Checking Back Into Reality

Only a few hours remain before I return to work and the rest of life's realities, and I know most of you have stopped by to make sure I returned safely. OK, maybe not, but you are interested in pictures. Well, fear not - there are plenty of pictures (more then 5,000). So, hopefully you won't mind waiting a few days while I weed through them and pick out the top ones for posting. In the meantime, I'll let you ponder what a handstand would look like in the "Delicate Arch"...

...because that's the one place I regretfully did not get one.

You Know You Are in Idaho When...

Since I'll be gone on vacation next week and not posting any pictures until I return, I thought I'd leave you with a few ways to know when you've crossed over the border into Idaho (besides the "Welcome to Idaho" sign)!

You know you're in Idaho when...

1) ...potatoes. Potatoes everything, everywhere.

2) ...you pull into a gas station behind a 4-wheeler.

3) ...you leave everyone in the dust and you're still 5 miles under the speed limit (25 mph).

4) ...you have 5 kids and you still don't qualify for the family discount.

5) ...there's a wider selection of overalls at Walmart then cars at the dealership.

6) ...a town can support 2 Super Walmarts 3.9 miles apart (that's 9 min and 22 sec at 25 mph), but the JCPenny Men's Department could fit in my closet.

7) ...there's 5AM rush hour.
7A) ...your the lone car during rush hour (in a sea of trucks, BIG trucks).
7B) ...moose antlers double as hood ornaments on said trucks.
7C) ...you're afraid to ask if the arsenal of guns in the truck's gun rack are loaded, knowing they probably are.

8) ...there's nothing taller then sage brush between you and the horizon.
8A) ...it's light at 5:30AM but the sunrise isn't until 6:30AM.

9) ...you could hit the cell tower with your phone (and a bum shoulder) but your phone says "No Service".

10) ...it's so windy that even MY hair gets messed up.
10A) ...there's not a cloud in the sky (and you can see a lot of sky) but the roads are closed due to poor visibility (duststorm).

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this list are not necessarily the officially endorsed views of the State of Idaho. These views are a personalized generalization of observations by the blog author and compiled over the last 7 months. These views are no indication of past trends or future expectations for the State of Idaho. This blog is not sponsored by the campaign for "I love NY".

More Roads Less Traveled

"Attention. May I have your attention. NRF is currently experiencing windy conditions with sustained winds over 50 mph and..." "The Idaho Department of Transportation has closed Rt 33 North to Mud Lake due to high winds and low visibility..." Welcome to Idaho and hang on (as I plug in my headphones, put my head back, close my eyes and let the bus rock me to sleep as the bus driver navigates the tumbleweed, sage brush and sand). Of course, with temperatures flirting with 90 degrees, who's going to complain about the wind that blew it in!

Saturday was a beautiful day as I geared up for an upcoming road trip and took a quick hike into Packsaddle Lake. Having never been there, I wasn't sure what to expect, but here's what I found:
About a mile short of where I thought the trail head might be, I came upon this little creek crossing the road. It seems benign, I know. But after getting out to check, it was about 2 feet deep. Not willing to risk getting stuck on this desolate back country road (I think you at least need a road name before calling AAA), I tried building a dam out of boulders. Unfortunately, it only made the creek wider and no less deep. So, I parked the car and strapped on my shoes. Keep in mind - I'm still not sure I'm even on the right road.
Alas, after a thirty minute walk down this road, I came upon the trail head. I can't complain too much as there was an inspiring view of the Teton Mountain range the whole way.

On my way up the trail, I passed two guys who inquired if there was a lake. I told them that's where I was headed to which they exclaimed, "We hiked like 10 miles and never found anything." Of course, having never been there, I wasn't much help. About a half hour later I passed another couple who exclaimed, "We wanted to hike to the lake, but there were trails all over and we didn't know which one to take, and never did find the lake!" Well, that didn't leave me much hope, but I figured it was worth a try. So I kept plodding on - mind you there was still 2 - 4 feet of snow on the trail! (Does it ever melt?!?)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves (or snow) no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
- Robert Frost

The "yellow wood"
Where two "roads" diverged, I took the road less traveled by.
Down in the valley is the lake we were all hoping for. I only wish I could let the others know how close they were to their goal (~15 minutes). So by myself, I headed down to what appears to be a popular summer swimming hole...
...or maybe just an August swimming hole...
...complete with a diving board...
...and rope swing!
And no, I couldn't resist. But this is as close as I'll get to upside down!
Log jam at the outlet. It also sounded like there was a great waterfall, but it was completely covered in snow!
Besides missing their goal, the others also missed these beautiful views of the Teton's!
Awe inspiring.
On my way back, I stopped at the former Teton Flood Dam. The great pyramid in the middle used to span the entire Snake River and hold back a reservoir on the top (right) side. However, shortly after construction completed in June 1976, a small leak turned into a breach in the wall, taking out the left side between the left canyon wall and the top of the pyramid. The flood waters raced through the Snake River valley (including Idaho falls) and was finally stopped by the American Falls Dam. The right side of the pyramid was blasted away by engineers studying the makeup of the wall after the flood.
The river as it flows downstream.

That's all for today's history lesson!

Hikes-n-Falls

Has spring finally sprung? We'll see what this week is like before we make the official call, but spring must be on its way. Twas a stormy week at work, but I'm certain that's not why you stopped by, so here's the weekend debrief in pictures:
Friday I headed down to Pocatello to hike the Gibson Mountain Loop. The 8 mile loop takes you around the base of these mountains, then you climb the backside and hike down the ridge.

I opted to walk around.
A sign I could relate too....
...obviously.
Views from the top.
A lot of nothing for a really long ways in that direction.
You can see the thriving metropolis of Pocatello, and by thriving metropolis I mean...
Camera + binoculars, possibly just proving that it can be done.
I promise, it was a different sign.

Acrobatic equipment malfunctions.

Idaho Falls (I'm told this is as big as it gets). You can see the Mormon temple in the background.
The sound was impressive, but this was before my trip on Saturday...

Yearning for a holiness church and some more Spring sightseeing, I drove to Twin Falls (the city) Saturday evening, stopping at Shoshone Falls on the way. The Pastor and his family not only provided a place to stay, but one of those unbeatable home cooked Sunday dinner's complete with banana creme pie! Now if I can only keep my eyes open long enough to caption the rest of these pictures...
You can see why bridges over the Snake River aren't common.

Snake River
They charged 3 bucks to see this!?!
Or was it this?
Maybe this?
OK, OK, so it was this, the so called "Niagara of the West". So then I went a little picture crazy (think 100+ pictures for every $1 spent), and, well, you're left with all of these as the sun set over Shoshone Falls. (Some of them are worth clicking on to enlarge.)
One of my favorites.
The falls weren't the only pretty settings.
The placid Snake before it makes the plunge.
The power lines become a part of every tourists pictures. Photoshop anybody? (I'll send you the original.)
Happy Mother's Day!

Yellowstone in the Spring

There's Something About That Name!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name!

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim!

Kings and kingdoms

Will all pass away,

But there's something about that name.

- (c) William J. Gaither

As I've gone through this week, even while enjoying my fried ice cream, that song has permeated my thoughts. No matter what our trials, troubles or cares that we carry - Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...

Contrary to popular studies, if you wake up feeling refreshed, you probably overslept! But can waking up at 5:11AM really qualify as oversleeping? I'll let you ponder that one while I make a mad dash for the bus...

Despite the cloudy skies this weekend, my co-worker Eric and I took a trip to Yellowstone. Not all of the roads are open yet, but we still managed to see a number of fun things. Maybe these pictures will help (Eric gets credit for many of the pictures).

I wonder what they used before we built them roads!
Similar to a drowned rat... a drowned buffalo. Would you like to pet him? You'll notice that the buffalo and elk are rather ugly this time of year as they shed their winter coats.
Don't worry - I offered an Aspirin after they got done tussling.
At least he's not jaywalking!
Not looking so pretty. When they get their antlers back in the fall, they'll be much more impressive.
Buffalo and elk are common sights, but here's a wolf walking away from his lunch (I'm sparing you the picture of a bloody buffalo carcass, freshly killed that morning.)
Looking cool while everyone watched. As you can tell by the random picture taking finger, I was taking appropriate precautions by always keeping someone else (preferably slower) between myself and the wild animals.

For comparison, here's one of five coyote's we saw.
Old Faithful
Looking right down the valley...
...and looking left at the waterfall.

Don't you wish there were signs like this in life? Maybe then the "rough breaks" wouldn't turn us upside down... wait...

Bet you can't hold this one very long!
Random scenic pictures along the way.

While Eric was taking the good pictures...

...I was busy skipping rocks, one of those great activities that brings back so many fun memories from Lake Placid.

A view from the northern section of the park.
Eric found a photogenic tree...

...while Joe was busy photographing scenery through binoculars at high speeds. No wonder he didn't see...

...the pronghorn deer on his side of the road!

A fluorescent blue bird.

These next few pictures are from Mammoth Hot Springs.

"Liberty Cap" - a dormant hot spring cone.

Just remember that bacteria makes the pretty colors...

Eric in front of the Hot Springs.
Joe in front of the Hot Springs.
With Mother's Day just around the corner, I figured I better send one descent picture home!
At least they don't have to mow their lawn, but it sure would stink to have to pick up after them!
Get your binoculars out, because this grizzly is probably 500 yards away. I'm not sure who spots these guys. (Clicking on the picture will help a little.)
While we were playing in the river, this grizzly was playing by the road. By the time we got there, he was headed away.
A black bear up close.

Now we're looking forward to the rest of the park and Grand Teton National Park opening up in a few weeks and we'll be back for more! Do you think my new tent will hold back the bears?

Until next time, this is your open invitation! Enjoy.