Settling Into Life in Canyon Village

Our first weeks in Yellowstone have been wonderful.  James and I are settling into our new life and finding enjoyment in the simplicity of just living.

Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The snow has receded in the weeks since we’ve arrived as spring makes its way to the upper elevations.  James and I have been taking walks in anticipation of the hiking trails opening so that we can condition ourselves to the altitude. The general store sells a shirt that says “Got Oxygen?” …which is very appropriate since the air is thinner here.  We have to be very careful to drink lots of water to stay hydrated and healthy.
As the snow started melting we were anxious to get to our picnic table and fire ring that were buried in the snow.  James did a great job digging them out and we enjoyed our first campfire of the season.

Campfire Trout

Other highlights of our first few weeks in the park:

Chico Hot Springs:  Our new boss took the Central District group out to Chico Hot Springs for soaking and dinner.  Chico Hot Springs is located in Paradise Valley. It is a resort that channels water from the nearby hot spring into soaking pools. One Pool is about 98 degrees, and the other is 104 degrees.  It has a hotel, formal dining room and a grill.

Chico Hot Springs Saloon & Grill

Pool at Chico Hot Springs

National Park Service Training – On May 22, 2014 we went to Mammoth Hot Springs for the National Park Service Resource Training. We heard from park experts on Bison, Wolves, Fish and Birds, as well as management issues and challenges that the NPS faces with managing Yellowstone National Park. It was very eye opening. I have a new respect for the Park Service and the amazing and passionate work that they do to help protect Yellowstone.

The park has 3.5 million visitors every year. Managing that level of human impact on the Yellowstone ecosystem is a monumental task in and of itself…add to that the challenges of performing that job with the limited resources that the NPS has and you quickly realize that the protection of this park is in danger.  There are issues with Non-native species (such as Lake Trout that are destroying the native Cut Throat Trout), and political issues from special interest groups (such as the legislation that is on the Senate floor to open all of Yellowstone’s waterways to boating/paddling and tubing) without consideration to the impacts on the ecosystem and wildlife (not to mention visitor safety). These issues and others endanger this magnificent national treasure and are challenges to the future of this amazing place. It makes me very proud to work for the Yellowstone Association, which provides so much support to the park to help educate visitors with the hopes of inspiring them to help protect and preserve Yellowstone.

We ended our park service training day with a Yellowstone Association BBQ at the Arch Park. After spending the day learning about the park and the challenges it faces, the words on the Roosevelt Arch are becoming more significant to me: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”.  Yellowstone is a place that should be preserved and protected for future generations.