My First Week

Yellowstone, the First and Biggest

Friday, September 11, 2020

I checked in at Gardiner, Montana, picked up my name badge, I.D. card and two uniforms. I got a park pass decal to put on my driver’s side window. I was assigned a dorm room and moved in. I have a single room with a double bed and private bath. I am living in Yellowstone.

My address is:

Leland Walker

Obsidian 119

3054 Myriad Group Rd.

PO Box 2228

YNP, WY. 82190

Saturday, September 12

I had breakfast in my room. I brought Fiber One, Blueberries, Apples, and peanut butter.

I spend the entire day in orientation…dry and boring. I think the instructor is probably real pretty, but I can’t be sure…I didn’t see her face. I ate lunch and dinner in the EDR (Employee Dining Room). The food is better here at Old Faithful than it was at Canyon last year. BUT, it is all in carryout containers.

I got my work assignment. I will be working at the Geyser Grill from 3:30 till 7:45, at least for the first two weeks. My days off are Thursday and Friday.

Sunday, September 13

I got up when I woke up, around seven. I did my morning routine with the pills, blood sugar check, and stuff. Then I hiked eight miles before breakfast. I hiked to Mallard Lake, experiencing about a 250 foot gain in elevation. I did not see anyone else on the trail going or coming.

After the hike I had lunch in the EDR, then had a nap.

I went to work at 3:30. I stood at the door to the grill and monitored mask and distancing adherence and kept the grill occupancy under 25. I was sent to dinner at 4:00. I ate in the EDR. When we closed at 7:00 I helped clean up.

Monday, September 14

I ate Fiber One and blueberries, and hiked five miles to Black Sand Geyser. I had an early lunch in the EDR because I knew I was going to be sent to dinner at 4:00.

I published this week’s StoryWorth and managed to email it. I couldn’t send the picture. I added it later. The cell service for my Verizon has 3 or 4 bars but it is very restrictive on the the size of the message. Text works ok in messages, and pretty good in email, BUT, you can not send a picture or an attachment using cellular. And the WiFi is useless.

I had a nice evening at the Geyser Grill. I am getting to know some people. After work I had a couple of beer in my room and read some more. I am reading a book written by a woman who paddled the Mississippi River by herself. I am getting some good tips.

Tuesday, September 15

I hiked the Old Faithful overlook loop, luncheon the EDR, read, and went to work.

After work I mixed me a Dickle and water and sat outside the dorm where there are some benches for dorm residents. I met a couple of people and got to know Pat Percell from Houston, Texas.

Wednesday, September 16

I hiked to Biscuit Basin, about five miles. This hike had a lot of thermal activity. Thermals are grouped into four types: geysers, steam vents, pools, and mud pots. This hike had lots of all four. There is steam coming out everywhere.

I had lunch, then a short rest before going to the gym. I worked upper body to make up for not paddling my kayak.

Then the same as before: Work, early dinner, finish work and help clean up. Then a couple of beers and socialize out on the benches.

Thursday, September 17

This is and Friday are my days off. I got up around 7:00, had breakfast in my room and did my laundry.

After eating breakfast, I drove to Cody, Wyoming. Cody has a Walmart. I stocked up on stuff. Now, I am sitting outside an Albertsons grocery using their WiFi and writing this blog post. I am having Starbucks coffee and Egg Bites (I used the gift card from Tracey).

The weather has been fantastic all week. The mornings are cold but the temperature gets up to 75 in the afternoon. It has been sunny all week and there is no rain in the near forecast.

There is a fire in Yellowstone just a few miles south of Old Faithful. Sometimes the wind blows our way and the air is really smoky. They are not trying to put it out. It is considered a natural event, caused by lightning. They are prepared to keep it from getting to the park facilities, if need be. Sometimes the smoke interferes with looking at the stars after work.