Hold that thought!

Remember last week when I told you it was getting warmer? Well, it did for several days reach the 70s here in Grand Teton Park. BUT, it rained and snowed yesterday and throughout the evening. For the next few days the forecast is for the same. I love it but there are folks who live here year round, like some in Flagstaff, who want it to be over.

The wildlife are still, more than ever, making their presence evident. This will not be the case as the spring and summer proceed. As we get more visitors in the park and it gets hotter, the larger animals will have to be seen earlier in the morning and later in the evening. The sightings of grizzlies should become less frequent. I hope so for their safety.

Sad news, but the way of nature, is the predicted split of Grizzly 399 from her third year cubs. She has pushed them on their way to independence and has mated at least twice with a big boar grizzly that seems to have come up the Gros Ventre area. He was seen to run off her big male offspring. Ben Hoyle and I observed one of the adolesent cubs crossing in front of us near Colter Bay. I fear for these cubs lives as they have been raised to forage close to roads. It is a shame that three cubs made it to adolesence (which in and of it self is amazing since the average mortality is 50%) and will possibly be hit by cars.



Solo Grizzly 399 cub moving North toward Colter Bay

There are no movies to review as Jackson, WY theaters have been bringing the usual "beginning of the summer pap" for the masses, or decent films I have already seen in AZ. This weekend may be an exception with the new "Indiana Jones" release. Some early reviews have tended to pan it but you got to take it for what it is, just fun! I'm going to see it!

Finally, a bit Warmer

After a week of snow flurries alternating with days of 50 degree temps the snow cover here in the valley of Jackson Hole is finally receding. In fact, we finally opened the Jenny Lake Visitor Center today, a week late. We spent the week preparing for the opening, beginning with sledding in materials and ending the week with a shoveled path. Today it was 70 degrees.

The Teton Mountains are still snow covered, beautiful, and inaccessible except by snowshoes or skis. It will be late June before one will be able to hike up Cascade Canyon, which is interesting because last year was the first year that I was able to do that in May with my good friends, Cindy and Bob Henry. What a difference a year makes!


Snow along road through Lewis River Canyon

I made my first trip of the season up to Yellowstone Park yesterday. I love that park as well. Even though roads have been cleared the snow there is very deep. My trip took me to the "Old Faithful" area. It is wonderful time to be there because of the lack of crowds. I was hoping to walk the three miles around the Geyser Basin but it was closed due to the presence of two Grizzlies in the area. The Geyser Basin was the only "trail" free of snow but not of ursine.


Old Faithful Inn

Good fortune shown down on me as I was driving into the area a Grizzly came down the road in front of my car. He then dropped down the side of the road by the last bridge before the final descent into the "Old Faithful" area. I was able to get a couple of shots of him. This whole eco-system is "Grizzly happy" this year. I only hope, with so many, that they will not get into trouble with humans, but that is bound to happen.





This is a great place to be this time of year. The wildlife are abundant. And, they all are looking for food after a long hard winter.

Still Snowy but . . .

Howdy Folks,

I've been here a little over a week now and the snow, although receding some do to about three days of warmer temps, is still quite evident. In fact, the amount of the white stuff piled up has kept us from opening Jenny Lake Visitor today. It is now sheduled for opening May 22nd. Regardless of that we have been working diligently on the inside to clean and organize. Colter Bay VC (where I use to work) is going to try to open as scheduled today. However, we did get a little more snow last night.




Sand Hill Cranes at Willow Flats


No matter the weather, it is spring to many species and they are beginning to arrive in Jackson Hole. This is especially true of the bears that "hibernate" here. Many have been out since the middle of April. Because of the snow they are ranging throughout the park and eco-system looking for food. This is the case with our local "signature" Grizzly known as 399. Her third spring "cubs" will be leaving her soon, sometime in May, and she will be ready to mate again.




There have been other Grizzlies sighted coming out in areas further south in the Park, i.e., Death Canyon and the Gros Ventre area. This bodes well for their bounce back from very small numbers bordering on extinction it the lower 48. However, it will make an interesting summer for hikers here. In the past we have been able to tell visitor's that in a lot of areas there was a low probability of the presence of Grizzlies. Now that is not the case. They range throughout.






The sun is coming up and the Alpen Glow on the Teton range is magnificent. What a wonderful place to work. Coming here in early spring and leaving early fall really gives me a taste the seasons here.


P.S. I went to the movies last weekend and saw Iron Man, and was pleasantly surprised by it. My usual cinema fare rarely includes "super hero" flicks, but as a fantasy this one was done well. The presence of Robert Downey Jr. in the lead made the movie. He did a great job. The supporting cast of Gwyneth (sp) Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Terence Howard added to the quality. My only criticism is the use of Paltrow so sparingly. This is an Oscar ward winning actress who's talents should be more usefully employed. Overall, I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Greetings from the Tetons

I made it to Wyoming without mishap. But, I did drive back into winter here. The mountains have the most amount of snow on them that I have ever seen; 8 years as a vistor, and now 10 as a Ranger. They are absolutely beautiful.

Colter Bay Employee Housing

The problem with so much snow is that it will be difficult to open the vistor center by next Friday. At the moment the snow is so deep you cannot get in the front or back doors. It seems an auspicious beginning for my transfer to Jenny Lake.

However, both Saturday and Sunday have been pretty warm, in the 50s, so there may be some hope for a bit of a respite. But, the chance of doing any hiking in the mountains before June is nil. Plus, two of the three campgrounds scheduled to open are inaccessible.

Tomorrow it is back to work until October.