Wildlife Camera

I am, once again, as of 4:30 Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday, October 22, 2011...unemployed. Gotta love the seasonal life. It was a crazy last few days trying to get all my projects done. One huge project I was able to get done was a first draft of a workbook for our Senior or Honorary Ranger program. Now, I'm doing everything except pack (not good since I've got to be out of my house tomorrow and find time to clean, not to mention run 20 miles...) and was inspired by another friend's blog.

Almost a month ago, I got to work and one of our law enforcement rangers was waiting for me. They have a few wildlife cameras stationed around the park and had just purchased a new one. I had the first tour of the day and he told me he'd placed the camera somewhere in the cave (it's dark in there!) to test it out.

I was pretty excited. It was a mission, a challenge...find the camera!! About two seconds after I walked into the first room, I found it. The camera continued to take pictures while my group was in the Gothic Palace and the Chief Ranger sent me a few and I am sharing them with you now.

Leading my group into the cave. I leave all the lights off and then turn them on at the right moment for a more dramatic effect. It's pretty awesome and hearing the oohs and aahs never gets old.
Waiting for all of my group to make their way into the room. "Did everyone see the natural entrance to the cave?"

Right after I've turned on the big lights. On my belt I have two extra flashlights and a radio.Pointing out the difference between the cave wall and the cave decorations. "The most important thing in the formation of the space we're standing in and all the decorations is water."

The process of cave decoration. "When that water, calcite, and carbon dioxide reach the open air, it does something that I'm sure each of you have experienced at least once in your life..."

I'll be in Garrison, UT for the next little while, staying with friends. I don't know what my internet access is going to be like and I still won't have cell service so don't worry if I disappear for a bit.

Fall Colors

I realize this post should have come before the snow post, since the colors came before the snow... Truth be told, I was hoping to get up into the aspen groves for more pictures but work and training schedules got in the way. Not quite as spectacular as last fall at Great Smoky Mountains, but still beautiful to see.
My last time up in the alpine was for the last (not just my last, but the last) bristlecone trail rove and talk of the season. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day. Above and below are views from the trail up to the grove.

I went with a co-worker after work one evening to hear the elk bugling again. We went up Strawberry Creek, same as last time, and it was marvelous. There was this little patch of color surrounded by elegant green. I love the north end of the park; and the south end too for that matter...I just love this beautiful place I feel so incredibly privileged to have worked here this season.Looking down the Strawberry drainage. We saw one elk, a bull, a little closer than I was comfortable with, and we heard quite a few as well. It's a pretty awe inspiring sound. And a bit funny too to think something that big, and powerful, and elegant, and wildness encompassing can make such a high pitched noise.

I've only got a few more weeks out here before I head on to my next adventure. I still don't know what it is but I know it's going to be grand.

Too Short

Remember this? This was taken May 29th, the day before Memorial Day. We got a lot of snow that day.
Summer is my favorite season. I like long, hot summers. This is what I woke-up to this morning.

I watched the flurries while I was at the visitor center desk today. I'm not ready for winter. It's bitter cold outside right now, supposed to drop below freezing tonight. That was the shortest summer I've ever had.

With all this wintery mix weather, we did get a spectacular rainbow yesterday afternoon.

How many more months until it's summer again?