Hi everybody. Wow, its been a long time since writing on this blog.
For that I apologize, but what a wild ride it has been! Let me fill
you in, so hold on because this ride goes fast...
My last posts had to do with my SCA position on Maui: Haleakala
National Park interpretive ranger, so I will begin there. My internship
ended and I flew back home to Northern NY. Prior to leaving however, I
had set up my next two National Park positions in southwest USA. My
reasoning behind that was to get away from the snow belt of NY and to
see a new part of the country. I had never been to AZ or NM and it just
so happened that there were a couple volunteer positions open in those
states so I said, hey, why not... you only live once right?
I
began my trip by driving across country to Northern AZ where I would
spend the next three months as a living history interpretive national
park ranger for Pipe Spring National Monument. I did a lot of truck
stop hopping, sleeping in my car, and visiting new areas over the course
of a week and a half before making it to my new home in AZ. Mammoth
Cave National Park was one of the more memorable stops along the way.
You see, I decided to flee the cold and head straight south and then
head west as I was spending most of my time in my car, day and night.
That plan didn't really work out but because I distinctly waking up,
turning on the car, and seeing that the temp. outside was exactly 0
degrees F but I still had a fun time along the way. I got to hike
several miles underground at Mammoth Caves with paid guided tours and
spent a very enjoyable day at a State Park in Oklahoma. Further, I
stopped at Capulin Volcano National Monument, NM, and then went into CO
to discover that my newest favorite National Park was Great Sand Dunes
National Park. While spending half a day at the park, the scenery was
overwhelming. I decided to climb the tallest sand dune I could find and
enjoyed just a tremendous view from the top overlooking a sandy, hilly,
mountain vista! That night, after my climb, I slept in my car on some
BLM land up the road. I woke up to a strange scraping sound coming from
the front passenger seat. Come to find out, I had a mouse decide to
move in and share some of the food I had stored up there. Well I didn't
like the idea of a mouse climbing on me that night but I didn't have
much choice, the temp. was very very cold and my tent was packed away
under a ton of stuff so I just tried to put it out of my head and ignore
the noises of munching and squeaking coming from the front of the car
and moving around through my ventilation system. The next day I stopped
and got some traps and got the little bugger the following night. I
spent a very enjoyable few days with my Aunt and Uncle in Pagosa
Springs, CO. Uncle Doug took me up in his plane, I got to do some
laundry, and just flat out have a nice relaxing time with my family!
Thanks for your hospitality again! I left and stopped at a couple
National Monuments going into and through UT. Capitol Reef National
Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument were very fun and beautiful
stops along the way and ending at my destination of Pipe Spring National
Monument in northern AZ.
At Pipe Spring, I worked with
some great people and helped interpret some really cool resources. A
couple weeks of training had me ready to work the visitor center /
museum, and give guided walks through a historic building. I had a lot
of fun at the monument was situated in a great location. From Pipe
Spring, I got to visit all sorts of cool BLM lands and choke canyons,
Bryce Canyon National Park, North Rim of the Grand Canyon at a couple
different places, and one of my favorites... Zion National Park. This
was the months of November, Dec., and January. Visitation during those
months are very limited and the weather was kind of cold in the High
Desert, but I loved the area and would move back there for the cooler
months again if the opportunity presented itself again.
Well
thats the end of my story for tonight. I have a whole year after that
to catch up on as well and working at three other parks afterwards.
Obviously I skipped a lot of trips: hiking and exploring on my way out
and while in AZ but message me with questions if you are interested in
some of those places I mentioned. I will continue again soon
hopefully. We have a BEAUTIFUL country, go out and see it!
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