Photos From Emma Matilda HIke

It snowed last night and this morning. Nevertheless, its my day off, so I prepared a goodly daypack and headed out. Its over 11 miles of trail, and I have my bear spray.

Every once in awhile there will be a 3 x 5 metal marker nailed to a tree. I love the patina they've developed over the years.

The sage is fragrant and abundant. I tasted some. Very strong. The snow looks very pretty hanging on the branches.

This large moose was feeding at Christain Pond. He wasn't too upset I took his photo.

A road block can happen with the sighting of any animal. This one just happened to be for a moose calf. Poor thing looked terrified. I walked past on the way to my dorm, eager for a hot shower after slugging through miles of snow on the south side of the lake.
A wonderful day hike which gave opportunity to navigate when the trail became buried in snow, and no other hikers were out until I neared the Overlook. Some vacationers wanted to be sure they were on the right trail, and told me about all the elk they'd seen.
Elk are abundant this year, too.

Key Lessons to Never Forget

As I thought about our bushwhack and hike on Monday, I remembered some key lessons I nearly forgot.
People tend to get into trouble, get lost, get hurt, when they over estimate their abilities and underestimate Mother Nature.

When a person is hiking with a new friend, there's a tendency to compete on some level. You hear it all the time, one up man ship stories, one up man ship communing with nature, one up man ship endurance.

Hard to say, Slow down, or I'm not comfortable with that decision.
Seems I always get fronted with the "not bad for a girl" attitude. Or when I get accused of being afraid, there's a part of me that wants to list my adventures, proving I'm not your average "girl".

The other part of me knows I have nothing to prove.
 In the end you find no one wins and the race was only with yourself. So take the path of your own choosing and be not dismayed if no one leads, or follows.-This anonymous quote really helps me when I must break paths, and trust my instincts.

A key lesson to remember is we are mortals. Always stay with a true landmark when disoriented. If the map is not jiving with your trail, you are not where you think you are.
This is the time to start over, and read the land as it is, not as we wish it were.

I love survival stuff.
Tonight will be another adventure.

First Serious Grand Teton Hike-Griz Prints

Today I went on an amazing hike with a new friend from Maine. He works security here in the park.
Nine a.m we headed to Colter Bay where we began a hike to Swan Lake. Some snow covered the trail, but we're both fine with getting our feet into that.
Heading towards Lake Heron, we came across some huge fresh tracks. I loved it, and took footage.
Bear scratching on the tree were only at about four feet, telling me a small bear was in the vicinity.
We saw many geese, duck, sand hill crane, wolf prints and snow banks five feet tall.
One thing led to another and I surrendered the navigation to my friend, but resumed leadership when things just did not jive. We were prepared with bear spray, water, and emergency items, but staying out all night was not an option.
After walking the shores for an hour, we came to Mackinaw Lake Camp II, complete with bear boxes. Later we would see that we had gone out to an island much further than intended.
Finally,the shore walking paid off when we saw the Marina. We ate at the Employee Dining Room at Colter Bay, both elated with the grand adventure.

A good day off is one filled with satisfaction.

I Love My Job in the Tetons

I didn't go crazy.  This is the first time  I can say I LOVE my job.

That alone is worth a lot of other grief, be it snoring room mates, broken showers and compromises on room temperatures and sporadic Internet access.

Each work day, I arrive, put on my clean long apron, and begin baking. The chef has  determined that I am the official Bread Baker, and has even assigned me an assistant a couple times a week.
I make breads from scratch, corn muffins, fococcia, lavash (which is a spicy cracker) and various other rolls.
Our shapes are all important, the presentation must be consistent and eye candy.

But if that's not enough, across the ample stainless steel table, or along the butcher block work spaces,
culinary graduates are making pastries, granola, dipping strawberries in chocolate, creating tempting morsels of delight for the upcoming banquets.
All this of course must be trimmed, tasted, wrapped and analyzed by the fortunate crew who work in this abundant space. The chef is patient and teaches us something new every day.

I've worked in kitchens a fourth that size with twice the people .
Nice.
There is equipment I've never worked with before, like the pastry sheeter, and the ball roller. We have a huge closet just for warming doughs, and the refrigeration is spacious.
Gotta love a well appointed kitchen, and a staff that actually doesn't want to leave! Our uniforms are washed for us, they are white chef coats and checkered pants. Mine actually fit.
Did I fall into employment heaven?
The down side is housing, but we deal. Our back yard is amazing, the Grand Tetons just south of Yellowstone National Park.

Arrival Photo of Tetons

Taken from Jackson Lake Lodge looking out across the lake to the fields. They say its prime moose habitat.

Update From Grand Tetons

 I'm  getting settled in here at Jackson Lake Lodge.Baking bread daily is my main job. We have many varieties which are served in portioned sizes.
Herb Rolls, Jalapeno With Cheese and Bacon, Potato and Dill, Lavash, Focaccia, Cornbread Muffins , Swiss Rolls are some of the specialties.

Lots of culinary students are here as well. I don't have any degrees so I prove my worth by actions.
Funny how a degree seems to give more respect than just experience in the field. There's the mystic of the Chef creating cuisine with a flair of the artist.
Beauty is important. The presentation to tease the eye, while the smell entices the appetite.

Survival of Room Mates is an issue. People aren't used to rooming with total strangers. We have people here from Jamaica, Mexico, Ukraine, Brazil, and who knows where else. Culture and stereotypes conflict. Our employee dining room is great, good food, good company , big windows, lots of  room. Its really been busy with people checking in, then being relocated to their assigned location.
The mountains are ice and snow. We hike along the road, some large areas are forbidden due to bear activity.
Those not used to wilderness keep warning us not to go alone, warning us its nearly forbidden.
I ask, " Is it illegal to hike alone". The answer of course is no. So I do. Others do as well.

So far I've seen one moose, tons of elk, geese, a fox being out maneuvered by two wild Turkeys, a lot of birds and osprey, and squirrels.
The horses and the wranglers aren't up and running yet. But soon.

Heading West

I've enjoyed driving out here so far, in spite of the winds and crazy weather. Record highs in Chicago, now there's snow west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
People are down to earth along this stretch of I-80. Bring in  your mug when you fill up the gas tank, and you can get ice for free. I have water in the car.
Or just load up on some coffee for 79 cents.

Cheap travel is easy when you're alone if you keep stops to a minimum. My cell phone is off, but charged for emergencies. I touch base with family as I go.

Turning on the news last night in the motel, I saw we're still evaluating the "bin Laden" situation. The digital information that was hauled away, the Pakistan indignation over our big find, and reprisals upon the Pakistan military by al queda.
So? I guess those reprisals don't bother me. In fact, that ought to show who your real friends are. When you keep secrets from your "friends" and harbor the enemy, who then pays you back when they are  discovered, you got no one to blame but yourself.

Anyways, that's a short contribution from the road. Semi trucks are to be respected. I give them wide berth, knowing my little car isn't always easy  to see.

Survival of the Zaniest

At http://www.borowitzreport.com/ Today's headline on my favorite "news" blog is, paraphrased: In New Pole Trump Vs PalinMost Chose Suicide.

I must concur.

Reading this wonderful blog reminds me why Americans are so resilient. We can make light of the craziest things. Jay Leno had a bumper week with bin Laden taking hits. You can watch his episodes for free at http://hulu.com

On more serious notes, gas prices are expected to decline. This is great news for us seasonal workers headed out to our new jobs. I'll be working and blogging from Grand Tetons National Park, where I'll be cooking for Vail Resorts at Jackson Lake Lodge. If you think you'd like a gig like this, or at some other cool spot, check out http://coolworks.com

I read an article about Not becoming a target for criminals in Psychology Today magazine. Much of the information I had already memorized and practice: stay alert, not distracted, out of dark places , don't flaunt wealth or talk to strangers, trust your instincts, comportment with purpose.
One thing I hadn't realized: women dressed too modestly, with high necklines, long sleeves and multiple layers actually look submissive. Hopefully, that's not me. My face and expression say much, but I'll keep that in mind. Most of the time I wear sleeveless tops while driving, with a light jacket for warmth.

Not much other news here. I'm supportive of women on adventures. Fear destroys dreams, and worry takes away pleasure.
Survival is a head game more than anything else. The right attitude has kept many children alive when strength alone was insufficient.
A petite confident woman is less likely to be a target of thieves than a large passive man.

Guide To Real Happiness

I love reading Psychology Today, a magazine and website http://psychologytoday.com
which contain articles ranging from happiness, relationships, the work bully, why women choose bad boys, mental rehearsal of pending tasks, and more.

It doesn't matter that the recent issue I picked up is dated January/February 2009. The issues with human physical and mental health remain the same.

Our nation has been in a stream of downsizing for a couple years now, probably a direct result of the current recession we're in. They tell us it began late 2007. Sounds about right. Most of the working class and less fortunate feel it has not ended, regardless of the manipulation of economic numbers.

Anyways, keeping up with the Joneses has been termed Status Anxiety. One solution to giving our collective selves a break is choosing who your peer group is. Makes sense. They say owning the smallest mansion in a gated community makes you feel worse than buying the biggest bungalow in a more moderate neighborhood.

Minimalism is the New Black. All sorts of magazines and websites are telling us how to declutter, clean up our stuff and value the human relationships in our lives.

http://zenhabits.net is a blog which Leo Babauta has been writing for several years. He says "most people have too much going on and not enough time for things that are truly important." He has over 70,000 followers, and the writing and information is fantastic.

I find that some human relationships can be part of that" too much going on" if I feel stressed after interacting with certain persons or spending too much time on social networks. "Too much going on" also referrs to  mountains of material stuff. Decluttering my life  involves setting boundaries which enhance my well being.

All the reading and goal setting will not help, however. Action is the life changing force.

Proud To Be An American

Yesterday I was watching President Obama hand it back to Donald Trump at the White House dinner. Both the 17 minute clip, and the short "Donald" clip are hilarious. View it if you got a bit of time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42837356/ns/politics-white_house/
It was really great hearing the President dish out better than he got.

Who knew that very evening, a historical event producing American Pride outbreaks in the street, would stun the nation.
Bin Laden is dead!

It seems weird to celebrate a death so joyously. I'm a pacifist at heart. I'd much rather avoid confrontation and settle disputes diplomatically.
But, self defense is a human right and dignity. I've always taught my kids not to attack, but if attacked, defend yourself with all you got. Defend your little brother or sister. Don't ever let the bully win.

I'm proud to be an American. We're messed up, that's true. Tons of credit card debt, we don't like to delay gratification, we believe in rags to riches so much we let the wealthy take all they can grab while we buy lottery tickets.
But, I've been told that our enemies in World War II knew not to land troops on American soil. They knew Americans are armed. We own weapons. We know how to use them, and by god we will.

And I'm happy to hear ex-president Bush congratulating President Obama. We're messed up right now, but I believe President Obama said it best, "we can accomplish what we want when we set our minds to it."

I've heard dire warnings that we may have opened a can of worms. I imagine I'm not the only one saying, bring it on. This is a victory we're proud to own.
Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength--Corrie Ten Boom

Thank you troops!