May 9th, 2016. 7:20 a.m., 45 degrees – Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. It can be challenging to sleep in at a campground situated on a spit of land surrounded by a loop of road. Especially when that road is the only way to travel between Yellowstone’s Historic North Entrance and the … Continue reading
Sunday, May 8th, 2016 – Canyon Campground, Gallatin National Forest, Montana 6:30 a.m. – 42 degrees Bright eyed and bushy tailed, we were back on the road to Yellowstone. The morning sky was a bright blue pallet on which we would paint our day. (24 minutes later…) 6:54 a.m. Historic North Entrance, Yellowstone National Park, Montana We … Continue reading
Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Moraine Park Campground, RMNP – 7:20 am, 41 degrees We woke to small clicking and crunching noises outside of our tent. Having heard these sounds before in the Rocky Mountains, we had a pretty good idea what it was: foraging elk. We sat quietly in our tent, listening. Hooves casually click-clacked on the … Continue reading
Thursday, May 5th, 2016– Estes Park, Colorado We took a morning dip in the hot tub on the porch before checking out of our favorite Estes Park lodging. The juxtaposition of the cool mountain air and the bubbling hot water made for an intense sensory introduction to our day. The sky beamed bright blue making the … Continue reading
Wednesday, May 4th, 2016 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Campground Site #67, 6:48 a.m. – 37 degrees The sun was just beginning to stretch her glow across the dunes as we broke camp and made coffee. It was a still morning, a few songbirds and snoring neighbors the only sounds in the campground. … Continue reading
May 2nd, 2016 – On the road from Northern New Mexico to Southern Colorado It was almost 1:00 p.m. when we crossed state line into Colorado. Within the hour we entered Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. We visited this park for briefly in 2013, climbed one of the tallest sand dunes, and then … Continue reading
April 30, 2016 The Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas Anxious to get back on the road, we checked out of The Arlington and were on the road by 8:00 a.m. and entering the Ouachita National Forest within the hour. Deciduous trees lush with spring boasted vibrant green over yellow-green grasses. Finally, after being shrouded in … Continue reading
Thursday, April 28, 2016 – Holy Springs National Forest, Mississippi It was wonderful waking up in our tent knowing that we had started the second leg of our voyage to Mount Rushmore and that we would be crossing another National Park off of our list today. A slight drizzle fell on the glistening green surrounding … Continue reading
One of my favorite parts of being a National Park Ranger is hearing the stories of the visitors at Mount Rushmore. Everyone has a story to tell about why they have made to journey to the Black Hills, where they are going next, how long they have been on the road, and the adventures they … Continue reading
It’s difficult to believe that we have been living in South Dakota for a month now. We have been in the thick of our rangering adventure, allowing little time to reflect on the experience enough to be able to put it in words to share with those of you who have been patiently waiting for … Continue reading