The (Mis)Adventures of Yellowstone

Struggling to breathe, can't get enough oxygen, what's going on??  Oh, it's okay.  It's just adjusting to life at 8,000 feet!  I'm not even trying to exert myself, just climb up that ramp, and I'm huffing and puffing like I can't get my lungs filled with that precious O2. But enough about that!  Let's get on with tales from my adventures in Wyoming.

Sun peeking through the steam at Midway

Tuesday starts off with us venturing from the Tetons to Yellowstone.  A much longer drive than I anticipated.  Once you get to the northern edge of the Tetons, it seems like the drive to the entrance of Yellowstone is always just out of reach.  The temperature kept dropping as did the rain drops as we drove north.  The radio stations dwindled to just one....102.9 which plays an unknown style of music and cell service drops to "No Service".  That's my phone's way of telling me, "I ain't even trying anymore.  No use searching."  By the time we reach anything in Yellowstone, it's around 1 pm.  Grant Village is closed and we have to drive all the way down to the marina to find a bathroom.  Once that first mission is accomplished (and one that will allow me to fulfill all the rest of our missions) we head to Old Faithful.  Along the way we encounter our first bison.  Old Faithful erupted a mere 20 minutes after we arrived (average time between eruptions is 91 minutes).  It's almost anti-climatic but still, it's a "must-see".  We walk a couple mile loop around the rest of the geysers and read up on how they are formed and what's going on under the surface.  I realize that we are on the continental divide as my breaths don't seem to be bringing in much air as we climb the 1/2 mile to Solitary Geyser.  We take it slow and easy and I find that breathing through my mouth gives me just a little bit more air!  After taking in the sites of the Old Faithful Inn and the gift shop, it's off to Midway Geyser Basin which was so beautiful despite it's "ferociousness".  Under the boardwalk was a fragile thin surface filled with the little bacteria and micro organisms that fed off the hot water erupting from the geyser basins.  Steam everywhere.  The sun trying to break out from the steam and clouds.  I turn to my left and what do I see?  A FULL rainbow.  Never have I seen so full a rainbow that was so bright and clear as it entered the ground.  I turn on my camera trying to somehow capture the brightness when a SECOND FULL rainbow appears.  I can't help but smile.  I almost tear up.  God-thank you for that sight.  It already looked like You were trying to come out from the clouds as the sun tried to fight through the steam.  Then You show me your promise as clear as day.  Awesome, wonderful, breathtaking.

Norris Geyser Basin

By the time we investigated a canyon, another falls, and encountered two female elk, it's time to find a place to sleep.  We go to the Madison campground and pitch our tents under the big Wyoming sky.  It's only 8 pm and the temperature is falling fast.  I won't sugarcoat this...it was one of the more miserable nights I've ever had due to the cold.  Even in my three bottom layers and four upper layers PLUS a sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees, I was shivering.  I think I needed more padding between me and the ground.  My calves were so tight the next day due to the constant fetal position I was sleeping in to stay warm (although my sleeping bag made bringing my legs up to the rest of my body pretty difficult). I started off fine but I woke up a few hours later to find myself pretty cold.  I woke up every 2 hours (I know I dreamed) and by 5 am I needed to go the bathroom (I looked out for any signs of bears before I ventured out) and it started raining once I was back in my tent.  I contemplated going to the car for that had to be a little warmer, didn't it?  Well, I braved it out in the cold and was "awake" (was I really asleep?) by 7:30.  Still raining so we got ready and took down the tents in a cold, cold rain.  Oh no, a very low tire.  Where do we go?  Rangers don't have air compressors by the way.  A kind gentlemen pumped up the tire for us and we headed off to West Yellowstone, Montana to get that leak fixed.  Still cold.  Still raining.  Two hours later we are finally back on the main loop of Yellowstone off to Norris Basin.  This basin's springs are much more acidic than the alkaline ones found at Old Faithful (although those ones smelled too).  The sulpher smell is strong and the landscape of  Yellowstone changes into a barren wasteland.   Not barren but not like any other place we'd seen at Yellowstone.  And finally I begin to feel warm and the sun pokes its head out, for like an hour....or less.  After Norris it's up to Mammoth Springs.  Home of more springs and geysers and the old Army fort.  We eat a quick lunch and map out the rest of our drive.  Hark!  More Buffalo!

Bison

Now we begin our trek from the northern edge of the park to the eastern side.  Along the way we encounter more rain (surprise), a bison blocking the road (two of them in fact), and some beautiful falls.

Panoramic View of Falls Canyon

 Our ultimate destination is Canyon Falls, the home of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It took us a few hours to get there making all our little stops along the way to get out of the car to take pictures.  But it was well worth it.  We hiked down to the lower falls (and hiked back up the switchbacks.....yikes...yet I saw several "older" married couples making that trek, they just stopped to rest and I was proud of them) and I took video of the falls there.  The noise was deafening!  Then we hiked the northern rim only to find that the end of the trail had been washed out.  So we hiked BACK to the middle and hiked the OTHER way of the north rim only to stumble across the Grand Canyon.  Well worth the hike!  Gorgeous.  Beautiful.  Magnificent.

Grand Canyon

Lower Falls of the Canyon

Now it's on to find dry warm lodging.  On the way out of the park we encounter a herd of elk....

and a moose taking a swim.....

and saw Yellowstone Lake which is 20 miles by 14 miles....largest high altitude lake in North America (no pictures yet).  We drove the east entrance all the way to the bustling building of Pahaska, WY.  No kidding, the town shuts down next week.  This "town" consists of one building with a restaurant, gift shop, bar, and service station and several "teepee" huts behind it.  No frills lodging (no TV!) but a slow wireless, an actual bed, a warm shower, fulfilling food, and dry clothes are all it takes to make me happy.  Good night world.  (FYI-2-3" of snow are expected tomorrow)

Now if you have been thoroughly entertained and now want some "deeper" reading, read on.  Otherwise, just exit out.

Something that has struck me in seeing these geysers and springs and such is that all of this was made because of sin.  Why you ask?  The earth was never in such tumult in the Garden of Eden.  Everything was at harmony.  Canyons, mountains, geysers, springs, volcanic creations......all a result of a world no longer perfect.  And we find these creations to be so awe-inspiring and captivating when it's actually the result of destruction, a world in conflict, of pressure needing an outlet (Old Faithful).  Many of the sights we've seen recently are also the result of patience.  Water, fire, wind, pressure didn't do all of this in a day, a year, or even a decade.  Over the thousands of years that this earth has been rotating around the sun, these systems have been at work.  Rarely forcing it (sometimes yes in the case of floods, volcanic eruptions, etc) but letting the river flow and make a new creation.  Isn't that how we should be?  Not forcing the issue, pushing the river, or trying to take matters into our own hands but rather letting God work through us, in His time, in His way and just think about the creation He'll make in us.  It takes pressure to create beauty and sometimes He'll allow some pressure in our life to create something much more beautiful.  Next time you see a picture of a crater, a canyon, or even Old Faithful, remember a few things.  First, all came as the result of sin entering the world but yet, a beautiful creation can still be made.  Secondly, it didn't happen overnight and God's work in you won't take overnight but He'll keep working on you till the day you die.  And third, what an awesome God we serve!  He created a world so awesome and beautiful not for us to worship it, but to point us to its Creator.  Wow, just wow.

Jenny Lake

Day 1 of our adventure began in the Grand Tetons.  While on the highway, winding our way through the countryside, we saw the sign for the National Forest and when we went around the corner, I saw some of the most breathtaking sites.  Mountains reaching for the skies, a sky that was bigger than I would ever see in Indiana, and a view and altitude that took my breath away.  Trees that seemed like they were reaching for God.  And that's what we should be doing.  Reaching up for God.  We, in and of ourselves, can never reach God just like those trees will never reach the sky.  But they never stop trying and neither should we.  Never stop reaching out to God.  And God will reach down to us and bridge the gap that cannot be bridged by us.  But I digress... :-)

We walked about 7 miles around Jenny Lake, which is about in the heart of the Tetons.  It took us about 4 hours to make this trek up and down a very rocky terrain.  By the time we had finally made it all around the loop, we were done ourselves.  A short drive back into Jackson, WY and finding a motel were on the agenda.  Tonight it's a good rest and headed up to Yellowstone for the next 2 days.

Not a man made sound to be heard at Jenny Lake.

Are Horses Smarter Than People? A Childhood Memory From Cowboy Titus | Faith Church Blog

Are Horses Smarter Than People? A Childhood Memory From Cowboy Titus | Faith Church Blog:

'via Blog this'

This is something we talk about with the kids all the time.  Lew Sterrett introduced this idea to us at Miracle Mountain Ranch.  Good job Titus!

Control, Alt, Delete Your Life

Sometimes we just need a reboot.  A chance to stop, get away, and recharge.  Get away from the hustle and bustle of this life and drive away all the distractions.  Clear your mind.  Let the frustrations melt away.  It's good for the mind, body, and soul.  And that's what I'm going to get to do in a few days.  Get out of IN, head to the mountains of the west, get away into God's Creation, get a little closer to God and hear His still voice.  A friend and I are headed to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons for a week.  It's going to be an awesome experience and I know that the views will be breathtaking....more than words can express.  So long, see you in a while, and good bye flat lands.

You Don't Have to Be the Hero Tonight

To those I'm closest to in my life, I think I play the supporting role the best. I will do what I can to help you out, to do all the little things that make you look good or allow you to go on and do what you do best.  The little things that don't really get noticed when they are done, but are noticed when they aren't.  The role is hard.  It's hard when the things you do don't get noticed and it's only noticed when the task doesn't get done.  In my selfish ways, I want others to notice when I'm gone.  You may not notice me when I'm there, but I hope you'll notice when I'm not.  That there's a void, the support is gone.  I want to be the hero, helping those around me without much fanfare (but sometimes it'd be nice :-) ).  But who's the superhero's hero?  Superman's superman?  To someone who plays a supportive role, it is hard when no one appears to be your support.  Who do you go home to and talk to when all it is is an empty home?  Who do you rely on when you're weary of others relying on you?  When you're dependable, it's easy for others to expect it of you from then on and to not be dependable may seem like failure.   Sometimes you want to shout, "What about me?"  "What about what I want?"  It's not like that's why you do it and you shouldn't be doing it for yourself.  You do it out of the love you have in your heart.  You do it to serve those like Christ served us.  You do it to put God first, others before yourself, and yourself last.  God is your support, He is the best support for all.  But lastly and most importantly, you don't have to be the hero tonight.  It's not your job....it's not my job.

Good song for all you heroes out there.
FFH Undone

Don't Be a Cougar!

Since I began working at camp, I have learned a lot about behavior, both human and horse.  Why not?  I'm constantly around both of those groups every day and they are always changing (at least the humans are always changing!) so I can observe and study both groups.  It's actually a fascinating subject and here are some thoughts.  

Horses are magnificent animals.  They reflect our emotions and are a mirror to our own soul.  If we are feeling frustrated, nervous, scared, or distracted, they will reflect.  On the flip side, if we are calm, confident, and at peace, the horse will be a relaxed confident mount.  We may not even know exactly what we are feeling or dealing with on the inside and a horse will bring it to the surface.    A horse can also sense what may be “different” about a rider and can take compassion on them, take them into their “herd”, and take care of them.

Horses cannot lie.  They cannot hide their emotions, hide their feelings, or deceive us.  Humans, on the other hand, are constantly suppressing our true feelings, lying with our words and actions.  While our words may lie, our body language usually does not.  It is difficult to fake one’s body language yet it appears to be something that we rarely clue into.  Horses communicate only through their body language whether it’s in their stance, their ears, or their body position, they tell us exactly how they feel.  Often times, humans in our predatory ways ignore body language in both animals and others around us.  We have often seen a young child excitedly run up to an animal only to have that animal run away.  Once that animal runs away, we often see that child chase it to try to catch it.  They don’t understand that the animal is running away due to fear and that chasing a scared animal will, more than likely, not involve them catching it.  We don’t recognize the subtle clues that both animals and our fellow man tell us.  What would happen to communication if we were to clue into the non-verbal side?  What would happen to our relationships?  Think about how much more observant, connected, and intuitive we would become.

Horses are followers by their nature. Every herd needs and has a leader, usually a boss mare, and the herd will follow their leader without hesitation. This is key to their survival.  A good leader is fair and consistent.  The leader is not aggressive, mean, or overly dominant but assertive.  They need to trust and respect their leader.  Horses naturally will follow as they don't naturally desire to be in the lead but in the absence of a good leader, will take over that position themselves.   As we work with a horse, we need to assume the role of the leader in the relationship.  If we can prove ourselves to be a fair and competent leader without dominating and causing fear in the horse, we can build a relationship based on trust and respect.  What is amazing is how we can change our ways from predator (ex. getting a horse to move away from you) to prey (ex. softening our body position and "asking" the horse to come to us) and the horse, who lives in the here and now, will respond to you based only on the body language you now present.  While a minute ago you were telling that horse to "go away" (aggressive body language), you can now soften your stance and position and ask him to "come to you" and he will.  They don't hold onto the past.....why do we?    (I've titled this post after a saying that Amie and I have around the kids, "Don't be a cougar" = "Don't act like a predator, act like a partner.")

Likewise, as humans, often times we want to have a strong confident, yet not dominating, leader that we can follow.  Thankfully, we can have a “boss horse” in our relationship as well.  God can be our leader.  He is fair and just, yet demands respect.  Just as the horse who follows their competant and confident leader, we need to follow our Leader.  We can have faith that our Leader will never fail, will always have our best interests at heart, and is completely trustworthy.  It is complete and udder freedom to have that relationship.  It's not a prison, confined by rules and "Do nots" but a liberating experience.  That may seem like a contradiction to have "rules" and "freedom" at the same time....but it's not.  A horse that trusts it's boss mare/leader can be confident that someone is watching out for the herd, trust that they only have their best interests at heart, keeps them steered away from danger, and will take care of their needs.  It's safe.  Likewise, we have freedom as well.  Not freedom to do whatever we want, but freedom to do as we ought to.

In closing, I challenge you to observe those around you, listen a little less to the words and a little more to the body language, and be clued in to your own language.  Then take a look at your relationship with your "Boss Horse" and experience the freedom that comes with it.

       

Why Camp? Why not?

This isn't targeted to Camp Tecumseh but the accreditation service for camps is the American Camping Association (ACA).  This is a you tube video they've put out.  It's a great reminder as to why we do what we do and why we put in the countless hours we do.  It makes a difference.  It can change a life.  It's an experience that can last a lifetime.  I've heard countless stories from campers and it was neat to hear from actors/"famous" folks.

Because of Camp