A New Love

Stick it where the sun doesn’t shine! It’s familiar to some, but perhaps not to those in Alaska. Alaska: the only state you can spell on one line of a keyboard. I have been on radio silence for quite some time and will be making a huge change to the silence. For the last 8 months I have been on and off jobs and for the last three plus weeks, I’ve been hanging out with family while staying in my sisters’ old room in the house I grew up. I thought I would try out the full time work life with a vacation day here, or a week there, but it wasn’t for me. It’s not a place I could find an overall joy to stay, so I packed up and left Montana and didn’t look back…maybe once or twice, but I looked in the rearview mirror and that was up and forward…

This last week has been a bit difficult. Facebook has this thing where you can look on this day in past years and it hit home. Four years ago I embarked on a journey that changed my perspective of life. It changed me to who I am today. It changed me on the way I look at things. I lost my eye 10 years ago this June and I’ve learned so much more in the last four years than I did 10 years ago (I still don’t play with harpoon guns, no worries there). I met so many great people my first summer in Yellowstone and soooo many more each season I returned. In fact, I think I might have so many followers because they might be friends who just want to see what’s up or how things are. In reality, where do I hope NPB to be? Where it is now; just a guy writing his thoughts and adventures on what’s great in life in and around the National Parks. Soon (2-3 years from now) I’ll be worldwide. Sure I can join twitter and Instagram and just be up everywhere but that would just be not who I am or what I’m about. I’m sure I’ll conform sooner or later to those to help increase traffic and what not but I like to hike, take pictures and write. Not edit photos with filters or tweet what I’m doing every day and I’m sure it’s not as much work as what I make it out to be so, perhaps in a couple days I’ll have some accounts for everyone to follow.

While I have been home visiting family and friends, I wasn’t quite aware on how many enjoy these updates and NPB. That was one of the most aspiring things to hear. Many commented on the fact that it wasn’t just the photos, but the way I type and all the things that follow. Some writers might inform with more description and have a wider vocabulary but I’m not here to impress people on my writing skills. I know where I am. I feel the best way to describe something to you is either to show it in a picture or to tell you to visit it. That’s what I’m all about I don’t see that changing this summer.

I can’t wait for Alaska. If I were to have a bucket list, this would be on it. The easiest way to not have a bucket list is to just do it. Don’t think about a time frame on when you need to have it done by, just make it happen. Live in the now and you won’t have time to regret it. If I didn’t apply for this job, I would be in Montana working 7-8 days a week making pizza while I watched a friend of mine post photos of his wonderful happenings in Alaska and I would say to myself, “Fuck me. I could be there. I could have taken that picture or even be in it!” So guess what Alaska. I’m coming for you! I already know what a first season is like in a new place and I am sooooo ready for you. Alright, maybe not “sooooo” ready, but “so” ready.

I thank you all for reading, staying tuned and for the patience some new words.

MacKeag

P.S.

I had a wonderful last day in Wisconsin with the Fam. It couldn’t have been better (unless we had Phase 10, then there could have been a little more fun but the little hand helped.) ßInside Joke with the Fam. Some of you may have seen Into the Wild or even read the book. I saw it a couple years ago in Yellowstone and watched it the night before I left for Final Frontier. The main guy gets rid of everything but the clothes on his back pack and attempts to live in the wild inside Alaska. Good movie. I pretty much followed him unknowingly into recreating the somewhat adventure he had. I plan on working for money and having a blast in my off time. If you ever catch me drinking a Budlight or burning money, punch me, punch me hard. My emotions are still wondering around. I feel like Bilbo Baggins in the movie where he’s skipping and running saying he’s going on an adventure. That’s me right now as I lay on my back waiting for the last flight out of Seattle going to Fairbanks as I type this. The only excitement I have had on the flight so far was the fact that whoever operated the ramp for the plain so we could exit, tried at least four times to line it up. We waited almost 10 minutes from the time we could take our seatbelts off to the time where we could take a step closer to get off the plane. After a few minutes I started doing standup while we waited and got some good laughs from the six people around me. They charmed in as well. The connecting flight was booked and I had to hope for 5 people not to show in order to get my standby ticket to be of any use. So that brings me to this current moment. The moment of now. The moment where I can’t type of anything else until something new happens. There should/will be a P.S.S. of Fairbanks, seeing that I cannot connect to a free WIFI connection. I will say that at least Greyhound had free WIFI all the way to and from some of their connections. I’ll still take this four hour layover over Greyhound any day of the week.

I did happen to stop at the Alaskan Bar and have a beer due to hearing of people being in Alaska….at the Alaskan bar. So as it turns out. The guy to my left, Wookie, seems to be in his upper 30’s with his long hair that matches his bear. He was a tall, well-built lumberjack looking fellow who will be a raft guide in Healy. Who would of thought. We chatted for a few and he mentioned some jokes that are pretty much “National Park” jokes that go for any seasonal job. But I met a friend early on and the adventure has begun. I’ll be in Alaska in a mere five hours and can’t wait. If I see the Northern Lights from the plane, I may shit a brick; not due to the whiskey but the pureness of all nature has to offer when the fire disappears for a few quick hours letting the havoc of the universe play and show and tell.

Until Fairbanks,

NPB.

P.S.S.

The flight to Fairbanks was something to write about. If you haven’t seen the show Louie I would recommend youtubing the skit about airplane etiquette from Louie. I’m 6’4” and I was in the middle seat four just shy of four hours. To my left was a skinny teenager and to my right was Kevin James at his heaviest point. If you have the middle you are supposed to be graced with two arm rests. The window seat has the wall and window. The isle seat has the ISLE. The Big Boy decided not to follow these simple rules for a decent flight. Finally he used the bathroom. It was my time to shine and take over the well-deserved arm rest I was thinking about oh so much.

There I was with two arm rests and my feet extended almost all the way under the seat in front of me when out of nowhere comes this huge fricken guy. I was using gravity and pretty much my whole body weight to make sure there was suction between my arm and the seat. Like an NFL pro, he swooped right under my arm and without hesitation went to sleep before I could open my eye to see what the refs didn’t call. Minus the sleeping arrangements all went according to plan and Mac slept on Sam and Eva’s futon and lived happily ever after.

The End of travels,

NPB out.

Drive to Hayden

Training is off to a good start minus being down a couple employees from the get go. The staff seems to be on track and on the same page as the managers so that's a big plus. After training today, I made a car ride out of Grant to look for some bears with my coworker Nathan who is also an assistant dining room manager. Even though training went well, Nathan and I had no luck but good conversations. We headed back to the EDR for dinner where Nathan called it quits.

I headed out to Hayden Valley and right by Otter Creek I spotted, you guessed wrong, a pelican. It was pretty far off in the distance but managed to snap some photos anyway. While snapping photos a bison decided to cross the river. When bison cross a river that they simply can't just ford; they swim. I've seen it before but it looks like the bison's rear end is weighing him down and his head is the only part of the body you can see. While it was swimming (Bison Paddling?) it makes some grunts as if it was almost drowning.

I also saw some ducks and more bison along with two more pelicans but they were all far away. I drove through Hayden and went to the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone since it had been a while. There were only three cars in the parking lot so I had the lookout all to myself. I snapped some photos and slowly drove back to Grant. While making my way through Hayden and Otter Creek I would pull off to the side and watch the river and look for otters but no luck. I did happen to see a duck fly into the river and dunk its whole body under water and waited and waited. Finally it popped up but 10 feet down the Yellowstone River.

I saw a grizzly in Hayden about 100 feet off the road and of course tourists were on the side of the road taking pictures. The grizzly kept getting closer and closer while munching down at the ground. I popped his head up and looked at the people and made a dash for them but stopped about 30 feet from the road and made his way up to the top of a hill. I hopped in my car and got stuck behind someone and didn't get to see him/her cross until they were already walking down the hill on the other side of the road.

I pulled up to the next pullout and waited for the grizzly to reappear while others were blocking the road behind me and almost hitting my car. Some type of NPS guy with a radio was trying to tell some Asians to get a move on and get off the road; that was fun to watch. The grizzly made it into the other side of the valley but about 200 yards away and I couldn't snap a good picture due to others blocking my way and it just being to far.

After watching the Grizzly for about a half hour I headed back to Grant with ease. I kept my eye out for more bears but I only saw stumps, rocks and an elk. I have to many pictures of them already so I passed on it and made it back to Grant. The trip lasted about 3 hours and was well worth it. Enjoy the pictures as always!

MacK

5.16.15 Training Day

The Pelican hiding behind a small island.

The Upper Falls

Kind of looks angry at the tourists.

Looking down the road.

To close for comfort. I was hoping he was going to stay to the right otherwise I would have taken a picture of the grizzly and people running.

Lone Star and a good bye to Old Faithful 5.15.15

I said goodbye to Old Faithful on the 14^th and left many friends there as I traveled to my own location and anxiously awaited the arrival of my coworkers and to finally open my restaurant. The EDR had some ups but too many downs for my taste. If I was offered EDR supervisor again next spring and didn’t have plans to go on some exotic or wonderful trip, I would gladly except that position and have the park to myself for as long as I could. It was a lot harder to leave the Old Faithful area due to the many great people that work in that location. I can’t express how enjoyable it was to hang with so many great people while finishing up the preseason contract.

Before leaving the Faithful Area, I had the pleasure of hiking to Lone Star Geyser. The trail was a paved road but no cars are allowed on it. I planned to do the hike around noon but the weather said no. I waited until about 2PM to start the hike with Marc and Emily and we headed a mile east of the dorms to Keppler Cascades. The 50 foot walk to the lookout is a quick and easy walk/stroll. For the amount of walking you do, you get so much more to look at. I opted out of taking pictures just because I took some about a month before with Ryn. After listening to the gushing sounds of water flow 50 feet below us while admiring the view we headed back to Matilda to move on. I joked around and said Keppler was the hike of the day and the three of us laughed and hopped in.

We drove for about a minute before getting to the trail head for Lone Star. For those who may have just started reading the blog, I have never visited any of the geyser basins until this season (season 7) except for Old Faithful. The trail for Lone Star follows a river for 98% if not 100% of the way. From time to time the water would be rushing and at other areas placid.

Within the first five minutes of walking we stopped by the river and noticed a Damn and couldn’t find out what it was for. We still ponder this and I sometimes lose sleep over it. The whole hike is 4.4 miles or so and is very flat; a person in a wheel chair could stroll to it although I don’t think I would recommend it.

Some spots of the paved/dirt road had some spring runoff and quite possibly rain puddles from earlier, but besides that the hike was very enjoyable. Unlike hiking on a natural trail, you don’t have to watch where you step and for a change can watch nature pass by. I enjoyed the tall Lodge Poles swayed with the wind as the light shuttered through the pines and watched and listened to river flow. During the hike the river flowed south to north but then there were times where these small spring run offs were flowing north to south. Something to do with the elevation I suppose or perhaps I truly do live in a magical kingdom where that can just happen. SCIENCE!

Not too far into the hike we went off trail and did a smidge of bushwhacking to some thermal features. WE didn’t dare go too close for the fear of boiling our legs and/or bodies to death but an adventure it was. I found some “green” areas to tread upon and found that it was a marsh. The water went into my shoe and it was cold; no thermal water there. On the way back down I decided to walk on fallen over trees and found some Lichen growing on a dead branch with some brown leaves and things. So I took a picture and it turned out right the first time. I think I’m starting to get a hang of it.

While walking down the road and just sharing stories of our pasts and really just getting to know one another we passed a couple of people hiking back. One family said that it had just gone off about an hour ago and we should hurry and wait to see the next one. Marc replied to the person, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey to that destination,” and I couldn’t agree more.

We came upon a prairie that had some nice yellow grass with some pines that covered the calm river that flowed in front of a beautiful mountain accompanied by a white sky. While hiking I took the lead and sat down on some logs that seemed to have been placed by someone who thought, “This is a good place to sit,” and they were right! We took a small rest for about 10 minutes or so and filled up on food and drinks and enjoyed the view. It turns out this “resting spot” was only 10 minutes from the geyser.

Upon reaching the final end of the trail, there were some logs that were put down to block traffic but we thought it was foot traffic as well until we were close enough to read the signs. The signs said no bikes beyond the point. We stepped over the logs and after taking five steps, we saw Lone Star. I saw Lone Star as a giant hot rock with a fountain above but so massive it was truly unique. Marc and Emily “wowed” and we continued the walk but couldn’t take our eyes off of it.

I saw an informative post and went straight to it while the geyser was hissing and rumbling. See picture for details. So after I read the information board and took the picture I walked around and found a log bench someone made with a couple of dead trees. I started to take some pictures to get my camera ready for the eruption and made some changes to fine tune it and I was set.

I turned the camera off and lit a cigarette and laid down on what was somewhat of a comfy log seat. I would take a puff and think of nothing but nature and then Lone Star started to gargle and hiss louder every minute and de jevu struck. I recalled a dream of seeing Lone Star but to this day I feel that I never saw a photo or video and everything fit in quite perfectly. I sat up from the log and stared into the geyser just watching the signs of the geyser starting to erupt. I shuffled over to my two friends on some logs that sat right in front of it and pulled out my camera. Every small eruption seemed like the next one was going to be the main eruption. While waiting with anticipation, and the sound of my camera clicking away with every small burst of water, I continued to look at Marc and Emily as they were taking a selfies and then BOOM! Not really a “boom” but the loud sound of water releasing and spreading out all over the rock happened and my finger would release every ten seconds while my camera would turn 90 degrees to get a different view. As Lone Star was going off I looked at the playback screen and decided that perhaps an auto mode was appropriate for the situation. I switched the mode and took pictures in landscape and horizontal and flipped back to my manual. I have two great pictures of Lone Star and the thrill of trying to capture the amazingness while it went off raised my blood pressure. I saw what I wanted in the picture and to capture it was going to be something challenging. There are two pictures posted; one on manual and the other auto.

Right before the geyser was going off a storm was winding in. The two asked if we should double step it and I replied that it wouldn’t matter. We walked with a fast pace and sure enough the rain caught up to us. From there I continually stated that it couldn’t get any worse and sure enough, a slight drizzle is all that happened. Marc may say differently as he had some snow/hail on his clothes, but none-the-less, we made it. The clouds opened up as if we were coming back from a battle and needed something to be happy for. The light shined through the trees on our left and lit the river up on the right with the trees standing tall and lighting the foliage with its rays. I tried to take a picture of this majestic scene but failed.

After the eruption of the geyser, we headed back and both of them thanked me for including them in on the hike and I thanked them in return. We met a couple on our return from the geyser and told them that it just went off. So they decide to turn around and walk with us while asking us questions about the park. We walked about ten minutes or so and filled them in on everything that we might know and a huge puddle came up in the pathway. This is where Marc carried Emily across the muddied trailed river for the second time; the first being on the way in. After that puddle we were separated by the couple and ventured on back to Matilda.

You can get to know someone in the workplace and think you know them; or you can invite them on a hike and get to know the real person. Nature has this amazing ability of releasing a person’s true self. If you want to know someone…Take them on a hike. When you are 1000’s of feet above what you are used to, the air is thinner, the beauty is higher, and the person is weaker. When you do that, you will find the true person.

The two people I hiked with to Lone Star were truly amazing people. I couldn’t ask for a better three person hike. I learned a lot about two people that I never really hung out with but wish I did. Now I’m in a location that is pretty remote from Old Faithful due to a bridge being out for the next 3-5 weeks. Fortunately I have to open my own location and devote my time to that to make sure that things run smoothly.

As being offered an Assistant Dining Room Manager position before the season even starts, I’m filled with more confidence to make the strides needed to help run a successful business this summer. I truly only see good things coming this season and honestly can’t wait to take the step up. For a while, Old Faithful will survive without me; like they have always done, but for me to survive without them is something I have never done. I will truly miss the OF people that work away to make play.

Now I’m moved into my new room here at Grant Village and have to say that it feels like a hotel room. It is the best dorm in the park hands down…At least the wing I was put into has the best dorm rooms; there is a pool table in the lobby along with exercise equipment and a ping pong table. Not too bad Grant, not too bad.

There isn’t much to comment on at the moment. Tomorrow is the first training day and I hope that the correct people show up on time. We had a TRUE manager meeting today. F&B, AF&B, ADRM, ADRM, CHEF, SOUS CHEF and SOUS CHEF, met for a one hour meeting that was much needed. I’m not sure if this usually happens but it felt good in all the ways. I look forward to a great season here in Grant! We shall see what tomorrow brings!

Until then,

National Park Bum,

MacKeag Resh

P.S.        Not many people may be in the area to afford a bumper sticker and support the cause. Fear no more. I have just joined “GoFundMe.com” which is a place that offers funds for people.

http://www.gofundme.com/ufdjzs

Most funds go for a great cause of life or death and others go for a place where a regular Joe like me just needs a few bucks to make a dream come true. Sure I’m asking for a lot…I want stuff that I cannot afford but would love. Donating to my fund is simply stating this: You like what I write and you would like to see more from a different park and camera. I’m not one to beg for funds but at the same time I do offer a free service…No harm, no foul.

We shall see what happens. I have a gofundme account and this blog won’t shut down even if I don’t get funds. I will continue to shoot photos and type away as my brain sees and you will continue to read as if I mentioned nothing at all. I have an art and I will continue to share it. All I can really ask for is the sharing of this post and let the word spread! Thanks again!

What it Means to be Back in Yellowstone Nat'l Park

             How am I to explain what it means to be back in Yellowstone Nat'l Park? I can see Old Faithful erupt from the window of my dorm room; on my second day back i saw two grizzlies and a bald eagle share the shores of a river in Hayden Valley. I have seen Moose Falls and the Kepler Cascades for the first time; I have met new faces and been reunited with old friends. This morning a marmot stared me down apprehensively, perched on the dumpster I pass on the walk to work. On the walk from work back home I witnessed a healthy-sized coyote trot through the parking lot to disappear into the woods, tail bouncing and wagging gaily, perhaps in the content of having just fed, or maybe in the delicious prospect of feeding once again.

     Everything here seems to be hungry, but nothing more so, than I. Each adventure teases my appetite for new experience; if you thought it was possible to see it all in this park, you thought wrong. The hunger is cumulative, the more I see, the more I realize I have not seen anything at all. Maybe it might be possible, to merely see enough and not all, and as a tourist, pass through this majestic property of Earth as a ghost. Seeing and absorbing the sights, but digesting nothing and rejecting that which was not planned or expected. Where is the fun in that? How can a person with a (what i would hope to be genuine) curiosity for the beauty of this park, stop simply at the boardwalks; how could they resist the urge to get out of their damned cars?

     It's maddening to think that a person would cheapen the vitality of their experience in this place by 'just passing through', but I refuse to let that undeniable fact diminish my love of Yellowstone. I have never been a visitor here; I am sure when I came into Montana for the first time the mountains and valleys beamed at my arrival, and every time I depart (which has most times been by plane) the landscape shrieks up at me, pleading for me to return. These screams have echoed through my head in my absence, Yellowstone is one banshee of a conscience, demanding always, that I return back to it's folds of ridges, it's frigid lakes and streams, it's benevolent and euphoric waterfalls.

     I needed to see Hawai'i, certainly, but I believe ultimately, witnessing the volcano of Halema'uma'u has only deepened my affection of the volcano here. The sheer devastation that volcano is responsible for is humbling; craters the size of football fields where vibrant rain forest used to exist and miles of solidified lava flows from the caldera leading all the way down to the ocean. As impressive as that Armageddon-like landscape was, it pales in comparison to the eventual destiny Yellowstone faces. The caldera is unfathomable in its size; I just stumbled upon an article that explained how scientists just discovered that the magma pool beneath my very feet is large enough to fill the Grand Canyon 14 times over.

            Fourteen times.

    I started writing this piece one of the first days I got to Old Faithful, and now on the eve of heading to yet another new destination, I find myself still inspired and driven to consume all this park has to offer me. To put it into further context, I have spent the last month working in the Geyser Grill. I have never worked a fast-food job before, and hopefully I never have to again, haha. Flipping burgers, dropping chicken tenders into a fryer, and taking payment from customers (which has GOT to be the most high-paced series of flippant interactions I have ever experienced) just doesn't do it for me. It's easy work that becomes stressful very quickly and, besides cashiering, every position sticks me in a corner to my miserable self.

         But I'm not complaining.

           That wasn't sarcasm. I'd shovel shit to be in this place and make memories here. In the time I feel I spent in purgatory at work, I made up for by seeing Sapphire Pool for the first time. Solitary Geyser, Beehive Geyser, Wall Pool, Observation Point. It will never stop! And as always, the geothermal features, the animals, the scenery, they keep challenging me to redefine what i see as beautiful and I love it, but the people I have met remind me of what I have always found to be beautiful. I have met countless people in my time here, but I am so thrilled and proud to say that i have found meaningful relationships here that I am sure will be lasting. I would list them here, but I find that just putting a name down betrays to people who don't know them how much they mean to me.

    It's been great Old Faithful, really, but I have to move on.

     Lake Yellowstone Hotel was erected in 1891 and is the oldest hotel in the worlds first National Park. It recently just became a National Historical Landmark.
     "The Lake Hotel now joins more than 2,500 other sites across the country that carry this distinction. National Historic Landmarks possess the highest level of historic significance—there are approximately 90,000 sites on the National Register of Historic Places and less than 3% of these sites are designated as landmarks."
      I took that from the NPS website. What a privilege, to be allowed to live within this park at all, and what a gift to be able to work in a place this revered. I know at first, it's going to seem as if I've been thrown into a washing machine (hopefully not a blender) of stimulus, but when everyone stops running around like their heads have fallen off and we finally start to get to know one another, I'm sure I'll be able to say I'm proud of my Lake team and family. I should have an update soon on that whole experience, but I might need some time to figure out what to say. I won't know what I'll have on my hands at first and I won't know what to make of it. There will be so many people to meet and so many hikes to go on and so many work-related challenges to face - give me some time to adapt. I'm positive i'll be able to talk anyone's ear off in no time.

     Until then, cheers to the Park!

Old Faithful Act 1

 Old Faithful Act 2

Solitary Geyser

From Observation Point

Peace from Rob Kelly

Driving in Lamar Valley during the spring season can reap numerous wildlife sighting benefits! 

Taken on April 26th, 2015

Baby Griz and her cup (probably a yearling)

Pronghorn can run up to 55 MPH!

Undine Falls

Many things have and will be happening!

Hello and sorry for the absence. First of all, thank you for checking the blog anxiously waiting for another update; it’s here! Work is work and that is that. The days off in the Old Faithful area have been filled with much Disc Golf. I think I have played for about 20 or so days straight at a minimum and it brings back memories of the days when I worked in Whitewater and lived on a Disc Golf course while running the movie theatre there.

Due to a secret vow, I cannot post many pictures giving away the secret course or mention names of thermal features or even a river that may or may not be part of the course. It is mainly an employee course and we hope it stays that way. For instance, I was part of a group of six and three other people went ahead of us and we caught up to them twice and just decided to pass them. The course is 18 holes but we use the same stump or rock pile a couple of times, so when you get multiple people on the course, someone is bound to get hit by a disc and more importantly, slow our game down.

I will say that I have lost one disc to a water hazard and the likely hood of me seeing it again is zilch. Every other day we see at least one osprey flying around and looking for something to catch but we never have look as it flies, (down or up), a body of water that flows. (Like I said, I'm being very discreet here). I will say that it is the most beautiful Disc Golf course of all and the hazards are extremely more dangerous than any other.

One day I through a disc, unintentionally, five feet over a bison's head and to see that reaction is quite terrifying. It was if someone had shot him in his butt with a sling shot or smacked him on his ass. He started to buck for a couple of minutes and wondered even closer to the pin. A buddy of mine threw his disc and it rolled by the bison and the bison took his anger out on a 3-5 foot tree. Most of the time, when we see him down by the hole, we tend to skip it for obvious reasons, whereas, others, tourons, may decide to play as close as possible to him, which is just another reason to keep them away.

I have six more days in the park and plan on playing as much disc golf as I can. I hope to play the other course Old Faithful has to offer within that time but we shall see. The course I have been playing on was made in the 70's. I guess Grant Village has a course but no one knows where it really is, so perhaps I may just have NPB sponsor a new course...

NPB sponsor a course? How much am I bringing in? Enough to cover my costs. The tricky thing about running a blog by myself is the constant updates, keeping people's attention and just sticking with it. National Park Bum was founded in December of 2013. Before then, I was writing letters home to my parents, attaching pictures of the adventures and one day I was writing and a friend said you should send me that. Of course I thought for a moment or two, thinking to myself, "Do I want them to read what I write?" and so I sent it to them. They came back with all this positive feedback and a couple of months later I created NPB during the start of my fourth season.

Still being new to the park life, I thought about my blog name. It took a while and NPB came to my mind. There are many of us, in many parks, in my states and countries. NPB is no long just about me. It's about all of us. Sure we can create a Facebook Group for the friends we have met, but I just feel that there is a greater audience looking for the average Joe/Juliet to write about the experience they have, whether it be their first season or 20th.

With that being said, I am making an opening invite to any National Park Employee who would like to share their experience through word, video, poetry or any type of art. National Park Bum is no longer about one person, but a group of people who literally, "work to play" as oppose to, "work to survive". As park employees, we work hard; 5-7 days a week just to have one or two days off to explore what is our backyard. People from all over the world spend 1000's of dollars to visit for a week or two and we get to have it for free and that's special. That's why we're here. That's why I am here in Yellowstone National Park.

So if you would like to join National Park Bum, please contact me through a message via Facebook.com/NPBum or nationalparkbum@gmail.com

Thank YOU!

MacKeag Resh

The park is no longer mine

Sorry for the absence. Work comes first then the blog. If I don’t work; I have no blog. Last weekend was spent just watching Daredevil on Netflix with a run to West Yellowstone for supplies. A couple of pictures were taken but none worthy of posting. I do have to say, that the preseason is slowly coming to an end. To that, I mean I’m still in preseason, but with the road opening, and the masses checking in for work, the park is definitely not just mine. A week or two ago, I was at the top of the chain but that has changed. I ran the Employee Dining Room to the best of my ability and slowly people higher up the ladder came through. I ran the EDR like it was my kitchen and hoped things ran smoothly when I was away, like any EDR manager would. As I stated before that it is sad the park is no longer all mine, I will state, I am glad to see people to help with the stress.

                I am now a prep cook and trainer, unofficially, for the Snowlodge EDR and no longer have as big of a responsibility; I have a boss. What I can and will say is that I thought the job would be hard and challenging. I thought there would be obstacles that I would have to overcome to the best of my abilities and I went into the position thinking I could. I say with great confidence that I handled those tasks with even more challenges and I never thought would come across but I did. The last three days, two of which I had to be the cook, I was nervous. I had no count on the amount of people I would cook for and the worried me. Should I cook for 60 and hope 50 come or should I cook for 80 and hope 80 come? The first day of cooking was intense, stressful and just really, way out of left field. I survived one day of cooking.

                My second day of cooking I stopped by the smokers post and the employee who served the latest dinner was there. He assured me all was good in the amount of food and some stress was relieved. That day I knew I was cooking for more and lunch went off without a problem. Dinner was scary. I had a plan and threw it away at the last moment and went with my gut; Chinese. I had egg rolls, rice, stir fry, some tempura chicken to deep fry, but all I needed was a sauce. I looked and looked for a recipe for General Tso’s Sauce but no luck. I searched the internet and found three recipes for Sweet and Sour sauce and combined all three and hoped for the best. I found the ingredients and put them into a pot and waited. It took about 35 minutes for it to come to a boil and it was happening…The best sweet and sour sauce I ever made. This sauce was sooooooo good, every time someone walked into the establishment, I grabbed a spoon and asked for their opinion, and sure enough, it was pretty damn good.

                My two days of cooking was done and got out early on my ninth day. Life was good. I through some disc on the course with two buddies and called it a day after watching some Daredevil.  I got to sleep in on my first day off that felt like forever but none-the-less, I ate food, caught up with some friends, played some discgolf and caught up with even more old friends. Tomorrow is my “Saturday” so we’ll see what’s in store. I may go out to Lake or I may just have a nice relaxing day after nine days of stress….We shall see.

                When another summer starts in the park, each location opens up like a branch on a tree. And for the first time, I start to climb a different tree and explore new branches like a squirrel. There are many branches to this tree, some stable, some strong, some others have told me about, and others weak. It’s nice to find this new tree and the things I can learn from it. At the same time, I would like to revisit Mammoth and see what has changed, but at the same time, a tree doesn’t change over the course of a night or year, but with time it will. I’m happy for this change I have made and the people I have met. There is more to the park than just one location and the people of the park will show me each location has to offer and for that I’m thankful. I am honored to go through this experience and meet these new individuals that could possibly return.

                In a final closing I would like to say this: Gerald A. Royse, you have, for the past three years, run the EDR that I have had the privilege of eating in. In a short 32 days, I have an idea of what you go through in your time in Mammoth and I can say this: You sir, are a truly amazing person to go through everything that you do and I my only wish is that you could follow me from season to season, location to location because I know that you are straight up the greatest EDR manager that has ever walked the park in my very own opinion. I can only hope that each EDR that I eat at this summer has an EDR manager that takes great pride in their work like you. Also, I love you oriental cooking, can you make me some General Tso’s Chicken some time? Seriously though, you rock as an EDR manager and a friend. I only hope for great things for you this summer! Thank you so much!

MacKeag Resh

A great weekend!

The work week ended quickly and I invited to a wonderful game of Disc Golf. The course was laid out in the 70's and apparently the people who created the natural course come back and play every once and a while. A natural course is without nets and you play to objects; tree stumps at Old Faithful. Unfortunately, I pull my groin putting an order away at work, not sure how really, but that did affect my game play just a tad.

I asked Michael if I should bring the bear spray and he replied that he had his speakers and that we were good. Oops. Grabbed my camera with one lens and my discs and we hit the trail. The course was a little shorter than what I was thinking, but the last time I played disc ended up talking to a sheriff, bribing some people and that was all on Halloween in Moab so it had been a while since I through and to add to that, an injured groin doesn't help throwing a Frisbee a long or accurate distance.

During hole 2, Michael threw to the left and found some bear tracks just a little smaller than my shoe, (Size 13). The tracks were going away from where we were walking from and we did a 360 degree look around and saw nothing. We played two more holes and as I put to the stump, Curtis is saying bear in a loud whisper. The bear was about 100 yards away, according to my depth perception, and we looked at it as we listened to some music blast from Michael's speakers.

Keeping an eye on this big guy, we walked to the bridge that was about 20 yards away and 20 feet up. Hiking up a slippery incline with a pulled groin isn't pleasant but I made jokes on the way to the bridge about how I would be the slowest one with this injury and they would have to come back for the camera SD card for what would be the final and great moments of National Park Bum. But since you're reading this, good news is I'm alive.

We stood on the bridge and waited for the beast to get off the course but to our dismay it felt like being a spectator. Jokes made on the bridge while watching the bear from a far it was on hole 3.

Do you think it wants to play fetch?

Do think it will respond to "FORE!"

You think you could hit it with a disc? I'll grab it...

What if we did throw and it caught it and returned it to play fetch. I mean there is no one around.

What if it's following us making commentary on our game or just wanted to jam to some tunes and just hang out?

There were more but I can't recall them at the moment. We walked back to the dorm that was about a mile away and had our buddy Tim drive us to my truck so I could grab Matilda. The four of us went back to the bridge and the grizzly had moved even closer to the bridge. We parked the cars and my 170-500mm lens was attached and I shot away. After fine tuning of the focus I started to look for the shot I wanted as I paced up and down the bridge looking at the angles and finally the bear moved to the right and was tearing up the grass on somewhat of a peninsula; the river made a ")" motion before going straight. In my head I saw river, grass, bear, grass, river, hot spring, trees, mountain, and blue sky all in the center from the bottom up and went with it.

Another worker showed up in his jeep, Norm, and joined in on the private viewing. We watched the bear for about 30 minutes or so. The bear grazed away from the river and moved to the left behind some trees and into the woods. We all headed back to the dorm to play some Monopoly which ended abruptly due to the game just taking way to long.

Michael and I hung out for a bit trying to plan the Blood Moon and decided to get some sleep and wake up early and do a hike. Much to our sadness, the partly cloudy sky was blocking the moon for the entire eclipse. With having seen that, I sent a text to Michael giving bad news and decided to call it a morning and went back to bed.

I woke up around noon and made my way to the EDR for some lunch. On my way back I went to the bridge where the bear was on Friday and sure enough, there he was eating more grubs. I forgot my camera and headed back to the dorm and asked Ryn if she wanted to join in on the bear watch and she just finished chopping off some hair and joined the tour. We made it to the bridge not even 10 minutes after I saw the bear and it was gone. We stood around waiting, waiting and waiting but nothing but the pure sound of a river, wind, nature and the sight of Old Faithful going off above the tree line.

We called it quits and drove to Grant Village just for a scene change. Every mile we went towards Grant, the more snow appeared on the sides of the road. A mile before the Grant/West Thumb intersection I pulled over for a winter panorama shot and climbed on the roof of Matilda to gain a slight height advantage. As far as Grant and Lake Yellowstone go, it's still winter there. It reminded me of what Old Faithful had last April. We just drove around and looked at the scenery.

We made it back to the bridge and nothing. We headed out to Fountain Flat Drive and saw two bison sparring from about 75 yards away. As we continued to drive I noticed more on the other side of the road and I parked Matilda for a bit as I scoped things out. As I was adjusting all the camera stuff, there was a [flock?] of Mountain Blue Birds sitting on the side of the road. I tried my best to get a shot of more than just one but we'll see how they turned out.

The last wildlife we saw for the drive were two female elks eating some grass by the river. The river was flowing quickly and was filled a dark military green color. She took some selfies and I got one with here and the elk. The day was filled with some strong gusty winds and overcast as far as one could see. We headed back to the bridge to see if my friend would show but no luck.

During dinner I was talking with a contractor, Ray, who was talking about traveling in the park and I mentioned I was done for the weekend due to a low gas tank. He offered a gas can from the back of his truck and I said that the weather isn't going to be great and said I would probably just walk the basin tomorrow anyway. I told him about the bear from the other day and sure enough, I met him back on the bridge where he spotted a much smaller bear, unaware of black or grizzly, and when I looked in the area, the opposite side of the bridge, I saw leaves moving but no bear.

I once again didn't have my camera and relayed that to Ray and gave him my number and said if he saw anything and can give a text or call I would appreciate it. Before leaving I pulled up NPB and showed him a picture of the big guy and we chatted for about ten minutes. During the whole time no bears made themselves aware and I said, "take care, good luck". Ray suggested I take the gas and I gave in. I took the tank to my car and poured it in the tank.  Five minutes later and Matilda was halfway full and asked how much he wanted for the gas and he said, "Nothing. Just helping someone out and next time I should return the favor".

Thank you for letting me hang out with all of you over the last two days, Curtis, Tim, Michael, Matt, Ryn.

Thank you Ray for the gas. That will bring one more day of joyful driving throughout the empty park and I really can't thank you enough!

Look at the shadow of the grizzly!

Keppler Cascades

6 Mountain Blue Birds.

Just an elk pretending not to be evil!

That's is for Friday and Saturday. Going out again tomorrow. What will it bring? Perhaps another night of writing and editing photos for four hours. Make sure you click the "facebook share button'"!

MacKeag

The Not So Ugly Duckling

My coworker wanted me to drive out to West Yellowstone for some things and I was all like, "Dude it's snowing maybe tomorrow....?" Then I get off of work and it stopped and he sent a text saying that...I said sure and drove out to West. Next thing you know I'm holding the gate open as a truck is driving through. I of course ask him if he knew the combo and he responded with *BEEP* and I said enjoy the clear road.

On the way back, I opened the gate, pulled my truck through, got out, looked at Matilda and saw a line of cars driving to West and stood outside in my tee-shirt and work pants while it started to snow. Five cars later and I looked the gate and turned the code. Upon driving and listening to music I passed a couple more cars and enjoyed the flurries in the surrounding mountains because I could.

I was looking at a river 1/4 mile North of Fountain Paint Pot Drive and saw a white magical swan swimming up river. It really wasn't going anywhere but up the river, bobbing for apples or what have you, and floating down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It got really cold outside and I couldn't even hold the camera steady due to not being prepared for the cold for once.

None the less, I took some photos and really enjoyed two of them. I was going for reflection shots and Noticed I have the letter "B" and "O" with the reflection that reminded me of a hike with Missy and Kevin when we did Bunsen Peak. It was the first time I didn't go down Bunsen the same way I came up and we made the decision at the top to go down the back end where there were plenty of wildflowers and great views of canyons and such beautiful landscapes. One thing in particular that drew my eye were these lodge pole pines that I believe were from the '88 fires that had been sitting there dead but still standing. From a particular angle, they made the letter "A" and now I have this crazy idea to try and find letters in nature. Hell, if Drew Barrymore can come out with a book on finding "Hearts" in things like coffee and clouds then I can create something like this and turn it into a kids book or something....I'll just need to find the money to back it.

Any who, it was a peaceful ride and found a swan that wasn't hundreds of yards away and once again, no one was around. It almost makes me want to do this again this time next season but with a shorter break so I can enjoy the empty park and have it to my greedy self. We shall see what summer brings.

"B" or "3"

"O"

Everything Happens for a Reason

There was a problem at work which I decided to stick around for; I won't go into details, but instead of leaving at 6PM I got out at about 6:30. I hopped in Matilda and found a song to listen to, Get Rhythm, and started by drive home. Now, it's only a 20 minute walk to work, so some people may say, but I drive a mile east and then a mile or so west and I'm at work because I have to jump on a different road.

I take that drive and leave early for work everyday just in case some sorta fella my just be hopping, grazing, chilling out on the side of the road. So I take care of this situation at work and drive for about a mile right where I need to turn and there is a Canine right on the road. I immediately hope for a wolf, but to my demise it was a coyote. Regardless, I grabbed my camera and started shooting through the dirty cracked windshield of Matilda since it was 30 feet in front of me. It ventured off into an open field and I thought to myself, I kind of already have "Coyote" pictures, and drove down and there was a pull out right there. There was light and not another person for at least a mile, so I pulled over and started lining things up and getting the right settings and while doing this it was hunting.

I've seen coyotes and foxes hunt before in the winter time. They look down at the ground and listen. Then when they hear what it is they're looking for they jump up and pounce from above like a tiger. Except this time was different. I have never seen them hunt like this in an open field. It was a true nature experience. Sure I wasn't off the road but there I was watching this coyote hunt for its dinner and two cars drove by and they didn't even stop or slow down to see what I was looking at. You might assume they could see it but when I turned around to see the car, I could only find the coyote in my lens and not with the naked eye; it camouflaged very well.

While paying attention to Wild E Coyote, I focused on him and not the surrounding area. I talked to one of Yellowstone's most notable photographers, Tom Murphy, while working in Mammoth and he had the free time to look over some of my photos I carry on my phone, and I remembered what he said about the photos and what I need to do to make them appeal more to people. One thing he said stuck out referring to wildlife. "All wildlife doesn't need to be zoomed in, some people like to see the action in the animal, Whether it be an animal walking from left to right, leave more area in the picture to show where the animal is going, no one cares where it was." <--That's a paraphrase but pretty accurate.

So while shooting these pictures I was zooming in and out and trying to find out how I wanted to remember this and then it hopped again and again and I missed it. So that's when I focused on the coyote and finally saw the rest of the picture with the steam coming off the thermal areas and was just hoping for another hop.

Sure enough it hopped two more times and I got the take off of each one but only the landing of one. I'm not sure how that happened since I had a fast shutter speed but I hope next time he's a little closer and I'll have down right. But if I didn't care about my job and left when I was suppose to, I would have missed out on this photo op. I have to say my life is working out pretty well.

Thank you all for reading and as always, enjoy the pictures. (I tried to get them all cropped in the same picture but they're off just a little bit and it looks blurry; NEXT TIME I'll use a tripod!)

Once again, clicking on the photos will give you the gallery where you perhaps see the action if you flip through them fast enough!