Julie vs. Moose

I day hiked Moose Creek Trail on Tuesday. I think it was about 16 miles total. I was flyin'. I only saw 3 people within the first hour and no one else the rest of the day! It was great! I was trail running the last few miles out when I came around a bend in the trail only to discover a young female Moose on the trail. We had a moment together. I watched her watch me. It seemed as if we were both waiting to see who would step off the trail first. She slowly walked toward me and stopped. I stood my ground and slowly took a few steps toward her and stopped. Eventually, she was the first one to leave the trail. It was a great, interactive, non threatening moose experience! I hope all of my future moose encounters will be this pleasant and uneventful.

Basin part duo

The Alaska Basin is where I will be spending the most of my time with work. It's just below 10,000 ft surrounded by mountains rising above 13,000 ft--with the Grand Teton out of view from the basin. I wore my Chaco sandals to cross a snowy river to keep my boots dry. Especially with having 4 days left of being in the woods. It takes so long for rigid leather boots to dry... By the end of my week out, I didn't care about dry boots. I just took off right through the water and dealt with my soggy cold feet all day. As long as I had dry socks to put on my feet in the evenings, there was never a problem.

Destination Alaska Basin

More from Friday

Friday

I woke Friday morning with this handsome moose SLEEPING 50 feet from my tent! I crawled out and there he was! I couldn't believe it! When I was making breakfast, this marmot was going crazy over my oatmeal. Any time I turned my back he was right at my stove peering into it contents. Sneaky little devil... The rest of the pics are looking down on the still frozen South Leigh Lakes. Amazing. I ran into NO PEOPLE on this day. It was great!

Three Days Out

I went in to the back country on Wednesday, established a sort of, "base camp," and hiked a different trail every day and came out today (Saturday). This is the North Teton Trail which goes to Table Mountain--which is as popular as Mount Laconte in The Smoky Mountains. This was on Thursday.

MOO....

I got chased by a cow today..........


That is all I have to say.

Fish and Float in the Tetons

Coal Creek to Moose Meadows

Beards Wheatfield Trail to Freds Mountain Trail

This is where I went Tuesday. For work. Most north facing slopes are still covered with deep snow.
I can't get over this being the 2nd week in JULY and there is SNOW!
I friggin' love this place.

Entertain Thyself

Since I spend most of my time alone, I have found ways to entertain and amuse myself.
When I'm at the cabin, I attempt to play a harmonica. I bought a harmonica and a book titled, "TEACH YOURSELF HOW TO PLAY BLUES HARMONICA." And man, can I jam playing, "Hot Cross Buns." Who knew that was a Blues song? Can you sense the sarcasm?

When I am day hiking alone or out alone backpacking for a few days, I do several things to entertain myself.
They say when hiking alone, one should make noise, talk, sing, wear bells, a whistle, etc to avoid startling a bear.
Well, bells are just plain annoying, my singing voice would shatter glass, but it probably would bring a bear to it's knees, and continuously blowing a whistle makes my ears ring for at least 2 hours, and when I talk to myself, I typically run out of things to say. So what I do, is Narrate my hike like I'm telling a story about myself. Everyone should try it sometime. I
usually end up hysterically laughing at myself and praying that no one has viewed this spectacle.
It sounds something like this: "As she climbs the steep sandy trail, the back pack, resembling the size and weight of a baby elephant, is beginning to show its mass by the agonizing expression on Julie's face."

See? It's fun.

Julie vs. Marmot ROUND ONE!!!

Once again, I came home to a porch covered with little Tootsie Roll presents (Marmot poop) scattered all over from the Marmots that live underneath the cabin

IT'S ON YOU LITTLE DEVILS! There is an opening about the size of a basketball that leads underneath the house to the Marmot den. Well, I filled the hole with big and small rocks. MuWAH HAH HAA! I'm sure it will be annoying and a pure pain for the little guy to dig around and move these rocks to get out-- Just as annoying as it is for me to move his poop off of MY porch...

Stay tuned.
The games have begun.

More from Wednesday!

The picture of the horse is Gus. He lives on the grounds where I do.
He likes to come up to me on my way in or out and stick his entire head in my windows.
Do you think the Forest Service would notice if I bring him home with me?

Update

By the way, guess who got hired on as a PAID position!?!?!? Yep, thats right folks!
YAY! I am no longer a "volunteer/intern!" It's not permanent, it's just seasonal. Summer & Fall only.
This is the most beautiful, mosquito ridden place I have ever been.
I counted 26 bites on my right arm the other day, 23 on my left. My ankles, somehow, had some too. Strange since I wear boots EVERY time I'm outside for work. Stealthy little blood suckers....

Wednesday @ work