This canyon is my home. I am most free while here; I am most insignificant. No picture can possibly put this feeling into words, but it’s kind of pretty anyway. The all nighters I pulled for the sunrises were all worth it.
Sunsets are gorgeous no matter where they are. These are a few of the ones I captured in Yellowstone in the summer of 2013.
Various photos of animals I was lucky enough to capture.
Black Canyon was the last major hike I did in Yellowstone in 2013.
On the way back, I was talking to my friend. “I’ve only seen about eleven bears this summer,” I said. Just then, we collectively stopped. “Just kidding. Twelve.” A bear, probably in its teens, was less than ten feet away.
Avalanche Peak is a vicious hike upwards, climbing 2100 feet in 2 miles. However, it’s an absolutely fabulous hike for after work, and perfect for watching the sunset.
A few of my friends and I took a weekend trip down to Grand Tetons National Park.
Two of my friends took a few sunrise trips into Lamarre and Hayden Valleys to look for wolves and bears. Though we weren’t successful, any sunrise in Yellowstone is absolutely gorgeous and well worth losing sleep for.
Two of my friends took a few sunrise trips into Lamarre and Hayden Valleys to look for wolves and bears. Though we weren’t successful, any sunrise in Yellowstone is absolutely gorgeous and well worth losing sleep for.
My friend and I were lying in hammocks made of blankets playing guitar when a group of friends went by. “Hey, you guys want to do a hike?”
I looked at my friend and shrugged. “Sure!” We ran inside to put our instruments away and caught up with the group. I had about a quarter of a bottle of water with me. “So, where are we going?”
Seven Mile Hole is not what it sounds like. It’s actually 11 miles, and after being flat for the first four miles, goes about 1500 feet straight down into the canyon in about as much length.
Going down was fun, lots of fun! I was excited about life and in a great mood. But when we turned around and I looked up at that canyon? I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. This is a hike you most definitely need water for.
The hike was worth it though, as standing next to the river and looking around at the canyon walls is an incredible experience.
On my second weekend, I was invited to go with ACMNP on a white water rafting trip followed by a hike up Bunsen Peak.
A Christian Ministry in the National Parks is a program that helps Christians get jobs in national parks and sponsors weekly spiritual services for all faiths. I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve met through my summers that have been involved, and how open they normally are.
Bunsen Peak was my first serious hike and definitely drained me, but the view was well worth it. I was astounded by the amount of snow up there midway through June.
Afterwards, we visited the small village outside of Mammoth Hot Springs where some employees live year round. I particularly enjoyed seeing the elementary school, and meeting some fun little kids.
My first weekend in Yellowstone, two of my friends asked me separately if I wanted to go camping. Okay, I said hesitantly. It’d be an adventure, sure.
Cascade Lake would become my favourite place to camp throughout my two seasons–being only a 3 mile hike from the dorms at Canyon, it was really easy to plan and do impulsively.
This time, we came to our campsite and set up the tent. One friend went off to gather firewood. After perhaps half an hour or so, my other friend and I began wondering about him. When we thought we heard him calling out that he was lost, we decided to look for him.
We were clambering up a hill when all of a sudden, my friend grabbed my hand, pulling me to a stop. He pointed, and I saw less than fifty feet away a bear lumbering past.
When one encounters a bear, the last thing one should do is run or move too abruptly. As such, my friend pulled me off and we were running through fallen trees, tripping and stumbling by streams of water.
Thankfully, the bear didn’t pay us much heed, and we were soon far out of reach.
When we arrived back at the campsite, our friend was fine and not lost at all.
