July 19, 1999

MORE DAYS OFF

On Monday, which is our Friday, we worked until 4:00 pm. Gina decided to treat me to dinner at the Lake House followed by ice cream at the store. We walked down the hill from our RV park through the woods to the Lake House. We've gotten to know all the staff, they are an international group from Lithuania, Spain, France, Czech Republic, and Japan, as well as, Louisiana and Tennessee. After our ice cream at the store, we began the hike back just as night fell. Walking along the road in the dark, we began to realize we were walking in the same area that the grizzly had been seen. Of course, we had no flashlight or bear spray. And sure enough, as we sat around the campfire in the RV park, the rangers came by to report that a grizzly was in the area. We were as stupid as the people we read about, who do everything wrong and are mauled by a bear.

On Tuesday, our Saturday, we had breakfast at the Lake House before setting off on a marathon drive of the Grand Loop. The Grand Loop road forms a figure eight through the park, going to most of the interesting sights and each village. (A village consists of a campground, hotel, store, restaurant, and service station.) We stopped to see each geyser basin that we had not previously seen and to look at the other campgrounds--so we know that ours is the best. We had lunch at a wonderful old inn, Roosevelt Lodge, built in 1903 and named for Teddy Roosevelt when he stayed there. It's very rustic. The restaurant has a long porch with rocking chairs lined up. The rooms are separate cabins with pot-bellied wood stoves for heat. We came across a small heard of mountain goats. One stood in the road blocking traffic. Of course, we always see elk and buffalo. After hours and hours, we were glad to get home just as it was getting dark. The campfire was going when we arrive home, so we joined the others around the fire.

On Wednesday, our Sunday, Gina elected to stay home, but I was off with two neighbor couples to hike Avalanche Peak in the eastern part of the park. The hiking book calls Avalanche a steep, strenuous hike. We left the trailhead to hike in dense woods, up steep slopes alongside a fast running stream. Yes it was strenuous and steep, but pretty. Finally, we broke out of the trees above the tree line to beautiful bald mountains and ridges. Snowfields were left from the winter, but most of the terrain was just rocks. After a half-hour snack break, we climbed to the top of the ridge and were on top of the world. From our vantage point, we could see all of Lake Yellowstone, the national forest to the east and the Grand Titons to the south. All the mountains had a mosaic of snow, woods, and bald slopes.

A thunderstorm with lightning was approaching from the south. Thunder reverberated off the mountain in a wonderful symphony of nature. Knowing the dangers of lightning in high terrain, we headed down a snow field, to the tree line for a lunch break and the long hike along the stream to the trailhead. My aching muscles were glad for the car ride home and a long rest.

WHERE WE LIVE. Speaking of home, we live in a unique place within the park. Our RV park looks like a swath of trees (lodge pole pines, one of the ugliest of trees) was cut down and a road put through the middle. The road, which is not quite dirt and not quite asphalt, is lined with both expensive RV's and rundown travel trailers. A pile of long logs at the entrance helps the place take on the look of a logging camp. It reminds me of an industrial marina filled with both derelict and expensive boats. When we drive into park, Gina sometimes sarcastically says, "We've really made it."