The Print

Views With a Room

This is my portion, I call it my Room Cubicle here in Grand Tetons. I love my own space, and my room mates are very nice. We share a large room which is divided into four cubicles. A bath room is down the hall for the whole dorm.

A rainbow from last night's solo hike along Christian Pond.

Griz Prints in the snow ( actual video posted at my other blog, http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com ) were fresh and a delight. This was taken on a day hike with a friend near Colter Bay.

One of many photos taken near the Bay.

News From Home

Working here in the Grand Tetons is very interesting. I do miss home, though and look forward to reading e-mails my life partner sent me. Recently he set up a camera to take shots of the wild hogs that have been ravaging the shooting range. The camera worked great, giving nearly 80 photos of a herd of wild hogs. I never thought so many were on the loose in our neck of the woods.

There were nursing mothers, piglets and bores. A group of approximately 15 were there when this photo was taken.

Here in the Tetons, the snow is beginning to melt off enough to allow some longer day hikes. I carry my bear spray when alone, and make noise when visibility or hearing is difficult by streams.
The rivers are up, raft trips will begin soon.

I love my Cirro Jacket by Brooks-Range. Its proven to be both comfortable, light weight, and warm. It really cuts the wind, especially on those cold morning walks to work. I wear it over my chef's coat.
http://brooks-range.com See the initial review on March 24, 2011 blog.

I used it while driving out to the Tetons. The zipper pockets really came in handy, without being bulky. It's one of my favorite all time jackets.

Grand Tetons in May

I took this

photo from the Jackson Lake location where I'll be working in the Bakery.

Its still pretty cold here. Good thing I brought plenty of layers.

We have people from 26 different countries checking in for the summer season. Spanish is commonly heard.

Everyone is really nice. The food in the Employee Dining Room is very good, with lots of fruits and vegetables for healthy eating. Then, of course, there's always ice cream for desert, or cake.

As the snow melts and trails dry off, most of the people here plan to get out an hike, do float trips, horse back riding and enjoy town of Jackson.

You can check out seasonal jobs at

http://coolworks.com

One thing that's a little hard for older folks is the dorm situation. The rooms here have between two to four, with bathrooms down the hall.

This does take some getting used to  and its not for everyone. Sometimes a person outgrows the desire to share small spaces as well.

Wind River Range and CDT Fantasies

Not sure what to call this, but Wind River Range Road review comes to mind.

I drove 287 north to the Grand Tetons on Friday 13th. This  road runs through the Wind River Range heading through Rawlins, to Lander, through Debois, Moran Junction to Jackson Lake Lodge.  Couldn't help but dream of the possibilities of another section on the Continental Divide Trail.

I've been section hiking the CDT since 2003, not an easy task. Fantasy calls me to Just Do It. Then Reality reminds me of the commitment bordering on obsession required to spend five months on an obscure trail some deem more of a route. After all, this trail from Mexico to Canada through the Rockies is still under construction. Nature takes its toll as well, leading to periodic destruction or rerouting. This is why the actual route has a corridor of possibilities instead of a designated Appalachian Trail Purist Following.

Anyways, back to my Friday 13 experience.
I saw three herds of wild horses. Differing from tame horses, they were running, of different shapes, colors and sizes, and were without fencing. Many groups of stabled horses live along this route.
Fields of antelope, cattle being driven down the highway by cowboys, the Wind River winding through snow covered, bronzed landscape, and so few motor vehicles I wondered if the world had stopped.
A wonderful drive even though it rained while snow melted and parking lots were still buried.
Wyoming is a wonderful place to work and visit.
The Grand Tetons in their absolute majesty greeted me after leaving Dubois. My summer home.
Jackson will be my town, I have a room mate.
I brought three books with me:
Culinary Arts: Techniques from Expert Chefs , Audubon Field Guide to the Rocky Mountains, and the mother of all fantasies, Wyoming's Continental Divide trail, the official guide.

Three Day Conference for Women

I received this information and wanted to share it with all my friends.
I know some of the women involved, and believe you'll have a memorable time if you are able to attend.
I will be in the Grand Tetons at the time, so unfortunately won't have the pleasure.


" My name is Anna, aka Mud Butt, and I am the leader of a group called Trail Dames. Trail Dames is a hiking club for women of a curvy nature and we are hosting a women’s hiking and backpacking conference in Virginia this summer. There has never been a hiking conference for women before and we are excited to be a part of it!

The three-day conference is called The Summit and will take place from June 24-26th at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The conference will include hiking seminars, how-to classes, panel discussions on women’s hiking and hands-on workshops. We also have guest speakers Cindy Ross and Melody Blaney, a screening of the documentary Trail Angels, a concert by Jan Benshop, and fun extra’s like a belly dancing class and sunrise Yoga sessions.

This Summit is a labor of love and we just want to celebrate the spirit of women in the outdoors! I really appreciate you helping to spread the word, and we would love to see you there!! All information can be found at www.traildames.com. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions you have
Thank you so much,

Anna Huthmaker, President and Founder
We're Gonna Dance Upon This Earth!       "
www.traildames.com


Thanks for sharing, Anna

We Got Us One Helluva President

We have one helluva president. Reading about his incredible ability to "compartmentalize" on Daily Beast brings much amazement. Say what you will about his politics, he's quite the Man.

Obama's Poker Face

This whole world is facing some trying times. When the price of oil and scarcity is such an issue, we get the oil rig blow up in the Gulf of Mexico, the Nuclear Disaster in Japan.

Amidst the Recession that Just Won't Quit, we got whole nations needing bail outs while "communist" China holds the credit card the US has been tapping out.

There are stories of bizarre weather , Tornadoes Gone Wild, Earthquakes in Diverse Places, and a Middle East in Labor Pains of Democracy.

Then you get this major Coupe. Taking out Osama Bin Laden is historic. The guy was a terrorist long before Facebook and Twitter. He inspired, taught, preached, lived for mass murder of innocents.

So, I'm glad we have a president who is so capable of achieving big things, and can multi task, compartmentalize and is a pleasure to hear speak. The guy has game.

He's Just Not That into You-Book Review

I picked up this book at a thrift store for a buck.
Lots of women have issues with their men friends, so I thought," Lets read this thing and pass it on".

One hundred sixty five pages, some of which are "work sheets", are very readable and based on answering questions sent in by baffled women. Greg Behrendt gives brutally honest answers, and Lix Tuccillo gives the women's take on the situation. She sorta stands up for the women who fall for these lame excuses handed to them by the lame, albeit, charming men they've run across.

Its a quick read, and hip. Greg tells us not to waste our time on these loosers, don't waste the Pretty.

I'm definitely passing this book onto women in my life. Somehow its hard to see our choices for the ridiculous reality they are.
In the end , a page is set aside for the reader to list "My super-Helpful standards that I will never ever forget or forsake no matter how hot I think he is" The woman who had this book before me started filling it in. She wrote:
1-No married men
2-no smoking, drugs or drunks
3-christian
4-ask for money he is gone
5-treat me right
6-calls me

The person didn't finish the list of ten. I think her list is pretty good, except number 3. I would say no religious nuts need apply. No religion. Good honest morals are much more preferable.


Greg was a consultant for Sex and the City HBO hit series and knows his stuff. He's a guy after all, and says men would rather do anything than hurt your feelings, lie, disappear, string a gal along, booty call, make excuses.

I say we toughen up, and quit being so available. Set the standards high and stop impulse hook ups. That's what I got from the book.

Webcams Rock

A friend posted this website, and I'm going to enjoy watching the cams. As I leave warm Georgia for the Grand Tetons in two weeks, its really hard to imagine snow and cold out there. I mean, my garden is edible right now!
Check it out:
http://www.jacksonholenet.com/webcams/

The Perfect Day Pack

I made this black silnylon day pack which weighs 4 ounces. I use it everywhere, including all these day hikes in Zion National Park.



I can carry water bottles, rain clothes, tarp, survival in a can.



I found, however, that when the pack was loaded, those straps dug into my shoulders. Without a hip belt and forgoing the fannypack as pack rest solution, I realized a hybrid pack was in order.


I took a store bought day pack that I'd bought at Walmart a couple years back. It was lightweight, but the color, fabric and multiple zipper pockets was not ideal.

I cut off the straps from the silnylon pack, and sewed the remaining bag directly to the back pad, incorporating the hip belt and sholder straps of the walmart pack. I added a silnlyon bag for the front water bottle.


End result, a pack that weighs 12.4 ounces, and rides perfectly on my hips. The weight disappears.
Bottom line, shoulder straps and decent hip belt make life much easier.