Saturday, January 31, 2009

Yellowstone - Jeanette's Recipe

HUCKLEBERRY CHEESECAKE

Line pan with graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs (2 cups crushed)

Beat together:
6 ounce cream cheese
1- 1/3 cups Whipped topping like (Cool Whip)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour into pie shell.
Cook: 2- 1/2 or 3 cups wild huckleberries
1 cup water till hot.
Add: 3/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch mixed together. Stir into hot berry mixture
& cook till clear. Dissolve 1 pkg. Knox gelatin (unflavored) in 1/4 cup cold water.
Add: gelatin/water mixture to the hot berry mixture. Cool completely! When
it looks very ropey & almost set spread over the cream cheese mixture. Chill in refrigerator.

If you haven't got to Yellowstone and can't find Huckleberries you could use blueberries, raspberries, etc. Hopefully you will get to Yellowstone and find some Huckleberries. You can cheat and buy a bag of frozen from the man at the old drugstore at Victoria, Idaho if he can spare them out of his freezer. Huckleberries up there are like Wild Mushrooms in Kansas if you find some you DO NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE YOU FOUND THEM!!!! They will be there again next year. Some of the stores there sell them in jars as jams, jellies, syrups & you might find a sauce you could use to pour on and eliminate all the thickening. etc. with the fresh berries. Good luck and good eating. I will share a recipe from all the area's we worked and spent the summer at the end of my travel information for that National Park. Come on people go I'm hoping this blog will cause Yellowstone to have the most visitor's this year they have ever had . Jeanette

Friday, January 30, 2009

Yellowstone Natl. Park Page 5 (last page)

Madison-on the upperwest side of the figure 8 park. If you decide to drive to the west entrance (West Yellowstone town). I have never been on that road that there wasn't a herd of elk grazing in the meadow along the road. The town of West Yellowstone is a great visit, also. Madison area is a nice place to check on, especially the Ranger Visitor center. Now, going south from Madison towards Old Faithful (that everyone comes to see) look for a sign to Firehole Canyon Drive and bring your swimming suit with you that day and have it handy. It's a beautiful drive and when you get back there you will find a little old dressing shack. Use it and swim in the wonderful old geyser heated water hole. Another thing I don't think you will find on the Internet or the park paper. They don't advertise it but it's there to use. After your swim keep going south and you will end up at the famous Old Faithful geyser that "blows" up regularly within a few minutes of the posted time. Located on the lower west side of the figure 8. They have benches to set on and get the camera ready while you wait. If you arrive right after it went up you have an hour to tour beauiful OLD FAITHFUL Inn & Store. They also have a Ranger movie worth seeing. It's worth your trip to see such a marvel. You will see geysers all over the park but none as regular and spectacular as the "old girl". You may have noticed by now that several major places are in bold and capitalized. Those are where I recommend you make your reservations if you have at least 4 nights (2 on the upper loop & 2 on the lower) to spend in the park instead of calling up there and just staying at one place the whole time. You will waste too much time on the road driving back & forth. This way you will have a whole day (or two if you have more time) to investigate the area you are staying at. Lots to see everywhere and you want to make every minute count. Driving out the east entrance to Cody, WY (53 miles) is a beautiful drive and the little town has a wonderful museum. Lots antique old guns, etc. The largest collection of Winchester rifles in the country. North entrance is (52 miles) to Bozeman, Montana which is a great place to visit. The south entrance (if you came in to Yellowstone at one of the other entrances) is (55 miles) from Jackson Hole really called Jackson, WY if you want to call there for a plane trip to ski in the winter, etc. Get in the habit of looking for the Visitor's center or Chamber of Commerce in any town you go through on your trip & the Visitor's center when you cross a state line. Everywhere in this wonderful country has great things to see. If you go, and I hope you do, please post me a note telling me about it. Everyone in this great country should visit sometime in their lifetime our 1st national park that started our whole National Park system. Thanks for the forsight of those wonderful leaders so many years ago. I think I mentioned in one of the other pages about driving over from Jackson Hole on Highway 22 to the other side of the Teton's and see them from the Idaho side. Driving over the mountain is a breathtaking view. There is a place to stop and hike, take pictures or just "look". On your way over there shortly out of Jackson is a town called Wilson and if you would like to eat the best trout you have ever eaten rolled in finely chopped pecans eat at Nora's Fish Creek Inn. If you drive a little further north from Victor (where you drank your Huckleberry shake at the old drug store) on the Idaho side. The view of the Teton's doesn't even look like the same mountain and you will be in beautiful flat farming country. Have a wonderful trip. Jeanette
Ideas for next years trip will be next - Olympic National Park in Washington state.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Yellowstone Natl. Park Page 4

Don't forget your fishing pole if you like to fish. You can buy a fishing license and try your luck catching one of the famous Cutthroat Trout of Yellowstone Lake. However, you must throw them back. If you get a Lake Trout they are trying to get rid of, you MUST keep it. The restaurants will cook it for you if you are staying in a motel. While you are there don't forget to look up in the sky for eagles & falcons. Yellowstone River watch for swans, beaver, etc.
While you stay at Canyon Village to see the Bison Nature Exhibit, Inspiration Point & Artist Point. At Norris Geyser Basin, a short distance west Don't miss the Ranger 1-1/2 hr. walk (10am-4:30pm?) check your Yellowstone Today paper for times. While at the park please don't do like one woman who sat her child on a buffalo that was walking by because she said, "The park wouldn't have animals in here that would hurt us." This is the wild animals home. This is their territory, we are just visitors, so treat them so. If a Ranger says stay back from a bear but you want to be closer to get a better picture, mind the Ranger!! Drive the speed limit posted!! Over 100 large animals are killed each year because of people in a hurry driving too fast. Again, this is their home, not ours. Be respectful of our National Parks.
ROOSEVELT if you didn't catch your own trout the restaurant here has the best trout in the park. It's the northeast corner of the park(upper right of the figure 8) and has rustic cabins (you may have to step out the door a few steps for a bathroom close by) & use the fireplace if you are chilly. But do make a reservation when you make your lodging reservations for the Covered Wagon ride with country western music, cowboys & steak cookout. It's near there. You just do not want to go there and not do that!! Reservations for that fills up fast. You can also pay to ride a horse or pet one that took you on your trip. FUN! It's a short drive from Roosevelt (east) through Slough Creek to Lamar Valley where the wolves come out in the evening. You will see Ranger's & alot of of people from the Yellowstone Assoc. Institute located there (studying wolves). Ask questions!! Driving on your way to Roosevelt is "Tower" which is another great stop for the best ice cream cones in the park and you can take a short walk there that is worth your time. When you leave there and are driving to the top of the figure 8 MAMMOTH keep your eyes watching the trees, etc. for black bear. They like this area and you might be lucky and see a couple cubs scampering up a tree with momma close by keeping watch. When you arrive at Mammoth don't miss the movie at the Ranger's Visitor's Center. If your child has their Jr. Ranger information filled out by then the Ranger will ask the child a few questions to make sure they (not mom & dad) really saw these things and give them their official Jr. Ranger's badge. If it isn't filled out yet a Ranger at one of your other stops can do it for you. If you choose to stay at Mammoth Hotel the cabins in back are better I think. The little squeaker mammals that have made dugouts under the cabins and in the area like people and come out in the yard in front of the cabins and put on a show. Little kids like to chase them but they'll never catch one. In the evening a large herd of elk like to come down from the hills and eat the bluegrass in the yard around the old military barracks by the visitors center. While in that area drive north to the beautiful stone old main entrance and on the way look up to the right on the rocks for Bighorn sheep & goats. I thought maybe I'd finish about Yellowstone park this morning but I have to go get breakfast again so tomorrow we will cover Madison, Old Faithful & the surrounding things to see around the park. Jeanette

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Yellowstone Natl. Park Page 3

"Lake Hotel or Lake Lodge"
The famous Lake Hotel is right on Yellowstone Lake and just behind it is Lake Lodge. Unless you really have a desire to stay in a very beautifully restored historic hotel where they stayed when they came in Stage Coaches. It was the only place to stay at that time. I would rather stay at the beautiful rustic log Lake Lodge that really fits in with it's surroundings. It's a short walking distance between the two and I think more rooms & less pricey. You can still take a tour of the old hotel and in the evening in the lobby in front of the entrance to the restaurant is an area like a big living room filled with lounge chairs. A large window facing the lake that you can sit and have a drink if you desire. Watching the sun go down on the lake and listening to a string quartet or piano performance depending on which night you go. This is something that no one knows about unless you are staying in that hotel or you learn about it working at the park. Anyone is welcome to come there and eat in the restaurant or just sit in the lounge I was telling you about. The park area for the public is a figure 8. By going to the right and making a reservation on the lower right of the 8 (I just told you about) then driving on up to the middle part of the 8 is "Canyon village" between the two is Hayden Valley that Yellowstone river runs through so the huge herds of buffalo are almost always there. A nice turn out to the right has a place to park your car and check both sides of the road. Bears like to dig for roots on the hillside above the park road and the valley below never disappoints you with animals in the mornings & evenings before dark. The Ranger's give free walks & talks with the times listed in your "Yellowstone Today" paper you received at the gate. Try not to miss them because they are so educational. Jeanette

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Take binoculars!!! Ask questions everywhere you go!! Clerks, waitresses, strangers, etc. They may know where there's a bear digging roots or just walking around. Most people that work there love to tell visitor's things to see. If you see a group of cars stopped, ask the people stopped why? What looks like a black speck in the distance, with a scope or good binoculars you will probably see a bear. If a group of buffalo come walking nonchalantly down the road, pull over and keep your hands in the car even if it is tempting to reach out and feel their hair or head as they walk by so close they may brush your rear view mirror. If you drive in from the south (Jackson Hole) you will see the beautiful Grand Teton's on route. If you can time it so you get to Jackson Lake Lodge in the evening before dark. Go inside to the bar area & in front of their big windows you can stand outside and watch the moose below coming out of the willows. If a nice easy float trip down the Snake River, close by sounds good to you. You might want to make a reservation there before you leave or now at the Coulter Bay cabins to spend the night. That is where you met your guide the next morning for a spectacular trip seeing animals in the morning which is the best time to see them. The guide on the boat will be telling you things to see while in the Yellowstone area. I do not recommend going between July 4th & August 20 when school is out. When the crowds start coming in the bears head for the high country and you will be lucky to see a bear. If you have kids think of the education they would get that they wouldn't get in school that week and they can make it up easy. Don't tell the teacher I said so.
If you know when you will be there making reservations for a place to stay in the park is never too early. 1-866-439-7375 or http://www.travelyellowstone.com/ for the lastest park information. When you stop at the entrance of Yellowstone National Park and pay the entrance fee they will hand you a paper "Yellowstone Today" read it! Please do not go to the left to famous Old Faithful, save that till last. Turn to the right stopping at Grant Village to see the wonderful Museum about the famous fire at Yellowstone in 95? If you have children ages 5-12 buy a Jr. Ranger activity paper while you are at Grant Village $3 . It will keep the kids busy finding things instead of complaining like, "When we gonna see a bear", etc. I know what it's like, we have 4 children we took on trips when they were young. I'm not sure of the date but while you are there & I hope the restaurant still sells Huckleberry Shakes you must have one. The berries grow wild in the area and a favorite of the bears. If they don't have them there when you leave. At Jackson drive Hy. 22 West across the Teton's to see the mountains from the other side. You would never know they are the same mountains. At the little old town of Victoria over there the old drug store still has the soda fountain bar and you can "belly up" to the bar and have a delicious Huckleberry Shake. I hope the owner still fries & sells those delicious hamburgers he grills on the side walk in front of their building at noon, with a table full of condiments you fill your burger with yourself. I think it was $2 but of course you have to remember that was 10 years ago his price may have gone up. There are campgrounds all over the park you can park your RV a day or two or camp in a tent. I'll warn you though it can snow 1" on your tent July 12th (unusual) but anything can happen at Yellowstone. Just ask my grandkids. They will never forget that camp out coming up from hot Kansas. Another visitor from Topeka must have been surprised too because she came home and it was published in the Topeka Capital Journal paper. I've got to go fix breakfast now so I'll talk more about Yellowstone and where you might want to stay tomorrow. Jeanette

Monday, January 26, 2009

Working at the National Parks - 1st stop Yellowstone

Working at "Hamilton Stores" which by the way opened shortly after the park was opened to the public. Mr. Hamilton asked if he could build a store by Old Faithful so the people coming to visit in Stage Coaches would have a place to replenish their drinks, etc. on the day trips to get there. We drive that distance now in 30 minutes if their are no buffalo on the road or a "bear jam" that means there is a bear close to the road and everyone stops. Eventually they built stores all over the park at major attractions. Mr. Hamilton was given a 99 year lease to run the stores & the park owns them. When we worked there in 1997 the 3rd generation was running them. The 99 year lease has run out and now they are run by a different group and are called Yellowstone General Stores. I worked at the jewelry counter by the front door. Not alot of people come to a National Park to buy jewely so we were probably the least busy of all the different things they offer. Short order food section, grocery (where my husband worked), clothing of course, photography, and probably more I can't think of right now after 10 years. Anyway, I like to talk and wanted to go to other parts of our country and work part time. That's why I was living on wheels. I would say Hi, and talk to people that came by and find out where they were from. If it was up north from Kansas (home) cool in the summer and not like Kansas hot in the summer. I would ask what they had in their area I could work at part-time like I am doing here? Those people that summer was a wealth of information for me. Sometimes it turned out while they talked they saw something in the jewelry counter they liked and I actually made a sale. I wrote all those suggestions down and when we quit and settled in Topeka, KS. after almost 10 years we still hadn't visited everywhere I had written down. We would take an extra week or two to have time to see everything from Kansas to the next place we would work. We always came back to Kansas when our weather is nice here in April & May after winter employment; September & October after the summer employment. We had 3 of our 4 kids & 7 grandchildren in Kansas we had to spoil awhile. Age 65 - 75 we found was good years to do what we did. We had worked hard our whole lives till then so it was getting harder the older we got. We've met people alot older but sometimes they are a hassard on the road. Usually the larger parks had housing & also a campground plus facilities they would provide. If there was no campground in the park for employees we would find one nearby and the minimum wages we each received payed for our spot and even bought a few groceries! The National parks rely heavily on college students & the combination of retirees & youth works well. They do the heavy lifting when merchandise comes in. We do the little things like stocking that they maybe aren't to crazy about. After all they really took this job to spend a fun summer in the park. They might go on a hiking trip and get lost and not make it back to work their shift. I'm sure it wasn't because a group of them were up partying & drinking (which is forbidden) and just didn't wake up in time. They knew us old retirees would be there on time or several minutes before we opened up in the morning so it was a good combination. The kids also seemed to respect us because we were the ages of their grandparents, not parents. If you are retired and this sounds like fun to you this is a good time to give them a call or e-mail for an application or send a resume' for summer employment. My next post will give you tourists looking for a place to vacation this summer, some ideas of things we learned after living in a park for 3 months. Most of the information I realize you can get off the Internet for anywhere you might want to go but we do have some other things that I don't think they will mention. Till next time have a good day. Jeanette

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Vacation Suggestions - starting with Yellowstone - No. 1

After farming the 3 generation farm for 30 years & working for the State of Kansas 10 years. We retired & bought a 28 ft. RV 5th wheel & hooked it behind the truck and took off to see our wonderful country. We found there are alot of other retirees out there doing the same thing. I really like to go to a place and park and live there awhile getting to know the area. Yellowstone National Park, WY, was advertising their 125th Anniversary 1997 so it sounded like a good place to start. We were able to get on as part-time help at Hamilton Stores working morning or evening shift which left us plenty of time to enjoy the animals. What a thrill! I had been there one day on vacation as a kid but I would never have dreamed what it could be like when we were able to be there June to Sept. 18th. We drove in with the last of the winter snow and left with the 1st on the mountains in the distance. Yellowstone Lake is noted for its Cutthroat Trout and they were jumping up the falls in the Yellowstone River heading for the lake. Mornings & evenings Grizzly Bears were easy to see as they cleaned up the winter kill of the elk & buffalo. Black bears, Moose & Wolves were some of the many other animals you see when you find the area they like to be. July 1st when the schools are out and big crowds start coming the bears head for the high country and it's rare to see the bears till the middle of August when they come back down to the valley. The valley with all the geysers in the park keeps the water from freezing so they have food and water there during the winter. Hope you enjoy hearing about our travels and get some ideas from them. Jeanette