Pictograph Cave and Pompey's Pillar

Sunday 20 July 2014

We attended the Hawthorne Ward in Billings. Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society were sparsely attended but the whole block was great and the people were so nice and welcoming.

After our picnic lunch, we walked around Pictograph Cave State Park. Cool Indian stuff. Montana State Parks are great! Then we drove to Pompey's Pillar where Captain William Clark signed his name on a rock! Pomp was the nickname of Sacagawea's son, John Baptiste. We drove a gravel road back into Billings for the night.

"You've been invited to a social outing."

Saturday 19 July 2014

TR came home for a meal one day and told me the girls were goin' to town and I was invited! I was all for it! So this morning, I rode along with Ranger Laurie, Volunteer Sirri, and Volunteer Susan to attend a garden party in Cody, Wyoming. We purchased our tickets and proceeded to visit five different gardens around town. It was a lovely time and then we were served a nice luncheon afterward.

Leaving YELL to get to town is a little different than outings for most women who enjoy a girls' night out. First of all, we stopped along the way to check out flowers, look for moose, and peel off layers as the day warmed up. Laurie noticed the Howitzer was missing from Sylvan Pass (avalanche control...they must be repairing it?). There was a short debate about which entrance to the park was the best. We saw the rockslide area that closed the road last week forcing Laurie and Sirri to drive all the way around on the Beartooth Highway. We were all good girls and left our bear spray at home so that it wouldn't accidentally deploy in the heat of the car when parked. We did have one park radio with us in case of emergency. That's how you "go to town" in Wyomin'!

Each garden was staffed by the homeowners and at least one Master Gardener. There were also two local artists at each place creating art that would be auctioned off during lunch. Our last garden stop was the best! It was a shady back yard with a lot of seating! The lady that owned it belongs to "Sisters on the Fly" a group of women with travel trailers. She was telling us about fixing her trailer up declaring with gusto, "It's so damn cute!"

After lunch, we roamed the main drag and I even bought a pair of KEEN sandals from Wayne's Boot Shop. It was ninety degrees, pretty hot for a bunch of ladies dwelling at 7800 feet! The girls dropped me off at Wal-Mart as they headed back into the park so I could wait for my ranger to pick me up for our next weekend adventure. My suitcase was already loaded into his car. I finished one book and started another by the time he got there. We headed for Billings!

SV! Day 28

Volunteered once again at Wildlife Olympics. Met two families each with a set of triplets. I really admire these families who take their kids to national parks for summer vacation! Did laundry and packed for the weekend. K was using his headlamp this evening in the closet to better pack (the virtues of park housing). I finished my Junior Ranger booklet!!! K took me to the office to show me 12 digital images of some thermal features underneath Yellowstone Lake that NPS divers photographed about three weeks ago! Amazing!

SV! Day 27

Thursday 17 July 2014

Today is my temple anniversary but I am nowhere near a temple. Therefore, Mount Washburn became my temple today. I cannot express the joy I felt hiking 6.2 miles round trip while witnessing the beauty of God's handiwork. It was exquisite!

Ran into Ranger Harlan and his daughter near the summit. He gave me a two minute speech about all the virtues of my husband--he loves working with him!

We tried a recipe for crockpot lasagna and it turned out great!!!

SV! Day 26

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Susan and I drove over to West Thumb to go on Ranger Brian's Scenic Lake Overlook hike, a hike that Ken and I did last year. It's 2 miles round trip. Brian showed us where Preacher (my bear, see my Facebook cover photo) has been scratching his claws.

Afterward, we walked out on this really long sandbar near the Arnica Burn Area and I spied this red aquatic plant that grows like lily pads, but is clearly much different. Hm. Some of those lodgepole soldiers have tipped over and one can really see the tenacity to survive!

SV! Day 25

We had a relaxing morning cleaning up after our camping adventures. FIVE loads of laundry because everything we own was contaminated with DEET over the weekend.

SV! Day 24

Monday 14 July 2014

Hiked to Bechler Meadows/Ponds this morning. Glorious wildflowers!!! Then we drove the Grassy Lake Road and found bear grass--we have only seen bear grass in Montana. The scarlet gilia is abloom! Along the way, we dropped off as many mosquito hitchhikers as we possibly could. Our vehicle had an audible and lively buzz this morning, but through gentle persuasion and by having all four windows rolled down, we felt like it was just the two of us again when we made home to Fishing Bridge after food shopping in Jackson. Looking forward to sleeping mosquito free!!!