tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637049767752685562024-02-20T11:31:12.935-07:00Adventures in YellowstoneSharing my hiking and travel experiences in Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 2009Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-40313091805085432382009-08-16T08:23:00.006-06:002009-08-31T17:57:15.839-06:00Goodbye Yellowstone!This morning, Colin and I finished packing up the cars and I said my final goodbyes to my friends at the dorm before starting our long road trip back to Florida. We stopped in Gardiner on the way to get some breakfast at Town Cafe and take some pictures. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT8r8DRytiKi0vxvlkL8TBP2Ht7mU1zVHPhzLOpZY1sVO3YHwV0XsK-ARwZah4lqEkEB6lt8SEdwz3F0ZbZLt55AH4yvVHNAAB6mlE4PMO5iUeZFZg6vZePRAK7q22fJCFXYL3BDLl6g/s400/DSC01801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370943718340178482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBxNbYt7Ta1PGBOoIvZte1g287_rKdRuouwDf6DMEUOLugHXgzuzSlHzqc6GlEWxZFpWkQuCdft_eLOmxjBcEi7mR88d2KSYFAInOJoJJElrJWdS5iCiu6_Nb9NDGaddEtyjeC3UfOr4/s400/DSC01802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370943725048242738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gardiner, MT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EW0Xl4ko57fIkmsKI3G3sovUKKtZluJRgLcuYEDJ8p40LEQ89UEROFP3hskutMATEItGtvYcuCdDLzu1z03VrWN1xGOaKRuIAJvKmghyphenhyphenal5_49oZConsK1rC_N7YSNYK-Z_6JUdTceo/s400/DSC01819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370943727772666002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Me in front of the Roosevelt Arch</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwNpb4mPGbfe5fWj8ZtmAztHPPlwd3ffmrYZ6iOVMp52rjWT_8sJ1x5y9aIuwgTzyY14QhY0nCe7iSbADBIEH5t8cv7RHP6PfsDeudpViK_3BXwBMgAKNVYYv02WS6tKtdEWjHFnnD5s/s400/DSC01825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370943737174146802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Heading out of Gardiner</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></span></div><div>We drove to Livingston and picked up 90 East towards Billings. At Crow Agency, we took route 212 East. Just after turning on to 212, we stopped at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/libi/">Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument</a>. Thanks, Obama, for making this a fee free weekend in the parks! We spent a couple of hours there at the museum and battlefield site learning about one of the defining moments of American history. We walked up to Last Stand Hill, where Custer along with dozens of others were killed. The places where people died are marked with white stone markers. Custer's marker is black. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkH5NZcF8IB2xsA_aNaaQIQHgEoOZ4DkP99C5niyTX1yLE1GqWsfTsW3pVYLNsae3BNQolkxWGqHKSXx5pakD2uTG-Sv16mNKFoRO9s3eeoQS-qX50qlN2qgb160dYwsSscMGdEpYX80/s400/DSC01828.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370944095110016850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Custer's Black Marker</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kBqAq9OTijxKN5yFMPVznR1PqYTVqg8e6OzJM_a8kWENxBxDjVKcoeZzQqJoB-2F5uvXzbMeoIIoZ0qFN2HyieDY0ydxDVF76mKQGC-xxTlfds5dAjuN2tiUBpVZKouAfvYBnBP45uw/s400/DSC01829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370944102566852546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last Stand Hill</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmTq-4mD5MrjzDNN82yqWOuJ31Jug-Ru-pmYAvKI_UZW1mcZPk8WWd5YL21e6_BljPzEmVkb28QR1Z-LLRUbjzXUtrKYTAtQxyW0VgBg4Zaz1N_G1yc9U0RZgAdN7raWyCIf5h31f0y0/s400/DSC01831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370944109205750834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5Aq6iSq4tXBo1t-ih-7rryE0uMgMbUXxv6qGP2qi0laUbX8sM9fSj-G5Nkuh3zwCAN-ZU19WxS265HY5pResK94abbbD40vL2oglrb72y2duJO4ktFmrHO8gkNNSC2H6U1_ecDBfbyU/s400/DSC01834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370944114010161234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXuL-t-GUG0N3IbHl8wc5raXZbtDJhiTT0VNetnGRnRjGuNLa_Ej3JOFVtfDfys96STAXEsE_-vgBYTJmq1_pSRJgvHrwm864oOn7UgkqqltiPE_cmyoPlu_V6NctsMbgibI2cFmtufI/s400/DSC01836.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370944125982434322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We also took the interpretive drive and followed the exhibit panels on the way back that explained the chronology of events of the battle and pointed out important places. I am glad I got to see this place that I have read so much about. </div><div><br /></div><div>From Little Bighorn, we continued East on 212, along the hilly one lane country road. After about 200 miles, we entered Wyoming and then soon after reached South Dakota. At <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Fourche,_South_Dakota">Belle Fourche, SD</a>, we took 85 South to Spearfish, where we called it a night. Tomorrow we hope to make it to Omaha, NE. </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-46329296555894492852009-08-15T07:24:00.005-06:002009-08-17T08:21:44.379-06:00Bliss PassToday Colin, Charlotte, and I hiked to Bliss Pass, a 15 mile out and back. The trail begins at the Pebble Creek Trailhead. We got an early start, leaving the dorm at 7:30 and began hiking before 9 AM. The weather was chilly when we began, at about 45 degrees. <div><br /></div><div>The trail began its initial 1200 foot climb immediately. The climb brought us up and over a mountain ridge and down into a gorgeous valley on the other side. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkQIsY44P6LvrGc1Fg-gBSFZY3PWujOKy7brotdZ5klOzJy-xOEwRvwUxWgMVkvw7afO7yrgf3P_CnXi0qNMCCcFPj1OQBaBOFRENHEFNU57c8A2oG2o1CHhyRCV1xo4tBgpAgA94fj4/s400/100_6950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370928799032678290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A nice view from the climb at the start of the hike</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBEwH9NFqsJyJyYHJtxcy2OKZ8BgoLOmisv_4gCreupruVI5Xo05pnZzajJtwmscAapLwLZzg47apyinLSP03wAqCXnS0jCE2ZWEun_EXL3OnayfzSoFZ_LGSlr7PYcE_b4hyB7eHQgY/s400/100_6955.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370928809879184066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabaFCN7TFmI948n9TF7-zCwZ6HpFX8qZ6cSGPvVFE23njyXNICIdJCM6ewQqBJMuySXpwqK2qEPI4CTnO7MC6oWHf-FCBTxHyySJSsr8TQwnLAFLg0zaSopUkYJW_TKeVPwT5tNpl930/s400/100_6956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370928815041056994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Hiking down into the meadow</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>We hiked across the flat valley for several miles. We forded Pebble Creek once and crossed it a few other times before entering a short section of burned forest. At the 5.5 mile mark, we took the two mile spur trail to Bliss Pass. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53txnWfGWOihc8vgMJ4onEYqOxLmSe2qnXzY2jI1KlbSfH-WbvYm3EUVo0OGaetXEpZtsBbhEunty3LztJ_pbaUQyRyZiT4s2RuxrVBSsM3MssFWBWvp3HxhFiU_F-cy53C_6OSdALuU/s400/100_6957.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370928826061182258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eY-uNhlPpjtBR9mcFox10eM_4st-ICXawPuaDjBsKR7daKhqzEVsZDr2J-6o6rRTt4XrlRNvDvBUwX6rDCKH7Dt8S6yg2J6yE5Ozjs5UfOR52aTtoIOv5TEbct75bI_2OU4aKkNbwyk/s400/100_6960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929213592671522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzrWR2HwdJbqVXkxTjrJ9cXKNAYs87eSjvgjHSRx1XP7a43HB25kM0i6SWV1hTmLDldsrSG8znsQg7oncX1azEIKeGWAmVAvtSC0RnnjFP2UbV_MVhkcJQEHSTMqq-xYVS0PxLqUn2dw/s400/100_6971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929221345582162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>Several hundred yards into the spur trail, we had to ford Pebble Creek once again. Afterwards, the trail started switchbacking steeply towards Bliss Pass. We enjoyed views of magnificent mountains in every direction on the hike up to Bliss Pass. While the mountains around us were very rocky and dramatic, Bliss Pass itself was a lovely, grassy spot between two mountains. We enjoyed our lunch and then took a short nap before heading back down to the trailhead. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHQe1XgTp9NTuoLoC9vWLKcyYRlBjxH2TAmtNFAZLToAd0P2A8j9k_6sTTlFhRExpNZJA8hxQronTwF6HK-rAGmkx54XU3Cg2rEFqQee6oDu__nVYQN7QnG1jAVeRp1P6k-9J_oYAtnU/s400/100_6972.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929229030226098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88l6tL2vqquN7kJeJae0MiCvwjYPqeB9XzZ2GA5mPz_REzktpz1lFcFzn0IWE8tYkn0c21SGGP3N5FpOiVfH0NkYmZdGFbiwJMw8-uYezqWixjIoIAX3vZ6rruAJt2-i3zIBbFIpkcMg/s400/100_6975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929234268852578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pebble Creek </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPruEod2Q0EVHEiiHXrRqXvZUWRGwf_Oz5qgYZwlgDWVBm3uZvB7H4MYXLm4quPSpnj3xeoL-Go5PnAj0Lnj6uFh42c3Co1Tk4C532gR4HrTq3KPk3CXfpOinNK2oi6p7TxxuepCQuBnk/s400/100_6983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929240140866354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">A lovely view as we switchbacked up to Bliss Pass</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1a8ReaST8C3yqA8jxhQuFLq0i2rVOx0gR6miiDkW5WnA053dMKCLd9g5tBPHWDXakPU6gri_wey7Un9Gb04gijCSF0sFG4mbogew9Z5KpA00NNqsDPECG3WZQ6AHNDolNFVsxKVFGuQ/s400/100_6989.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929365860697730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Charlotte and me at Bliss Pass</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bSfCC_DDpRPQ3aMzesoUSxeNLDsTQZMe8-5Ynb3Muiz5u1skidvHLV2KFMB7li60X2h8grrFtqPX74wNUerSBblkD_apaSWFi0-aDRONT7LDjTNG08EN3oDScH2OSiyv96ilGK1fiOk/s400/100_6991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370936766893117346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHK7-ip8wV5kj39iKGpZd79s5yNSvJulvzCtwNveAPZpCeVAaIpNafl5alFqWYr35j8FTy-29FSFxNLS-8NbybZTisgSZITCmvaMlA_ZEuq7DtYj0sfryNocQhCWwYUL4CuX0O1QrT00/s400/100_6990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370936757003509826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX0CvMRQeaf7PIc8FIcp1ZHFwmHRHvD3yndn2DH5y8djYpaIZk131KzFi35lzrM2YqEYnGRYMEveLsOpnLWosB2-T7iX9pnWoJe3XzqU9caCofvqU3k1B8Li2cO7Mf1_InRcq-bngKU4/s400/100_6988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370936745020130466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>As I am leaving Yellowstone tomorrow for school, this was a fantastic capstone hike. I will be very sorry to leave such an amazing place, but feel very lucky to have spent a summer here. I have made some wonderful friends and seen some incredible sights. I am very happy to say that I will be back next summer to complete my project in lieu of thesis at the Heritage and Research Center where I worked this summer. My project will be to make a disaster management plan for the museum collection. Already, I can't wait to come back to this place! </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-48182088165593754472009-08-10T23:42:00.003-06:002009-08-14T18:31:35.472-06:00Wolf Watching<div>Tonight after work, Colin and I headed to the Lamar Valley in the Northeast section of the park to look for wolves. I hadn't seen any wolves all summer, and really wanted to before I leave at the end of the week. We arrived in the Lamar Valley at around 7:30 PM and there were already several big groups of people out there with their big scopes searching the valley for wolves. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B4ySijr4P4r8XGweJCmebuSjgbHd-j-eeQNnQMPVQ7pIaZnV4Z2azqsGqW42b9Nc2rqp8h1Q2WpSzJBdWST8lqupmuHaJUc2D9Fz0hSfmet-7zo5zwoUqG_Jic2xHBZCazNqnBp4Hv0/s400/100_6899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980953062614658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Lamar Valley<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5STZ5oAqc1Y87OK2PPTn9RXngE_TGwy6oOINrJS1mDgJ5RHqtKdWMKakrSAK9vbqhQuZAWJtnFbICZbGsRCV-dbU8k3hgiYMblubMECB8_A4ADVXLNN6NW-m7_qNi7pks1M9CgZaOu4/s400/100_6903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980966747064626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvySmrtVg7vlVHnh5-TJcTpB-SOx4bF4jU4DdFFTATye89L0neGIvh9-SOrZ_SmDG0HqxTSuumTrv5CozjegUxqyPqBFV6eYKUqGJ0ePI9qWzqpDQhhJ26Glqizr7eW3vC3lWEuWc9r0/s400/100_6908.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980972547762450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /><div>We just had a pair of binoculars, but they worked pretty well. At first, we just saw a large herd of buffalo, but then we started picking out other animals, including antelope, a coyote picking at a carcass, and several pronghorn. Some people with scopes said they could see wolves way in the distance, but we couldn't see them in the binoculars because they were too far away. We headed further down the road to try and get a better vantage point. There we were able to spot a group of three wolves far off in the valley, which was really neat! We also spotted more pronghorn, buffalo, and antelope. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VJ9txhdgNhDLqDI2KPfjYCXEAnKRuc_nQ31STzJxJAagSv-Nkwiy6aKsn8QBvWJ3iKWDz8Xk3ArhkjWMMQ3mSHTx_gS-6pW_RTqoa15zCKK12RUiqmUuHm1Sw1m1nwra6TzztZFguFs/s400/100_6913.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980991878477650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbmtEZhKAsH2UGTtCoWTwuAxZ07EFuAQiY9q9pTjNvFz1nB_buXNn6egGzWdeMXgSU5s44mpRrU4kA6qMAYCqVJDYz5GA7NqH1UxgDF9bhgISQoqO98w0Z-aPIUyn4xTrZOkGtUugVEc/s400/100_6911.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980982598675394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div> </div><br /><div>As the sun set, our visibility diminished and we finally decided to call it a night. It was neat to see the wolves, but it was also great to observe all the other wildlife out in nthe valley. </div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-47046215757261526192009-08-09T20:54:00.006-06:002009-08-09T21:32:45.121-06:00Elephant Back Mountain and Avalanche PeakThis morning, Colin and I got up early and drove to the Lake Yellowstone area in the Southern section of the park to hike Elephant Back Mountain and Avalanche Peak. Both hikes are exactly 4 miles and are out and back hikes. We hiked Elephant Back first. <div><br /></div><div>Elephant back is a gradual, 800 ft. climb to a beautiful view of Yellowstone Lake. It was about 40 degrees when we started hiking, but we warmed up quickly as we climbed. The trail went through lush, green forest until the summit. Towards the top, we got some beautiful views of the lake below. From the top, we could see the Lake Hotel, the oldest hotel in the park, built in the late 1800s. After taking in the views at the top, we headed down to the trailhead so we could start our second hike of the day. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUV_SAkF4p47ujAHwd1dT1k9YtOZPi9ijxR49IF0tsul1tNs1UTX4KUOYlpgz8z4P3YI53kxUmI4PxuJe1jakEO5a4mCHPBeCWvQAvugimsxK2bL4ng2mjqp_A2SuWUPdFUnOoIe4NbU/s400/100_6804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368167769892904850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The trail up Elephant Back Mountain</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhrpatO-aewQxwaTgQ7-11Gf2HS7X4V0BwaswZnl95180g1c89mXGLXTp73Q3dIemnahYNKWvgoj8cXrG0kaapw6HytW9FXTgkOynYonm3seK7EGuNGAgEn9O466QvKQOaLPWPI8NHa0/s400/100_6805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368167781095841986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CuOBGNfzjI_6eeWczatG5CO6RdCc_nxmnv_dCBRNF29dPMn9SmxjGk80iO_pMXU9nlizFl2ZEWQiXGCM9Lz9XidsUcCP8MEPG2YK8XuFooSbYMi7Wmxvn3fIjwq5gBwFqWb7gs5Edx8/s400/100_6821.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368167788757279602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the top</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU9m0CbQY1hQ5rg71v2lwYBaW96N2h1YzKQ5P7Gw0_uRHK0HgQMTMVak0JoTWZhfYbkU3eMYRFeZYD43_rSm0e6ftJ5Ix8LOHIZTH5rTtjsUneZU65oyBCPas5EilSzk2RviHFQ2OXes/s400/100_6825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368167797739788786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lake Yellowstone below</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g8KaBPvbo9vp5Qj9CATT6vO8hfXe1STxNQvJI16XDzMqnn3XlTrfdag4OXfe0dB9jn9ayq7fa4SouDNyiFB0WK-4BLbkXNkorPdXKnomGi0oJpDD3-epcFbchWD8S3VSbrsf-kBP-Z8/s400/100_6826.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368167801905257858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The trailhead to Avalanche Peak is about 19 miles away from the trailhead to Elephant Back. We got there at around noon, and started the strenuous hike to the summit. The entire hike up is a category H climb. Interestingly, H stands for "horrible" and I could certainly see why on this hike. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although the hike up was only 2 miles, it seemed like 4. The first 1.2 miles are through the woods. Finally, we came to the tree line, and the terrain changed immediately. The forest was replaced with rocks - covering the entire mountain and the trail up, which was covered in skree. The trail went along the edge of the exposed mountainside, and the wind was so strong and cold that it took my breath away at times. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yuIai11hbI9LpaAgZBSWitkaQ1pqLFBvSaUPcTJHqgnbeBuHOJeSK5PJXdwjKLTsB8qj8JbqtSS50zilUkx7O-13rTVZSxBJKgypvaTJMGyiUNp7U8aTqxOlVdoD-3malMVDidP7tVo/s400/100_6840.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368169998494302114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FZlXh3hp5O_NEmRCD4Se5Wr5TRb7igxZSLgDwpRFCL-wV-w-Sd6ixUZxcnvUHf_YRF1RYJGDShAtjLHPFh-L7cFv2LAKNsEirxYIao0-bvoCUgGthKe561OjdNA4YraNaDoqTecNCps/s400/100_6842.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368170006413257922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf8LjeRowPnxDkDQwoyGqm6XpY15EuU_Tso1UZdzG-U4gPz16bqMWSSkp4xUtkvPtw10VYSkfeNt7dy25AsOvy-MKQtFgFg83eDfM6Ak1ZAgPQa8bNA4sy0iy-xC4_Rm9XisOvqDLn94/s400/100_6844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368170014380201426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The treeline</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Rq683rRT2SeqYZJts5ioroQdygAEz9GQpmKQ0zUhVTGXKvpDbfsAa7_gYyKoXNeo-MY1u5YZPwyGgZd7TATuWHh4WdWKM9PKlUIjGDBqpmLBe9qIEYehfNvDfWOoMllhe9Rl9XtuE9s/s400/100_6846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368170023588312850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The summit in the distance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h4G5lvqJ-mbuX_duL4F7y8r8E6Jw0yZgLogSJkwjFbbZ5vXeV07QvtjfELgXby-Eg6KEJdgUdG2cmLJnF23tb7XTnRo8GEkOMdQrLjoQlEmO_OYedDro4PEy1WVJlx1JQO0Ik3_CXnc/s400/100_6850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368170035059810226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuubQb0ZIQ8SI5mh3emMO9RrmbizhbuwFtg25vIz2kpRFCoKnHsTHARYYm2IK9jc5wgxPYq2cha7XnArnS6e-F_3a-zR2w9zlEiT6yEVujSVHm6_-3Rk5bQ2LNuIrBWkLUwqwrUthKp-4/s400/100_6858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368171923540804642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We continued up to an open area that we thought was the summit. We soon realized that we were wrong - the summit was in front of us and still a big climb awaited us. We continued on the trail, which was now made up of red rocks. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju29esJUW1XlI3hVdfxrtcAHLWQ6knThRImHoVGGm4e9Hh_56vgoZEoJIeGAcJAN44Nj_vBq7ksmmWvCTaFgZtLEFYTHj9V-JCtsvNYs9wqaoAHBADWQHBp4iAbk3kHWhzB_Q4C0fYD0A/s400/100_6860.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368171932187203890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Boihjm2z84Quw6-et056UhM5YRg24LsVSCxIQ8AMY5qi7Q4b02zsq1hxKvfus7I75VSnl9PIDaSNJJ6ZqyP556qLxRqNuHArr_vKcHaJlTHb1JzJgBLIqI1-We7G01ZNaAm-08rPRF0/s400/100_6867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368171937293757410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1Aqq4lx25ClrY35kiMSWSNnjK1N9tMO7oaY356fBf0vjxqvinAuv6kJ80EsIAP4NyPKhcH6LNFjfinpud42_AVlw4Sg8n95fblVoWRDBj2RXFxH0avSeEe3riHuaG6XA7nJB2BKNy-g/s400/100_6870.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368171947255809778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the summit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKD6ltDq9f5Eo0yhJE3Ve3kw8SRG0rBDoMqA2NTbewzPjqLKvduG5yjnAaH-Ck8htMmarFdU_MW_GStHTzQLz2TG5Q2D8YoKA7ZfnPE0dI3tdtj3hQXyVP6Pw2qjo3OfS83g6l044OFw/s400/100_6875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368171956147628338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>When we got to the top, we were rewarded with amazing views in all directions which made all our effort worth it. It was extremely cold and windy on the tiny, rocky summit. We stayed long enough to take some pictures and enjoy the view before heading back to the trailhead. The trail was so steep that my knees were very sore by the time we got to the bottom. The amazing views were definitely worth it though!</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-22801435789611256432009-08-08T20:10:00.004-06:002009-08-09T20:48:12.458-06:00Pebble CreekToday Colin and I hiked the Pebble Creek Trail, a 12 mile shuttle near the northeast entrance of the park. The trail began climbing immediately and continued to do so for the first two miles of the hike. Green grass and bright wildflowers grew among the trees through which we hiked. At the top of the climb, we had a fantastic view of the mountains surrounding us.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8KSvLJ4qJ77sBkHN7eMPra23DvU6pMcaJbf6TBYINLZpkSGfK2_Z7esldDlTGvJ8dSW_NzBTm4FqgR8bxiaohfMjLfjykRicsuob4coDGaqFI2vff0Lv8ONkEajYkdlEKW_Y9KnsFUU/s400/100_6720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368156122906020386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the hike</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmdFVKUQQxxGmyablPLQCb9by0Fk5h6nSjJK0BnK8Hc0JoLg4W0s84gaTbOea8TnKFmM_VgZSklPOBxYu9489hkZsxUL1zwSpAlJ4CKzE6ngZIvoNFH_GYyidfJ3zpxq6-LSPCXb5a3Y/s400/100_6724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368156130129850706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkND8zu_2bdiaL5sMGenYp6wPSJ1efYojNWbKQat4aVu06ZQZSnLeybZs83s1O2IoZfaqrYY0uvMnNXzgny4OdQzQqtT316HQoL615MaF2qqdCiImBgcM7iZ59Fy4mZMYj_-hEW6xXA_o/s400/100_6740.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368156157579143506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadows along the way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WKdUPkd_bTXPqVgNPrVFPErG-Wum0CcyBRbi5gIAEmf1R-abxkmp7Hs3t4BTon9TpqgbneyZCAmH0vED-UWajEtIiIrFbUipfWeoNNu5BxV6sMVObeDbiCylKoqTq0ZZSGSzKYStREk/s400/100_6728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368156142275331458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJlCbZ7sur4azBaSFaVL7o2sIi5ADTilhNYtQYFqro2qos8TXpGDYrV9I2gNyqcd4JpGL7yRgTAwSOtRgGYCYhWFqJkhiOeaI0IS7PGUui6RJ99kYeyl2ks4xvzu7bxkXb7Es6XybqQA/s400/100_6732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368156150738466210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the nice view at the top of the climb</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>We continued on, through several meadows and small sections of forest. After about 4 miles, we came to the first of four river fords along the hike. At this point, we noticed a cold wind blowing and dark clouds behind us. We wondered whether we should turn around or keep going. We finally decided to keep going, because the sky in front of us was much brighter and we did not hear any thunder. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyu_ClAA9W_ttyLcHQJk2US8ERkzVwTUlZby9Bz2uDSvRBjuocYksNB5tt7yqrlmWonmnOde8tizBoSXHtiAy9iTsDgFm-o7KF7a6nFawuKJ3j8v3zTAzswdu3klOBzFSu9F4BdNky3U/s400/100_6784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368160571205610850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of four times we forded windy Pebble Creek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After fording the river, we entered a burned section of forest. The trail followed alongside the river until we came to the second river ford. After that, we continued through burned forest for a few more miles. After hiking about 6 miles, the terrain opened up, and we got amazing views of the dramatic mountains around us. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v17P4rXISWt_bfSZ0IigFM8k26uL-1Q9NV0MBWjW1yDPB1GVnS493_zcvHpGPmYMDSWFwK1EMsG69APoqBwdDFp_JODZNUNy9N8Wk1QiWYeYIXeNWneopFuJf82entz2w4E0iNyRHhE/s400/100_6765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368158252056283122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Burned forest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiNXbCTd7sz3LOH1Yp6mu99xMxbmLxrzqbxp7BW4pWkJDR87ZiSYhsNTJ2jNzJojbxGTYR5PT7bOn93BwssIHuuo7cdBkSd3hFPP7wWIINYOVSAtUYNtdqdWtNBrOrPfOuecpRekw3T8/s400/100_6744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368158234909460290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">About 6 miles in, we got some great mountain views</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pCeZoUVlgia_OJtqfXb3m5o5yp9Dw1ysSt-e_qu5pUT71Zg8nVBhWiclD3D0c73gHQ_sJWAed6Vs6LRy3nn2pPM_2sRkl8MYylCjM-2cDtfawY_Qih2SICldHSIJK50XbkqkCubpZ7o/s400/100_6787.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368160582069731490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA___35Io3_s37iug0fl75HE4CYrVRQReVlVY0gS1GYYhi2MA-xopm3XrLmOkRw-YMOd2_15cxk0il9W88vNgs7-xZiuuOfSSyPQLy9aTHUtWCG3Cqfp-9PH8SB4n7rsmCxRcCnFLQAUI/s400/100_6781.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368160566575666946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVyuroti0UQuFmolq5Q2n-QdffevoN_e80vE7dvG_ZFKpb-KUSKuYpCOJr1HJu6ZyOfpFml3Aatc8gMPE4K1HJMGcweAVNUkDdDbI1B8Cvu4Dy3Ou1x5EEDZOxY7CwwcSsDUFxDVZ30M/s400/100_6748.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368158247189335122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt0bmgmfCFNvW1y58IBR52MK2m4_7W8DIZf0VVglXuOUjI6FlRTBXYCe9hmygKkkwpw35Zcdz-fZlSK__J-Wzxd9hp9lOZoP5NBHh-esrsscdTnujksdXUS8PABoXE6WbfZkD18LaATQ/s400/100_6791.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368158262318589426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>We continued on, fording the river again, and finally entered a huge meadow. We saw dark clouds behind us and heard thunder rumbling in the distance. We quickened our pace to get into the woods and out of the open meadow before the storm reached us. When we got to the woods, we climbed up a ridge and then down the other side to the parking lot, about two miles total. We got rained on a little, but for the most part, we were lucky to avoid the storm. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWlCfziOz9oI7FyELHPbMf1ZLNGrGU5HW3wTYY7rX-rLawBTBl80OpkUX3tTYsm6DTkpvMDpyNN8wHACXNm12X14QxSh3X8IZXedNUKqwev665La8xiUvwsGDD7DTJgn6XG7N0iMXnds/s400/100_6799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368158270155965298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The storm closing in on us</div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-85130106771242287132009-08-07T19:44:00.004-06:002009-08-09T20:06:54.155-06:00The "M" (Mount Sentinel)Last night, Colin and I headed to Missoula so that Colin could take the first part of the bar exam (about ethics) there. After he was finished with the test, we decided to hike to the big letter M in the hills above the campus of the University of Montana. The weather was cool and threatening rain, but we decided to give it a try anyway.<div><br /></div><div>The hike began directly below the M and switchbacked up quickly and steeply. After about 15 minutes of hiking, we found ourselves at the big M. I had thought it was made of painted rocks, but when we got there, I discovered that it was a large concrete slab. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwZ1LtsEL_r3FhOFdZCeY03n5s3Qmthf1zXNMCqBFnY7LlZbM2UqGFkucav2PwyJJZqv-7Az6ItsAoxgR8um3kli2D1sKH-Wi7raWTKqruOK-5Qw03LZvhPc7wefPKmCTfW8MnNDOcvk/s400/DSC01771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368148860261658690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Missoula below as we climb to the M</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_OW9JmImTukXmUFl9RmLthi1GV6FTKPySs3tsRQJnW0jANqjtwuvft4jfEjtfQNewJxh9eBXhXxxl0ngvErYKal71sWoMLF97ou3Q65BJqBvsy2JBUDatLjxGCZmXfXq1E4l9Bp9j8U/s400/DSC01760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368148840845147682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUwfbg7zL4fCqBUvv9T0H7VTdzh-OjtNn4QcSwQhwsSS0nzIPXB9_Le8IiVo3x5gGRZghS4IcFauLgjxK5FKv7XL5cGa2qbJBojoDjq_C4oYhbD86qY-WUEUUpZvFcHY6gSrTq1ZOQ9k/s400/DSC01764.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368148851667820050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHACmq2sEstL8EERcP4Vx-DvvGqk_nma0WoK08rCEfznQqdMOkZJQqCKcYmvVcw-04HwN5IexFA3Cg0m1xA9wiZzDx3Sy5QjUSN8NyoxO_mHOpWlvc1Tz_yrGQqYhz1ln4JEorfhK7bKw/s400/DSC01761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368148848730154034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Colin and me at the M</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW_zeRu9B_V2Osx_13fXvZZVN8wi0Yw8WnL8rhQveIhWVw3L8fFFKs2kDaVhE0LYtI6oZqoHvy6uciic6kuofHAhvzuy7tHODgng0xOH220K4zHfSs-IXNQYVLZxQeQud8tksm4VO5O4/s400/DSC01757.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368148833213680626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We continued on to summit Mount Sentinel. A few minutes into this part of the hike, we heard thunder above us on the mountain, so we turned around to be safe. As we got to the trailhead, it began raining very hard, so we knew we made the right decision. </div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards, we headed to lunch and then to the <a href="http://www.bigskybrew.com/">Big Sky Brewery</a>. After tasting a few beers, we started the long, four hour drive back down to Gardiner. </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-14094356143868743942009-08-04T22:15:00.005-06:002009-08-05T19:47:29.430-06:00Mammoth TerracesTonight Colin and I walked the boardwalks of the Mammoth Terraces, a very beautiful and unique thermal feature just down the street from the dorm. We went in the evening as the sun was setting and the light made the terraces look amazingly beautiful. I hadn't done the terrace walk since my dad and I did it in May, and it was much prettier than I remembered.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY1Rdq02pJflNSh9DCnQK6uKanL6R9nXksKdsGbEUHO4YrAFjl3Uxcyl4UOI6EBqI1BvD8Eqtphs7L_xtbpCVISbHA7mFhnXa9a7JUQwd-fThJ7smxkjn1JZrp5WeDI2NlciJpNlkaJM/s400/DSC01665.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366655581955869890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the boardwalk through the terraces</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73jSrMTKdqYCwXH9kvG7u7d0wTnby6o4BaHJPmXUlLsJWP6Z7T23WekLkBKBeX-i_jZz1xvkZELYA1euCrHywHUItyoqETzubu8t2Xf8xycMWAgUVIMYvMNPTPs2J7s1swfXSyW8BlcU/s400/DSC01673.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366655592725227202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUrvrDzhYhEejUyyIJttnwm-Qumpqvd59n13Y32VQsaI_-oC7ZcEU_bmb5NgfeLWE0mpgJzRNarrE-8-5t_AfdIXMnq04h-IILk2I3cZ11ZU7Feo6NZR8qHKW5z9WV7t8y9EQGFbWrzo/s400/DSC01675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366655594390709954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvupVNcFZWAAwHKRpvaTDeGDvWcKd-OXQGVl3oZXNrc7j88Dv5lmAgNlCnwh8kJ8Ut_QG_asYUPxqJbPLT6hhP1e9Itv8ZifeHNTgZ9ktOryhCzFoZmR-M0FflgUHYJVoECjwYOfNyfCw/s400/DSC01681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366655604480734034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mammoth in the distance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJacE6oLK5OFIp5ZwhJ8kgfHrENVeWc1jrgUtlEC20sCbDahnQvhtZz1iGc1EASqmNcYD2BvElgdtkVEERP3mYK-Nav49mH9rtCLKK21v28UabSpHWT4n6pxn5xMm__UgPOVL3Y7NpkI/s400/DSC01684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366655610428761426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5sSwpHYc6d4W21MAR2HLtjwYRZfzEUnanISFn_g7kO1f7bF6xD1A6aiiZcfx41IliJQrsJvHi18SWQUNUsiqyOwdcBEfkJPr03ZepB6P_3cMCPKKrfAyJbQ9_HxGCT2LM4lhMchmGbs/s400/DSC01685.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366657242090315986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEXZHBq4W6eYSa7KyjAZrblmKWIdwzqL1PrFc9qoheOwT9okfcRZHFIYYlu0tDCK856KOKHUudAaKd7q-dtzUb4SK3FlLbQRgvJN5SJNJdoDns-VgLshapp1MYdIKhJ5aWIAI0F8WPTg/s400/DSC01688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366657247353504434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0pa1u9CpWNbb2FxsHM5uqKeye1vosl7oZzk0Ttm_5xx-i7Q2xgWeoH3ND_xE-Q4vArrsVLtdsTe805JdidTBovYldZW4WkxS0D6fLDIKa74_ykiiUZXLOxebUO9Io-xNdG5n29GQcwo/s400/DSC01695.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366657255192982034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41yeUEvem-YgMscW4G_QW-uFYD_pM9lQFmTHjQ9gu7clXs5D4bNpGaXLK-oCZZhulITIjCqqvDeb2aB7bLp54Js11EkR9Pskb16K7JVgjod-qyS5C4iqEzsmYX5VljdWEM9R7IOIf5qk/s400/DSC01698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366657262622033170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSx7UdD-wObx0NOvvf50k-ewGtxiMhuuIWCLvlCZ202h1VwtlxK137vj1ZnB3QAmsgVdlHIFTet1d6-5VkZwCF9G1fMjvYmfI3dm9AJ3vEWyZFAsNsD4JDV_TrcXrqNTZkt1-T-gZR7Y/s400/DSC01704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366657272163787138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHOh-lntE_lJYQP-nqK4UfUhA9bmMqi_J4BHy3bY63BzL0g8vQAbiuZeoiwsxXt7WieYaEMqjhHuZ7D0BymfYm8YkHWWOwTn9_FkaNG8Ucr_Jn_BpVgZYJXEUoa1SJ7Aycb76NzhhKOo/s400/DSC01707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366658938389604002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6m1H5j-iTVDW8cOpTlxn-RrGtWCP_wP6FEQob1AsoUGjZhglta9q3c1E519Ir44wQkuioTEjAKHEthJzG1S957BB00yqD_LmNd5h5WVpWDcpadD15u3a2adyGfOM6Zff5k0q33gR718/s400/DSC01709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366658940611357602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMTlaDnTcvOyobJKMDEHWMPiAsDAElFU0UyxY7NJ6-pEE2HARc5l9t-Bh04wEjBJchJJ2nftZx2Ibk-DfsjXBGbGjZzbPXxLDkdFHNCGP2IAI9_S9GVg9IWV-Tw-nWaHc7PtqToceh84/s400/DSC01715.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366658948578129010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KS_TOlVkFMaKansCrOGj-PwbQ5av5IMyo_VWBThh_6cnl1ANRHKQvHf49SyHmAdSHh-0G3NlKgyNVNqHHep6NWHxFSgLWNCnINSKE7QwH-p3Z-x9ymKIX0epz4G2L_mVStsvE7vPOC8/s400/DSC01724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366658958426444338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_a7oJFdETcr2mBNKvwjF6pq-kz3E8FuwKW-QVfJXZSxPL4Eabxoscy4biPwws1yaf6-2dJRIeSGAD3wyASvQt9F8YmKYFp_wqn43IIvNJrSuHuIIXkin4C3f5fUHC3CUyXR84gAOoAs/s400/DSC01731.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366658960558584834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-84476088027930636552009-08-02T19:00:00.007-06:002009-08-02T19:31:30.454-06:00Lava Creek CanyonToday, Colin and I hiked the Lava Creek Canyon trail, a 4.5 mile shuttle hike in the Mammoth area. The trail started out fairly flat in a field of wildflowers. Less than a quarter mile from the trailhead, we had views of Undine Falls in the gorge along the trail.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VXJmeUExKKMYo6Qsr81kos4kgN8GCuwD5OHE37IR-WtqFF8-N2kr8M9hSkOapFqrSPFAgKMzsPoqxtz0RSWOy91rAM_YxwSv0QKTUy1l0qvAkQ2ZxKrLhKygBeatECjJpk3jv7-cAFA/s400/100_6659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365537942926768914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the hike</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJC4H_ToSLYR68ONMfoRCTInfMWhy5dpii2RylpOOJYna2arLmopTHvqaFzNjq7u0gRiEtf5MQVGmhWoWh1arD7_x5b4t44w23ANSKb6RjbwEY0-J69TE_HTjxJc-e4Soeimka0fShUs/s400/100_6661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365537950068943106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Undine Falls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjD9bOPE2Z3O7pKnubYDBjn0z5B_jHTqGDPE2XkWhA0cMPk1MZQibdWdADgmCeGOoc5zNb8asadY_MgY3VIZ0glu7XlJjAI3AUnfJ_gVjk4LzTXKwlGitXqAeEOMkE7rPf8F8vzTHEiY/s400/100_6663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365537957027336210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A scenic view just past Undine Falls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>As we continued on, the trail began to gradually descend into Lava Creek Canyon. As we descended, we got wonderful views of the Gardiner River Bridge on Dunraven Pass. At the bottom of the canyon, we enjoyed the beautiful ridge line to our right. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKgiLaAQAu_yUSX1tHC-mLgY6dC65MtgllngLjMEL8XAF5Y83BvHBBYCcng0GoLMEwtV8NL_6EbXTqZ2J1I2qrznHZhx33cIkAU1ikW8hcpSdyqYLqJrMfuPD6jM-DUC2qjN0oeVMh7U/s400/100_6667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365537969020491010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Colin on the trail as it began to descend into the canyon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1Q4A_JiuGrkXKJmmjoeXm9c0QQYFO8rgzFHMLO7M0cEUi01ruT0TD_x8s_vDiA9tlyd-HFuwoWphczE70qCtWJiouhok9-lSvfKU8J18c3CuEC4c4y0Tgr6x6nt3sRbfTE1Aydt2Kcw/s400/100_6671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365539517124307554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gardiner River Bridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYpdbayjJJJGlqhL95eW3l9YzLJGH23PJJNOgFC99wAu88PvXL2DjDV9uZ6OBwCzoUuZMGAn27tZEfPCp2KbKBmTI8vHFZkY2SZRlYYM04i1-QVyYU8amH82vgSAAoY7IXu0yOJ5_Z9s/s400/100_6668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365537976476726850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hills along the side of the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS75BOXMm6ASt2Nu-_YPx2l8hkA7uvrGFY10Ay0Gum_j0bRH1HsL0hJ5LXFid891pAKJZWBucmMvxm-C7xf3Y7j6WEOZ4kmtcY2CHcU0T1WX8CKTrtrazOU6RTXrarr_dAuM6bmAjlAw8/s400/100_6682.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365539522934296882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bunsen Peak behind us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gjHBN6g1S5yOrd7ul4FkJ6t9a94-RJQ4lBuqtplH15uKI-4CMjeV2eUGb2b9tKOhijBpBQfT3OQIspOUzXNmdcyY-yF7y8JV0eMUS11YFG3A9iVrsvShFC17Y0XD_6SfdNCVXyLRT2o/s400/100_6683.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365539532024420866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF9gr_erYXH4YcvCWQnD0w86OTyptWrOkxaLyowuxiTWbc26jdL3KtPUAmLraK8LsNfQEbyGgvmLg6Yu1CNGFJkkLJEwEw5W3EgkV_fZa-dl68YiV3c9k-gkCcGELkhbQzCzjWWKrWGY/s400/100_6691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365539539016161074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ridge line along the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>Towards the end of the hike, we saw an enormous bird sitting by the river. I am not sure what kind of bird it was, but my best guess is an eagle or a raptor. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK9cpnaADxHz5UdpD1-ksG2Qrxe8lyetWhJc5WwIm-v2wY-gMvjmtJz3dqCePfX5dGy4XzJFk1ctrBJizcFRK3Uw384NRM4R5DDd-TLx3KNxJY1k49VypwaRgx0RWamIWxsU47ZxJv8s/s400/100_6684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365539536854873378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>About a mile later, the trail brought us to a really neat metal suspension bridge across the Gardiner River. After crossing it, we noticed the sky darkening all around us. Luckily, the end of the hike was near, and we made it to the car before the heavy rain began to fall. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhyphenhyphenEB528QdTdmFowq1FKAdm82NOh7oJuDQb5X4tpZOUx0W6oF_dKHgizwxTXiNQSDX6H3ewwN_GAmay_lsCbmLtvKl4F8kVMKRnoqW5z9SLrXLP8t_LrqoTnxe3V_p492wqxDPlc4_NE/s400/100_6695.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365540689675474866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Suspension bridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTPOCz_BkE3spW3_guH24f3zrAkPO8yI6thgAJrBG5iDfF1VoOCGDtIyg8rwirvvSBg25vwLEcH3wb0h17osH5TmYh_NGm-3iTaOODbGSopXzJ5d38uvteOELNI-m_6bCT7NkIprOtjY/s400/100_6698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365540699719823778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">View from the bridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN6THPIItueUbdsBjrA4B5ia8FfcXXPEG006C7z3bPgC0obi7DckpNsFmDqbd3Y170i2567WFbT1FDr2gHo8pDoz4ghkDHjU3R2egG9ArrsXkl6S-kbBshotQBgJs2Shs5OCV4mBhzNM/s400/100_6705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365540701282679266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The end of the hike is near</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Wmy2E-K-58VpRegRBksa_57MTAKFRP7N1M2E8vTdYdljx-_IrvohtL4vJ1eX2L8LUK5uRpFPLnnmcaVgC5WMEnuNij3zKLf5vESaUtc2qWRb3BXGDvwjzlUx9k0eOQI-UCyboWj4lD4/s400/100_6709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365540710288461042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Darkening sky at the end of the hike</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-37186683415842382862009-08-01T18:17:00.004-06:002009-08-05T19:07:33.902-06:00Colin Arrived Just in Time for the Gardiner Beer FestivalThis afternoon, I went with some friends to the beer festival down in Gardiner at Arch Park. The festival was very small, but I got to try some really good beers. I was really excited the whole time because I knew Colin was on his way from Denver. Colin finished work yesterday and will be here in Yellowstone with me until I leave in a few weeks. The weather was beautiful and the festival was not crowded at all, so it was just wonderful.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHq5jr-yrd8hjAK2g7O1rdlrPK4AQsEdjxDFqXk_Xu3SLXiypKim6Z7rOdB_rEQqNCrp5ZYaCfr46exQeE95T4a3JCHLIoSJPXoUwyvSL8-_kcwEx-k9osbhicYvksMHy4BW2QvKD0S0/s400/DSC01659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366650056048188338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and Colin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B4vE3tkkmwDQk3rIRZOMZpH-NSEMBZtsSgaydhXVMYejsf6Dmeazaam_w8_ENN5SNGBFuo1QQB6O5HOHYW-2q1m4Ap9D30y0yEibox-ZNOBm8Sx84vEpR55vqdGnqNVawdadVqIJ-Zw/s400/DSC01660.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366650064370488018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Allison, Jake, Me, and Sam</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE_kE0Qm56qBKUKv66huvrDgs9Cl0i-V38QpfbEJFFeA22VaC1D9oAEIK_TmoiZOKl-rIqYeJW3DL6lXoU14skZdbucgmZknAHg0gv_kMIXzr7JL9zgsE-Xr3TDcTIqc8IWZdN_j_Xy4/s400/DSC01661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366650069837351746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jake, Sam, Colin, and Allison</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdARFXknE3nuU46EU6hrusWEVtAnGCxr6CeoNbw6_BPS1JcYyUoNADgutuSo2z4M3cj3Tl1J3IRZXWxrqadaJb5iMqMi1gg9vOQbBZ3fdGnePBYt896LQgDjpbjoBxetNAmSV9eDOPNc/s400/DSC01662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366650078054362418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The beer festival</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>Colin got there a couple hours after the festival started. I was so excited to see him! We spent the rest of the afternoon drinking good IPAs and catching up. It was such a great day!</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-60539251529577578852009-07-31T16:14:00.007-06:002009-07-31T16:52:10.066-06:00Grizzly Lake and Upper TerracesToday I hiked for the first time in almost two weeks. My knee had been bothering me, so I rested it last weekend. Today I solo hiked to Grizzly Lake, a 3.6 mile out and back to a peaceful mountain lake. At the beginning of the hike, it was raining lightly, but I decided to try the hike anyways with the hope that the weather would clear.<div><br /></div><div>The trail began in a meadow full of wildflowers. After about a quarter mile, the trail switchbacked up to the top of a ridge, which flattened out at the top. The trail continued on through burned and unburned forest on top of the ridge for about a mile. Then, I got some glimpses of some mountains ahead of me. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNkJzkHkGcwIL71vhPr0UUV_Twk5vDb85bgysERFeernIhd8WGuzZuYtl6vNkRq1nN41KhMHBREZiAmjzHJOxXND1MetRa1Xn6AULdS3ulChun7PWjlZNQvEF2OlTd3zeA-Tu0SSsPDk/s400/DSC01596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364754777734998834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Burnt trees in the meadow at the beginning of the hike</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQC80Bd_wT6V2bOOwiZIfPHSPFo69ctrJ0X3fD6rmN1376E6RzJM8sy8Jo8AukstqOvQExecOIKY6IVoAOUsJuYzLQvxRrCFRMmcnrc9Nf3SGyeWcZPadsNOW2_7tIy8bt7fCx0Go-Ow/s400/DSC01598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364754784105418178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beginning to climb the first ridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBsx4K2Liabui9OdY-MkPRLHaAomSq3j9ja_7bbx2NP8f-yzlN603uYQOEzQ4-N-9LEUV9DfOdU8VhIVhTKSOhm4Qx2WWTnS31CWmc6sQNdbdMg1FYvPQv43uaCarzifTBPIpP1oAA_g/s400/DSC01602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364754790759942162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Raining in the distance as I hiked up the ridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYxrv85exgxVepPEw56wPED6Y8USCheh7MZKrkrEYlKeeJvDbtJadpmE0RSpHdKCB_hhQFiKLJlruw-22dwbArcTWdpCItc2Y0dAxwYT560gBC5HQdwSsymy3A8tkjN3EqlLurwWa6MY/s400/DSC01604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364754795902126962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow on top of the ridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6TJcnahE698cnisNwhKbAqXdE9IzNIplpqod7Bui0alklsf9O8L70DVvYZ_033yhiMEzbXOXLMNjuUY0qTnOqSkCJJyKgag9RvoLLiqefUDnT2EfWReLX9ii1x5Ub_uzeAFYOEfWaDQ/s400/DSC01621.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364756429015592690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mountains come into view</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>Soon, the trail began switchbacking down a ridge to Grizzly Lake. On the other side of the lake, there was another ridge, beyond loomed a large chain of mountains. The best view of Grizzly Lake was from the top of the ridge before switchbacking down, because at the bottom of the lake, the ridge line was visible, but the mountains beyond were not.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQsdkYaFbNt6suxhmmJra6iUmKHg3YFMHTNB2naaf4jRJTB3gDUKUIF8jpwbvCoR38SihG5lx2eGQaE_c0cmBUZ20znpKRVK33dAmT-HMoIJXnq8ujZRRohnPcD_TTXxacohbv0HANeY/s400/DSC01616.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364756426748926402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Switchbacking down to Grizzly Lake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW22xuHirbmJix5QajTU1OBiTez-cR9sVHMJyKi3EOluFHSCoUg4GsVYyMifPfYY9yEflztcPvlfMYmGUJSs4MVpM61igY9wZ2SnNWWaKCbmx_9Gz7wi0Yt_dvw60cU_2RbbwKq3axIkE/s400/DSC01607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364756403298052658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grizzly Lake and mountains beyond</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheandDlFDkl65cg60TGV9KzfLuk-kug08UXQPqJ5rf03Ct4e92V8GeuVJiTDt-MLQIzeXEn5Xz_LZNva1zvEhMvflucPUeNLkQzqAJo0DHQxvRzpgUQEqTDtMKgbdeaXTJtmCDi7KTKLw/s400/DSC01608.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364756412732892706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbXGu5i0KqWx0_OE-OqPGpSgu6mDa1ivWgl6VWHaNyaZEgw1LoS-89Yv3SwUcMgX2GunZOBMw398OPwSBpFX8uWV-56PC4BVw0qftQx3C368Mps51ng3Ev_2MMRKgHIjroifjaiFvuh4/s400/DSC01610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364756418544658514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The shore of Grizzle Lake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iaxDx5-mtGjB5_61ZC9yIL4ASZq1sSfDu_dOfrmtO7pE_HoIqCesSHmlAmWEtWFswwStmMvvZjn1_mFYbf73XuV1SDKbtLjNRf1_NJlCayy0yeNsHrwaOeyiOJV8uEXt4JwXKa-kqvI/s400/DSC01631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364758357547174594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heading back to the trailhead</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgoI1V8l4pxLinC1IvtZOhgbe0f3tMnktFPq0sqyBmWvAfIlV4gw36FD-Bj8X9IRvUwr_2lDf2gdQ1qSnimt1jpXJ96mALpTnjSDSDioHJog2NVj2dFZBokzNk35vWXO-GWrRNHTFM0c/s400/DSC01633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364758366914497442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wildflowers along the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the way home, I stopped at the Upper Terraces in Mammoth. I walked the short boardwalk before doing the Upper Terrace drive, which winds up through terraces above the boardwalk. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav7DY5CKl3-XDvgpa0G4bU5O1Q8BwTNdXqukMmxCZqtAPlA4SYELqpkuLsZ8JU9bwjuD72HOKkay2sw_wo9_Z72bM4cWoyB06oYnN_7VPI_c3xjXIwgre7buGUqjLcM89D016bbkjs4I/s400/DSC01636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364758376015496050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Upper Terraces</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPbM-F6f-KHS59bikFyKSdvR1BKiwrjTWGA1kYfWd8TF1MeeAm8erqo9veBCatb-vZjly-FLssQJ31TmvMDFNbJvuZIzYVZbxJDWXrpcQRPeNFL9oKipXdUXCrmcQ_t7wTkDPdMm-pIY/s400/DSC01637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364758383930232754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK265zSWJ9LeOYcJ4jvRQjb9Q8THo9N_GdQrqMHb3-wQQxYUI2b4szy4O94Weaoo6LbGbM55yNTbpPoMmb7RaO3MXpinJaesNmjdp9mg8eR44emVGYLO-Ag3JHiYaTFaNI4K-Vvzmwxk/s400/DSC01638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364758387553921154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKW6QY5JSYor8ssdq-E5eb6T3PYrix9nGXik2WTsey0g76GLpEnoUWfyKeG7ex6oyB2fRy8y7bB-0BAhiSuotL0c_5s60FVq-oxoImFDhDQj6rEuvTFiDPO0zGC_-W-yoPbH1X5qtHCg/s400/DSC01641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760262403720802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1U22zhUga3a-4XRTSQYrPhiZcuDQJTBXclNgau5pSTa7piar66I6x8lnP4PWtsam3qJ47r8a9uhINiVjce8UnH8PImQ6lUKPdR_7DfvYtv7TboiNEjrISQ4S848_Up_1wQjJICVz4Ho/s400/DSC01643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760266356323090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffWET9L2tAu8KvbYErcQySO2ht33duyxnjoG3U0raOt9ul7_dJdb4vGdOPjkl4lhJ7bzJ3zHBkkhVcnXpl8y0eRH0HQV_zw3f-DB-ELPdvm6bjYdVrh4swceG9YoFPk3McY4Pq5Q0qpU/s400/DSC01650.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760275495622178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along Upper Terrace Drive</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxd25RSiDzd9sX3YW1aPKHRA8q6-adLhVCUdT-U3kSMtVcbUNDSfR4sY70kz4N_OlzjT9_gSur2aYd2gPHq5IAf7lC7-x3aHTZqH-duLG2q8JkkLGyDlZjbSBRj2BD0QidHmtheIPVTyY/s400/DSC01653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760291544974450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMnmy-o2PL_v4eb0lXM9_1cqLNFu5F5EcCuiPdq3ZDcxQ9dQiIdktuOecQbuEjuseKxo3FpEVCzl0h4AwL2JRXkeM8xLR4J-c6vBBJroZZ4YIAHUtAWCBpZJJS6Anoan77_PCEjDuMtk/s400/DSC01656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760764104880626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSyIZA6fjC9RUcR5Wm6f7K7_BvoJywdDNOc8GamckNYdsjAWiuaQ0_Is4w_Q35JSzUJQIiue5EGOA4Qr5ps6Z0kwYIc9vISfEVkkS2saSixh7Uk0js1ixVxAbcRem8HinlSspwH2jH7o/s400/DSC01652.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364760283603639346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-76904350106312083932009-07-23T18:42:00.000-06:002009-07-24T18:45:17.916-06:00Goodbye Casey!This evening, Casey headed back to Bozeman to catch a plane home. Before he left, he came to visit me at work, and I gave him a tour of the storage area and museum collection, which he really enjoyed. Afterwards, we went to Town Cafe for dinner and then got some ice cream at Yellowstone Perk before he had to head out. I am really glad Casey was able to make it out here and that we were able to do so much and have a great time! Thanks for coming, Casey!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-76937985923037189922009-07-22T18:00:00.008-06:002009-07-24T18:46:00.775-06:00Sacajawea PeakLast night after the concert, Casey and I stayed in a hotel in Bozeman so we could do a hike in the area today. We chose Sacajawea Peak, about 25 miles outside the city. The trail began at the end of a seven mile, rough dirt road. The trail began in a forested area and started climbing right away. Within a quarter mile, we left the forest for open terrain for the remainder of the hike.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqivKCFdjcyVxQG_QjDdJG1cAAC-wZv1btQ1mRO2z8VqyAIbKICZrP2lSBaKR4xiDVtL9Y86rljWHg1XRHnqz1lMn-uEblz_yineCNGjyPjM0DGScPMFAQw9cTw9olu42OYFgFxeo8_ns/s400/100_6655.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362191062126527762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The road to the trail</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmf4EPahchizgoTvkcu-96f9UBAf3YvrPydCSWTw2QB5BkQA3fMQpTwtVGu7EAzQrLoekAXNbJNRtOB5z6qvEAbvtNx_sBqsMMITAroBYF33rZZOoH6eESKVa3Z877hh_IFQkMpRfaqM/s400/100_6568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362184614802187890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From there, we ascended up an open area at the base of two mountains, Sacajawea to the left and Hardscrabble to the right. The trail climbed to the base of the saddle between the mountains and then switchbacked to the top of the saddle. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSluYd02v2uioBlIRMaF_4IE7nAiwOrP_zoOgkLPOFuyPrawM57d3QiCSmZrJUwgfO0HAqc4W7igzqZRK0TtZkAUVtob8CpXvKqUZJbiRAnonfLeCbjWYh1f3Stm82eQh7_5pgqbw9p4/s400/100_6574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362184627739852658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sacajawea Peak and the saddle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqvBxsMZ68bD2WICFQAhA7Dk1HEw7hca6XhSdDDMXMdX2OBguZD9wEugrHDPJemA_RpcnFkul3xC3y-R8avHWXiCUwjpxQYvlk9xT58dYJYAwpLnvpyU6KKVa_s3qLq7MUYAZ22dDGBA/s400/100_6577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362184631703525490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hardscrabble Peak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRkohFT8v2DDkKGovWGK0CBAkx1JEB-Nv5_4uPvr-DMx9FhJN3_PvgfXnhf1i87sFrmuNG0mR0f6LsHa7hugHmob3wqEl__0fNNa9b9g6lFZlk5vJj14rCILd5SbG0EgfYWzL_deRw7U/s400/100_6579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362184643585217106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snow on the trail to the saddle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHWt0H539nkyk8wxAmBAgn5zgxHEfxPIo5KxUq3Lqg8sZrr5MHvY_wkHP9_TCbEjHDTsMfFSBhJhQtABKFRSnRlJoZngBlMep56oiU_iClCYajiaLJ712c1UEGHxWWlENlGz8OxwIhwM/s400/100_6580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362184649437471426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The view behind us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_jFNj8kk3jme9dkXf31LmUgzOGMlRkKaOo7uTviiIiBMDhcPTh3rUPI0CStdNQrEuzbSm34NUHahGJ1332mUTSHLIwiMY3Jd3igRJdWeszv10420xdNV_maulmeKkiNoHwnV4zpZnbY/s400/100_6583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362186573622194546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The trail to the saddle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzG8Y0zB8TU6uaR_gYhAc53iu4UVOnZBS2yqX8XyHlHf_wE1piVzrZXuGUIxO_80sGwMMCR_LFXniPbh0l1pUhLmKzz34PMYtg-LFDgVPjE2cB3B9v7mvlHjC3jiDu-2-N-hyPXN3Qcq0/s400/100_6638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362186596132352178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking down from the saddle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWWDh1perkF3Vb6SoqQmr_ZOY8lP6KGLgXiBvq-hYNiUxPvzGycQeTF7WmUUnU73p6xxOgaWrfAjHQ-0ZM86H9M78Ruq5ZEcSnOmAHdLP7vX46d22WtA7-VHIbGjGb4TXYKrM3zWFWR8/s400/100_6591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362186586442151810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The view on the other side of the saddle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>From the saddle we headed to the summit of Sacajawea. At this point, the trail started climbing more steeply, and finally it headed almost straight up to the summit on loose dirt and gravel, which was harder to walk down than it was to walk up.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH_Ngb2DOEzu3f_FCrSAHY3Vhy2_HJIK-XQOoNO00u9zol45usTTiaYygLBL7ekr_i3uUJ4_UV6vD8-Fj50DxDxyw24Xsd_-WkbJqlDdRfPlfja0IGeqQHQZcPmfbGM0UKJy1iO6BSy4/s400/100_6593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362188936185465106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The steep trail to the summit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">At the summit, we found several mountain goats. A mother and her baby were at the very summit, about 15 feet from where we ate our lunch. After eating and watching the goats, we started heading down to the trailhead. The hike down was much faster than the hike up, and we were back at the car in no time. </span></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPeBPplPqrYIKYIOcIgH4hD31OE3-OYgVZ1_kh53f1LIIN3YIJnxpDpnbidG-TRtqcEhQnqUFEKlwenYhs2A2JfCcf6SQUUrbxr-H1tlDJp7j7cORqxO3a7xYKKZd8pYyPCGWm9GogHc/s400/100_6604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362188953332459858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goats on the top</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lFCOJET2A4yWf_mqrhH2IaLAqEozhnFhWZwx3IzsjUvsDDY3Toaku1EkWuqqaRuCBmSrde_L75WnYnv2_OmKf-WdF484tlCvkWMnp0KPnTqdIOXGDeT14ZpnWoQBf1Uz2SZfIdV2KEw/s400/100_6609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362188959388994642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">View from the summit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFGsZm0z4_1CRoIVAOWrQ-x0GAbBDLqD0RXxJ3d4OMBqFKoXRXUUIWFTxOEMYvrsdsjma5ux2VsP1VkiGFSAPZrCmsDPow3YQzcYvbvSKBZ8YeQYaI53Uz8TyuNWeFyCQpTAYIhtizeE/s400/100_6612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362191071579422050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another shot from the peak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzQmVIA9CdTZTIj5llfBmJsdCcdJb1mg0iGoQGHpRLiR_zT9DgvqWT2WGTGGKZu0Ymz0b-1tvSVTB1r3W3oMMbD2E0YucokRJ0GfbASU_Z4t1Cb-fY-ppL6WmwgBTXpjkCA2JvR_e9VE/s400/100_6619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362191049596906498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr6CpETyhumuDLJvf5iUnA7WrOb-H5d6eME4avCxuj8ypsswSoTbh2iVkfHrfUMWzVkL5ALkQK73tFE1QCHxzRblVOPm-UO0QhZSBIYtDOY7dyYnQQ9Kc63YhnkxTGl9RlfDY8qZoXQ4/s400/100_6645.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362191054290016866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We headed back into Bozeman for pizza at McKenzie River before picking my car up in Livingston and heading back to Mammoth for the night. It was a great trip to Bozeman and we had a wonderful time!</div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-20823051077748750692009-07-21T17:41:00.000-06:002009-07-24T17:59:42.827-06:00Josh Ritter ConcertTonight Casey and I went to Bozeman after I got out of work to see Josh Ritter in concert. We met my friends Nick and Hillary out there. Casey and I got there at about 8:30, about 30 minutes into the opener, Langhorne Slim's set. Neither of us had heard of Langhorne Slim before, but we were both really impressed. <div><br /></div><div>When he came on, Josh Ritter was amazing! Casey and I (and Nick and Hillary) agreed that it was one of the best concerts we had ever been to. Casey had never heard of Josh Ritter either, but is already thinking of seeing him again when he tours in the Northeast in a few weeks.</div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SF0ak-4raf4&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SF0ak-4raf4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-5823295039057249462009-07-18T17:15:00.004-06:002009-07-24T17:41:16.712-06:00A Day at Lake and Around the SoutheastToday Casey and I headed over to the Lake Yellowstone area, in the southeast section of the park. Casey hiked Avalanche Peak. Unfortunately, I couldn't join him because my knee was still bothering me. So, while he was out hiking I sat in the Lake Hotel and did some reading. After he was done hiking we had some lunch at the restaurant inside the hotel. Then, we stopped at Mud Volcano thermal area on the way home and walked around the boardwalk loop. The area was full of mud pots, thermal features that spray and gurgle mud instead of water. It was really neat! We also stopped at an overlook with a view of a thermal area across the street from Mud Volcano. Finally, on the way home, we stopped at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and took in the views from Artist Point. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujPe_I1dBq_tvaUg69Mh3hqgDVmBtSqhdYsQWW1aZRwOXgWdZfEfRQZUK47lxijfiRd4fZnps7dGRv3j8plRBVCEjWClEfv9U5RetlC_J1v6x8azHBsd8vOGwIXWAf-LRHmeKZKX6bZc/s400/100_6531.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362172034015039714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dragon's Mouth Cave</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4UrdFwWW_HJESAhyR_CYIMpKg6DTl9PS2I2GVFAowMk51JNDGK__ol5WdUBNraOrVA3LmNghBANZj11TisMEf2eDeEbLp6L48HrSyIEvF6AUZP9xfQt2bp1w34uGZa3mCdw0vfyIdhI/s400/100_6535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362172044662981762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and Casey at Dragon's Mouth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75XpGToGyikf5YigWIORSsOkYfdzFsupUSQJhOlDC7hpfm9UBjbgnDkko7gb0Ilt0v5tlRxy0kH5ljjXrT2CtFvm7aQr40MnkXLg8KS8gLuMmTUDbXDU_EMfJqdrpDX9zZ-CQr4dAiyA/s400/100_6539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362172056155882338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mud Pot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIZsX7LHpu59rku420j-meUIywHTYfh1dbxDUxyX8jRTgyRTQurwppcyTOZ0A9OI6vO27PPslC-mYU-yQtve662tGJzlxdETyz0iTidNBg-AdE4IYAViqistib1-Mr27x9u3Kl201gCs/s400/100_6545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362172060598991634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gurgling muddy spring</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_8C9SoXQgws3j7-O5qN_MectGNipwl4lPC8XqdQQCgpOjBQ5p4P5fXct3cB5DFSMlFnHA2E56JhPXZpk0Cd8Gm8PAdrDrK9sv_eilS_l4YdszwjnqTl8rbPFMra2EJqSONQ54aFHqQY/s400/100_6550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362172071537026050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thermal area across the street from Mud Volcano </div><div style="text-align: center;">(notice the buffalo down there!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmOR8zQHPNivmzRdTxc9iU7zIXz2J4FY4Az0plK90nwp7mlTN7drsbTkfZYatRlgEkYS0tRTwflGF1NIccKbrgaQWqy90tRuNXp6pXbgEwkrlMa_lMYummlemOl69xXoHOAAtitRgZGA/s400/100_6551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362173830961991026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Close up of the buffalo in the thermal area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_RpA9_CM7r5YaounnYyi04Kw0ro6wgb645lu_3_6VMcEDtjTi1dk4NS5OumSN2RN0Ctl8Tjt8cMkPXPjenVExDq9ub1VrDpuwKUpHUqsp9Kq00tdlcH5qCWVedrT1VUPPG9D5nJWRBI/s400/100_6557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362173841141086994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stormy clouds along the way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Csy7jVhZYmletjZLkGo9DObUt-lSsEBW5qnb8QzQ-tvK10vSmCMZdbHwfyla1BRbVs_RLjlq-ppGwGQ2MKnOFmhkk0VR5wFJ9uRMdL2w2BcYcmjJnWWvE5uLSvM0nIL2-vTGqbntVfQ/s400/100_6563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362173847968746434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Casey at Artist Point</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-3986602592692651122009-07-18T16:53:00.005-06:002009-07-24T17:14:27.390-06:00Drive Around the Northeast Section of the ParkSince my knee was still hurting and Casey was up for a rest day after yesterday's hike, we decided to take a drive to the northeast section of the park, where it is very dramatically beautiful. On the way out, we stopped at a scenic overlook of a beautiful canyon.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCeHNwpD0oo8dNmULW_yAo9BJzgaJZ9EFr93-Z-XlPpr_fxaZclE4cT5WKAKMI7imQdBW_r4sVdko8YxIP1U_Lkj_YJ6LT3nquhiYrcxFOOaZ98JvGV5tw4QGkD6SOpmTSSzv5sItw0k/s400/100_6464.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362166424670735794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Canyon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FiYe_GjcHzOf9twG8xP_3h7Q8ooAOz4JhJ4p2e0Qrwrr8XmR7QuG3-U00FGYW2qhp1Kaeu9sgnT-HG6kn2jqTY1PkAnTSidXsXSdHKt3h6FqE065vuanNu4Zccv1OnfUuazOEKAlSKM/s400/100_6468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362166429727540754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Casey and me at the overlook</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>We continued driving east and found ourselves in a small "bear-jam." The bear was a black bear and it was only about 10 feet away from the road in a meadow eating grass. We stopped and watched it for a while and it was very neat that it was so close.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkhJ9CfCtP5bk6sMA3vVhOKjlbNsENYMcXurq0CfScoQvydwFLpDvtywLPx38kG2UZFXuPvEWTjyyCcrukOwxc4fp6KBrPh2mj1eOhYfYJyArEiIj3V6cgBJRoAFFhPijRe4ygnRPYHc/s400/100_6481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362166449492312450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The black hear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU33xw28W4-Kz3K1pfPikFICugS7bDPdt1tdB-nYNcj71bysd2OPSuxEooHvuzaqAXGbWPXfYhH4S6sgz7wdo2vdQ_8yddvMB0IZ7Nl0qK1GXkrPluEOklHsjyuSFad8aWe7PV_oG1Sk/s400/100_6480.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362166441500936002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc9d_zPOoJz7ad3EwTTYLoQtlU9zUcUU6e2pQBEnNPPZbsu6G8aHTbVjsShvO1_PrzkVGofe5OOlwjS05yxfbYcr-Xb2_nA6wg3gdH5zfqf_7ckV3IVkTvdQzo14qt-Oh2t1y6-Vz1c0/s400/100_6514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167612345035858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A view near the Northeast entrance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>From there, we headed out of the Northeast entrance and into Cooke City, where there happened to be a large motorcycle rally. We drove through the small town but didn't stop (there was literally nowhere to park with all the motorcycles everywhere. We did see one motorcyclist dressed from head to toe in black leather, with a while skeleton painted onto it. He was wearing a skull mask and a cowboy hat, and had a huge pistol on on each hip and he was just walking down the street. It was very strange!</div><div><br /></div><div>We left Cooke City and headed back into the park. We stopped along the way and dipped our feet in a pretty little stream. On the way back to Mammoth, we saw a couple of large buffalo herds. It was great, because Casey had never seen buffalo before. All in all, it was a very nice, scenic and relaxing day and we both had a great time and saw a lot.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdFy7cledTd3tBc06ZtAWYQjfrCO2w7Lz4dQApUEHMUFXW7ncvkTLCVq7YWD9E1gBZtx228KA-h1HHlQqInoBarwId-ALOKs_SWnZ8V7vXSXekIEPdP5zUke34JnKOccmB8hXtYXRTQI/s400/100_6488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362166454739560338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The stream where we stopped</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgF-Enarxh2Dpn7ijAdvTsQYbY2B_4749E09XHyxKmkVew5AmWlwCHKaKPiY8IcZlK_IOoA84VSNE7Llak9fJ5AeaCuLit1BwUipmUsJyKiZn5q42-I5Wwp70jpPT5ztifMmsvG0KqHc/s400/100_6520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167619732509634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buffalo herd</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BvdLv8qwe4EWckOTg1IVEkkQETdl7-lLdSomKEhqcsgscVdATaT7_wZtApozD2v4X9LujoF-UEvGzdQd4Zb1u3s4rsdlwf4hTcJ9RGuw6kTs3576mhndqwtEEfLIcI75ct8O1SEvOac/s400/100_6521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167627988735538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VngYvQzF6xqq27cI6xiCdq2uieBBGYPIYfDiXpmrPbpYCHw01DhjIAN4Yqn7vxhMK-Q5i5vUKs_3sICHIVQ4ggL-Uaxa4nyMZ1_ssKpAWvbrMdte9WMd_hIyVtuwXNjbfLPnb-NVWZs/s400/100_6516.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167617597717666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A nice view in the Hayden Valley in the NE section</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-13536458135102672462009-07-17T16:20:00.004-06:002009-07-24T16:46:08.206-06:00Fairy CreekToday Casey, Erica, Charlotte, and I hiked the Fairy Creek Trail, just North of the Old Faithful area. The trail started next to Grand Prismatic Geyser, so we hiked up to the hill above the geyser to look at the amazing colors below. A little ways past Grand Prismatic, we took a left turn onto the Fairy Creek Trail, which began in burned forest. A mile and half into the trail, we came to Fairy Falls, a long thin waterfall 197 feet high. We enjoyed the view for a while and had a snack before proceeding. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLfCy5f-lJrKowIiNkTdx7jdgl_v7Dr-royPkIjcheO0CaXYM3b_BmycAiaEmDcJXDX54w_Xzv5gs7tVuolVCprLSh1EYm_E7BaOxB9w_1RcomvxQRxZwzNkEFh-QEJqfHiwWTTF_67Y/s400/100_6434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158727703009010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Fairy Falls</div><div><br /></div><div>About a quarter mile past the waterfall, we came to Imperial Geyser, a gurgling geyser situated within a crystal clear blue thermal pool. It's always pretty neat to see a thermal feature off the beaten path, away from the touristy boardwalks near Old Faithful and the other geyser basins. This was no exception.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqAdWx7u7ij7he4QMqKV_rzy7WzHCnHWIga19x1BrkAy2bM17XnoFJCAIJampoUf-nd5R8ag3t3yhqMChgygvNtMCXBQz_7I4El2dqvBufLekLiPNqIbAZdj0vjWnFq3xD3RY0zR1Bec/s400/100_6437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158731492050674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just past Fairy Falls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DCxZaCfVazOxkfuX0-Y_vuNyVk8wN7jdWG5tYDwwwmHQ4g-7NBgZwoKhZAHXuNZK1x3Bw28E3oOjrrqQc2NtT3choQ0sw_SZ9Ggviq6cYb6L4rzBUZvlUY_Kv0wOW1jZ-XGbtTmKBbE/s400/100_6439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158738728513218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Imperial Geyser</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>From Imperial Geyser, we headed deeper into the woods into partially burned forest. We started climbing up a ridge and from there entered a lush, unburned forest.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdJfzDpCh274r9G6rL8rPePPnnu9WL3xydSSADd6AI6RL1hHARmiuHTKdpH8cn0iQKhDGzE9zQyqpp0-C3ls0-5TC2HR5XMU_802cOYXi53yjC0ZxEF1tNhVp-GY964KjInV-KiCqNEk/s400/100_6449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158741463273938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The partially burned ridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6SYKF4ZjAoFHGVyiLEOY3CwtWwPZO5oOGWMn8S8xazOZ8DeaCFGicRa7Mqwz7v4M6daK2Y1IhtKrUR4GR4FetWx1wZir21uqT6cJSVnCNuEjXS09E3F6GHwOguD-6y1_JDjlI31dHgg/s400/100_6450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158751817049298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The lush forest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We continued on for several miles, in and out of the forest until we finally got to Mystic Falls (about 11 miles into the hike). The falls were really beautiful and were in a very dramatically part of the trail. After checking out the falls, we pushed through the final leg of the hike, ending up at Biscuit Basin, about 2 miles down the road from our car. Casey was able to catch a ride to the other trailhead and get the car to pick us up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyv7Y1ODJ-geB8wcO26U2FDjL6iWimiWxU-vr3DQLL0C_oZkhciTj3WdoKdjFRL4M1M24Xl7hO26GScVDMeg7UPom-MOWC4Pt0mzerx8oLV8G0XTDbkBacpbKhFIedWMe_j_N68O131xk/s400/100_6461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362159784309622866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mystic Falls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0hUSzrDjAHYD3jvJbLAG-4lUJx3-lYhawlmDrwl6UkY1FDh7oNQ0j1W489UKCViEortyg7k1gaInHmOQqtCsQozg8mc1gZ8YK5pwJRezL7GIhG-Nq4P0aGyd_vZ2SM-ynrue7DiAs9M/s400/100_6456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362159773456604722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The view above Mystic Falls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, my knee started hurting quite a bit during this hike. I am pretty sure it is an overuse injury related to my very tight IT band. I hope that a little rest will let it heal so I can do some more hiking before I leave in a few short weeks. I am sad I had to get hurt when Casey is here visiting as I was looking forward to lots of hiking with him.</div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-86190763232675670132009-07-16T16:48:00.004-06:002009-07-24T16:52:52.152-06:00Casey's Here!Today my brother Casey flew in to Bozeman for an 8 day visit! I took the day off work to meet him at the airport and bring him to rent a car (I needed to drop my car at the shop). We got the car and then went to leave my car in Livingston. From there, we went to one of my favorite places here - Chico Hot Springs Resort. We sat in the natural thermal spring fed hot tub and swimming pool before going to the restaurant for a good meal. It was nice to sit down and catch up over dinner and also to eat some good food, as I rarely cook out here. I am really excited about the week ahead with my brother and know we will have a great time!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-2219563795919891472009-07-12T18:05:00.003-06:002009-07-13T18:40:52.231-06:00The Thunderer (Chaw Pass)Today, Charlotte, Erica, Steve, Jake, and I hiked up Chaw Pass next to a mountain aptly named The Thunderer. The mountain is located on the east side of the park. I had not yet been out to that section of the park, and was amazed at how different it is from the rest of Yellowstone. It is much more dramatic in that area, and the mountains are rockier in the same sense that the mountains are rocky in Glacier National Park. This section of Yellowstone borders the Beartooth Mountains which are supposed to be absolutely incredible. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW_1nfq92FixuhMZITFTvQB-hppa9vO0hILPeQO0RKsF1PXj7wqQdim5bhp89vVJF4wK6DcGWmSBw7jjnhKmxD8VawOK6GAPmbfHX4VQupM4JhAjoZphDJP1RNxL81aOfnC0uoCAR2D4/s400/100_6393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358104476533673538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The view down the road from the trailhead parking area</div><div><br /></div><div>About 100 yards into the hike, we had to cross a wide, but not very deep river. We carefully made our way across in our sandals, and Steve was nice enough to cross back and forth several times to help us cross. The river came up about as high as my mid thigh, but the current wasn't very strong. The rocks in the river were very slippery and the water was extremely cold. By the time we got across, my feet and legs were completely numb. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYA2JTEnCPGDiY0mdHKP_byiCf_xmBq7Jvz62pxTqFsvz12WIZd_aRZ__T14XKscbxJojZ-_G7QIQLdaao7elXa0S7svsCgLp4vEMXlrT-hN0k9_ELiQZu4MmNHuF6zn7hlLRnM3W7oE/s400/100_6398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358104486518045106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The river we crossed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAIapXEWCntb7CMehMwDTl6rjuYVbhyphenhyphen7HUWhT7669QO7ZYtvrZ3EhQkzt6fD576XbNgZG8NSx4R2qi86u95QdYegYQBYi225iaYpjObRPpCYR1swxHCsWN5u0rIHsivolc3AFVj8E45U/s400/100_6399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358104493211114690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After crossing, we changed into our boots and began our hike. The trail was pretty steep the entire way up, about 3.7 miles. The trail was entirely wooded, but we were able to glimpse some great views in some breaks in the trees on the way up. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2fQOVIl-qh71CaTXRptA9WgPzEOk8vf46QLJ3enKkyC5MNVZ3Tu-1cwlsVRfASSduVdff8HCDk9LBt7o2LKFyPVdRIvlmTzIDnceDepSu3ASazja8uI29Gd5rtnaS8116KCBRoDWsW4/s400/100_6400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358104501034620354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A typical view of the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxT4xxjdK7JyRsuh36-1RazAhXnR9DYZzgKKWDC2UGm6swV2Mwot8_exe2doCRvDOreRI-LMyXl6oJeUsJGeJaSzIDhj0NE-lNm8Q99qhPHNRD7y6nMcN-JaTMT25pOiUasO_XDmCsno/s400/100_6404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358104508031063042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">A nice mountain view from a break in the woods</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>After almost four miles of tough, muggy hiking we came to the pass, which was sparsely wooded, but allowed views of the amazing and dramatic mountains around us. We ate some lunch at the pass, and then got up to leave when we heard thunder approaching and saw dark clouds starting to surround us. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPem1u54xv070W7NpZz07oxfocIZTEZCVkXsotlXmuk7346AJfZ_fHB7oo-gFD3hUn93Yjy2TvyCzme4oRgwRmF1IGdcONtuji3mdhf6q_3pFFx_Y_d7gnjy2EOUGKHgn2HIkZs6Rapc/s400/100_6411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358106529112045330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Thunder above us from Chaw Pass</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62__cEVNcU1AeQAZ3pwfJaPOlFgYs7V6XeCc2YWK2Bd5Ol6JvTnmd_pcnNx0G50zMKQC762hA0eVcjd55odvvrHzZyC2-GL41ahGdszgb48PSRj8GKix6Iu9TTln7S9_J8ERWPIiCCbM/s400/100_6421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358107314628290626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Erica, Charlotte, and me at the pass</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAkRK8-xcmQ2mn5Jz3RnXKn0or5GSiUILHBNKlOaFcfk3rpB6D-BQDEvIVqWu9KPQ8PzFTPSRhcbaTHDpCSLqybY6bexIXMcmubpZ-L_khqt-5SCy1RFCPawcjAwHq4lpc-LiPgpLsMI/s400/100_6419.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358106549798861730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRQ0XLd8hsnHzrIsiKkIyOZduNpXSbelh_I84iLKgVCan_xjUGmKqRipim19yNZiJUXGA9KN-9RN8n8ygkYlUYF8zgXFXCJPwIT75MA5ZAZoC_ryFwPoV4IHVu3QO7YsH8KVBavUcuhU/s400/100_6413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358106534390898994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGeXZFeYHkgIxtE5e274wQlLhmu3SANnX_2kXGsEWHb5jq16Z1rDAinTJlaq7r0DrwHmHJeXEOHGCxovPQ5cVBPIPt0LNp4oBXOsoumcfRXDkM0qLFp8K9q2wm8QfKtGeNN0eibg5Tk8/s400/100_6418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358106540617394242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It started sprinkling as we rushed down the mountain. We hurried down and never got poured on, but did hear thunder the whole time. After about an hour, we made it back to the river crossing and the end of the hike. The cold water definitely felt good on my feet and legs at the end of the hike!</div></div></div><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113653223695550011911.00046a395794547d6038c&ll=44.36436,-110.61578&spn=1.313533,0.428338&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113653223695550011911.00046a395794547d6038c&ll=44.36436,-110.61578&spn=1.313533,0.428338&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Places Hiked</a> in a larger map</small>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-74493474965818170382009-07-11T17:52:00.002-06:002009-07-13T18:05:20.720-06:00Divide Mountain and Grand PrismaticToday, a big group of people from the dorm hiked Divide Mountain. The trail was very short (1.7 miles each way), wooded, and extremely buggy. There were no vistas on the hike up, and when we got to the top we were all very disappointed. All we saw at the summit (if you can call it that) was trees all around us. To avoid being eaten alive by mosquitos, we hurried back down to the car. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO5JdAsUOklVWSgSamOT_bSdbT2RgBPW-7G0wEUYRvJUFNCvAsjPp266LheLlSRLvV6HTAdv0_-a-jxGi6CYJfTFTB79s5ch9Yw9YTIfcXv0Edc2SLC9hM9y9hBP8ULhLJyGMA70CdB4/s400/100_6379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099193013897026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">On top of Divide Mountain</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwnzQIvVIIJiyubTWJdBsBDTXpof35kg46YcBZPuTg_dod_PEaO5-zlOOZHSv1xjbNNaBZcJ92z_eqvNK8gu7rpwI5Etv1PvSPwg8b9kxh8s61cCuWoqJp-g92SzFeB23p9j1ukcDbW8/s400/100_6380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099201157088130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The top wasn't scenic</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUe2ruXWOvAs-ASVh9MerCNyjg5-go2i8GF2h2IgQWayfts0joJWFJn4qcAT5jO9Lj_Avpho8KK2FwYCUSzMyU8-A3q_oSO1-nX-cyKigHskC1ypAkKvrxi2vF-tmdI7uNLpQs9XyaFc/s400/100_6381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099208622838370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>After that, we headed to climb the hill behind Grand Prismatic to get a view of the amazing colors of that enormous thermal pool. The hike up the hill took less than five minutes, and the views were absolutely amazing! I really want to take my brother, Casey to see this when he visit next week, and would also like to show Colin when he comes back up in a few weeks!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9gRc0MOCghtfHU9-eTmFRNRngomJHzoAUOqM0MwexgN5R3HWdzKv4ciMS0fx-FC9L19SKicqwUOD7Upr3WQ9AuQrbmJlo5jZRfLHswDX80IP4vSFE9dzLHIhLprWB4prgsFlda-qL6A/s400/100_6385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099798280664962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grand Prismatic</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXW1Ft6HR-L5v_Ty00QKVeUNjfKGqTUjXsc25kxvD5JgK24CxuKKf69DDqpM1_oG3z8sjDJI4vJeu17jC9o_5GwiSeGsxG10l-WqB01Bn__qR2wv11usxIFKm3VZMy22WA3JvlWkl_Vf8/s400/100_6389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099805767131170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1s_08xlLNZDf3UXMxhiWfKBDLeQiWXgtjEEZlTKWwwW0QraqKDRVpA0u4oKG9-5Zcj0DiSXprgyRh4vrgHdULXmbYfQhnAXfH_XSh4SAyldjOI_IwFc58TD3liG0jRVxlh2IeUCBSHs/s400/100_6391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099814264539282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-54221597853823867762009-07-05T19:22:00.007-06:002009-07-06T20:55:56.128-06:00Sevenmile HoleToday John, Charlotte, and I hiked the Sevenmile Hole trail, a ten mile out and back in the Canyon area. The trail began along the forested rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and offered several amazing views of the colorful canyon from breaks in the trees. We continued in this forested area for the first three miles or so, before reaching the Sevenmile Hole spur trail.<!--StartFragment--> <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H4V_V6bSNE3Zwl4mJ-UUNIJ-KCieVzN728RCHiN2JM0BPquzhjw-ODsfhOVf1OpZIlGWeQe3Gp7TC4BqqxV6IROb1NF8LNlT9xn201eWJhXgNRHE8RuUdmO88njgR7aggCpstPGWFhs/s400/100_6329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526777061408738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">A view from a break in the forest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgksSxO02dyhVPp7S2Kntz7uYbfI8-jCjNMpc9yGbBJO5FmafOej-H4mmyZrtvaQZrTxLMKjQN4SCaWIxcG7rhjBv-VkJzR6B6WPT5DSlrSHAyI05sGofNLAQsvAYtXBCjOig1WruAXo/s400/100_6332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526782983152994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another nice view of the canyon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCqt-duX0Bk6JVdsSQzuWIC0iaupnY4R8t7Ayn-EEGyah_JTzdJJG7Qy4CF6uRKdpRf5DV9p7QLmbOTJ3XohBB6uZzygQnrczSi5ApjlBMq_1qV2RQaSe5Tp8FoNbyMdotCLi1Y-lTAs/s400/100_6334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526789924120642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Silver Cord Cascade across the canyon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPDHXBO58QXjZ9JUK2rOpueiknmNav6ZAG5NERLBPdOmkfrXOuXowAq6NrFavTTCq4l6Mw5s-4Eb2fDzXUV_OICtJln2P5-qrS51N5vCN_YQZxln95eJJh3yZp9KLfZqCALoAA85SF0o/s400/100_6336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526795119479810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took this trail, which continued through the fairly level wooded area for another half mile before beginning to switchback sharply downward into the Canyon. Along the way, we saw a large dormant geyser to the side of the trail. We switchbacked for at least a mile before we found ourselves hiking down a steep volcanic area, covered in white sand and dirt.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_09HwbOPVQaE3hyphenhyphenaSfpJjjNMTxmTLl_PsVLA3UmaCUctVLbf_eqMhQ_PsrEJGF_4TJsTFyD7nn9ofijHtYstHyeQ5nXK0im35Rr2aW1MabaXycBa8GhWVZ9pzgsQ4RMCF0xABMfiOZ9M/s400/100_6339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526802802954370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctjBou_C73RE_elZpJe1okTG7WHC4W5jzDTS20SqaR4p_ykU3KrTaSdQuN97XXsW57uzktgiQ-yb6OJnDQ3VeiiK7WFNp8qVKXxIR1JSzSzWjA9yK02pd9gKaYPCAOyqTQ2fgn0i13-k/s400/100_6375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355545909571463346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34Q7gAbpaw8hN7UmjCFfKA4UmZXI6T0ZTK-K9GL2l1JGNzq-GqW0xeAOjqMYb3d5jICpDKjxg0Wfvks9yCSZGr0NzDH2qBxTM5-tWyePWaby8O85DeKx3zyeKtOJvpg0u-mMtk4Dt-yw/s400/100_6340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355529333195653634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The dormant geyser along the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEKVWuMa-McL1RfUD0Q-awAEykhirme8dVlL3YiK-ZLs_SUfBQlcMa5i2ifmh9sJ4xYtfQpYwa67SR4LrfXVMfyQta9hMGxOmSeceIMgKvYScUrSMRPlPosJFYIlLi_UVrcnhoCDMS_4/s400/100_6341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355529334514443922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The trail down into the volcanic area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_hZDIyNEl-EpyN7mwF5QavB-G-hEdNwJ5N1Ilzftzip9apUNh16udIQ2P9zXKHDp3Dm9BAqx7k9TwP1XqDKaHAzBQP_BQ-tSMgJyv0A9Xn6gZGBK-LtyS9UM2YyQ5rhvaxgqTD1C2aY/s400/100_6343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355529340034217874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63tTH6vObC3Sg719L8iPPtow2erLq2cIfd0AvucxQggh6uRGU62p6EY_Bvr1i8NS1G0MAoMzPXuXpaSxcsA9_uyuRReSTq90mtVivVmKaRn0fLnexJWQ9pPfcupIQ6hlMnauY8rh45UA/s400/100_6345.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355529354772972274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The canyon in view from the volcanic area</div> <p class="MsoNormal">We hiked through that area into a wooded area with several small meadows before finally reaching the bottom, where we were level with the river at the bottom of the canyon. It was a beautiful place – the canyon walls rose up in front of us with red and yellow hues. The green water rushed past us, roaring and full of white rapids.</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjZS2o_qoLFcANSjrPvThOCGhAZ9B0URkZHr2a-1C4FUPE1W2OI8D_xjSm1MO8Df-PCn_qGXZPV6B1BAtxDstrjG2D4wKwWyBnxCIheEP9uIUhv9rdMKRdNlW44su8dcU53ozbw7fOBY/s400/100_6350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355533922722685554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCCNR6zKhuDr2PYW0R7qYupf15lMlWFe1CoEjWIfAR2GKjYD9xuXmLmaTCWZIG1_AkB-6aHWMgXnTqOWzfYRM0V5ZAdq2reAJOvXyVM4-KVGrwUelr2w2ZNDjga7qeySJZJeLGl2blys/s400/100_6352.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355533937279004850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL57pBM4ujI6MNEIwE38XNIKk_TPLgQovX1WL0RRYqLqHo6JAKsVyJPN4EEXldHFl7e8u0AMpFssesKIQdayNVz3HLninbrMlB9qa4ocumdmwsMsiPMqT8CTYa2gfLkB_MdjX-O4bAbA/s400/100_6358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355533944336994354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyfRKMEakjYkJylU7PiUW8obO0ts7Hfdx6EACq2ec9VJoOf2o7E9i0tGCUR3PkQsgHgh0UdaeIlkwzxAlreUn7WR2QZ4SSzahnxPBjmTk3d-H2FiyCwDx0inkbe2zqO5ilO0LefmxSGM/s400/100_6362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355533952212583138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUACAWljBudqV0IaWDnAtfTzfhmN5XkqjdSgaXP7YwM52UptbjVO6vp5jg8krInMQ1NiwxAzuQB8NsUTQylBSGsf3ZTukxGV2d2_U5bDwNW1Cb9Uk75kBzUoWx2-LlTuormjZWILOzrg/s400/100_6365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355533962604433826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The lovely colors of the canyon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXee_wZqytYug6LI0b5x8T0WbrQeOb97t3ByTCrdyoZTyeVfA9BbhANr5O-SinIVRtIaMzkOlVQ68bTXaymZQ2YywOwhU4cNhQj6dXW-6UhWiQ0OejF_r7zqOs7hYOTlhsFE5A5LDHWU/s400/100_6370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355545896221869138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIFmpu3hyphenhyphenFRi7wMgBa-H0IFrgrvOvmiNXoBeLs2GVa7Bb5HvgoHDaBRsQHX6e72itdx8lCrNQYgn8pWzPoYjo2-ZRPt8XY9Ua0iD5l9WOq9dSuNX2AhveRCS6cgE0fYjxW9Y78nnDtqE/s400/100_6368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355545888874326610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aH9VLCMdmoTRSIS5YGoAvu6C1lZw8y4NmZvtHPBsYP9Mjvi-Cu1V6WdvYus7ek3PMz5Ksr-xIzRg1ZpwE7sDUfy2rXv4eUYspA_srlcDogUBfVuwg9nO5IcSBHlsYbyXK3OZlFa6LmQ/s400/100_6371.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355545903216809922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me, Charlotte, John</div><p class="MsoNormal">We rested next to the river for about 45 minutes before beginning the arduous ascent up the canyon. We climbed about 1,400 feet in under two miles, and we definitely felt it. Many sections of trail were in the open, with the sun blazing on top of us. Most of the trail us was incredibly steep. Somehow, we made it up the trail quicker than we had gone down (I think it’s harder to go down steep sections because it is hard on my knees). </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the top, we hiked back out of the woods the same way we came in. We noticed storm clouds in the distance and heard thunder, so we hurried to finish hiking before getting rained and stormed on. We just barely made it to the truck when it started raining. We really couldn’t have timed our finish any better. All in all, it was a beautiful hike, and I really enjoyed the steep ascent from the canyon. After hiking over 150 miles so far this summer, it feels good to be able to cruise up steep trails like the one we hiked today. Hikes like these will put me into great shape for some longer, steeper hikes later on this summer.</p></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-79841612348655496932009-07-04T18:48:00.007-06:002009-07-06T19:20:40.781-06:00Crevice Lake (almost!)<p class="MsoNormal">After driving back from Livingston this morning, Charlotte and I decided to hike to Crevice Lake, an 8.4 mile out and back, this afternoon. The trailhead is located about six miles East of Mammoth, so it didn’t take long to get there. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we started hiking, the weather was very hot and sunny. We could see dark clouds in the distance, but we decided to try hiking anyways. We started out at the same trailhead that Erica and I used to hike the Rescue Creek trail a few weeks ago. We turned off that trail after about 0.8 miles. The first few miles of trail were through beautiful green meadows, and we could see mountains in the distance. We hiked through the meadow for about two miles, and then descended into a lovely ridgeline alongside a pretty stream.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-snhn2QIJfX0BFYWnVK4jpA9ok8Jz2vm2kvBg30I3CAG0dSPY6n1mVPLJ0mxgcPJJ7QVvKApewg_LASNFARSwT1DLGox5EqK32evqP8meRzcYDz8Ynsrhpr_A4X-Pg2PI2ah73j1Srd4/s400/100_6307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355516499926414594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful weather when we started hiking</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YvXCaORiOU95Ggr88yF7inBZUNTxtcaxcgo1cDCBT1e4lZQi03vdMVWbiPxfrJp2XiixqkxaHHeSM-ae4p314efAF8UB6-a-OPZrmNB7m555UshwLef-qDl2GMmYzIXeQY9A90UqMG8/s400/100_6312.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355516511677975714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">The nice meadow we hiked through</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wqy_U2SR67TxxPDBkUYAEIHoTO8OFV4T9bb6CdS2u2sGOWDKGXAune66BlHjDChZkpzznVRUPO_Cbl9aSZeq-RwgG7L0DZq9VPH_rHoI3dBTvtxD_aiPfc-wRcwNE1LydSsDx8bk0nU/s400/100_6313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355516517569240786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORsXG00GshRH3aT0Ge0cs8v7x7dT-ZzfIS0FBt_T_0qWGsa1HMpf4Fsb21TY2c07T17FWbV-mf6tPde5w4BAD8VdSHiJb6evtMhyYd_Zuw9HmdZ7_v0v4VaS2T7LG8yj5R0io7VOAbi4/s400/100_6314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355516522511461730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cf6cUuXn9EdG7Xbrgb-RyY_YsLP8M66zv2ZKSBZJD-NE_yDrC4DTzattYyAUgIIcQ6SItIaAV0VDEAJleOnd0p7ZFpAelHg8hcc2piZxiI3ov41QK6zqmnCFiIeMgDnoEKvcq_esPzA/s400/100_6309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355516502684240914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Scary clouds in the distance</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As we hiked along the ridge line, we started hearing thunder way off in the distance. We also noticed dark clouds in the direction we were heading. It wasn’t raining, so we decided to try and beat the storm, as we were pretty close to our destination by that point.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWweSG5CSSqy9YdW6QxEKx3r3R2ubuF49wNe1FptRfEJfgia7vsc-l9XbXcEgHeVaIHM-klSAj1bwaSAR2fQSHd-gx9NdeSZHpRFMT5KVUMgBIO-Cy5mXv2E_cIM4rW0dbTMhj5dawGI/s400/100_6317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355520381265523730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the ridge line</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The ridgeline brought us to a very long metal bridge over the river. It was quite a sight to see such a huge bridge in the middle of nowhere! We crossed the bridge, and headed towards Crevice Lake. A couple of minutes after crossing the bridge, the weather turned very quickly. We saw a huge bolt of lightning a few miles in the distance, with loud thunder rumbling within a few seconds. The thunder shook the ground we stood on.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ5ioa-nUf20rQp3GqpuBNhhgd-6pcA3Mv1XyEiqz3G2c0EEyPCvTvNMBA2JxcszrTPOfQYG920ybvUMNlwUm3vrwfY-yeOObfDpQ2QOjvhe6UePXZSTXzoxK2aq19tpN4bl5Ov8cJjY/s400/100_6318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355520386257901218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At this point, we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and turned around. It was hard to do, because we were within 0.1 or 0.2 miles from Crevice Lake, but it was definitely the right thing to do. Within a minute it was pouring down rain and the storm was right on top of us. We rushed down the trail as quickly as we could with lightning flashing and thunder shaking the earth. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was a very scary ordeal for a couple of miles, but then, just as suddenly as the storm hit, it disappeared. All of a sudden, we were walking in sunshine and the storm was behind us. We continued walking in the bright sunshine for the remainder of the hike. It was hard to believe the weather had been so bad just a few minutes and miles before.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-umWrnt2rz0TFcqZK7Hq8F8qPFp6l4CPnqo0Xjn-M3DK9C3W64NV6wIB8XdCV9yaNy2cCasjXCkKW8JedBJJ-7Z8xjCpxP29mMAgcnMDMVouheqdC-0itOuE7nXcz3WuWSRxoaN7INs4/s400/100_6320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355520390869986466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Clear skies again</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkUWY1Mt9Zwk7ArfVdrC7KL_EjZL-Qw49JKwnzsE7NbjNi0LxDIwWxNEmta8OItoUcpADtXFcHnjBVUL_lhhdPpqGUH-Kne8_S73Yp-3SeNczMpwK9TzYIDqT9PN8k4LsQbFMFScy86U/s400/100_6324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355520397149400418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Walking back to the trailhead</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sTVzPYH_B7riSNp9ekGTNIoA9xcHrZ7wo737Cm-iYo0QjmCblRDVVNvY2Qn6TvJxjkvwL1naQolquKXtKVLS17MGisFT56VnGNCESLz410PbRVrNNqzTFYbOIvsGC4JwcqIX7An7sBk/s400/100_6325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355520407972728258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Me near the end of the hike</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRGkDOrtjboPw8LzNbXLOxqijurGO6BY4jtW98MdGx3pbX9ngNhSWK_lWsF2BJoZ0QKpa2WFSZxXMRQ7kfdEp9bn4g_zMkT4AigcAfkEnV6W8s7r0NZRdCt_1xNdE5z0SBiOyIX7Kmlw/s400/100_6326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355521520428840418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">D</span>riving back from the hike, we saw a billowing cloud of smoke behind the dorm. I wondered if it was a lightning strike fire, and sure enough, it was. Luckily, the fire department was already on the scene putting out the small fire.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the hike, the few people around the dorm this weekend (most were in the Tetons or Beartooths) had a nice little BBQ outside with hot dogs, watermelon, and ice cream. It was a wonderful way to spend the Forth of July.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-8919061815321534112009-07-03T19:00:00.000-06:002009-07-06T19:08:22.351-06:00Bozeman and Livingston TripToday Today I went to Bozeman with a bunch of people from the dorm. We made a lot of stops around town. Most importantly, I picked up my gorgeous engagement ring (which was being resized) at the mall. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjy846IES3YegJq2ssl884-vZSlyNE0PeyXyyDAF8_SoK1n7p7LawduRvt3u_T1ZSF7mUA7_vdLSopGSfY6QB7Y_jV05rS-srG3XKp0HxcgIAbgFkMb4DCfwocW3p6O-WCWLUmX5kP-0/s400/DSC01425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355518394376294274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8z4Bh_DMAszSOX1lyE02eNe7zATuuG82ZOD3PnLELhcBhyphenhyphenKMA8gEjVuYKWp8FwRDDqJrjNYcKVqhPklQ4Ps_4Rf6eHIhGMVC6yArcptMbTWw_yU8eZ4smVgy8pZRHC1dkgCLr7v4yyk/s400/DSC01426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355518411701390210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdDpEuPS8KiiQhAIzZmrJ4UgtLGCgM7sJzo3WPXKpbVXwKaGbD1OVFu4gERmzrL76min8fwy4rRRu2wwq6_Z3bsHpTKSFlBsipVM16fDdMeQv_xQ5O9XUWzFv3OBKZjpq9XZOREgstqc/s400/DSC01422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355518381650487186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5Uz6SwPCJuFWfcJfFv9UgeNXcjI3QpNa7gsBCXISttSefuXCh85XUxW-Bke2I_fVGlWF1Km0H4ZSBHcHwHc1pS0aElU9TeAUmfsNH-cUeELgCC42oaWaBnhJcMBonjLe1eEf_8D6H8U/s400/DSC01427.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355518415063640562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px; " /></span></div><div>We stopped and had a delicious lunch at Dave’s Sushi and checked out a great used/new bookstore in town. From Bozeman, we headed to Livingston to go to the Forth of July Rodeo, but when we got there, we were disappointed to find out the tickets were all sold out We had already gotten a hotel for the night, so we headed out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and then hit a few bars and saw the rodeo fireworks before returning to the hotel. Almost everyone went back out to the bars later on, but Charlotte and I stayed in at the hotel and enjoyed some cable TV, a luxury we haven’t had since we’ve been out here. All in all, it was a great day, but I really wish I could have seen the rodeo. I hope I will have the chance to see one while I am out here.<!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-74551073425698601502009-07-02T17:57:00.005-06:002009-07-06T18:48:09.139-06:00Garnet HillToday Jake, Steve, Charlotte, and I hiked the Garnet Hill loop trail. The trailhead is located at Tower Junction, in the Northeastern section of the park. When we arrived at the trailhead, we noticed very dark clouds not so far away and could hear thunder in the distance. We decided to hike anyway, and turn around if the weather got dangerous.<!--StartFragment--> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaEXXElCFKLyd5OvRec4tAG-SKMYWFFB8DYGCMV4tXUttVXSbxp3u1D60Iju2a0Ey_TPoSmnD5JsKM349X-Nc6bwpIV0ij5AfUw1lH6PjAMLx5FhVWNWraQfa6-MrTG0cbjcijOnGtw4/s400/100_6266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355507691973439666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;">Garnet Hill Trailhead</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiiSvBBN_qeWAG2AETtrzd0Rj3WlW34nQUNRvXLySBpnfUf61HxgDP-XxiELFWv5JUbTXgOq6CsYRk_SVXvpkTFJ5kdXRUgrgMvW6svB_7Cp0A70muNTMiTokBObw7vI53OR_Lra7pwU/s400/100_6268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355507700734910418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Threatening sky</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first few miles of the trail were in an open, fairly flat, meadow, with green grass and shrub brush all over.<span> </span>We hiked through the meadow and enjoyed the views of mountains, including Garnet Hill, in the distance.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jgYrz2_MSjlmkptWFVcqwN64kTUYNM02gpQao2J72NB1a-NDLdWZeozT7TgzymRWOXbalJZ7EVAuZJ-R7bLxeH1fOU9vQp0ivcpFpajgjbR4eMTq_dp4b-4PpABdq9CYL-0lY8u9FMI/s400/100_6271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355507707016437170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PaDNzVjk-qPGnJbnah_M06c4Ja-Tf9qP-NzvksHRhqIrcaUG9GjV6GCgSK2Vbv3-f0Rg1fBu3KTT1AwyRqiQeISXRoqOZ-MsVF7I_jutCNwE4YEkEBO_InhmDjpP5U9zuIc3qFhYDSk/s400/100_6273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355507717534870594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwhzw9v7MMWBbuAw7x4uiPXIGjIeDgO8sCoaN8YmbPSMyo3vAO5wAi5b6u1qJyYQHDTHs8x_9alfvvTQTY2Qenkm9vCM3wn1kKXKfKKEoPWGkGlCuRjawX552Gwuv5UzfLFr4Mz3iuJE/s400/100_6275.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355507725383278322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After hiking a few miles, we descended into a forested area. We came out of the forest into a meadow alongside the Yellowstone River. On the other side of the meadow was Garnet Hill. We walked between the river and the hill for close to a mile before we began switchbacking onto Garnet Hill. The hike was not a summit hike, so the trail soon leveled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We stopped for lunch under a shady tree (by this time, the storm clouds had dissipated and it was sunny and quite hot).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1HZj0kKkCc2bq9lKkwYoUXajaME6ojQ22u9qcwqzGhyIVUv9vvUzMiKKwrRa5TT6Bd_K6upKFPcjxXks-y6h1F1dyZO-JCUzv1b_CiK-2QDSSkTLrkkLV29qAnV6QwPNgxdxCWq064g/s400/100_6277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355511057150390258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Entering the woods</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0kV1hyROQFCOZ5mf6_n2FQpBXt4w0xyBYbMRro5TBIUEanqcPgaC6SbHJX1G4RwZxKrt-Qfi5NO2NEJciMQf2yXdWYLtWf7RZLymje2YKV2Vppi1JhrHg_kWa5XwfE6_OOxFvfn7MGE/s400/100_6281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355511067293018178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEQW_m9zFC60udzhUX0-LpVWB76mp91kDkXJDUYU4FF848Jg7U9QwgqDWMvBNTeyq1Yz3qNtSAkktOeshs-p8e2FSyeCDJfApK_mWXOT9xSqGfdnie1BzPrG9I1Psy3VmgJWK5inGbyM/s400/100_6285.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355511068322014882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3zo8Ms2axQqqUOr0YQG1L4XbKW_2OKiXLDeZ9uxg1X86x_rAqWDP4-K-ai24GSxSE0DiPbyn8UfxbZMbPNMlRZn3GjDIMFY856vJ7g6q1DFT4rwAgmPRPHa3-l45pVys8o1jlTuP7RE/s400/100_6286.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355511083779141538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHVIfj8utGF_ihfV2Sv3zIPelzEAQ43EEIFrkfxybtZQY0phxXgJGpASGnPZc79goAyPGf7qe8fQ1bwP7a3xYveJl939Mlk57MZHlR-j4z6Mpd5gGTc0R1bm7LBqB34eVukVsSs7toDw/s400/100_6288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355511090057339922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After our break, we walked through a beautiful area with rocky cliffs on either side before heading back into a green meadowy area. We continued hiking through this terrain until we reached the road that we had started on and headed back to the car.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE59DL3KZapwKzTICJdahMZ7-SBMCBkWdkRaR_AsL1ObTbngG3ninaDiDA83QyoaFa-E5EiViTEMV5LZFb2vpKMV3xZzQpR3FSWQAGhO9kLH1LUoj3m6GdFmUJ_jgY6MqFW3mfWJGwyg/s400/100_6301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355512914967705890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT23vvFkNJVxFhmkZTD9PfG2n98xjH2nvBoxezzB3VqrqnnyqiDNs4gWvsK9rn7OjB1eeag0b7OkeVw3pe7vRoOWy4wSW_Oqz77z2B51jkFH0rYvBCUUbdd_WBe38xrRIMFMKCxmlzARQ/s400/100_6304.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355512930600401202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-39564165034503761772009-06-28T21:10:00.000-06:002009-07-02T21:13:24.585-06:00Birthday in Bozeman<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Today was my real birthday, but this weekend has been so great that I feel like my birthday has lasted 4 days straight! Colin flew back to Denver from Bozeman tonight, but before that we had a wonderful day together. We headed towards Bozeman at around 10 AM. On the way, we stopped at Chico Hot Springs and soaked our tired legs in the hot water. We stayed there about an hour and headed the rest of the way to Bozeman.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Right when we got to Bozeman, we went straight to Zales, where Colin had gotten my engagement ring. Because the ring was too big, we had to drop it off at the store here to be resized. They have to send it out, but I should have it by this coming Friday. I can’t wait!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After that, we got some lunch at Mackenzie River Pizza in downtown Bozeman. Our waitress there was amazing and made us a beer sampler even though it wasn’t on the menu. She let us try at least 10 different beers but only charged us for one pint. Not only was the beer delicious (all from local breweries) but the pizza was incredible. We got two kinds and shared them: a Thai pie with peanut sauce, mandarin oranges, chicken, roasted red peppers, and peanuts and another with asaigo cheese, roasted potatoes, onions, and rosemary. I know we will be going back there next time we are in Bozeman!</p> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">After that, we walked around town and eventually got some ice cream before it was time for me to bring Colin to the airport for his flight. It was hard to say goodbye, but I know I will see him again in just four weeks for more hiking adventures here in Yellowstone. Knowing that made saying goodbye much easier. We had the most amazing weekend ever and I can’t wait for some more in just a few more weeks!</p> </div> <!--EndFragment-->Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863704976775268556.post-59432552819035326542009-06-27T20:25:00.008-06:002009-07-02T21:33:45.762-06:00Sepulcher MountainToday Today Colin and I hiked Sepulcher Mountain, a strenuous 12-mile loop hike that starts and ends in Mammoth. We started on the Beaver Ponds trailhead next to the Mammoth Terraces. The first few miles of the hike were filled with beautiful yellow wildflowers. <div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJgxbiNJBpZOxWPzsIB-Bj9AagnVVqSIktE8dIQDfu_VN64o8zfsntBVQt7650z2ZTgeFUIFp2nWAh64iVBe33AVLVMT7HY35ATfuJ5gfsAzRI-AdIzAcsQguL6ZojggA9250zFyMfNY/s400/100_6173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354058667459634770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The first five miles of the hike climbed steeply uphill to the summit, an elevation gain of 3,500 feet. The weather was absolutely perfect for hiking – sunny yet cool and comfortable. Soon into the hike we entered a burned section of forest, then climbed steep switchbacks up a tall ridge. There we were treated to the first of many amazing views – we could see Mammoth and the Terraces on one side and tall snowcapped mountains on the other.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN2gpdf67DU8kaYs4RTJqeU5jCvCXEmKAnhBUhBdBn5FhEZ3m8kMkfyAsoUaPQL_qzV0_t1wmLm1soNEbWB6wa0VbYnH5Ts5cseaQFx2t-jlm1IA5Kz7jNj5ut0JjLIgb3uAyfIfCWC4/s400/100_6177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354058685786794306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">A nice view at the start of the hike</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2zP9LE-NcaqubPuoLDxIJNQN7VoyFd8TC5drUO6CQtLmmJnGs-dPo1Vd-qgZSR-KFJZu-g7jhARdvAS1fM-WAICa1mhuEdgYhY1k_OgMNYrPnK_U-_GPZB6mO7jHB10QcvW0t0YZ-8U/s400/100_6183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354058696421823634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">A nice lake </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJicWH6okofPNg8oybBuwX2NLJArqRuYoBBa795Gkzy-h7GPZi4_T8rgaPPqKK3fvnBs7l_gGBbu4-7dRqFT9NoQXFzVp4kW-BIzE8nMQ_Zc2sAgMl13iFJSnbS1FwXWUpSC5hXx0sdcM/s400/100_6184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354058706790578002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The ridge we hiked up</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR9LkqR0Doyd3Foc6GVbgPTFOXLEoNARQzLB8h0nQXdh6phRXbw1JT4nI9w6T5vRns81r5-JC3pyXsd2sLvE_k59C_EIQhf8kQ-TWaYR2b_nBNOITi41iP94ji-1gBiHRNvaVYrrxs-o/s400/100_6187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354060236417651634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Me at the top of the ridge with beautiful views behind me</p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there, the trail continued to climb steeply alternating through meadows and forest. After a few more miles, we got our first view of the rocky summit ahead of us. During the entire hike up to the summit, it felt like we were going slow, but we made it to the peak in less than three hours which we felt was pretty respectable.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMNrGkeoc4pXukEWHWWjYUcjNIrwdNtv0qG8pFfsrkNEEa9UorZs-L4PoFgeC_7iSRyuwXc3sOxhLm1vs1q8WUjcOvGL2GUmTUIkiuUz0WhZ5WMA5sgirjayqKB9mToDC4vla07nbomk/s400/100_6203.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354060242663454034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; ">Another great view a little further up</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12cAFytaublBAthZI9b_S7gOCi7ZSxGHZYjGLVR_qdRSyel-TbbPMHGxkeHtEcSoO-o8WD8u9uFRc8t4RBnwlju3Hv0ureJJkA1BovfF_jG8BOZ5SBGNGAP6MKoKoXE_MSvugDKfpuUU/s400/100_6205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354060246883234338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Here we could see the summit ahead of us</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We stopped at the summit for about an hour, where we ate lunch and took in the incredible views on all directions. We could see Gardiner, the Absorokas, and Paradise Valley on one side and Electric Peak looked as though we could reach out and grab it on the other side.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNT-3tKoZqUNNuyRugFajG_WLWyj5abEuRgJDS45gXBWLhyphenhyphenGJbGhdlSo-SZZciJinwZSvn2DBawwCmGB6-7jZ_kLUMTge0dGRgStGPsnHabfuIRmEKsUIrZLO4P0gs_eCZLxQEGNrd4FQ/s400/100_6211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354060261401547922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Electric Peak in the background from the summit</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEV4Ljovrax_RAykDHmfniIfw_kHcmCx9v71l-z0Iwv4m2z1puaX1R1MHc3lFZ_7VIhK0_rAcmx26GkaSKMOByaUui89yYLwOHZC4rZHAw7xEiR5a59jwqMUkzAZhVVPSqKVixaL2hH0/s400/100_6217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354060263354262786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Colin and me at the top</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYO-qnx8mMYhghWf_47plHFWZCSQ5bfq-njvj1lrG0amVr7TQWTnu3_MumC10UU3cVWsPNgrA2s6gasOE3hG-89jYWRxt3kcq2HS0plZuwRzwhfG5zZTEBvXV3Gg_7kcG73R7mdBrhUA/s400/100_6221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354062479115293010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">View from the top</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qFvbra7s5PL4ivr1Bb7G5mtmDtzFfLDPbOZXcoyF6fpO50F9zJSRkebzRnaJwODImDdH8smlA7YAFFk_BH6Dk47VfZEbmrbW-YS4TtoKVa3FE0c7AXvr9YK_91Kyqz0obTpNCV_c6wk/s400/100_6222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354062489509306210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Another summit shot</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-DjuDgOC6nb1AS8arhCtIu9tAXTgbsrHnvA1l0G6NARNxw-aXRYL7XvmQsic7VNVh27cKf8IL7rnK3qfFKkDjNh96wveZQImlmcv4QvSsJaCvpy5HeuJl2J9jUlL4e6GcgPPyV61VQ4/s400/100_6223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354062497221754514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Valley in the distance</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgsu_OedEax18yrcvhi9J6xlgwijKTPXzzqhqG3UIXzHGc_HxglSjRQmc4yDzYw0KSHgBKdLP1GxvTBTSs5lltRt3XhDKiZMsH6bZAAClk3-82R8pJfHcG9Fbh_bG6v7CDZtDK5FKAGU/s400/100_6227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354062500731523250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Gardiner and mountains from the summit</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMUk6_BfXQVY95RLkhVp-CJvZlaX9tsWWpF-dkJmkaQFiqcql2ljt1ReOPBBnDEFv70yhWBwIayNKhceSDk_25i0dxnLkAIgMFrDOk8K6iM7DXwLtbEcdCvUXnlYAjWlavS5FCOJ0z1c/s400/100_6233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354064961003574898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Electric Peak</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">It was hard to leave the amazing views at the top, but we knew we better continue in order to finish the 7 miles left in the loop. We began switchbacking down the other side of the mountain from which we had ascended. The other side was a grassy meadow that offered amazing mountain views as we descended. It took us an hour and a half or so to get down the switchbacks. From there, we entered a forested area and then connected with part of the Terrace Mountain loop towards Mammoth. The trail was mostly downhill from the summit onward, which is harder than it sounds to hike. We finally finished the hike at around 6:30 PM and about 6 hours of beautiful hiking.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWTFayZ96LUYsNNPfUxjFG-V1lpDmch6-iXqcdgyhJlUjwU-tjjujtc_sfyhAp15CnEMnC1yA4ZIwr_w5_d10L_RNDkAFEuKRHNJ2BKp0qMAKWY2AKuA3_0YTKc2_oQvitugHXY0O7eo/s400/100_6249.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354064969274891314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">A view on the way down</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6TK9mr4QxXy96i5FUPZgU69gzLJ7uPbN6vF1I8io_51WmTCkZwD7ILmMnePxlJ5lqRtijeo15swIuIclJfE9hG87rlS-H-O5kmQVs7BJMfwdjeOgSy8t3jLAPuD_zVfl0iFT7fC31Vk/s400/100_6253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354064975590373010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Switchbacking down</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76yqbfBMqCtXGORUFXL12gL3Ux_OT10ivaab9aQ6WIUjFjsaP6BM0OhDwkBcgoqasKPUmlXahJYpZQW23iGWL5iSe0D-W0aJ2cBEBukXMZbEBcvOaKkQCUJ6JiOX_cudrZNFsbjqhqWU/s400/100_6255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354064982455350994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">One last look back at Electric Peak</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbFgRNi4F-IToRSiHvC2S8Z3VINARh3zaAyzRzSWNqGa72kozpLRZBc2p4Gpz2lKLkCfnxGsYQXWuxJpqNkKmM9WfFf_UJjC6wEc8aA9BIUQSPQTO8Y9CnEaRn73yAQu-RsYiOl27yxA/s400/100_6256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354064988545785458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Sepulcher Mountain was definitely one of the more difficult hikes I have done, but it was also one of the most beautiful. The views from the top were indescribable and the photos I took just don’t do them justice. I am really happy that Colin was here to share such an amazing hike with me!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the hike, some of my friends at the dorm had a little birthday party for me. It was really sweet! Erica, Maeve, and Jess gave me really wonderful presents – a hand drawn card, a Yellowstone mug, a Junior Ranger badge (with my name on it!), and an arrowhead. Kate and Michaela baked me a delicious cake based on Michaela’s Italian grandmother’s cake recipe. It was delicious! Afterwards, we had a bonfire outside and everyone came down to hang out. Chris improvised a blues song and made up a verse about everyone at the fire – it was really memorable. What a great birthday weekend!</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552367339227758546noreply@blogger.com1