Not much going on, but the crowds . . .

Hey all,

Your eye on the Tetons has nothing much to report this week. It has been a rather mundane week, or two, here. The temps have risen considerably to the high 80s in the park and 90+ in the town of Jackson. I hate hot weather. I could live quite comfortably with something between 50-60 degrees. The only plus in all this is that it cools down at night.

I didn't do much with my days off this week, but did get in a 7+ mile hike out to Bearpaw Lake. It is one of the easiest hikes in the park, beautiful but mostly flat. Haven't really attempted any major ones into the mountains. This has not been my summer for major treks. Probably should try a couple since I have decided this is my last season here. But, I have lost my motivation for it. Haven't even seen any bears lately. They are around, and folks are seeing them, but I am in our offices at Jenny Lake Visitor Center most of the time.

It is difficult to believe that it is almost August. The parks visitation has geometrically increased. We have no room for all these folks. What about the gas price crisis? It does not seem that these Americans are staying close to home. At any rate here and in Yellowstone it is like Disneyland. Oh for September when things calm down a bit.

No movies to report this week. The offerings are slim in quality again, "Mama Mia," "The X Files," and "Stepbrothers," all pretty innane stuff. I use to go to a movie just to go, but now I have a problem with supporting that kind of crap, even to review it. Some of you "musicals" fans may like "Mama," but since they are not my general fare, I decided to miss it!

Cheers you all!

Ranger Evan with great Niece & nephew

It is July 20th already. Where has the time gone? My season in the Tetons is over half completed, 10 more weeks and it is back to Flagstaff. After 10 years here as a ranger I have decided to "hang it up." I am far from tired of the place but need to do something else, more specifically, I think I'd like to be able to travel some again in the summers before age catches up with me. In additon, I'd like to vist my daughter and grandsons in the summer time, go to the beach with them, maybe a ball game. Time goes by so fast and you miss the time with family and those grandsons are growing up fast.

The weather here has maintained a normal summer temp in the low to mid 80s. The number of visitors to the park have steadily increased as per usual for this time of year. This inspite of higher gas prices. The parking lot at Jenny Lake is perpetually full by 9am. There are many complaints about that; it is like "Disneyland!

However, I do have a different perspective on park visitation now that I have worked at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center after 9 years at Colter Bay. Even though much smaller than the other two VCs, we get the bulk of the visitors. I think that for time spent in the park visitors spend more time in our area. By the same token, Colter Bay is a very busy area as well. In both cases there are campgrounds, stores, camp talk amphitheaters, and hiking trails associated in each area. The big, new "Discovery Center" at Moose, near headquarters, while having great displays, is just a stopping off point. There is no reason for vistors to "hang out" there for very long. Perhaps it might have been more beneficial to have built new VCs where the people hang-out, but what do I know, I am only a seasonal ranger.

Movie review: I saw the new Batman flick (The Dark Knight) the other day and it was excellent. Again, I say I am not a fan of "Super Hero" movies but this one along with "Iron Man" were the quality of the summer in that genre, although Batman is better. The late Heath Ledger steals the movie as "The Joker." In the past these movies have played as "tongue in cheek" fantasies, but this is a darker view, with some undertones dealing with real issues. It is a continuation of "Batman Begins" by the same director/screen writer. Although I liked Michael Keaton as Batman ( and not others since who have played that role including George Clooney, who I like a lot in other roles) Christian Bale is far and above the best in this character. The cast is phenomenal. I recommend this film.

Good Morning from beautiful Grand Teton National Park,

It has been a busy week for me what with working and having family visitors. My niece Kimberly, her husband Dennis, great niece and nephew Melissa and Kyle were here part of the week and in Yellowstone for the balance of their time. I took my fifth trip up to the oldest national park on my days off to hike and hang out with them. We had a great time and those kids are "pistols," and very sharp in their observational skills. it made me wish my own daughter's and their families could have made it up here while I was a ranger.

This morning they will get up and head back to Littleton, CO. It makes me think about how in the coming years it may be more and more difficult for families to hit the road on driving vacations. My Subaru gets between 32 and 36 mpg while here in WY. But even at that it costs me over $50 to fill it with gas. Families who have larger vehicles to carry all that a family of four needs will not be able to afford it the way gas prices are going up. Sadly, it may put an end to these educational and bonding trips for all but the "well heeled," and as we know the upper end of our class structure does not travel by automobile. The far away national parks may become, as they started out, destinations for the wealthy.

Movie review for this week:

I was able to get to a really good "Indie" film this week, The Visitor. This is the second excellent film of the summer for me. It is a very low key character drama with a great leading performance by an actor we have only seen in character roles before. You will recognize him as one of those actors that you say, oh, I've seen him before, but do not know his name. The film is about an economics professor who is sliding through life after his wife has died a few years earlier. He is gentlely forced by his department chair to present a paper in New York City at a conference. It just so happens that he owns an apartment there that he rarely visits. When he arrives there is an illegal immigrant Muslim couple in residence. They have been duped into believing they had sublet it. The professor allows them to live with him while looking for another place. He grows close to them and then something happens involving their immigration status.

It is a very poignant and wonderfully acted film. The immigration issue in this country and our way of dealing with these folks since 9/11 comes out very personally here. It would be a travesty if it does not get some award nominations. But, it is a small film so may get overlooked.

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July to all!

I spent the day up in Yellowstone again with my friend Cindy Henry. We did not encounter much wildlife except an errant Bison. The day was filled with Geysers in the "Old Faithful "area. We saw "Grand, Daisy and Old Faithful" Geysers go off. I heard a child in the crowd say they are like fireworks. How apropos of this day usually celebrated in that way. So, here is one for your independence day pleasure.

Old Faithful

Yellowstone is a spectacular place with lots to see. Of course, this time of year it is packed with people from all over. It is best to visit early in the season as I did a couple of times already, and late is good too, maybe after Labor Day. That is true of Grand Teton park as well.

I have seen a couple of movies in the last week. The first was "Wanted" with Angelina Jolie and James McLvoy. It was a highly entertaining film based on a graphic novel. However, it was very violent so it is not for all. Yesterday I went to see "Hancock," Will Smith's new movie (along with Cheris Theron, another one wasting her talents here). Although I really like him as an actor, don't waste your time with this one. I guess you might call it an anti-superhero movie.

It has been a late spring/early summer of the usual not so good "spectaculars."

Tomorrow starts another ranger week at Jenny Lake. It's back to work for me, but the rest of you have a good holiday