What's happening now!

I've been running around trying to figure out where I should tell people to go, eat,sleep, etc. Man, it's pretty up here. The weather is still a little on the chilly and wet side, but it's not bad enough to keep you from doing things. I've included some pictures from my adventures, but they really can't capture the beauty of this place, at least not with my Kodak QuickPic.

This one is of the Snake River. There are scenic float trips above Jackson going through Grand Teton Park and more white water trips down below Jackson. Haven't done either yet. I had included a picture of the Snake earlier, but thought this one was better.

This is a picture of the most photographed barn in the world. It's what is left of an old Mormon farm out east of Jackson. I don't know if you can pick them out or not, but there are some bison off behind the barn.

I loved this place. I just got off on a dirt road in the Bridger/Teton National Forest and ran across this lake. I was the only one there and it was so quiet and peaceful. All I could hear were a few birds chirping and a loon out across the lake.

It's Wild West Days in Jackson this weekend. Had a big parade this morning, music all day on the square and a beer fest on the square. I should have gone in the tent to see if they had any non-alcoholic beer. I might do that later this afternoon. I'm going back to the square later for the big shoot-out.



There is also a mountain man rendezvous at the fair grounds and some of them got in the parade too.

Well, the library is closing in 15 minutes, so I'll wrap it up. I need to go to the store and buy some bear spray so I can go hiking next week.

Y'all come see me.

First day at work

Thursday, May 27

Yesterday was my first day at work. I felt pretty stupid. I would be standing behind the counter watching the veterans answer questions and people would come in, see me just standing there and ask me questions about what to see, where to go, where to stay, where to eat, where to see elk, .... Guess what my answer usually was -- "I don't know". I had actually driven around the park Tuesday and from listening to answers from some of the old hands, by the end of the day I was able to make some visitors think I knew what I was talking about. It's really interesting meeting so many people from so many different places. It seems that there are as many foreigners as US citizens. That will probably change when schools let out and people start their summer vacations.

Yesterday after work I took a short trip out of Jackson to look at a campground and see if I could see any wildlife. I really wanted to see this campground because as I was leaving work and the visitor's center had already closed, these two guys from Calgary, Canada came up and met me in the parking lot. Since I was in uniform and looked important, they asked me if I could direct them to an isolated campground that was close. Well, I had my little map that I was taking home to study so I pulled it out, we looked at it and I pointed them to a campground that was close. I drove out there later just to see if it was even open. It was and I'm sure they would be completely satisfied. It was isolated and on the Gros Vontre river. There was a big tree in the campground that had an owls nest in it with a couple of little fuzzy owlets. There were a couple of people set up taking pictures of the owlets with telephoto lenses as long as my arm. These Ansel Adams wanna be's make me feel bad when I get out there with my little Kodak QuicPic.

To get to the campground I had to slow down to a crawl as bison were all over the road. A few miles further down the road was a herd of 100 or more elk. I probably saw no more than 5 cars on this short drive. I hate to go back to work tomorrow and tell people what's out that road. It will get congested.

Right now is really a good time to be here because it is not yet crowded. The downside is that the weather can get bad, but in general it has been great. A lot of places, stores, campgrounds, trails and roads are not open yet. Most around Jackson will open this weekend while some of the facilities up north will not open for another couple of weeks.

I took some more pictures, but left them in the car and don't want to shut down, pack up and come back into the library. I will attach them next time.

My new home

Tetons from Jenny Lake

First post from Jackson Hole

Arrived 5/23 about 4:15 after 1550 miles. Monday went to Bridger/Teton National Forest office to get checked in and then went over to Visitor's Center to meet folks over there. The Visitor's Center is staffed with people representing about 7 different agencies: Teton /Yellowstone national parks, Wyoming Parks and Wildlife, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton Association and the Bridger/Teton National Forest. I am officially a volunteer with the National Forest Service.

Monday, 5/24 I ran around town picking up some necessities, getting mail transferred and trying to set up my satellite TV. It was cold and wet, a little snow, sleet and rain. Can't get the satellite to work yet so I have one station I can pick up on an antenna, PBS. Not going to be watching much TV unless I point over a mountain. I've found it's not too bad after a few days without. I would like to hear about the weather.

Tuesday, 5/25 -- what a great day. I got up this morning and it was beautiful out. I got up and walked around town for a couple of hours, stopping to have a coffee and read the local newspaper. I then drove up through Teton Village and then around the southern part of the national park. Kay and I were up here in August of 99 and I don't remember it being as beautiful as it is. Maybe it's that there is more snow on the mountains now. The drive was really neat. Saw deer, elk, bison, moose and nesting owls. The temperature was about 50-55, just perfect for getting out and taking some side walks.

This is really a great time to be here if the weather stays like this. The crowds haven't arrived yet. The town will not be fully open until this weekend.

Just a little local information: Early trappers referred to a valley between two mountain ranges as a "hole", thus Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole is the valley about 40 miles north to south and about 8 miles wide. There are several little towns/settlements in Jackson Hole, Jackson being the largest with a population of about 8,000. Other towns/settlements/communities, etc are Hoback Junction, Wilson, Teton Village, Moose and several others. You can be in any of them and still be in Jackson Hole.

I start to work tomorrow and really looking forward to it. I will have at least one day of training and hopefully more as I will work Wednesday and the am off until Sunday. We'll see how it goes.