Wildlife

Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is truly a spectacular sight.While you will see many, do not expect to see them all, especially not with just one visit.  Among the various species in the park there are  Wolves, Coyotes,Bison, Bears,Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Lynx, Bobcats, Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Eagles, Ravens, and many species of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds.  


The wildlife is my favorite aspect of the park.  I love them  all.  

Ravens at the Lower General Store at Old Faithful

Most frequently seen are the Ravens.  They are astoundingly intelligent, and often underestimated. They get into garages,  foot left out, and even unopened packs.  Most people call them pests, but they are fantastic, and full of personality.  Even better, is that they know how to unzip zippers, and unsnap packs,  so never leave your belongings unattended, even in the more highly populated areas.

This little guy frequented the grassy areas by the dorm I lived in (Pictured)

The second creature that i saw most frequently were the bison.  They are large, majestic creatures. Mistakenly, people often see them as overgrown version of cows, dumb and near harmless.   One of the first days I arrived a tourist went up to one of these beauties, and in attempt to get a better picture, tried to reposition it.  He ended up being hurled 20+ feet into the air, and obtained many broken bones.  I hold no sympathy for him.     The first and foremost rule of being in these wilds, is know your surroundings, respect them, know what you might run into, and be prepared. 

While I saw many deer and elk,  the last I would like to mention are the Coyotes.  They are plentiful and clever.  Being scavengers, they are often seen near the bigger areas of human activity. But like anything else, they should be respected and left alone.






Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to view many other creatures in their natural habitat. I wish everyone else the best of luck.  Just keep in mind to be mindful and aware of your surroundings in order to safely take advantage of all the beauty the park has to offer.  

And if you are like me, and have the misfortune of not being able to see a wolf, or a bear in the wilds; you can always visit the Grizzly and Wolf discovery center in West Yellowstone.

Have a wonderful night!

Week 1- Work, and Revisiting my College years

Yellowstone is a fantastic place to work, I don't think it could be anywhere better.  Fresh air, wildlife, and endless fun in my off-time.  But it is hard work... not mentally, but physically taxing.

I wake up at 6.30 in the morning.  I get ready and head to the Employee Dining Room by 7am.  I enjoy a decent breakfast, then I am off to work. I am a housekeeper at the Snow Lodge, and  I clean an average of 12-15 rooms a day... most of them having two beds.  It's an all day workout, and definitely shows in the weight I have lost. 

My part of the dorm room (left)... my messy roommate (right)

After work I head back to my dorm room.   All the dorms are different here... many of the dorms have bigger rooms with a private bathroom in each room.  The dorm I am in seems to house most of the "right out of high school" kids.  This dorm really reminds me of college.  Shared bathrooms, and noisy kids.  But its not bad.  The crowd here, wherever you go, is fantastic.  The employees are nice, and all are thrilled to be in Yellowstone.   In the evenings after work I usually take a nice hot bath and relax either in the Old Faithful Inn, listening to live music,  or chilling' in my dorms common room, where often people have games going on.

I had best be off now... but I shall tell you about my days off here, the wildlife, and other fun stuff as soon as possible!

~*~ A video of live music at the Inn! ~*~

 Lodging in Yellowstone 

Coolworks 

Yellowstone Jobs 

And I've Arrived!

This is going to be another short post, but I've arrived in Yellowstone!

 It was an uneventful night.  I saw Bison, Elk, Chipmunks, Ground Squirrels, and Rabbits on the way in! Interesting, but nothing significant.  Today I checked in at Gardiner and got assigned to Old Faithfull... I'm staying in the Laurel dorms, and will be working as a housekeeper at the Snow Lodge!

The next 5 weeks seem to be very promising! I look forward to all the outdoor activities I will get to participate in, working, and enjoying the area!

But I had best be off. I have things to get together, papers to fill out, and places to explore!
I will post again here in a few days after I get settled  with much more to tell! :)

And I'm Off!!!

       My apprehension has grown as the time nears that I leave.  I am going to miss everyone. But it will be good to get away to one of the most beautiful places on earth, to work, enjoy my surroundings, and push to the back of my mind the troubles that have plagued my mind the past  couple of days.                                                              I look forward to the adventure, and I am far more excited then apprehensive! All I have to do is return my parents computer to them that I have been borrowing, Pack up my car, and I'm off! :)  I look forward to also being able to post more on here of my thoughts, meanderings, and experiences! Woot!

                                         Anybody reading this, I wish yo the best of days!

                                                                    Peace and Love

Finally a change- Getting ready for Yellowstone!!

After being practically jobless for 3 months, my spirits have been low.  I have been in somewhat of a depressed state. My friends being my only momentary reprieve from these feelings.  I have felt bored, but no drive to do anything, I have felt exhausted, drained, and glum.

It seems as if I have put in applications everywhere... time and again.   I've had interviews, only to find out I am overqualified, under qualified, or given no explanation.  I've wanted to give up, but that is never a valid choice.   And finally, I revisited an option I had entertained and worked towards earlier this year. I re-submitted my applications to Yellowstone National Park.   They (as well as 6 other national parks and resorts) offered me a job several months ago that I had denied due to getting a job that seemed too good to be true.

I received a response back via e-mail earlier this week.  They have had several positions open up due to college-age employees returning to school. All I had to do was let them know if I wanted one, when I wanted one.  

I called Yellowstone yesterday evening, after finding out a promising position I interviewed for in town was a no-go, with the hiring manager avoiding my call back to him he asked me to make.    I accepted the position in Yellowstone National Park, through Xanterra.   I start this Tuesday the 28th!!

I am as excited as I can be!  I look forward to this Friday with my best friend, the packed weekend, and the change of scenery that I hope will snap me back to my more happy self.  

Anyhoo... Love and Peace to all!!



.... and if you want to find an awesome job, I always recommend coolworks.com