Headed East

Laramie Greenbelt, Laramie River, Laramie (of course), WY

 We left the hatchery Friday and currently spending the weekend in Laramie, WY.  As I write this, a cold front is making it's way past Laramie.  It's about 50, overcast, windy (normal), and wet.  Rain stopped a few minutes ago, though I can see rain showers on the radar still to come from the west.

We're fine.  On Friday we'd stopped for the night in Rock Springs, WY where we experienced my first wind storm.  Cloudy, no rain, just high wind gusts that picked the dust & small gravel and "sand" blasted everything in the campground for a couple of minutes.  It came up so quickly that we couldn't get the satellite antenna down quick enough to beat the wind.  Then we worried if we tried to stow the antenna, we would put it in a weaker position and do more damage.  Decided to just ride it out with the antenna up, then stowed it as the wind calmed down to more normal gusts.  We waited until the wind front had passed and then raised the satellite antenna back up.  So far, so good.  Trailer seems to be no worse for wear from the "sand" blast.  Passenger side windows on the truck now have numerous chips in them, but all else seems OK.  Our little step stool that we leave outside only moved about 10 feet.  We somehow ended up with someone's lid to a large plastic storage bin.  Whoever owned it was may more organized than we are.  The packing list of what was inside the storage bin was still perfectly tapped to the lid.  No one ever came and picked it up.  We left it on the picnic table with the lid propped up hoping that whoever owned it would see it.

The Laramie KOA has added about 40 improved (they describe it as "deluxe") sites on what used to be an old rundown mobile home block just to the east of the campground office.  Sure makes the campground more attractive.  Just wonder how all that gravel is going to move around when Laramie experiences those super wind gusts.

We'd planned to head over to the Snowy Range this morning, but the weather has put a dampener on that plan.  Current plan is to head further east tomorrow (Tuesday) and spend next weekend near Des Moines, IA.  Head on into Elkhart the following week.  

Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us.  Probably post more next weekend.  David

   

Happy Labor Day!

Lewis River Canyon, Yellowstone NP

 Well, it's still August and Labor Day is a week away, so Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone in the southeast is doing OK by Hurricane IDA.  It looks bad as seen from the northwest. We're all OK here.  Our time here at the hatchery is winding down.  We have about seven work days left.  Still planning on how we'll travel east and what date to depart Jackson.  What we do know is our first appointment in Elkhart is September 23rd.  Be in that area about a week.

We had a great visit by Terry & Forrest this past week.  They had a terrible time with flight cancelations and delays.  Their luggage got here before they did!  We think they enjoyed themselves, though we probably fed them food they weren't use to eating.  They got in a couple of trips to Yellowstone National Park and a couple of museums in Jackson.  Unfortunately, the smoke didn't clear until their last day here.  This weekend, so far, has had great visibility - always after company leaves! 

That catches you up with us.  I've got my list of things to accomplish to get the trailer ready for travel.  Mostly it's just one last cleaning before we hit the road.  Anyway, thanks for dropping by.  We'll post again once we on our way east.  David

Brink of the Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone River above the Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Lower Falls as seen from Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Mid-August Update

Grand Teton National Park

We're fine and still hot & smokey.  We were able to get out and get a hike in with decent visibility this past Thursday.  Looks like the heat wave is about to break this Wednesday as a cold front (with moisture) makes it's way across the area this coming Wednesday-Thursday.  Highs are currently predicted to be in the high 60s mid-week, mid-70s for the weekend and return to the normal low 80s the following week.  Lows only get to the low 40s, so we're not turning cold just yet, but it's coming.

It appears that the traffic has died down a little in Jackson.  We're not seeing the long lines south as you enter the city of Jackson.  My favorite spot to park near the town square (where you see all the elk horn arches & stage coach rides) has been open the last couple of times we've gone into that part of town.  Popular spots in the Grand Tetons are still packed, though.  Campgrounds still full.  String Lake picnic area is still packed by mid-morning.  Jackson Lake is down significantly and while you do see boats on Jackson Lake, none were "parked" at Colter Bay.  There were still some boats in the water at Signal Mountain Lodge & Marina.

We're beginning our last four weeks of volunteering at the hatchery for this year.   Plans are to wrap up and leave September 13th though the hatchery hasn't given us a confirmed departure date.  We're planning a relatively quick trip bouncing along I-80 to Indiana for trailer & truck repairs/service before moving further east to Virginia.  Since the government isn't shutting down RV parks, it appears we'll have our typical (or routine) trip east and down to the Gulf Coast as in years past.  Maybe we can do this trip without the devastating hydraulic failures that have plagued us for the past few years.

Well, that gets you up to date with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us, David

Grand Teton National Park

Dog Days of Summer

Cascade Canyon, Jenny Lake GTNP

I once heard the Dog Days of Summer were defined as July 3rd through August 11th of each year.  Everyone one out in this part of the country is kinda getting tired of 'em.  However, some of the area - especially the Jackson Hole area - is getting a little break as we're finally getting some of the Southwest's monsoonal rains this weekend and into next week.  We've still got smoke from the west, though.

We're fine.  Mask mandates for all are back in place at the federal buildings beginning this past Thursday. Teton County has recommended masks mandate while indoors for all businesses and for employees.  We'll see how it affects dining in.  I guess too many of us vaccinated people were giving unvaccinated people Covid.

In other news, diesel has gone from $3.289/gal to $3.989/gal - a 21% increase.  Regular gas is $3.949/gal.

We also met Randy & Shirley in Idaho Falls this past week for lunch and a visit to a cookie store.  They're volunteering at a national recreation area near Stanley, ID.  This was our first visit to Idaho Falls.  It's a pretty drive from here to Idaho Falls (and back) as you go along the Snake River. We're going to have to go back and stop at the rest area near Idaho Falls and take some pictures.

So that gets everyone up to date.  I've put some pictures of today's walk along String and Jenny Lakes.  We started out fogged in, but it lifted and gave us a great view of the Tetons.  I hope you enjoy them.  Everyone be safe out there.  David

 

Mid-month Update

Grand Teton Natl Park

A quick update just to let everyone know we're fine.  We're pretty much into a routine as we've reached our halfway point of this year's volunteer stint.  The pictures here are the last of the "pretty" pics as the wildfire smoke from the west has arrived.  There are days when we can't make out Sleeping Indian Mountain (Sheep's Mountain) across from the hatchery due to the thickness of the smoke and the bouncing (refracting?) of sunlight within the smoke.  Just not a pretty area any more.

Seems like everyone is having a weird year when we watch the national weather.  I noticed that Voyageurs Natl Park was getting into the 90s.  That's stifling hot for that part of the country, and their park rangers are probably dying in the wool uniforms they wear.  For the Jackson Hole area where we're at this summer, it's gotten hotter faster which sucked the moisture out of the soil which requires more irrigation water in Idaho which is resulting in lower (and lowering) lakes along the snake river.  

When we first arrived here for the summer of 2018, I laughed at the thought that Jackson Lake (now located in Grand Teton Natl Park) had it's dam installed (before becoming a national park) by justifying it as a source of irrigation water for the state of Idaho.  If I heard a local Idaho Falls news reporter correctly last week (and this is a big "if"), it's expected that Jackson Lake would be as low at 15% of full capacity by fall.  (The lake was 95% of capacity when Doug and Stephanie were here.)  Going to have to get a picture of Jackson Lake if it gets that low! 

Well, that gets you up to date with us.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Thanks for dropping by.  David

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton NP

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton NP

 

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