Our first week

On Wednesday after the delicious huckleberry pancake breakfast we decided to play tourist in the Mammoth area. We visited the visitor center and walked the path around the Hot Springs. We both remembered much more liquid flowing when we visited in 2010, but it was still interesting to see. This is a map of the terraces.

Here are a few scenes of the flowing hot springs.

This one is called Liberty Cap.

When we were at the top we took some pictures of the Mammoth area. This one shows our store on the left side.

This one gives an overall view. The steam at the top is a hot spring.

There's a hotel, restaurant, post office, clinic, visitor center, Yellowstone headquarters, military buildings from the past, and several other attractions.

This is the Cleopatra terrace.

 

 Here's a view looking down from the top of the path.

As we were walking back down there were people stopped looking at something. Here it is.

We got to watch it slither into its hole.

On the way back to our campsite we passed some animals. First some elk.

Then some bison.

 

 And finally some sheep on the hillside.

Since we had several days before our job started we took a drive to explore Livingston, MT about 53 miles north of Gardiner. In addition to driving through town and checking out the two grocery stores we stopped at the Yellowstone Gateway Museum. They had outdoor exhibits of how people survived in the past.

We were impressed with the quantity and quality on the displays inside. Here's an iron lung used back then.

An old, old fashioned washing machine

 

How the kitchens looked

 

And the sewing area

 

Dan liked the fire truck.

 

 

One fun fact about schools

 

Original transportation in Yellowstone

 

Sheepherders wagon

 

 

So after several days of playing we headed to West Yellowstone for our first day of training. We received our shirts, aprons, and jackets which were the same as last year. After refreshing our memories of how to use the register, we were reminded of how the money is handled.

 

The next morning we reported to our store at Mammoth. It's much smaller than last year but very busy.

 



 

The manager, floor supervisors, and associates proved to be very friendly and helpful. We had an opportunity to learn about each section of the store: apparel, gifts, grocery, and fountain. Everyone works all sections of the store if needed. We joined a group at a local restaurant and got to meet more of our fellow workers.

 

We got our schedule for the week and found out that our weekend will be Wednesday and Thursday. Starting Friday we will work 5 days of early shift (7:15 to 2:45), have 2 days off, and then work 5 days of late shift (2:15 to 9:45. So we had two days off right away.

 

We took the opportunity to explore the city of Gardiner on foot. Our campground is less that a mile from town. Gardiner, with a population of around 900 (more in the summer), is just north of the northwest entrance to Yellowstone and about 5 miles from where we work. It mostly consists of places to stay, eat, and buy souvenirs with several churches, gas stations, and one grocery store and post office.

 

This evening we are joining the other employees for a cook out here at the campground, and tomorrow we will jump right in to the job bright and early. We're looking forward to a fun summer working and playing at Yellowstone.