greentangle

Southbound

2012-01-27T15:45:00.005-07:00

I'm packed and ready to leave early tomorrow for a few days at Old Faithful.According to the latest NPS daily report, the snow depth here at Mammoth is 6 inches. At Old Faithful? 34. Am I excited? You know the answer. Photos in a week or so.

Howl

2012-01-23T21:33:00.004-07:00

I had one of my best Yellowstone moments Sunday night, and I was in my room at the time. While reading, I heard the wolves again and opened my window to hear more clearly. A few of them were singing off to my left when suddenly to my right I heard one answer, so loudly and so clearly that he seemed to be right beside the dorm. I watched a long time expecting to see him but never did. Today a

Dreaming in Place

2012-01-16T13:18:00.005-07:00

There hasn't been much going on lately. I tweaked a knee overdoing it in the gym and have been taking it easy for a week or so. I got my insurance card in the mail and celebrated by scheduling a physical for this morning. Ironically, I got sick with a bad cold and rescheduled for next week.Planning a winter hike is complicated.Good thing I don't have a roommate so I can use the extra bed.As in

Sierra Nevada Wolf

2012-01-08T18:23:00.003-07:00

OK, I'm messing with you. This really isn't about the wolf who recently emigrated to California. But I believe he may be trying to get to Chico, only two counties away from his present location, to get himself a Pale Ale.I can't buy this fine brew here in Mammoth, and you wouldn't believe how much it costs to have it shipped (yes, I checked). A friend went to Bozeman yesterday and picked this up

The Year So Far

2012-01-06T20:34:00.009-07:00

The wolves were howling again a few mornings ago, and this morning I heard owls for the first time since I've been back. This evening I feel a little bit like their sounds, mysterious and longing, haunted, calling out to the night and waiting for a mate's reply. A few elk were back by the hotel today, the first I've seen since the stormy weather of a week ago.The paycheck I received a couple days

Oly Returns

2012-01-06T08:14:00.004-07:00

Buried and lost in an avalanche which killed one of his humans just outside Yellowstone, four days later a dog made his way back to the motel where the family had been staying.Here's the story..

Winding Up

2011-12-30T20:41:00.008-07:00

A few last scenes from a week ago to wind up 2011.A few days ago I was planning to spend this day off snowshoeing because a good amount of snow was in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. That worked out for most of the park, but here in Mammoth we were too warm and got snow and rain mixes which made walking treacherous.Today was the wettest day I've seen here. It's been raining all day,

Best of Greentangle 2011

2011-12-29T17:14:00.003-07:00

It's a short list of mostly photos. Early in the year I planned to write many posts about various Yellowstone issues but almost immediately lost interest in rewriting what other people have already written.I'm not doing much writing these days, or spending much time following news of nature and animal stories. There haven't been many blog relevant books offered for review by Amazon this year

And to all a good night

2011-12-23T21:30:00.006-07:00

Tonight I attended the second of three nights of ranger presentations in the hotel. Last night was a bit of park history and tonight's was a look at winter and how various animals survive. Tomorrow night's talk will be about the days when the army was running the park and what winter was like for them. I'm not sure if these will be the only three topics for the winter or if there are more

Finally!

2011-12-21T18:23:00.003-07:00

Last night and this morning, we had our first significant snow since I've been back. Just a few inches, but I was glad to see it. We've been canceling and modifying some of the tourist activities because there isn't enough snow in the park. That was probably inevitable once I bought snowshoes, but I'm still looking forward to the one free ski rental and lesson we get as employees--that should be

Winter Hoodoos and Flats

2011-12-16T19:57:00.008-07:00

Here's a highway walk from Mammoth I've always wanted to do but haven't been able to because of the summer traffic. Barricades are wonderful things. And while I'm wishing for more snow so I can snowshoe and take some skiing lessons, the lack of snow made this an easy hike.I started by climbing the stairs up the terraces to cut a couple miles off the trip, then walked the section in the previous

Loneliness vs. Solitude

2011-12-13T19:19:00.004-07:00

It's been an interesting couple weeks here starting with very few people and gradually increasing. Even I, as someone usually quite content to be alone with books and computer and nature, sometimes felt the urge for someone to talk with, probably primarily because I haven't had the chance to learn for certain what resolution is coming with a woman who greatly interests me.The full staff will be

Today's Tracks

2011-12-10T16:56:00.005-07:00

The interstate trail.I'll hibernate when I'm damn good and ready..

Did you hear . . . ?

2011-12-07T19:00:00.004-07:00

The big question many people were asking at work Tuesday was, "Did you hear the wolves this morning?" And almost everyone who lives here had indeed heard their early morning chorus. If they missed it, there was another chance at 6:00 this morning. I tried to record them for you using my camera but they weren't loud enough to be picked up by it. It's a pretty special way to start the day though

The First Weekend

2011-12-04T18:29:00.006-07:00

Welcome back to my village.It's more mine than usual right now because there are very few employees here. It's easy to have the cafeteria to myself, and on this morning's first walk the only person I saw was exercising in the gym. A flock of waxwings exploded with a roar of wings.The place is so empty, I can stroll along the road.But I can't go here.Several people have encouraged me to get skis,

Year 3, Day 1, 360 Degrees

2011-12-01T20:19:00.003-07:00

61 Miles To Go

2011-11-30T18:28:00.005-07:00

I've made it to Livingston. One more cab ride in the morning back to the bus station where I'll be met by someone from the park and driven through Paradise (Valley) to Human Resources. And soon I'll be writing HR about the inefficiency of using the bus station here as the pickup point (more mileage and driving for them and more cabs for everyone they pick up since the station is at the end of

Big Easy, Big Sky, Bit Pieces

2011-11-27T18:52:00.006-07:00