Boiling River

this is where the water comes out of the mountain
close up view of above

where the hot water runs in a channel toward the river

one of the spots where it dumps into the river, and mixes with the cold

you can see where people have dammed up the water to make pools that hold the mixed water

Yes, I said boiling!!!! What a great way to end my "hell week" of training. I went last night and then again this afternoon. After a good soak, you don't have a care in the world. today, it was pretty crowded, since it was a Saturday, but there still was plenty of room.

This is one of 2 places in all of Yellowstone that you can go in the water.

I just love Hot Springs!!!!!

The trial in, is about 1/2 mile long. The walk in is cold, but the walk back, once you are well toasted up from your soak is surreal. Add into that, Bison on the trail and the scent of sage surrounding you, and you truly feel like you are in the heart of the West.

on to today's wildlife adventure.

the journey

view of Yellowstone arch, North Entrance

where do I start? I seem to have already gotten ahead of myself......
I left Oregon on March 7th, bound for my cousin Lesly's in St. Maries Idaho. I had almost great weather the whole way....I made a stop at Cabela's for those last minute cold weather things..... in Post Falls, ID and then down to St. Maries. that's where I hit some snow. and then it snowed just about all the time I was at Lesly's. I found the snow enchanting. Had a couple days there and then went on to Kalispell MT to visit Holly & friends there and see Glacier Nat'l Park. mostly, again, it was cloudy/snowy so I finally made it up there on Friday afternoon. I didn't see much. In fact, I didn't see a Glacier....wasn't that the point of it all????

trumpeter swan, with tag
Saturday morning I was up and gone early, and made my way to Helena, MT to visit my friend Robie. I saw many frozen lakes and 2 trumpeter swans that were tagged.
Robie hosted me at her home and took me to several thrift stores to find a pair of ice skates. She also took me to the St Helena Cathedral. A beautiful church, filled with stained glass windows.

I left there headed for Yellowstone, Sunday Morning, March 13th. got down to I-90 through Bozeman to Livingston, and headed south from there to the park.
the van ran great the whole way. No problems. the old gal (the van not me, but I can hold my own) handled well.

on to Yellowstone

Gotta start somewhere!!!

For those of you who may be reading this, this is the beginning of my blog. Some of you who know me, are aware that I have been bitten by the Yellowstone Love Bug. Yes, I am totally enthralled with Yellowstone.

I have never written a blog, but I've done some pretty extensive emailing when my Mom was alive, sharing our days adventures to each other. I do love to write.

This blog is supposed to be about my adventures in Yellowstone, once I get hired there. I am keeping everything crossed, and prayers in order for that to happen. I have done all I can, by applying to every company within Yellowstone. Zanterra, Delaware North, National Park Service, The Yellowstone Association, Yellowstone Gas Stations. Yes, I'm even willing to pump gas! Heck, I can do it!

Here's where this all started.......I go to a retreat once a year in Montana. I drive there from my home in Albany, Oregon. I usually trek through Santa & Saint Maries, Idaho, where my cousins and Uncle live. My dear Uncle Pete died 2 years ago. So in 2009, I decided to make good use of the gas cost, and visit Yellowstone National Park on one leg of the trip. Yes, of all the places I had been, I hadn't been there. And, I was going to go on to Glacier Nat'l Park as well.

2009 was a big year for fires and bridge work in Yellowstone. I drove up through the Grand Tetons. I was only able to see the Old Faithful area, and exit out through West Yellowstone. Still, it was amazing. I drove all evening, through a snow storm and came down into Mammoth so I could see this Lamar Valley - Serengeti of North America that my buddies George and Dave told me about.
Wow!!! that was amazing. Grizzlies, Wolves, Pronghorn, and the Bison!!! oh my!! That did it. I had to come back in Sept, 2010. After I left Yellowstone, I didn't make it to Glacier, because the snow came early. I still hope to get there.....

After my 2010 trip, I made the decision that I wanted to come back and spend more time in Yellowstone. I heard about the Elk Rut, the Bison Rut, the Big Horn Sheep rut....the new bear cubs in Spring, the little Red Bison Calfs....... I decided the only way this was going to be possible was for me to find work and housing within the park. Oh darn......I just remembered my daughter had just gotten engaged and we were going to be planning a wedding next summer........
****So as not to repeat myself, I posted a Trip report about my 2010 trip on Yellowstone.net. ***
Her plans changed, so I started reading all I could find online about Yellowstone. I found the links for the Webcams, Yellowstone National Park WebCams by John William Uhler, I read trip reports and then I found some excellent blogger ladies.....thanks to Secret Yellowstone
I found Judy yellowstonedreaming - a rather quirky look at life as a Yellowstone Employee, then Beth Beth's Excellent Adventures - Life in Yellowstone , A completely different perspective, and currently I'm reading Robyn's Robyn In Yellowstone , and she is just having a ball. These are all gals who live(d) and work(d) in Yellowstone.

I spend my free time reading YNet Forums • Index page & Yellowstone National Park Chat Page these people write trip reports and post the most amazing pictures. Some of them are professional photogs, but there is a load of information on there about all things Yellowstone.

So that about brings you up to where I'm at in this journey. Now I wait. I'm waiting for all the job offers to come in, telling me I've been hired right away. I would even leave here and spend Christmas there!!!! Just call me!!!! ****I'm having trouble editing this post. I went back and tried to put stuff in a better order, and it got all screwed up. so, forgive me if some of it seems all jumbled together...... I'll keep you posted on all the job offers that come through. I'll sure there will be plenty.......(keeping fingers crossed!) Thanks for going along on this journey with me. I hope I can keep it entertaining.......