Update from the snow country

Hello, all! Sam's Mom here, just sending an update from her stay in snow country. I know this is all normal for many of you, but I have never lived where there is snow, so this is rather alien for me!

First off, it snowed all day Monday and Tuesday. I have never driven in snow, so I abandoned my van and hitched rides with other class participants.

The Van... This is yesterday morning. As of last night, it is has been thoroughly frozen to the parking lot. I might need to stay here till this all thaws!


I also realized I have never seen icicles outside of pictures. I didn't know they could grow on cars - I have only seen them on houses!


Hee-hee-hee... Car snot....


This photo was taken at about 3 in the afternoon. It is very dark from the snow. What you can't see in the picture is how hard it is snowing. ...and it get's in everything! Down your collar, in your boots - it is too cold!


This poor bush...


I kind of liked this house. All I would need is a snow plow, and maybe a Sauna.


Other than that, I am missing my boys very much and can't wait to head home! I do wish Sam and Aaron could have come with!

Sam's Momma is Freezing...

Sam here. Sam have update on Mom - who has gone missing... Sam's mom is currently in sunny (ha-ha-ha) Denver, CO for training. It is 45 degrees in sunny Denver. Sam not know why Mom keep calling it "sunny". Mom says Sam not understand irony. Mom says that is a little more than half of what it is in sunny (this isn't lie!) Arizona. Sam's mom is freezing and complaining of hi-po-ther-mia, whatever that may be. Sam's mom is convinced death is imminent, which Sam is hoping not. Who feed bones? Who take Sam for walk? Who scratch that funny spot on back of head Sam can't quite reach? This is all very stressful!

One happy boy...

Actually, make that two happy boys. Sam and I missed our favorite girl while she was out getting all "national parkerized" over the past couple of weeks, and we've both been barely able to contain ourselves ever since she got home.

And the stories she came back with! Most interesting to me was her first-hand reporting of the fact that, "yes, he most certainly does..."

Working Vacation

I have returned from my two week training session at the Grand Canyon. If you haven't been here, I recommend it for your next vacation. It was simply beautiful! If you take your fur-friend with, please note that they are not allowed below the rim. The reason they do this is because of the heat. It may be 90 degrees on the rim, but the canyon can reach 115 degrees! Most people cannot carry the necessary amount of water needed for both their dogs and themselves. There are still plenty of trails and areas you can take them with. If you really must hike, there are kennels (eep!) available for day use.





I rode the mules down to the Point. This was a great way to get down the cliff and back up. I only took the day trip which totaled 12 miles. Aaron and I plan to return together and do the overnight ride to Phantom Ranch.

These are California Condors. They are on the endangered species list. The number on their wings helps track them. You can learn more about #23 here - NPS Condor Tracking.


I found this really pretty sunflower:


I missed Sam and Aaron terribly. Sam was so happy to see me he tried to single-pawedly drag my duffel bag in the house. I got him this great Ranger hat: