The night was cold, but that didn’t stop me from leaving the window open in the bedroom. The comforter here feels like it could be down, but I don’t believe it is. Either way, it is one of the best temperature-regulating blankets I’ve ever slept under. Neither of us has been hot or cold. Maybe it’s just the cold mountain air!
We were up early to head to Yellowstone. I don’t know what it is, but we choose the early mornings to take the longest to get ready. Yesterday was a bum day, so we just rolled out late in the day. However, both Yellowstone days have been full-on get-ready days. So why do we do this to ourselves?
My full-on morning routine takes time now. I’ve been shaving differently, using a straight razor like in barbershops to line my beard and a double edge safety razor. This routine takes time; you must take your time and effort to do it, or you will cut yourself. But there is something satisfying about the scraping sound of that shave. Yes, even with a beard, I shave. I have to maintain the no mustache, Amish look regularly. One of my Texas friends in Iowa loves to tell new people that I’m on rumspringa, the Amish time where they venture into “worldly” living, and I speak Texas-Dutch. If the subject is gullible enough, I roll with it!
After our long get-ready, I headed to warm the car while Amanda made lattes. It had been a while then she called. While the phone connected to the car, I couldn’t hear her well. Then she said, “come to the cabin” in a slightly panicked voice. We’ve been through a lot over the years, and I’ve received too many of those calls. I have run into the house, not knowing if she was alive or not, too many times to count. More than any spouse should experience.
I began to run to the cabin and rounded the corner to her saying in a loud whisper, “don’t run.” There was a red fox not 10 feet from her. I was immediately mad, I’d thought the worst, but no, it was just a curious fox. A very nosy one at that; he was just wondering about looking for food. Amanda dropped a bottled drink, and he promptly ran right up to it within a few feet of her. He had a tracking collar on; later, we would find out that they would be relocated if they frequented the same populated area too much. This encounter was an ‘I want to pet the puppy’ scenario on steroids with Amanda!
The sun was breaking and made for a beautiful red top to the mountains. We made our way through Teton park to the south Yellowstone entrance.
Not far from the cabin we ran into a herd of elk, hundreds of them. They were in to separate groups moving toward each other bugling like crazy.
The Teton ranger would say all of his park was open but not Yellowstone. So, we proceeded to slow roll to the south entrance hoping it would be open.
We stopped at a lake that was partially frozen over. Way off in the distance on the ice was a large bird. As I approached a couple next to their Jeep, the husband was franticly saying, let’s go. I asked if it was a bald eagle, and he said most defiantly it is. They packed their breakfast quickly off the Jeep’s hood to drive closer. We would follow, but I got caught talking to an older couple about the eagle, and we missed out closer look. The lake even partially frozen still made a great reflection in the water. The eagle barely visible on the ice right next to the water.
We sat there a while, hoping to get another glance but no luck. Amanda commented about the geese swimming and how cold they must be. I pompously said, ‘well, they are covered in down, so I don’t think so!’ I received an eye roll and a rebuttal of ‘not their feet and legs, though.’
We arrived at the south entrance with a line of a few cars waiting to get in; the road would be closed. Rightly so, even if to add to my disappointment. The roads were icier as we made it farther north. The melted snow then refreeze icy; not the most fun to drive on. We hung around trying to decide if we’d wait it out, but it was unlikely at a temperature in the mid-twenties. So a U-turn it would be, and back south we headed.
We pulled through a closed visitors center, then onto a road that led to a lake. As we traversed down a heavy snow-covered road, we saw two moose. I pulled to the road’s edge so Amanda could get a good photo. Then I pulled up a bit to position better for the 2nd moose.
Unfortunately, I missed the spot Amanda wanted, so I backed up. Focused on the moose and not paying close enough attention to the road. I got too close to the edge sliding right off, down the embankment. It was a few feet down, and everything was covered in snow. I tried to make it up, but we would slide down again and again. Mind you, we are in the middle of nowhere! Finally, the traction control would kick in, keeping the tires from spinning, doing us no good. I thought I had it in the off-road mode, but it had clicked off. I was a little nervous to be honest, my heart racing; Amanda would also be a little worked up. After engaging off-road mode, we would progress but only slide farther down toward a tree closer and closer. Finally, I could see dirt, and knew we’d make it out. A couple more tries, and we were up and sideways in the road.
After we had calmed down, we made it back to the south entrance to see if anyone had made any progress. They hadn’t, and one new car was added to the mix. Then, quickly, he abandoned ship. We had someone pull up behind us. Not long after the diver got out, he was almost hit by a couple that came blowing in, tires sliding on the ice as they stopped. I made small talk with the man, starting the conversation by commenting on his near-death experience. He was from Oregon with his son and grandson; they came just for Old Faithful. He was weighing the options as we were.
As we walked and talked, I noticed his son and grandson talking to a park ranger I hadn’t seen. The ranger led me to believe it might open later in the day, but she was 50/50. I snapped a picture of the man and his family, then sat back with Amanda. We decided to go, but the car that came blasting by had stopped in the road going the wrong way. They were out walking around and just left the car! Finally, they left after they were asked to move multiple times.
On the way south through Teton park, where we saw our eagle, a man was painting the thick oil/paste type. I stopped and asked if I could take a picture of him. We talked for a while; he was from Santa Fe. Then, he asked if I would take an Instagram-style video of him. He handed me his phone, and I went to work. Two minutes of all kinds of shots close-ups, behind him, and a few that show him, the painting, and then a pan towards his subject, the majestic mountain.
We stopped at a boat ramp for the river for a cold potty break, all the park toilets are compostable outhouses. It was on a bend in the river, so we took a few photos.
We took a road that shot off to the east and toward Teton national forest. It would eventually turn to dirt, well, snow at least. We were hunting for a lunch spot. We found a small turnout to pull over in a meadow flanked by mountains. We proceeded to assemble our sandwiches, a through back to our Tennesse trip last year, and a request from Amanda. ELTs Eggplant, lettuce, tomato, and avocado; using the leftover eggplant schnitzel from the previous night. I’m not a sandwich fan, so when we do it, we do it right. We pack all the ingredients and assemble them on the trail. I’m not about to eat a soggy sandwich! Amanda brought a cookie sheet from the cabin for assembly, using it as a plate. But I was left without a plate, so I moved outside to eat mine. With a healthy amount of siracha on mine, I left what looked like a murder scene in the snow.
Making our way back to the cabin was next on the list; we had naps in our future! I tried to work on the post but was too tired. Amanda uploaded some photos to our shared album. Then we both crashed for over an hour. I’d thought we’d catch a sunset photo somewhere, but it was too late once we had dinner ready. I did snap one from our back porch; it would have to suffice for today.
Amanda offered to help with dinner, so I took her up on it while I typed away. After a bit, I commandeered the knife. I was proud of her for using good knife skills. I’m always on her about holding the knife right and correcting finger placement.
It may not have been Tuesday, but it was taco night. Corn tortillas loaded with veggies. Potatoes, fresh corn, poblano, mushrooms, jalapenos, and zucchini served with refried beans, salsa, and fresh pico. Amanda went a la bowl; I opted for the more traditional method of stuffing the tortilla to the brim.
After dinner, the activity was star gazing in Jackson. There was a free night of star gazing on Thursday on clear nights above zero temps. They have a business doing this every other night, to the tune of $250 a person. Thank goodness for the free night. I joked with Amanda it was “coupon” day for poor people. A reference to the scene in Jurassic Park where the lawyer is talking about all the money they could charge. Hammond said the park was for everyone; the lawyer said they’d have a “coupon” day then!
We showed up at the location and had no clue where to go. No signs, only the instructions to meet in the dark lot behind a bus barn; I guess we’d have to work for our free star-gazing experience! Another couple was just as confused as us, lapping the parking lot a few times, then another mother-daughter pair doing the same. I told them I could hear people talking behind the lot, so we all just started walking. I would lead the way with the others trailing way behind, unsure, I guess. We showed up with only one other couple there with the astronomer. They were looking at Saturn, and it was spectacular. You could see the rings so clearly. After my eyes adjusted, I returned for the mother-daughter pair to lead them in; they were lingering at the edge of the lot. The telescope was then moved to Jupiter and on to Vega, a crazy blue color. A few other couples showed up along the way.
Most would end up being annoying tourists! One man joked about Uranus, like one of my middle school students would. His wife chuckled and said, ‘well, he’s a gastroenterologist’; another commented that made it funnier. No, ma’am, that just made it tackier, we thought. Amanda’s feet were freezing, and she began to pace. It’s a circulation thing, and sometimes, she’ll need to warm them in the tub; they are so cold. So, it was time for us to go. But not without a stop by Whole Foods, close by, to grab hot chocolate supplies. I make it from scratch with plant based milk, cocoa, and honey. I also found some plant based marshmallows.
Back at the cabin, Amanda would work in the tiny lego bear as I made hot chocolate. Morning would come early. We were trying for Yellowstone again; the roads were already shoeing open.
