Yellowstone Trip Day 4

Friday we went to the Canyon area of Yellowstone where they have several viewpoints that we hiked down to to see the Upper and Lower Falls. The rocks in this canyon are the reason that "Yellowstone" got its name.







Ammon's dad left us at noon that day to drive to Billings, Montana to meet his mom (who was flying there from Terra's house in Missouri). They went on their own trip the following week up through Glacier National Park and Canada for their second honeymoon. This left Taylie with Ammon and me for the last night in Yellowstone. We went to one last viewpoint called Artist's Point and Ammon and I hiked down 'Uncle Tom's Trail'which led down to the bottom of the canyon directly in front of the falls. Which, by the way, I never plan on going on again.

I discovered on that trail that I had developed a fear of heights that I have never had a problem with before. I don't know if it is some mothering instinct kicking in now that I am married or what, but my level of self-preservation has increased.

The trail started out as a series of switchbacks down to a sign that in summary said, 'this is a very dangerous, strenuous hike take breaks often and don't go if you are a wimp'. That is when my worries began. Then the 300 something stairs began. They were steel mesh stairs that looked rusted over clinging to the canyon walls. Underneath the stairs was the giant drop down to the falls below. I think I would have been fine if I couldn't see through the stairs I was stepping on to the drop below.



I went down one step at a time forcing myself forward, the whole time nervously telling Ammon things like: I can't go any further, I'm freaking out!, I'm never ever doing this again, and why couldn't they make these stairs solid concrete?! Ammon being the civil engineer he is, kept saying: "Steel is so much stronger than concrete. I should know." He couldn't understand that the strength didn't so much matter to me it was more the lack of view underneath my feet that I desired.


See how happy I am?


The hike destination...was it worth it?

I did make it all the way down and back again--very slowly. I didn't follow the recommendations to stop every few feet and rest. I booked it up those stairs as fast as my nerves would allow. I about killed the people that stopped in the middle of the flights of scary stairs and told me to 'just go around me' forcing me to release my two-handed death grip on the railing. I don't think anyone has ever been so grateful for solid ground.

Yellowstone Trip Day 3

Fishing was the objective of the second day in Yellowstone. Ammon's Dad rented a boat and we went fishing on Yellowstone Lake. Ammon's dad was hoping to relive some past trips that were spent with Ammon's Grandpa Hedin. However, the area they used to fish in is now off limits. The fishing rules guidebook-- which only I read--said that cutthroat trout (the native species) were to be caught and released, but lake trout (an invasive species that fed on cutthroat trout) were to be killed even if you didn't want to keep them. Taylie thought this rule was a little harsh, and refused to even touch a fishing pole. My fishing consisted of Ammon casting out the line and me reeling it in two or three times before I grew bored of getting no results. This was probably for the best because only Ammon and his dad had a fishing permit. After three short hours on the lake our time was up and there had been only one possible bite and no fish flopping around in our boat (much to Taylie's relief).







After dropping off the boat at the docks, we drove around the lake a ways and pulled off at a picnic spot to try fishing off the shore. I wasn't too sure about the choice of fishing locations. I read a sign nearby that said that whole end of the lake was the hottest thermal active spot in Yellowstone and there were geysers on either side of the picnic area down the shore a ways.

My unease grew when a random buffalo came walking into the area that was getting nervous because of all the cars crowding it to take pictures. Luckily we didn't fall into any thermal pool and the buffalo didn't charge. The fishermen in the family weren't as lucky so we headed back to camp.


But the fishing didn't stop there. Later that day Ammon decided to test the waters of the lake at our campground. He noticed a long sandbar a ways off shore that would be a good place to stand and fish. We had brought our newly patched raft (damaged from floating the Narrows). Only Ammon was determined enough to take the raft out into the freezing water to test the patch job he had done. Off he went in the raft rowing with both paddles with the fishing pole hanging off the side.



patched inflatable raft + sharp fishing hook trailing behind + water that could give you hypothermia = something only Ammon would try

He did make it to the sandbar without any incident, leaving the other hopeful fisherman stuck on the shore a little jealous I'm sure. He didn't stay long however before he got back in the boat and rowed back to shore. I was sure he must have miraculously caught a fish because I knew he wouldn't give up so soon. As it turns out he returned due to a "equipment malfunction". I spent quite a bit of time that night detangling fishing line.



I guess the lady who handed Ammon and Kerry their fishing licenses as the boat was rented knew what she was talking about: "Remember that you are fishing not catching"
Or maybe there is a greater conspiracy going on at Yellowstone: NO FISH IN THE LAKE

Yellowstone Trip Day 2

We left the Teton camp in the morning and drove to Yellowstone. We arrived at our campground only to be told that "a resident grizzly bear" particularly liked that area much to my chagrin.

I had been to Yellowstone before but, I was about 4 years old the last time. The only thing I remembered from that trip was seeing Old Faithful and the wildlife. I got to renew that memory on the first day of our stay in Yellowstone. We went and watched Old Faithful, our timing was perfect. It went off about 10 minutes after we arrived. We walked around the boardwalk and looked at the various geysers and pools. I was amazed at how vivid the colors in the pools were, but not so impressed with the sulfur smell.












This last picture is of Morning Glory pool. It is Ammon's mom's favorite. Apparently it used to be a vivid blue, but because some not so nice people throw in junk that clogs the vent (coins, sticks etc) the pools can start to lose their purity and start to turn this rust color. Every year the people who care for the park work to clean all the debri left in the pool to help retain the natural beauty.

Yellowstone Trip Day 1

Ammon and I got to spend a week with his dad and sister in Yellowstone. Kerry and Taylie met up with us at 6 a.m. in Logan to start our adventure. On the way we drove through Star Valley, Wyoming which was so pretty it almost redeemed the ugliness of the rest of the state (along I-80) in my mind.

The first night we camped in Teton National Park. I thought about my mom the whole time we were there and how she grew up looking at those same mountains from the other side. The views were breathtaking. Our campground was right next to a lake. While we were there we went to a beautiful lookout point and also went on a five mile hike to Hidden Falls, which I think everyone but Taylie enjoyed. She was a good sport about it though.









This night we got to try out our new tent for the first time. It is an 8 person tent that in reality fits four adults with air mattresses comfortably. My favorite features are the hinged door and screened roof (excellent star gazing at night).




My only concern with this campground was that there was a need for a bear box to stash food in. My mind gets a little paranoid when I hear there might be bears around.



I frequently had nightmares when I was little about a bear coming into my house. (the combination of living next to a mountain and my dad telling me stories about Old Ephraim) I stayed up for quite a while in a nervous state hearing every sound and imagining that it was a bear. There was one point where I woke Ammon up in a panic because I remembered there was a granola bar in the tent. He assured me that bears wouldn't smell it through the plastic and they wouldn't come in the tent and "get us" over a granola bar. Luckily, no bears were spotted while we were there, just several deer.

July Craziness

We have been so busy this month with activities and trips! I love the break that summer provides to spend time with family and friends and to enjoy the outdoors. Here is a glimpse of what we have been up to…
July 3rd--FIREWORKS from a hot tub in our friend Bryan's apartment complex (best fireworks show idea EVER--no one else was in the pool and we could see the whole show. We got some jealous looks after it was over, I have a feeling we won't have it all to ourselves next year.



July 5th--PARADE in Lewiston--time with my family, lots of taffy.



Floating the NARROWS--Later that day we attempted to float the Narrows (a river in Preston) with a bunch of our friends. We drove all the way to the point where we get in the river and our friends'(Tyler and Marie) car hit a big rock. Both the oil and gas were leaking badly. Ammon and I towed their car all the way back to Logan while everyone else floated the river.
A few days later we again set out to float the Narrows. This time Tyler and Marie didn't join us (I don't blame them). Our raft hit a submerged rock which made a nice hole in the bottom of it and left us without cushioning against future rock encounters. Luckily right after that incident we discovered two abandoned tubes on the side of the river and "commandeered" them in case any other raft problems occured.



July 6th--BOATING WITH FRIENDS--I returned to Preston to meet up with a bunch of my friends from high school. We went boating at Glendale. Paige, Cara, Cheryl, Lauren Cundick, Amy, and I were there. Amy also brought her boyfriend Kenny, who--funny enough--was part of a blind date that Jamie, Cundick and I went on several years ago that, without going in further detail, did not go so well. I guess I just invited the wrong friend to come along. I think my favorite parts of that day were when the boat was stopped every five minutes in order for another one of my friends to announce their boy situations whether good or bad. I'm glad I don't have to worry about such things anymore.


Also, I got my new camera on the 6th, but I didn't dare take it boating. I LOVE it and it is basically the whole reason my attempts at blogging have been renewed.


July 8th--LAUREN FAITH SHEPARD ARRIVES--Ammon's sister, Terra, is now a mom of three! Lauren Faith Shepard arrived around lunchtime weighing 6 pounds 13 oz. She is 21 inches long. I don't know quite what to think having someone named after me. I guess I have to be a role model now. :) She is a cutie just like her brother Kenny and sister Tauni.


July 13th-17th –YELLOWSTONE—Ammon and I went with his dad and sister, Taylie on a trip to Yellowstone. Originally his mom and brother, Austin, were supposed to come, but we had fun despite being small in numbers. Details and pictures will come later after we have collected them all from Ammon’s family.
July 22nd-24th—WOMACK FAMILY CAMPOUT—Future excitement-- as we get to spend some quality time with my family at the Cub River Ranger’s station. This has become a yearly tradition for our family and is always a blast.