Good Bye Yellowstone, Hello Flagstaff . . .

In the interp. ranger's office at Mammoth

Hey Folks,

My season in Yellowstone comes to an end on Monday, Labor Day. I am sitting here reflecting on the "good, the bad, and the ugly." Not too much of the latter. The bad (or good, depending on how you view it) was my final revelation that I do not want to deal with these people any longer. Not necessarily the Park Service folks but in saying that there was not as much camaraderie here as I have had in other places. Possibly this is the result of being so close to headquarters and/or, maybe, it is just my personality that most of my co-workers did not get.


However, what I do mean in reference to "these people," are the park visitors. Many are very nice, most do not have a clue as to why they came to Yellowstone. They do not research their trip, have no idea what to expect, or any plan whatsoever. Instead of answering questions about hikes and explaining features of the park they want us to plan their trip for them as if we were travel guides. I knew that I was done with this type of work for sure when I had to "act" tolerant of these visitors, when in fact, I was far from it.

view from my quarters front door

On the good side, it was great to be up here in the greater Yellowstone ecological system. I did not get out into the park as much as I should have but was limited, somewhat, by the fact that my days off did not coincide with anyone who I could have hiked with. One does not hike alone in Grizzly country. I did stay in several of the lodge's cabins on days off. I know it is probably blasphemy to say this but enjoying Bozeman, MT was one of my regular activities on many days off. Next to Flagstaff that is where I would not mind living.



Yet another positive aspect of the job was my boss putting me in an apartment by myself, and it did not hurt that it had a great view. Having a roommate probably would have had me gone before my contracted time had expired. Still, at times I was on the verge of leaving for other reasons.

I guess that the "ugly" was the attack by a Grizzly sow with a cub on my young fellow ranger Dylan while he was off duty hiking in the central part of the park. He and his fellow hiker did everything right to include playing dead and emptying their bear spray canisters on the animals. It probably saved them further injury although Dylan suffered having 15 staples in the back of his head and 19 stitches on his right thigh. He is doing well and back at work. But best of all, has seemingly no psychological trauma. He is out hiking this very weekend again. So much for being 24 years old. On another note, the Grizzly is not being sanctioned because she was protecting her offspring.


Monday after my quarters are inspected I am out of here to the Tetons to spend one last night with friends. It is my friend Laine's 61st birthday so hope I get to see him. I went down on my last days off and had really quality time with many of my friends there. Had drinks with native artist DG House, Laine, and Bob. Got to converse with folks at my old visitor center, Colter Bay, and even got to see Tom and Dola Berg with whom I spent many an evening around a campfire in years past. It was good times!

Bob Hoyle, Me, and Tom Berg, members of the old "Gorilla Club" of  Colter Bay

This may be my last time up this way for awhile, if ever. All-in-all it was a good experience in most respects. I will miss the area and my friends, not so much the job. Being a ranger "ain't" what it use to be!


As for movies, I've seen quite a few this summer some of which I mentioned in my July blog so will just let you know what I think was good. Two very good films that were my most recently viewed were The Butler with Forrest Whitaker, and The World's End. Each was excellent in its own way. World's End is humorous coming from those who brought you Shaun of the Dead (which I did not care for) and is not what it seems. It is really about the homogenization of the modern world. It has many different levels on which to enjoy it. Elysium with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster was quite good as well. There were a few others but none worth mentioning from my point of view.

Adios from Yellowstone National Park!

Will write next from home in Flagstaff.