Happy 4th of July

Jackson Lake/Mt Moran

Happy 4th of July!  Hope everyone is doing OK.  We're fine.  Stephanie & Doug came out for a visit and appeared to have a good time.  They and Donna got some kayaking time in plus Stephanie & Doug made it into Cascade Canyon.  We also made it for pizza & breadsticks at Leeks Marina.

It's been 5 to 7 degrees warmer than normal here in Jackson but nothing like other parts of the country have (and are) experiencing.  The "Wyoming Wind" helps keep us a little cooler.  For the most part, Donna and I talk fish though Donna got to do some serious house interior painting and cleaning as the hatchery staff prepared the government house for the new supervisor arriving today.  

The Jackson area continues to be overfilled with people.  Rental cars remain in short supply and the going rate remains a $1,000/day.  RVs are everywhere.  When giving tours, it's not uncommon to talk with families who are  "winging it" in a RV and spending each night in local or city parks or at pull-offs/rest areas where overnight parking is allowed.  There's no shortage of private/business jets flying in or out of Jackson Hole.  Lines at downtown Jackson restaurants remain long.  Parking has always been a problem in downtown Jackson.  Now it's almost a fantasy.  Best practice remains just as it has in previous years we've been here:  go early, plan to walk.

That's gets you up to date.  Everyone enjoy the holiday.  Be back on the blog in a couple of weeks.  thanks for dropping by!  David

The trio make it onto Jackson Lake

 

Mid-June Update

Phelps Lake, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP)

Just a quick update to let everyone know we're doing well.  Hatchery stays busy.  Jackson and the nat'l parks are crowded.  Most nat'l park restaurants are take-out, only.  Most stores post signs indicating that if you're not fully COVID-19 vaccinated, you should wear a mask.  Most people don't.

Weather has been hot.  Today we're back in the mid 80s, but that's still a little warmer than usual.   The Wyoming wind is still here.

Foxes are back at the hatchery.  Coyotes seem to rule the Elk Refuge.  Ground squirrels are out.  Magpies (a bird) seem to rule the hatchery air space.  Last time we volunteered, the air space was ruled by cliff swallows and a few ravens.  The butte (East Gro Ventre Butte) across the highway had at least one osprey nest.  Now the cliff swallows fly by at the hatchery, but aren't building their nests like they use to on hatchery buildings.  We haven't noticed osprey activity at the butte.  We have witnessed one air battle between an osprey & an eagle.  The battle seemed to move south from the Tetons toward Jackson.  Aerial combat was pretty intense as it moved over the hatchery and Flat Creek.  We think the osprey won that day's battle.  We'll have to wait and see how the war turns out.

The hatchery gets a new supervisor next month, so everyone is waiting to see how that turns out.  Doug & Stephanie are due here tomorrow for a week, so we're cleaning and looking forward to their arrival.  That gets you pretty much up to date.  Pictures are from around the area and Phelps Lake, GTNP.  

Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us.  Until next week, David

Phelps Lake outflow

Phelps Lake, GTNP

Sheeps Mountain (Sleeping Indian), Jackson Natl Fish Hatchery

Ponds on the southside of Jackson where Swans hang out

Trumpeter Swans, Jackson, WY