stop at LeHardy Rapids, Mud volcano, Lodging at Yellowstone Frontier cabins
Wednesday June 18 Early hike along Pelican Creek, travel to Old Faithful, geology of Upper Geyser basin with NPS staff
Thursday June 19 Visit Fountain Paint Pots, Visit Madison river ecosystem, Obsidian Cliff
Friday June 20 Depart for Bozeman, Fly to Minnesota, then to Raleigh, arrive late.