July 14
We have seen so many animals since we have been visiting the national parks. I won’t give you the whole tally or anything, but here is a sampling of the animals we have seen in Mt. Rainier National Park, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone.
Bald eagles
Pronghorn antelope
Black bears
Wolves
Elk
Bison
Coyote
Mountain goats
Moose
Deer
Marmots
Martens
Osprey
Chipmunks
Red squirrels
Mountain bluebirds
Woodpeckers
Clark’s nutcracker
Bats
That’s a pretty awesome list, I would say. There are other birds too numerous to mention. We’ve also seen many butterflies and dragonflies. The onslaught of mosquitoes we come across should not be on this list, but they are an annoyance, sometimes worse than others.
As usual,
Happy trails,
Linda and Ken
Sunday, July 19, 2009
random factoids
Hello to everyone who follows this rather sporadic blog—
Did you know that:
Yellowstone National Park was governed for 30 years by the US Army? Our first national park was then turned over to the National Park Service when it was created.
Missoula, Montana has one of the top smokejumper training facilities in the country? The visitor center runs a great tour. We have a lot of respect for those young men and women who fight wildfires in our wilderness areas.
You really can overnight in your RV in Walmart’s parking lot? They even have electronic surveillance, and nobody bugs you. Butte, MT
Black bears can either have a black, brown, or cinnamon colored coat and still be called black bears? We were on a hike above Mammoth Hot Springs yesterday, and we saw a sow bear with a cinnamon coat and her 2 black coated cubs. They were close however the mother bear seemed unconcerned. We were very cautious anyway. Got some pictures!
The geothermal features of Yellowstone come from snow runoff seeping into cracks in the earth and becoming superheated by a huge dome of magma? We’re actually camping within the boundaries of a caldera, the remains of an ancient super-volcano. And guess what—this is one of the most active places on earth when it comes to geothermal/volcanic activity. Are we crazy, camping in a super volcano?
Did you know that:
Yellowstone National Park was governed for 30 years by the US Army? Our first national park was then turned over to the National Park Service when it was created.
Missoula, Montana has one of the top smokejumper training facilities in the country? The visitor center runs a great tour. We have a lot of respect for those young men and women who fight wildfires in our wilderness areas.
You really can overnight in your RV in Walmart’s parking lot? They even have electronic surveillance, and nobody bugs you. Butte, MT
Black bears can either have a black, brown, or cinnamon colored coat and still be called black bears? We were on a hike above Mammoth Hot Springs yesterday, and we saw a sow bear with a cinnamon coat and her 2 black coated cubs. They were close however the mother bear seemed unconcerned. We were very cautious anyway. Got some pictures!
The geothermal features of Yellowstone come from snow runoff seeping into cracks in the earth and becoming superheated by a huge dome of magma? We’re actually camping within the boundaries of a caldera, the remains of an ancient super-volcano. And guess what—this is one of the most active places on earth when it comes to geothermal/volcanic activity. Are we crazy, camping in a super volcano?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
a state of bliss
We got a question from a friend about a picture we sent. It was of the lodge at Many Glacier, one of the tourist spots in Glacier National Park. He thought it was gorgeous, and asked what state it was in. I responded that it was in the state of Bliss. Actually it was in the state of Montana, but that is the way we feel about this state. Views are expansive, wide, tall, and scenic. The park was amazing. It is a national park, but we just refer to it as Glacier. It is the northernmost location that Ken and I have ever been, only about 30 miles from the Canadian border. In fact, we brought our passports along just in case we were able to take a day trip up there to the Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park. But we decided there was not enough time. Just another reason to return!
While we were at Glacier, we drove over the Continental Divide. Logan Pass had just opened for the season the day before, and the road goes from the west side of the park, where we were camping, to the east side. It is called the Going-To-The-Sun Road, and is very narrow, windy, and world-famous. We got an early start and took many pictures. The views were breathtaking. We realized why it is called the U.S. Switzerland. It looked like right out of The Sound of Music. Glacier is also called the Crown of the Continent, a very appropriate name.
Now it is the Fourth of July and we are in Bozeman, Montana. If it doesn't thunder and lightning on us, we'll see the local fireworks show. Hopefully we'll be at the fairgrounds, not viewing them from our truck!
Happy 4th and Happy Trails,
Linda and Ken
While we were at Glacier, we drove over the Continental Divide. Logan Pass had just opened for the season the day before, and the road goes from the west side of the park, where we were camping, to the east side. It is called the Going-To-The-Sun Road, and is very narrow, windy, and world-famous. We got an early start and took many pictures. The views were breathtaking. We realized why it is called the U.S. Switzerland. It looked like right out of The Sound of Music. Glacier is also called the Crown of the Continent, a very appropriate name.
Now it is the Fourth of July and we are in Bozeman, Montana. If it doesn't thunder and lightning on us, we'll see the local fireworks show. Hopefully we'll be at the fairgrounds, not viewing them from our truck!
Happy 4th and Happy Trails,
Linda and Ken
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Full bars and connections/my apologies
Now I don't mean places to hang out and drink. My phone has had zero bars for more than a week and the laptop connection was very slow. So I have been incommunicado. I will try to bring you up to speed in a somewhat orderly fashion.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
$.50=3 minutes or how to stay clean on the road
Just a little reflection in this blog--
On our trip through Oregon, we were pleased to have good hook-ups i.e. water, power, and sewer connections. The washrooms have been very decent and had public showers that were clean. And that was in the state parks! KOA Kampgrounds have great washrooms and you can take a long hot shower. When we got to Seaquest State Park outside of Mt. St. Helens in Washington we had showers where you had to insert tokens into a coin box to get hot water for your shower. So I got 4 tokens for $2.00. Now, my hair is almost down to my waist. Could I actually wash and rinse my hair plus other showering duties in 12 minutes? I found out I actually can, and with time to spare. Though I didn't waste the hot water.
It's a different experience in the National Parks. Sorry, no hook-ups or public showers. So we're on our own. We have a sunshower, which heats water up by placing a water-filled pouch in the sun until it is warm, then hang it in a tree and shower with the spigot. (with swimsuits of course)
Or, you swim in a lake. Or, you take a quick shower in the RV. I wash my hair the old-fashioned way, in a tub and air-dry. Ah, the good life in camp.
Til next time,
Happy trails.
L & K
On our trip through Oregon, we were pleased to have good hook-ups i.e. water, power, and sewer connections. The washrooms have been very decent and had public showers that were clean. And that was in the state parks! KOA Kampgrounds have great washrooms and you can take a long hot shower. When we got to Seaquest State Park outside of Mt. St. Helens in Washington we had showers where you had to insert tokens into a coin box to get hot water for your shower. So I got 4 tokens for $2.00. Now, my hair is almost down to my waist. Could I actually wash and rinse my hair plus other showering duties in 12 minutes? I found out I actually can, and with time to spare. Though I didn't waste the hot water.
It's a different experience in the National Parks. Sorry, no hook-ups or public showers. So we're on our own. We have a sunshower, which heats water up by placing a water-filled pouch in the sun until it is warm, then hang it in a tree and shower with the spigot. (with swimsuits of course)
Or, you swim in a lake. Or, you take a quick shower in the RV. I wash my hair the old-fashioned way, in a tub and air-dry. Ah, the good life in camp.
Til next time,
Happy trails.
L & K
Friday, June 19, 2009
Oregon state parks
Hello, everyone!
I finally have connectivity again! More about that later. Just wanted to continue where I left off about our travels in Oregon. We continued our journey by staying in the Columbia River Gorge. As we followed this mighty river, we couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be some of the first explorers (Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery) to see it and follow it to the sea. Spectacular views and lush scenery!
We stayed for 2 nights in Ainsworth state park in a very green leafy forested area. And amazing to find out, we had full hookups! That's RV-speak for electricity, water line, and a sewer line, so we don't need to rely on our own propane, use our generator, or water from our tank. How nice! We were pleasantly surprised, because CA state parks don't provide any of those luxury items. OK, Oregon gets points for that one!
Anyway, we did some sightseeing--toured the visitor center at Bonneville Dam. (Ken was anxious to see the fish ladder and the underwater fish viewing windows).I vaguely remember going there as a kid, right Dad?
The high point of the day was taking the waterfall hikes. Along the scenic river highway, we could park the truck (our trailer was back at our campsite waiting for us) and take a short hike up a beautiful trail to a view area, take pictures of a gorgeous waterfall, get doused with lots of misty spray, hike down the trail, and drive to the next one. We stopped at about 6 of these trails. The highlight was going to Multnomah Falls. This was a two tiered fall that spilled over a high basalt (volcanic rock) rim, and freefell onto more basalt rocks, then continued flowing over a second rim into another pool. On top of that, there was a bridge you could hike to that spanned the waterfall area, a historic rock building that housed the visitor center, a restaurant, gift shop, etc. I keep buying post cards, but so far haven't sent any. I promise I will write real mail as well!
The next day we drove up to Mt. Hood, which began our tours of the volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Stay tuned for my next blog, I have a good book I'm dying to get my nose into before turning in.
Happy trails,
Linda and Ken
I finally have connectivity again! More about that later. Just wanted to continue where I left off about our travels in Oregon. We continued our journey by staying in the Columbia River Gorge. As we followed this mighty river, we couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be some of the first explorers (Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery) to see it and follow it to the sea. Spectacular views and lush scenery!
We stayed for 2 nights in Ainsworth state park in a very green leafy forested area. And amazing to find out, we had full hookups! That's RV-speak for electricity, water line, and a sewer line, so we don't need to rely on our own propane, use our generator, or water from our tank. How nice! We were pleasantly surprised, because CA state parks don't provide any of those luxury items. OK, Oregon gets points for that one!
Anyway, we did some sightseeing--toured the visitor center at Bonneville Dam. (Ken was anxious to see the fish ladder and the underwater fish viewing windows).I vaguely remember going there as a kid, right Dad?
The high point of the day was taking the waterfall hikes. Along the scenic river highway, we could park the truck (our trailer was back at our campsite waiting for us) and take a short hike up a beautiful trail to a view area, take pictures of a gorgeous waterfall, get doused with lots of misty spray, hike down the trail, and drive to the next one. We stopped at about 6 of these trails. The highlight was going to Multnomah Falls. This was a two tiered fall that spilled over a high basalt (volcanic rock) rim, and freefell onto more basalt rocks, then continued flowing over a second rim into another pool. On top of that, there was a bridge you could hike to that spanned the waterfall area, a historic rock building that housed the visitor center, a restaurant, gift shop, etc. I keep buying post cards, but so far haven't sent any. I promise I will write real mail as well!
The next day we drove up to Mt. Hood, which began our tours of the volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Stay tuned for my next blog, I have a good book I'm dying to get my nose into before turning in.
Happy trails,
Linda and Ken
Sunday, June 14, 2009
hikes and caves
OK, time to update what Ken and I have been up to on our awesome trip!
When we were still in the Rogue River area, we came upon a flyer about the Oregon Cave Monument. I had been there as a girl with my family,but I was excited to see it again. We drove up a very windy road through tall old growth forests and it was very foggy and kind of spooky. When we got there, we had to agree that we could tolerate being underground for 90 minutes, and that we were able to crouch and squeeze through tight spaces. It was very wet in the cave with lots of running water. Our ranger guide was excellent, and he was very patient with answering questions of kids in the group. We saw some excellent examples of stagmites (which form from the ground up) and stalactites (which grow from the ceiling down). There were narrow passageways which opened into large rooms. Lots of drapery type formations and a few columns as well. When we got out (whew!) the sun had come out and we ate our picnic lunch before heading back to Grants Pass and the Rogue River.
Also in Oregon, before we left the Salem/Rogue area, we decided to take a quick trip out to Silver Falls State Park, which has steep trails that wind around the falls loops, through lush undergrowth of ferns, native flowers, mossy trees--very much a west coast type of rain forest. The falls were created by layers of volcanic basalt which formed the face of the rocky overhangs, and there was plenty of water and spray as we walked up to and behind the falls. Didn't see any banana slugs, though! The last time I had been to Silver Falls with my parents, my sandals strap broke and I had to tie it together with vines, how McGyver of me! No such mishaps this time, I had my hiking boots and my trekking poles.
To be continued--almost time for our campfire.
Happy trails--
Linda and Ken
When we were still in the Rogue River area, we came upon a flyer about the Oregon Cave Monument. I had been there as a girl with my family,but I was excited to see it again. We drove up a very windy road through tall old growth forests and it was very foggy and kind of spooky. When we got there, we had to agree that we could tolerate being underground for 90 minutes, and that we were able to crouch and squeeze through tight spaces. It was very wet in the cave with lots of running water. Our ranger guide was excellent, and he was very patient with answering questions of kids in the group. We saw some excellent examples of stagmites (which form from the ground up) and stalactites (which grow from the ceiling down). There were narrow passageways which opened into large rooms. Lots of drapery type formations and a few columns as well. When we got out (whew!) the sun had come out and we ate our picnic lunch before heading back to Grants Pass and the Rogue River.
Also in Oregon, before we left the Salem/Rogue area, we decided to take a quick trip out to Silver Falls State Park, which has steep trails that wind around the falls loops, through lush undergrowth of ferns, native flowers, mossy trees--very much a west coast type of rain forest. The falls were created by layers of volcanic basalt which formed the face of the rocky overhangs, and there was plenty of water and spray as we walked up to and behind the falls. Didn't see any banana slugs, though! The last time I had been to Silver Falls with my parents, my sandals strap broke and I had to tie it together with vines, how McGyver of me! No such mishaps this time, I had my hiking boots and my trekking poles.
To be continued--almost time for our campfire.
Happy trails--
Linda and Ken
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