Solstice

Whoopee! There is now a Wapiti Internet connection! Wapiti is my dorm. Sometimes I just call it Elk, no one is sure how Wapiti is pronounced.
I got off at 3 pm today and hiked out to Sylvan Springs on the far side of Gibbon Meadows. It is a place that has always caught my attention as we drive by. It's near Monument Geyser basin. The best part was that once I got out there, I could see ANOTHER geyser basin, this one hidden at the foot of the mountain. I couldn't resist so I had to hike out to that one too. I didn't get back until 8:05-5 minutes after I'd requested that they call the rangers to drag my lifeless body from the wilderness. It was a little eerie hiking by myself but I'm determined to get used to it. I'm tired of waiting around for others to find their enthusiasm.
"The Valley of the Shadow" this was an eerie place to walk alone, especially after having read the hot springs chapter of "Death in Yellowstone."











The namesake spring of the Sylvan Basin. This spring boils so vigorously that it is almost a whirlpool.













Overlooking Sylvan Basin, Gibbon Meadows in the background.













A moss forest, actually only about an inch and a half high.














Dead trees in the stone terraces of Sylvan's runoff.













The beautiful pools.
I love this milky blue pool. The pool has a lovely scalloped edge.














Runoff channels.

Gibbon River, meandering through Gibbon Meadows. Isn't a gibbon a kind of ape?












Stone waterfall (dark grey) this is the hidden, second geyser basin I found after arriving at Sylvan.













At the hidden basin.














Also at the hidden basin.

Elk antler in the runoff.














Wildflower called elephanthead for obvious reasons.




















The Emerald Pool.















A fluffy marsh wildflower.

Peak Experiences

This is a pika. He is about hamster-sized and we found him near the summit. Pikas collect grass all summer and dry it to use as hay during the winter. Sometimes they steal hay from eachother.
Shooting star wildflowers.
Me, Jessica, Pilar and Andrew at the summit.
Summit views.

This photo is for my Mom-thanks for the backpack, I still love it.
Female bighorn sheep, looking so scruffy, we weren't sure what they were.
Cow Parsnips against the slopes of Mt. Washburn.
It's so windy near the peak that half the trees have blown away.
This painting was in the observation towere at the summit. I like it.

Wow, this blog thing doesn't work so well around here. Getting online is a major challenge. I had the last two days off. Monday I hiked to Monument Geyser Basin with Rachel and Shane-with-the-broken-arm (there are about 5 Shanes here). Stacy came too, but fell asleep by the side of the trail after the first 1/4 mile. I love Monument Geyser Basin and wish I could share the photos, but they won't upload.
Tuesday Jessica (who is now my roommate) and I went to West Yellowstone. Today Jessica, Pilar, Andrew and I climbed Mt. Washburn. It was really a nice hike. We saw:

• TONS of tiny wildflowers



• a pika (sort of a wild, big-eared, alpine hamster)



• mountain goats



• grizzly sow and two cubs



• marmots



• the Grand Tetons on the other side of the park

Again, I wish I could upload the photos... I guess you'll just have to wait. Everything is here, wish you were beautiful.

Wapiti Dorm Life

OK, forget what I said about calling me. phone is a useless paperweight up here. I guess it still works as an alarm clock. If you just want to leave me a message to say Hi, I do check my messages when I go to Old Faithful or one of the surrounding towns.
I officially have friends now; Jessica from Missouri, Pilar and Andrew who are going to Humbolt in California and Stacy from Houston. Stacy is also 27 and going to nursing school. Jessica will probably be moving in as my roommate. Right now she's in Bison, the underage-no alcohol dorm.

Good Morning Colorado

Waking up to views of the Front Range-that's what I call a good morning.
Summit RV Park: "They heck in, but they don't heck out." (read the orange sign if you don't get it.)




My rear-view mirror charms, enjoying the beautiful West Texas springtime.





























We saw this elk yearling while property hunting outside of Golden, CO. He acted almost tame and posed for a photo.

In Keeping With Kierst Traditions

Well the "Art Truck" left Dallas today for the journey north. I let my best class paint it on the last day of school as a reward for good behavior. Next time I will get the kids to plan out what they're going to do beforehand and request that they do more painting and less writing. Most of the truck is decorated with words; "West Dallas," "Jesus, Pimp My Ride," "Party like a Rock Star" "Mrs. Kierst rocks" and so on. I'm not sure who Mr. Kierst is.
We left way too late today after finishing up the packing that I was way too tired to do last night. Highlights of the drive included:

• Watching two prisoners in old-timey black and white striped jumpsuits playing basketball next to the road with no precautions to keep them from running off.
• Wildflowers-tons of wildflowers along with miles of yucca in bloom and mean-looking cholla cactus.

Low points included:

• Slow, but non-gormet food from Dairy Queen and Subway.
• Keeping the family tradition of getting a speeding ticket while driving out of Texas like a bat out of Hell. There goes $150! In UT or CO it would have been about $35, but of course, Every Thing's Bigger in Texas!