By the time I am writing this story down 6 years have passed.  During this adventure, I worked at the Historical Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone National Park.  My home outside of my car was a Log Cabin… I was only 60 seconds walking from the Kitchen I worked in, and most mornings, I was one of the first people awake.  The sunrise was a perk that came with the job!  A perk that many National Park jobs quietly offer I have found out.  I had flown here and was saving for a new vehicle.  With this said I was bound by the kindness of other people and the ability to walk places.  One of the adventures I experienced here was a short hike behind Roosevelt Lodge with views that are etched into my memory.  A Cliff Band that was locally known as the “Poison Cliffs”.  On a map, no such geographical features are known of and this is another beautiful example of “local knowledge”.  I went up to this vista many evenings in Yellowstone for sunset.  Looking over Paradise Valley towards Hellroaring Mountain and farther to the Gallatin National Forest.  If I looked close, almost right below me one could see our home… A small cozy little plot of cabins and a lodge.

Throughout the summer, I spent many evenings up here, inspired by the beauty of my backyard.  If I faced the other direction from the photograph above an explorer would have views of Lost Falls.  A beautiful waterfall is set in the background of the Tower-Junction area. 

Most of this route is down a locally known trail.  A hiker looking at a map of Yellowstone National Park would not see an official route for this trail.  As of right now, Xanterra Travel Collection is the concession that operates Roosevelt Lodge as well as the Mule Rides that come out of Roosevelt Lodge.  This specific path is not maintained by the National Park Service but is used by the Wranglers who work for Xanterra for the tours they provide guests.

Later that summer some co-workers and I headed out to summit Avalanche Peak for sunset.  An Alpine peak that sits above Yellowstone Lake far below.  On a clear day, an adventurer can make out the Peaks of the Grand Teton!  Nick, Wyatt, and I took the shortest approach as this was an event endeavor, and we had to wait for Nick to get out of work.  Luckily, it was Summer, and sunset started late.  We drove to Lake and onward to the Trailhead.  Stopping at the Sinclair Gas Station in Grant Village for snacks.   Once on the trail, we went fast!  Knowing we did not have much time until Sunset.  We also knew that according to Weather.gov the Park had a percentage chance of Monsoon storms in the high country.  We kept our eyes on the vast landscape and horizon… Taking mental notes of the distant storm clouds visible from our ever-heightening perch.  We made it out of the tree line and found the summit shortly after the trail meandered through the new Alpine Ecosystem.

  I remember looking across the massive Lake and seeing the storms dancing on the horizon, safe..but not safe I was.

-Sky