On to new adventures!

Hey everyone! Just because i'm no longer in Yellowstone, doesn't mean I'm going to stop posting pictures. Everyone seems to enjoy the posts so much, that I will keep it up with whatever I might be doing in the future. I'm headed to another beautifull part of the country I've never seen before. I'm sure there's a ton of fun things to do and see in the northwest. Keep checking back every once in awhile for updates.

This is a very sad photo. Today was my last day in the park. I leave for Portland, Or in the morning. I have seen so many wonderful things, met tons of great and interesting people and had so many opportunities to do things in the park that regular tourists don't get to see or do. I've learned enough about the park's history and geology to last a lifetime. But there is still so much more I want to do here and so much more I want to learn about the wilderness. I've been offered the chance to come back and work Yellowstone again next summer. In just 8 short months start looking for more Yellowstone adventures, because that is an offer i'm sure not to turn down unless some bizzare circumstance arises. 

These are the bubbles that are rising up from the thermal we floated above.  

Lisa putting samples in baggies. These get sent off to be tested for everything under the sun. Minerals, bacteria, ph, organisms, etc. We got to see things with the camera that no other human has ever seen. They are plotting an underwater topo map of the lake. They hope to have it ready for sale by the end of the year.  

Dave, Pat and Lisa lowering the equipment in the water. What a great experience it was hanging out with them. They taught me more about Yellowstone, volcanos, thermals and rock formations than I ever learned in college. 

The Lake Hotel with Elephantback Mt. in the background. The building is over 100 years old. Lisa told me that Elephant back is an old lava flow from an erruption 1000's of years ago. 

Now that's a camera! This thing is so cool. It's controlled by a joystick type box and takes video and scoops up samples.  

This is the Cutthroat. It's used to study the lake's thermal features. It's run by National Geographic and the USGS. I spent the day with them taking pictures and samples of an underwater thermal. 

Here's the marina. Looks pretty much like a ghost town, now that all the boats have been pulled. A couple boats from fisheries and a couple ranger boats stay in a little longer. 

Hello mister bison! They always have this great hungover kinda look to them. 

More boiling mud. Karen took us to some really great places that day. 

Yo homey! Liz and Karen trying to act gangsta. Karen just couldn't seem to pull off the serious face. 

The water looks jet black because of the minerals and rocks that are broken down the hot water.  

Very cool colors. Bacteria and algea are what make the basins look so colorfull. 

The same mud hole at a distance. There is an even larger one that I'm standing next to. This basin is way off the beaten path and no one really knows they're there except park service people. 

This mud hole is off the beaten path. A friend took me back there to check it out. It has a name, but I don't rember what it is. 

Boiling mud near mud volcano.  

Julie writing words of wisdon on the ladies room wall. I signed in the main room. 

Sheldon and Godzilla hanging out, enjoying a beer. 

The bar in the Pub with a small handfull of employees hanging out. Not too many of us left. Most are leaving this week. The Pub and the Hotel closed Sun. This pic is really fuzzy, sorry.  

The Pub. This is an employees only bar to hide out from all the crowds. It has a lot of character. There's writing all over the walls that dates back wicked far. Jimmy Carter even has his name written next to the bar. 

Sheldon, Julie and Kelby the bartender at the Hotel bar. 

Sorry this is so dark. No flash on the camera. This is the great room in the Hotel. where the people are to the right is where the grand piano sits and straight ahead, where the chairs are, the quartet plays. 

Drinking wine at the Lake Hotel on it's last night. They have a wonderfull piano player every night in the fall and a string quartet during the summer months. It reminds of the Titanic. The old atmosphere the Hotel puts off is wonderfull! It's a great way to relax. A glass of wine, a book or some good friends and awesome classical music being played live in the background. 

If more people paid attention to these. I wouldn't get as many calls. Three people, that I know of, fell in boiling water this year. Second and third degree thermals burns on all three. One was a 9 y/o boy who had to be flown to a children's burn unit in Salt Lake City, Ut. Once again, this is not Disney Land people! 

Yellowstone at night. (Sorry, I know...not funny, been done before....but not on my site!)