I just called into Xanterra and found out I will be working as a Room Attendant while in YNP.
First, Ill be at Mammoth (same as before) for 2 weeks til Oct 10, then I'll be moving south, to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge until Oct 27th. I'm looking forward to the different locations, so I can spend more time exploring different areas of the park.
As you know, I spend most of my time in the Lamar Valley wolf watching. There are packs all over the park, they just seem to be easier to view up there.
Im excited to see the Lamar Canyon 2011 pups that I saw '06 carrying in the Spring, The newly formed "642 pack" which broke off from the Blacktails to form their own pack when more than the Alpha Female 693F was bred this past spring, Hope to spot those elusive Blacktails (some of my favs) See the Agates again (hopefully not in a confrontation with the Lamar's) and possibly even see my "4 black wolves" that I saw on Easter.
when I move down to the Snow Lodge, I'll be down more into the center of the park. this will give me closer access to Grand Tetons, Hayden Valley, where the Canyon Pack is (and I really want to see that beautiful , almost white, Alpha Female and her 2011 pups). I saw this pack only once in Mammoth, AND DIDN'T SEE HER!. I'm also hoping to spot the Supersized Mollie pack (the bison hunters) and maybe even some of the not so well known packs in the rest of the park.
I'm really looking forward to seeing more geysers this time, since the whole south part of the park was closed when I was there in the spring. So, look for more Hot springs and Geyser shots if I can capture them and do them justice.
Don't worry, I won't be hiking alone, or at least, if I do, it would be on a paved geyser trail that is well traveled and out in the open. I WiLL have a large can of bear spray in my hand, ready to use!!!! My eyes and ears will be wide open, and my head will be on a gimble.

Any "camping" I do will be in my hard shelled van.

I hope for better computer access to post more of my adventures. This will be a shorter trip, but should be of a totally different variety. Also, I'm hoping to catch the Elk Rut. Supposed to be quite the show!!!
til then,

3 Dog Day!

sorry, no pictures worth posting today........ I rolled out of bed early and was on the road by 6:15am to head out to the Lamar Valley for my full Saturday of Wildlife viewing. My first BIG surprise was when a FOX ran out in front of me!!! I have not yet seen a fox and that little guy was on the top of my list. when I first spotted it in front of me, I thought "mongoose" (???) and then "cat". I didn't expect the little buggar to be so small!!!! It looked like one of my cats! anyway, it happened all so fast, and it was dark, so I'm sorry, no pics. He ran across the road and then stopped up on the shoulder in the snow to stop and look back at me. Cute! Thi was just about 1/5 miles from Lava creek picnic area, Mammoth side. Off I went, to the Lamar Valley to find the folks from the Yellowstone Wolf Project. I had read reports of a day full of action the day before, so I was hoping to find the same. Initially, when I came upon them, then were stopped in the road, just past the Buffalo Institute. They said that the wolves were trying to cross the road. then when we were able to get through, I spotted 4 wolves running along the hillside chasing a coyote. at First Enclosure. they don't like coyotes. Ok, here's where I get to explain the title: 3 DOG DAY #1 Fox, #2 Wolf, #3 Coyote. That's a trifecta in Yellowstone wildlife hunters terminology. I finally hit it!!!!!!!!! anyway, the wolves toyed around with an Elk and then tired of that, since they didn't have their chief hunter, the alpha female with them. (Lamar pack, 06F) all but one of the pack was present, but Mom must have been out doing other business. I left them and headed back down the valley to see if any of the other packs were around. I was cold anyway and needed to run the heater in the van. I pulled in with some folks I knew and we scanned around trying to find the Blacktail Pack. they were no where to be seen. So we then headed back into the valley, where the Agate pack had been detected at Little America. We were able to pick up 6 (of 7) of them at one point. They were just lounging around. However.......they did do some howling/singing, which was incredible!!!!!! I could see them thru my scope, and all of them were just howling in true form. Oh, they were all bedded down, not in your typical wolf pose for howling. They were calling out to one of the yearling pups that had wandered off, because he was calling to them. He shortly came over the hill to join them. I went back toward the Lamar pack, but they had disappeared. they had been successful while I had been gone, but then were behind a hill and there was nothing to see. So, I headed back toward Mammoth Hot Springs and decided to go to the boiling river. What a great day! Now,I have seen 2 of the 3 animals that I've been seeking, not having seen before. OTTERS, FOX..... still MIA = Ermine...........Oh, and I've yet to see moose in YNP....just down in the Tetons. I am done with my training, and they are going to turn me loose to make peoples hotel reservations on Monday!!! Oh My!!!

I've been hired!!!!! Yippee Skippy!!!

It's finally time to let the cat out of the bag. Lindsay decided to move up her wedding date to August 27th, 2011. So, I knew when I was offered a position, it was going to hinge on my availability for the summer. I wanted to be back a month before the wedding, so I was looking at the end of July as my exit date.
I was offered 2 different positions, from 2 different companies.
First, Xanterra http://www.yellowstonejobs.com/offered me Reservations Sales Agent, stationed in Mammoth Hot Springs. I found out that if I stayed in the dorm, I could start sooner, than if I was planning on staying in an RV. I said I wanted to come right away!!!! The job contract that we set was from March 15th - June 15th, for 90 days.
I could stay on until my planned date of leaving, fulfill my contract and receive the $3 a day bonus upon completion. (if you don't fufill your contract, you are not eligible for re-hire - ever.....) This job is all phone work. I would be taking phone reservations for the hotels. Eventually it would work into Campground reservations and hopefully, booking activities.
If there's work available past that date, then I will stay longer.
The next job I was offered was with Yellowstone General Stores. http://www.visityellowstonepark.com/employment.aspx First off, they were going to put me at Roosevelt (yes!!) as a retail associate. However, the contract period didn't fit in with my time frame. I couldn't start there until the end of May (oh my-May?). Then, they offered me Set-up Crew, which is just a 6 week position, beginning April 18th (a month later than the other job). This job sounded super! I would live in West Yellowstone in an apartment, be on my own for food, drive all over the park daily to areas that aren't open to the public yet, and set up all the General Stores. Canyon, Old Faithful, Grant Village, Lake, Roosevelt, Norris (?) I loved the idea of being able to be out and about, hopefully spotting some wildlife while on my way to and from.
That job would end June 3rd. Just 6 weeks. If there was another position available, I could move into that, but of course, no promises were made. They need to know who's coming when, and leaving when. Of course, I get that.

I really struggled over which position to take. I liked getting there earlier, and being in Mammoth for 3 mos, being able to observe Winter in Yellowstone, and stay through June 15.
However, the Set-up crew job is more my style, a lot of moving around, doing different things, and doing retail display, which I am good at.

I decided on the Mammoth Job with Xanterra. I can be there by March 15th, snowshoe, (freeze my butt off) cross-country ski (?) (more cold), take photos (and freeze) Hear the wolves howl & watch their pairing off - hopefully, (watch my breath freeze) and be in the park before the crowds arrive. I hope I get to see some of the first bears as they emerge from hibernation.

I'm so excited!!!!!

Looking at the long term.....here's my plan. I will work in Yellowstone for 3 months. At the end of my contract, hopefully, they will need me in another position or the same one. I will take whatever they have, unless I am too homesick and ready for my own bed again. Otherwise, my plan is to return to Oregon by the end of July, so I have a month to help Lindsay with the last of the wedding preparations.

Then, if there's anything available, I would head back to Yellowstone for the fall, after the wedding. Either way, I will be in Yellowstone the last part of September/early October, on my way to Montana for my yearly trip there. I will be applying for some other things around the park. Maybe I will get some inside scoop on what it takes to get one of those NPS jobs!!!
I'd really like to spend every season there, but it doesn't have to be all in one long run!!

So, along with my crazy desire to spend some extended time in Yellowstone, and work in the process, my One and Only daughter is getting married at the same time. Life Happens!!!!!!
Enjoy the ride!