Hello everyone!
It’s hard to believe that it has been NINE days since the family and I arrived here! I am having the time of my life, and am so blessed for this amazing opportunity.
I arrived Friday June 17th through the West Entrance with my parents and Sarah.
Here is me at the sign absolutely stoked!
The park was closed the first few days we arrived due to the flooding in the Northern sector (Montana area). Luckily, I am working in the Old Faithful District, which is the southwestern section and I was granted employee entry! I checked into my housing which is a cute cabin style looking home, two bedroom two bathroom just for two of us and it is only a half mile from where I work!
My family and I spent the first few days exploring the park with NO ONE around! It was amazing to watch Old Faithful erupt on the boardwalk with just my mom and I witnessing it as well as visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowston and other beautiful areas of the park!
We also got to celebrate Father’s Day as a family in Yellowstone which was super special!
My roommate Zenja is truly the best! I lucked out with her, we hit it off from day one and became instant friends! We often hang out in our living room after work and chat for hours, I am helping her pick up more ASL by her request and she is simply splendid! Some other great friends I have made since starting here are Cayley, Paige, Michael, Russ and Trent. Overall the crew is phenomenal, there are many young folks on the staff as well as older retired people, but I get along with everyone perfectly fine! There are many evening events going on that I go to after work, so far I have gone to a potluck Taco Bar, a campfire, hiked out to Lone Star Geyser and hung out with some of the ladies in our modules! Everyone was excited to meet me and I fit right in so fast, it feels like summer camp and I am so thankful for the amazing staff!
I somehow missed the lone star photo opp but here are some of my fantastic coworkers!
Work has been busy but fun so far! I am “shadowing” right now which means everyday I am paired up with a different experienced coworker and I learn how various operations work. I have worked at the Visitor Center Desk a lot answering questions, worked a Junior Ranger Table where we set up touch tables and talk to kids about pelts/skulls/geology relating to the park, gone roving a lot (walking the different geyser basins and making contact with people), “babysat” bison that are in high visitor areas, ensuring that folks keep their distance from the wildlife and helped predict eruptions for several of our predictable geysers! I do not have a uniform yet, so stay tuned for that photo in the next email, but I LOVE the busyness of the job!
I have seen a ton of wildlife since I started and have gotten bitten by mosquitoes at least 25 times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When we entered our first night, we were greeted by herds of bison trotting on the road.
On the Lone Star Hike we saw a moose in the meadow which is extremely rare because the population is around 100 moose here due to elevation and the overall climate.
Last Friday, I saw a mama grizzly bear with two cubs! My coworker Russ and I went looking for them after work, and saw them in the meadow with no other people around. I was awestruck, by far my favorite moment so far!
Last night, we had a bison hang out right next to our house, apparently that is a common occurrence here, so I guess I’ll have to get used to that one!
Right now as I write this email, it is a pleasant 65 degrees and sunny and I am hammocking on my porch! I could not be happier to be here right now and words cannot describe how thankful I feel for this opportunity.
My days off are Sunday/Monday, so that is the best time to get a hold of me if you want to chat and catch up! I am on Mountain Time (1 hour ahead from California) so keep that in mind!
With so much love!
Rachel–