Day Fourteen and Seventeen- YELLOWSTONE

We have arrived!!!! 

Yellowstoneeee!! 

I am combining the days of Yellowstone into one not because the park is not freakin awesome, but becuase we have been so busy and I have to limit myself in how much I write about Yellowstone. 

A few days ago, we arrived in Americas first park. I immediately got chills hearing the ranger tell us welcome to Yellowstone- I know I'm a lame-o. However, I think everyone should gets chills entering this amazing park that is conveniently right here in the United States. Below Yellostone lies the largest super volcano on this planet! Half of the entire North American continent would have seen this super volcano erupt millions of years ago. Earthquakes occur daily in Yellowstone- they are just so far below the surface that we do not feel them. This huge plume of magma just a few miles underground is responsible for creating the prehistoric looking landscape that is Yellowstone today. Seriously, I feel like dinosaurs should be roaming around not tourists. On our arrival, we traveled to one of Yellowstone's most iconic attractions- Old Fatithful. The area surrounding Old Faithful is kind of like the head quarters for the park. Everything is very commercialized, but the architecture is  rustic and beautiful. After running around the gift shop and buying multiple park paraphernalia, we walked over to Old Faithful just in time to see it erupt. I looked over the heads of photographing tourists to see this historic event. I have to be truthful, I think I built Yellowstone up so much in my mind, that it could not meet my real expectations. I looked around me at hundreds of people perched in stadium seats cliking away as the geyser quietly erupted, and I could not help but think I was at some football game. I could not find this euphoric feeling that filled me at our previous locations, and I thought Yellowstone would instill in me the strongest sense of nature compared to these past trips. 

I tired not to focus on this feeling too much. Instead, I focused on just Yellowstone, as a park onto itself and not compared to others. I walked on every designated path and viewed the various geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. We did not really hike in Yellowstone like we did the other parks because the professors were not familiar with the trails, and we had a time constraint with the park being so big and there so much to see.

Our campsite here was vastly different than Gros Ventre in the Tetons. Here, we were right next to our neighbors and about 15 feet from the bathroom (I can't complain about that).  However, at Stockade Lake and Gros Ventre, I felt like I was an explorer, like I was the person who was discovering the beauty of the Tetons for the first time. At least, I was discovering it for myself the first time. Since I was young, I wanted to travel and see places outside of Alabama. I am so close to my family, but I knew that I would have to one day leave them and find my own happiness. I would have to find myself. That is why I was fixated on going to college out of state, even if it is a few hours away. In my mind, I felt like if I did not leave the state for college, then I never would. Anyways, this brings me back to Yellowstone. The park was amazing, a place that contains so much history and everyone should see. However, at Yellowstone, I felt like everything had been discovered for me, like in was being show someone else's accomplishments and I was supposed to be in awe and take a million pictures. After traveling and hiking around in our previous locations, I was not used to the feeling of waiting in line to see a geyser, or staying on the designated path, squished in by hundreds of others doing the same thing. 

I will never say that I am disappointed in Yellowstone. I really enjoyed my time there, just look how much I spent in the giftshop. Instead, I will say that my time there was just of a different experience that was necessary for me to have. Without this experience, I would not have valued aspects of the other parks that I did not value before. I would not have seen the bigger picture, and that is how being in the most least expecting places, places where I can only hear the wind and sometimes cannot find the trail, have had the biggest impact on me. The Grand Tetons are an example of a location where I always pictured my self exploring when I was younger. It now represents a place where I broke through the line of trees to find a breathtaking view of a valley. And I could look over this valley and see no one else. It would just be nature and myself and how we fit together to form something beautiful. (Oh the Granola Group would be there too but in my mind I am alone and dressed in traditional Native American garb). The Badlands now reresent a place where I could look out and not even be able to make out where the ground ends and the sky begins. They were harsh, and they reminded me of the respect the natural world calls for, and how lucky I am to live in a home where I do not have to worry about being cold at night. (The Badlands were freezinggg at night). 

Yellowstone is something different, and coming from an immigrant family, different does not mean bad. As a Sustainability major, Yellowstone made me happy to see so many people, traveling from all parts of the world, enjoying and respecting the natural world. It made me proud of the United States and to be a citizen. I had no idea that it contained this much beauty. Mainly, Yellowstone made me respect how this life is not simple and it is not all romantic. There are many parts to it. Just how I was caught up in a form of manifest destiny romantic idealism before I came to Yellowstone. It reminds me that we have to find our happy, which might not include following the millions of people to Yellowstone like I thought it would. Instead, finding my own personal happiness, might just mean I leave the path every now me then, as was done in the Tetons. 

I am not praising the Tetons over Yellowstone as we did get more time in the Tetons. It might have just been all the hiking that made me remember it more. There was one time in Yellostone when we went on a mini hike. It was a cloudy and slightly rainy day and we had gone to see our last site- the Grand Prismatic. I finally made my way over to this gaint pool to find it very beautiful, but masked by the amount of steam it was producing. It was hard to see the pool through this thick fog. The beautiful colors of the pool would reveal themselves every now and then through its white cloak and tease me with there vibrancy. After eating lunch, we decided to go on a short hike that would take us to an overlook of the Grand Prismatic. The trail took us straight uphill, and at times the steepness made me feel like I was crawling up instead of hiking. However, we finally got to the top and I gazed in wonderment down and the Grand Prismatic. Again, that feeling of adventure filled me and I could not help but feel in awe at th beautiful pool and it's surrounding landscape. I finally found my happy in Yellowstone. It happened to be a the top of a large hill, where I could see the true beauty of the Grand Prismatic cleared of its once shrouding steam. This is what I remember about Yellowstone, and I am so fortunate to have found it our last day there. 

 

Grand Prismatic!! 

Day Thirteen- I Climbed a Mountain and I Turned Around

And I saw my reflection in there snow covered hills and the landslide brought me down.

Sorry I had to throw in some Fleetwood Mac. It was totally appropriate. I know my blog posts have not been up to par the past few days. We have just been so busy and it has been hard to convey everything we do throughout the day in an eloquent manner. Today was our last day in the mighty Tetons. It is sad to say goodbye to them, but Yellowstone lies in our future, and I can not contain my excitement to visit a place I have wanted to see since I was a child. Today we decided to have one more smaller hike into Grainate Caynon. We once again loaded up and drove from Gros Ventre over to the mountains. Our hike started out in the sagebrush prarie and winded its way into a valley. At first I was just focused on going through the hike and getting to a good lunch spot. However, I realized that this would be the last time I would hike through the Tetons in a long time. Before coming here, I had never been in this much snow, or seen mountains this grand. I had never been so close to a buffalo, or mentally prepared myself to encounter a bear. I had never seen moose, and now I have seen four! I started to look around and take in the place that had given me so much.

We continued into the Caynon with the sun on our backs- the altitude just high enough to escape the humidity. We traveld alongside a river at the bottom of the Caynon. The water was so clear that I could describe every stone laying at the bottom. After eating lunch, we continued a little ways further until the snow yet again blocked our path. 

The sun started beating harder and it became impossible to resist the crystal river. So, a few of us took off our hiking boots and walked in. It was SO COLD that I thought my feet my freeze and fall off in the first thirty seconds. With the water being melted snow streaming off the mountains, and snow still present on the side of the banks, I should have guessed I was reenacting Titanic minus Leo. However, I do not regret it!

We arrived back at the van and I started mentally saying goodbye to the Tetons. While driving back to Gros Ventre, the professors all of the sudden pulled the Geologic Van of Discovery into Teton Village, a ski resort type place. They came back to the van with a surprise-we were going to ride the lift to the top of Rendezvous Mountain that overlooked the village!!!!!!!!!!

We all leaped from the van and squinted into the sun up to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. It is about 3000 feet smaller in height than the peak of the Grand Teton, but still a monstrosity. We joyfully went up the steps and watched the tram glide towards us. I was so somewhat nervous getting in the tram- every now and then it would sway by the high mountain winds. However, once we really started climbing in altitude, my fear was replaced by wonderment at the beautiful landscape below. We finally approached the peak at an elevation of 10,450 feet. I hopped of the tram, didn't look down, and ran up the steps to the very top. The feeling of making it to the top of the mountain, with the whole world unfolding in front of me, was very similar to when I made it to the top of the hill my first day in the Tetons. This time, I was actually on top of a mountain, and the view was breathtakingly indescribable. Every direction I turned was a new world that seemed to be untouched by society. The Grand Teton loomed in the background, representing a part of nature that will never be seen by the majority of man, and therefore calls for respect. I looked down onto Teton Village, this big town that now was so small, to the point where I could not even see its residents. I thought back to the Badlands, when I felt so small as I looked all the way to the horizon. I could not see the horizon here becuase of the mountainous landscape, but I did have a 360 degree view on the top of the world. Everything seemed so vast, beautiful, and peaceful. I did not feel small anymore, but instead, I felt empowered. I felt important, like all the mightiness I had seen was somehow now inside me. I have seen places that not everyone gets to see, and I feel a great deal of respect for these places. These places- with all their quite- have somehow spoken the loudest to me. I was on top of a mountain, and no matter where we go, I will never forget that. 

So anyways, there is a cute store (of course) on top of Rendezvous Mountain that sells pancakes, hot chocolate, coffee etc. After I ate a peanut butter bacon waffle, and the rest of the group indulged in a mixture of waffles and whiskey, we stepped back onto the tram and descended back to our world. 

One more story before I say goodbye to the Tetons. This is the story of the electronic bear. Pheebs, Katherine, and I were walking to the bathroom around 9 at night. We were almost to the isolated facility when we heard a low noise that sounded like a mixture between a whoosh and a growl. We stopped in fear and looked at each other with eyes as large as the dim moon. I took one more look into the darkness in front of us and without thinking, I turned, and sprinted the fastest I have ever sprinted back to the camp. I had made it about 20 feet in 5 steps when my friends yelled "Elly stop! You are not supposed to run!!" I whipped around and beckoned them to come. They stood there and ultimately decided that it was definitely a man-made noise. Still, I was done with any bathroom rituals tonight and this time I begged them to come back to camp with me. They were still slightly frightened and turned from their cemented spots to walk briskly back with me. We ran into Dr. Suresh who wondered why we looked so scared. He walked us back to the bathroom and we determined that the noise was the extra generator turning on for the facility. We could still here the faint hum of surging electricity. Feeling foolish for leaving my group for an electric bear, I apologized. They were not too concerned because if it was a bear, it would chase whatever was running. Still, if only I could run like that all the time, I would be an Olympian. 

Last hike in Grainate Caynon

Accidental GoPro selfie with Dr. Garihan

Dr. Garihan spelling FU with moose poop...

GoPro went in the water!

And so did I 

Tram selfie

I'm on top of the world hey!

Hello Mr. Moose!!

Day Twelve- Waterfallin

Today I'm pretty sure we woke up even earlier, if that is possible. I woke up hearing "come on folks you are wasting daylight!!" at 6:30 am. Is it even daylight at 630!? Anyways, today we traveld to Jenny Lake to meet with Ranger/Geologist Ann Mattson. In the visitors center, she spoke with us about the geology of the Tetons. It was somewhat hard for us girls to focus on account of the cute boy working the register, but overall we made it through. I think some members of the group contemplated becoming a park ranger for that reason. 

Ann lead us on a small hike around Jenny Lake, which is just as beautiful as Phelps Lake, just more populated with tourists. At one point I asked her for career advice to work in the Department of the Interior. She was very helpful; however, she did not know that I was between doing that and being President of the United States. Hey I'm just keeping my options open. Eventually, we settled down for lunch and said our goodbyes to good ol Ann. We decided to continue our hike upwards towards Hidden Falls, despite the warnings that the path was very much convered in dangerous snow, but when have we let that stop us?! After trekking and falling through deep snow, we made it to our destination (and had another snowball fight). Hidden Falls was beautiful. Our snowy adventure was worth such an amazing view. We eagerly hiked back down, this time on the lower path with the rest of the tourist. Our pace was rather quick becuase today was the day we were going to shower!!!!!!!!

We arrived at a very clean showering facility 15 minutes before they closed. It might have been one of the happiest moments of my life. 

After we returned to camp my cooking group made tomato soup and grilled cheese with bacon. Later, our fellow furman friends Alex and Maia came to join us for some s'mores by the campfire. We were just a little furman family sitting at the base of the Tetons telling stoies and sharing laughs. Alex and Maia were finishing up a 550 mile journey that they mainly biked from Denver! We thought we were roughing it, but they were taking it to a whole new level. I greatly admired their spirit and their positivity was infectious. I am in awe of their journey. 

Hidden Falls

Hike back down!

Marmot. I am the animal whisperer. 

Day Eleven- Wait Where's the Trail?? (The 8 hour hike)

Yes the title is correct. Our hike lasted 8 hours! But it's ok, we were (somewhat) mentality prepared for this as we knew that today would be a day hike. Also, a lot of fun can be had in 8 hours- don't underestimate it!  

We got up from camp early and each packed an individual lunch (I might have swiped a few extra poptarts to go with my sandwich). After our day packs were ready to go, we hopped in the Geologic Van of Discovery and drove over to Phelps Lake. Our hike was to consist of a loop around Phelps Lake, and then a short out and back into Death Caynon (this trail leads into the mountains).

Even though we were circling the lake, their were only select times when we could get a great view. We finally came across a large boulder that offered the perfect overlook. I climbed up onto the rock with my fellow granola groupers and it was there that I finally found my picturesque Nature Valley Commercial (if you are confused what I am talking about Nature Valley is a company that makes granola bars and they always have picturesque scenes of nature in their commercials).

The lake is a deep blue and so clear that one can see at least five feet down. Since the lake is mainly melt water, it is so clean and fresh with even the bottom being pleasant to look at. After eating lunch , we made our way into Death Canyon.  Eventually, our path was blocked by snow. We tried to scrape of the sides and continue, but we needed an ice axe to really get a good gripe of the slope. Our struggles soon transformed into a giant snowball fight. Let me tell you, the professors show no mercy.

On the way back down the cannon we tried to get back onto the lake trial; however, debris from a rock slide and melting snow obscured our path. After wandering around in a marsh that was similar to that of the one in Lord of the Rings, we realized that maybe we were very much lost. Everyone else seemed calm, but I got frustrated. We had to start bushwhacking, and it ran strIght into a tree. The combination of hot sun, tree bumped head, possible ticks, and the non-existence of a path made me have the urge to kick something. I stomped my REI boots over to a mound of snow and kicked it like I was in the World Cup. It was here that I realized I was being foolish. If the Native American women in my book were trailblazers, why could I not be one literally?? I channeled by inner Sacajawea and the Granola Group transformed into the Corps of Discovery with our professors now becoming Lewis and Clark. Eventually, we found our way back onto the lake trail. After eight hours, we arrived back at the van. Our campsite does not have showers, so we had not showered in about three days. We were going to find a shower place today, but getting lost made us run our of time. To make up for it, our understanding leaders surprised us with ice cream. Back at camp, some of us girls washed our hair underneath a spicket outside. Overall, I loved the hike. It just represented another adventure on our journey. 

Clear water

Entrance into Death Caynon

(Snow) baller

We are in Death Caynon now and Phelps Lake can be seen in the background  

This swamp looked like it came straight from Lord if the Rings

We got seperated from the group but we made it out ok!!

Day Ten- The Gros Ventre Slide and Civilization

Because of my former deep post, I was not able to keep you up to date with our current location. We are in the GRAND TETON National Park!! I need to express that we are camping out in the wilderness this entire trip, minus our three hotel stays. The campsite at the Badlands were for (pardon my French) Badasses. The Badass Badlands. Our next campsite was LUXURY, as I described earlier. Our campsite here at the Gros Ventre (pronounced gro vont) campground in the Tetons is a different experience from both previously mentioned. 

Geographically, the campground is located in a slightly wooded area at the beginning of a sagebrush prarie. The sagebrush prarie then continues all the way up to the mountains. A large grazing buffalo was the first thing to greet us as we pulled into the campground. We were warned that there were multiple black bear and wait for it... GRIZZLY bear sightings in the area. Oh but have no fear, bear spray was available for purchase. It would confuse the bear for a solid 7 seconds. That would probably be enough time for to lose all control of my limbs... and bowels. Since our campsite is for large groups only, it is seperated from the rest of the camp. Also, the bathroom is a good 200 meters away, and there is no shower. I can't outrun a bear in 200 meters!! While we were cooking dinner, the largest bison I had ever seen started roaming through our secluded camp area. It got as close as 100 feet away before continuing on towards the sagebrush prarie. Pheebs and I threw down our dish towels and hugged eachother with fear as though we were the stars of a bad Animal Planet show. 

Despite my over active imagination when it comes to darkness, wildlife, and the combination of the two, the campground is absolutely amazing. Through the crystal mountain air we have an unobstructed view of the mighty Tetons. I felt like I was immediately transfered back to the Baldlands and was again looking at a green screen. The beauty of this place is almost too rich for my mind to process. I have finally found my picturesque nature valley commercial!! 

The next morning we woke up to travel to the Gros Ventre slide. Brace yourself because this landslide is one of the largest movements in the world. On June 23, 1925, the ladslide fell from an altitude of 9000 feet. The movement lasted on three minutes, but in that time 50 million cubic yards of rock one mile long, 2000 feet wide, and several hundred feet deep moved down the mountain at 50 mph. The slide dammed a river at it's base. Two years later, the dam of the river broke, and a giant wall of water washed over a local town downstream called Kelly. The town was completey wiped out and 6 people drowned.  

After we viewed this monstrosity, we decided to take hike that was supposed to be at a distance of about one mile. The hike was mainly up hill with few areas of flat ground. Since all of my running has been pent up, I thought I could walk the flats and run up the hills. BAD IDEA. After my second hill sprint I was dead and trying to find an inhaler. There is not much air at that altitude, and the flat areas quickly dissapeared to reveal only steep uphill climbs. Our group moves at different paces. The majority of the group gets to the destination rather quickly; however, our three fearless leaders are always in the back. This is not because they are tired, they have more energy than me. Drs Ranson and Garihan are either looking at rocks or nature, while Dr. Suresh being the Nat Geo photographer he was probably born to be, is always taking pictures. Pheebs and I were then awkwardly in the middle as we contemplate nature slower than the rest of the group, but faster than the professors.

Finally, the two of us arrived at the peak of our mini mountain. The view was worth the climb in every way. As we breached the top, a new world unfolded with each step. The view from atop this steep slope was uniquely beautiful in that one was able to view three drastically different landscapes. On one direction, the mighty Tetons could be seen, casting their shadows over the sagebrush prarie. The other direction showed gave us a full view of the aftermath of the Gros Ventre slide. Lastly, the third view represented uncharted territory, golden foothills that extended so far into the horizon, they seemed to melt into the sky. 

I stood, looking at the majesty of our country, and thought that maybe the most beautiful secrets in nature are hidden I the hardest places, and maybe they are not always the most popular sites. They are hidden within a valley or atop a slope, away from the mass public. That way, they can be truly appreciated by those who are willing to find them. Or maybe the most beautiful places in this world, are the places we chose to make beautiful, or the places that mean the most to us. I will probably never see that view again, but I will always remember what it means to me. I have found that it is not about just reaching the peak and taking social media worthy pictures. It is not about seeing, rather, the views I have seen are more memorable in how they made me feel, and how they changed me for the better. To truly understand nature, I believe it is important to out down cameras and phones, and to just sit and listen. It is important to understand what it all means and how you are a part of it. 

Ok so anywaysss after this adventure we went the touristy route (heck yes) and traveled over the the Moose Visitor Center (the parks visitor center). Ironically, we saw a moose swimming in the Snake River which was the cutest thing I have ever seem (thus begins my obsession with moose). After viewing the history of the park, we all bought souvenirs. I bought multiple things along with a book called Wise Women about Native American women trailblazers. The purchasing of this book shows my obsession with trying to be the Disney version of Pocahontas. 

We were going to go on another hike, but after seeing our tiredness, the professors decided that we could make a trip into Jackson! CIVILIZATION. 

We arrived in the over touristy part of Jackson. Even though it looked to be straight out of a picturesque mountan hallmark card, I could not help but appreciate the cuteness of Jackson. It started to lightly rain but we didn't even care. We jumped out and immediately started frolicking around the city like we never had human contact. Let me tell you all something important. I am on a quest to find Native American jewlrey and I will stop at nothing to obtain what I want. I went into several stores, but it turns out that price does stop me, so I had to scurry out clutching my wallet. Finally, I saw a store that was calling my name (probably because of the strong Indian presence). I went in and met a woman about the same age as my grandmother who was also from the same place as my grandmother, Hamburg, Germany. This was a sign form the universe. I ended up buying a kokopelli necklace, which symbolizes the god of fertility..... 

But hey I just rolled with it. It might be handy one day!

Our professors were agian super awesome as they said we could eat in Jackson, which meant we would not have to go back to the campsite and cook in the dark rain where I just know a bear was lurking. Overall it was a great day as we got to experience the beautiful solitude of nature, and the bustle of a tourist based city. Oh and I got a sweet fertility necklace hollaaaaa.  

Candid friendship photo with Pheebs

Climbing on up!!

SPIRIT ANIMAL

We are the same.

Day Nine- Remembering my Grandfathers Two Years Later

Two years ago today my grandfather Aziz passed away. About a month before this, my other grandfather James passed away. It is so strange to think that it has been two years. I look back and reflect about when both of these tragedies happened to me my junior year of high school. The pain will always be there, fresh and cutting. It has taken me a long time to stop remembering the bad and start remembering the good. I was with one of my grandfathers when he passed away, and now that I am two years older I debated whether that was a good thing. Even as soon as last semester, I would be doing something simple, like laundry, and I would get flashes of things that maybe I should not have seen at 17. That was hard to deal with. However, as time passes and memories become blurred, I am thankful to have been there for my grandfathers, as they were always there for me.

I am so fortunate to be on this trip with with such unique and amazing individuals that comprise our Granola Group. Each member from a different family, a family that helped shape their being. A family that defines their background- their culture, and will even influence their future. Each person has their own different story, the first chapters influenced by their family, but the last chapters they can begin to write on their own- independently. 

Looking at all of them, and thinking about how they will change the world, both professors and students alike, makes me think about myself. You are probably wondering where this post is going, but this all relates to my grandfathers. Because I think about them, and how they started out like me and built a wonderful and strong family and I think about how their actions shaped whether I would be sitting here today, and I am so grateful for that. They wrote a story, and although they are no longer tangibly here, the story continues. How will my actions shape my own story? My grandfather Aziz was a world traveler. He came to this country from Iran, and no border could limit his imagination and passion to explore life. My grandfather James was a southern man, who had a heart so gentle that every sunny day envelopes me and reminds me of his warmth. I think about these men and the families they created. They found themselves by viewing life as the most precious gift. I am overwhelmed to think about what I can create in my lifetime. I think about the good I can do for this world and the family I can create so the good continues. We all must pay it forward. I want to explore as they did so I can find myself. Because if I am not sure of myself, then I do not think my potential can ever be reached. On this day, I think about what I have done since that junior year of high school. I am an Alabama girl with a passionate Persian heratige sitting here at the base of the mountains in Wyoming. The sun is shining on my face and with it, I have the strength to explore. I know that throughout my life I will be far from my family, but I can always feel them with me- just like I can hear James's laugh faintly in the wind, or catch a glimpse of Aziz's intense eyes watching over me when the stars come out. I look at my classmates and can't help but think we are all connected in this life, to each other and everything around us.

To me, geology is more about focusing on the things we can't see than that of what we can. I can no longer see my grandfathers, but I can also not see where my future might go. I do know, however, that it will be beautiful. It will be this way because life, with all its good and all its bad, is beautiful. My grandfathers have taught me that. I hope one day, I can teach at least one person that as well. 

Day Eight- DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN

Today we were allowed to sleep in!! Our sleep in time was set at 8 o clock, but the professors got up early and started cooking. Because of the noise, I really only slept till 7 ish. I don't know how professors have so much energy, but they have way more than me. I'm only 19!! What does this say about the rest of my life!?!

Anyways, we ate a great breakfast of bagels, turkey bacon, eggs, and potatoes, and then packed up our picturesque camp at Deer Park (not the water bottle company). The gas stations out in the west have very interesting names, and every time we stop at one of these some members of the Granola Group buy a souvenir. Yesterday we stopped at the Big D station. Today we were luckly enough to stop at the Kum & Go. After a quick load up at the Kum & Go, we were off to travel through the Big Horn mountains and deeper into Wyoming. 

We made various stops in the Big Horn mountains to discuss unique geological features, but my favorite stop is why the title of this post is from Frozen. We were at an elevation of about 9000 feet when we pulled the van over to explore the half- snowed mountainside. Channeling my inner Elsa/ Pocahontas, I ran through the crisp air to the peak of our mountainside. Once I climbed over the hill, the wintered beauty of the mountains stunned my senses. For once, a girl from Alabama could frolick in snow that was thick enough to not mix with the earth. SO FROLICK I DID. With Let it Go playing on full blast in my head, I ran through the snow, smiling, spinning, skipping, and POOF sinking. It turns out the snow is over 4 feet deep at some points. My fellow Granola Groupers, who even though similar in age are vastly more mature, looked on and probably pondered leaving me there. That is when the snow balls began to fly. In my mind, my fellow class mates turned into Deatheaters (Harry Potter reference get with it people) and I turned viscous. A few of us engaged in this snowy war, while the rest climb a gaint rock and practiced their best Spider-Man pose. Ok so maybe we are not that mature, but I believe that a childlike sense of wonder when it comes to certain things is a great trait to have throughout life. We stayed on the snowy tundra for quite a while. At one point, the professors began to throw snowballs as well, but for this battle, we all just stood back and watched as their competitiveness grew somewhat dangerously. After getting enough snow out of my boots to make my own ski resort, we loaded up in the Geologic Van of Discovery and started heading out of the mountains. We stopped on the side of the road at various other places to discuss unique geologic features. Apparently the highway department is a geologist best friend because when they cut holes through a mountain to make way for a road, a geologist can get an actual look at the soil horizons. I would attempt to describe to you what we learned, but I know I am going to screw it up and probably make you not want to read this blog anymore. So instead Ill switch to another topic- HOT SPRINGS.

I'm feelin hot hot hot (springs)

In the town of Thermopolis as in Mia, we stopped to float around in a hot spring!! I was very excited about this partly because I was hoping the water would contain magical powers that would make my hair very long and thick. It was more like a giant cloudy hotub, but still pretty cool. I forgot to take off my sliver peace sign ring, and the composition of the water tarnishes silver jewlrey, so now it is bronze!! Oh and my hair is the exact same. After the springs, we headed into the town of Riverton. YES CIVILIZATION.

We dined at a local resteraunt and spent the night watch watching tv and catching up on laundry. It's the simple things. Sorry this day has been pretty anticlimactic. Tomorrow we will mainly be driving over the the Grand Tetons and the mothership of all parks- Yellowstone. I'm so excited its hard to breathe, someone grab me my inhaler. 

One of my favorite pics from the trip. Elly and Pheebs engaged in discussion

SNOWWWWWW

Dr. Garihan and I being iconic

Lolz who needs oil!?

Can you spy big foot in the background?

Day Seven- Devils Tower and Eagle Butte Coal Mine

DEVILS TOWER DAYYYYYY

For this trip, each of the explorers in the Granola Group had to write a research paper on an assigned topic. For example, future roomie Pheobe Ferguson Furman Former Freshman From Florida wrote her paper on the stratigraphy of the Badlands. I wrote my mine on Devils Tower.

Bittersweetly, going to Devils Tower means that we had to break camp and leave the land of gold for the land of cowboys- Wyoming. We woke up at our usual 6 am and packed our gear. The sadness of leaving the promise land and all of its nice modern day amenities was slightly softened by the storm we had slept in the night before and in now in the early morning. With small rain drops hitting the windows of the Geologic Van of Discovery, we departed from Custer State Park, and the Black Hills region. 

On the way to Devils Tower National Park, most of our group slept. Despite the early morning wakeup, I was wide awake and eager to see the United States first monument that I had researched ever so thoroughly.  

I do not know how to relay this in a proper manner so I'm just going to say it- Devils Tower is freakin awesome. I haven't gotten this excited for a geologic feature this whole trip, which is evidenced by how much I spent in the gift shop. Because this way my topic, I had to present to the group. The Tower has a contested origin amoungst geologists, but it is no surprise there that geologists are disagreeing! The 867 ft tall tower is composed of the igneous rock phonolite and various sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, shale, gypsum, and limestone. The defining unique feature of the rock are its columnar joints, or vertical fractures. These columns encase the entire tower. Oh and back to the origin! The most popular theory states that the tower is the neck of an ancient volcano. It represents the erosional remains that emerged to the surface through several hundred feet of sediments and rock debris. Despite such scientific evidence, I prefer the Native American's  orgin of the tower. After all, they were the ones who had lived around the tower fort thousands of years before General Custer invaded the Blackhills. According to legend, a group of children were playing away from the village when they stumbled upon a large bear that chased the children. When all hope seemed to be lost, the children stopped on a large flat rock and began praying to the gods. Then, the rock lifted towards the sky our of reach of the bear. The bear kept trying to climb the tower and reach the children, but it would always fall back down. The claw marks are what made the unique vertical fractures. 

When I was hiking around the Tower, I felt like it did have a strong sprititual presence. I'm not trying to sound like some weirdo taping into the spirits here, it was just very beautiful. Despite being called "Devils" Tower (which was a misinterpretation) to me the formation was pleasant and teeming with life. In the gift shop, Pheebs and bought matching hats which guarantees our coolness. 

We traveled further into Wyoming to visit the Eagle Butte Coal Mine. There, geologist Dave Olsen gave us a tour and history. It was a great experience because Dave took us around the site in a Suburban, which allowed us to get a miners perspective of an active coal mine. Of course, I called shotgun. Since it was just Dave and I sitting up in the front and I have had 2 semesters of sustainability to give me confidence, I had to ask him about the environmental impacts of our nation being so dependent on coal. Dave told me that he believes Global Warming is a farce. That the outlook for coal was grim mainly because of a switch to more reliance on natural gas. I told him that I was not sure of the full extent of the impacts of fracking. He said that fracking is not new however horizontal fracking is not as reliant as the coal system. I did not feel like arguing because he was just stating his opinion and that calls for respect. Besides, he was a super cool guy and did a great job at answering all of our weird questions. 

We have now arrived in the city of buffalo where the professors have decided to treat us and cook dinner tonight. (We always do it because we have cooking groups). TOMORROW WE SLEEP IN A HOTEL. I am holding out. Everyone send me good vibes. 

Devils Tower!! 

Look at the small white van at the bottom!!

The tires on a coal truck dwarf the van. 

That is me emulating Dave 

 

Day 6- The Mile High City with a Heart of Gold

Today we woke up near our usual time of 630 and headed over to Lead (pronounced as in you lead the way) South Dakota to visit the Homestake Gold Mine. This mine was the largest producer of gold in the state. It was started in 1875 and ran all the way until it's closing in 2002. The gold business was a difficult one in one early 2000s, and the Homestake Mine sold itself to the global Mining monopoly Barak. Gold is now a profitable business again, and there is still plenty to be found at Homestake. However, Barak donated Homestake to South Dakota with a stipulation that it would never open as a mine again. Now, interested tourists can get a surface tour of the mine- but only surface. Mysterious right?? Deep deep underground of the abandoned mine were even Rod would probably not roam, is a giant laboratory uncovering the secrets of the universe. There, scientists now study neutrinos and dark matter. The depths of the mine are perfect for this laboratory becuase neutrinos are easier to study away from surface cosmic radiation. After our tour, Geologist Todd Duex (pronounced Dicks) gave us a closer look at the geology and history of the mine. 

Our tour guide this time was named Donnie. He was a really young guy, maybe just out of college? Anyways, I think that we all freaked him out becuase he was pretty cute and we had not have not had very much contact with anyone outside of our group for a while. It is a dangerous thing when you pin up a bunch of girls like that- we start getting creepy. 

On the drive home we took the scenic route and entered what is called the Needles Eye of the Balck Hills. The formations here were very tall and needle like in shape. We explored around and tried our best at rock climbing. Unlike my future roomie Pheebs, I am not a mountain goat and I continually sturggle with any form of balance on rocks. Most of my time was spent taking pictures of Kelly attempting and humorously failing at parkour. 

Strugglin