Wonderful House

Instead of going to the usual places to eat (Denny's), we decided to check out Wonderful House-- a local Chinese restaurant in Trinidad, Colorado. It was the best service I've ever had at a Chinese restaurant and we all actually behaved during dinner.

Band of Brothers

Some of the staff just finished watching Band of Brothers, the 10-part mini series from HBO. The story follows the 101st Airborne Division's Easy Company during World War II. It's hands down the best of its kind and still remarkable more than 10 years after it was filmed.










We gathered each night in the Advisor's Meeting room (an unused-at-night, quiet building with a TV).

Taos!

Day off in Taos. Joe and I went to meet up with his sister, who was in the area as part of a traveling biology class with Mercyhurst University. 

We both went to the Rocky Mountain Candy Factory in Taos. 

After the visit, we descended upon Wal-Mart and Joe found some ranger gear for his job.

At dinner, we had delicious burgers at Five Star Burgers. It's a regional eatery. I got a lamb burger and it was gigantically delicious. 

I drove home in Joe's tent mate's convertible. I had to take the wheel because Joe couldn't drive a stick shift.  The ride there and back was remarkable. Day off: accomplished. 

Cornered!

Surprise in the shower house. Scared me a little bit. Then he ran out. 

Baldy Town

After ascending the mountain, we took a break. We stopped at Baldy Town, the nearest staffed camp.  It has the best porch view on the ranch. 

Kickin' back on the porch. 

Baldy Town porch view. 

The staff there invited us to dinner. All three of us gladly accepted and offered to do dishes afterward. The menu: quarter pound bison burgers (complete with all the fixings, including bacon), cream of broccoli soup, sweet potato fries, and regular fries. Very delicious. 

7-inch cast iron skillet, loaded with  9 burgers. 

Baldy Mountain

On the way up Baldy Mountain, the tallest mountain on the ranch. 

The meadow before the peak. 

The summit:  12,441 ft. 

Descending the summit.

We all made it up and down. Great first hike of the season. 

Black Horse Mine

Yesterday, during my day off, I went hiking up Baldy Mountain, a former gold mining hot spot. We came across an abandoned mine called Black Horse Mine. 

There was even a mine car. Alex (left) and Nick (right) enjoyed the mine car.

Philmont Ready

These guys are ready for Philmont. I caught them in the store last week. The one at the top portrays the New Mexico Zia; the one at the bottom boasts the Philmont cattle brand.

Aspen Covered Hills

One of the most visible scenes of Philmont's North Country-- the Aspen groves. Hikes through these groves are remarkable, and full of, well, Aspens.

Cookies

This is what happens when you send me cookies. My boss' son likes chocolate. Thanks mom. 

Time

Philmont is a place with lots to do. Sometimes too much. It's nice to sit back and enjoy the view once in a while. 

Locked Out

Yesterday was my first day off. I started my day by locking my keys in my locker-- very smooth, I know. I got security to cut it off.

Just like that, I was back in. Now it's time for a new lock-- this time with two keys.

Jalapeno Challenge

While at Denny's, Melman decided to take on a challenge-- eat two jalapeno pepper slices. I thought it was a bad idea, so I filmed it. This is the edited version-- in the uncut edition, Melman couldn't hold the Jalapenos down. I figured you wouldn't want to see that.

Denny's

As all good adventures begin, we started at Wal-Mart. Melman (left) bought this very small hat. I bought the necessities (right).

It doesn't matter how many times you go to Wal-Mart-- there's always something to buy that you didn't think of before.

 This trip was a much need break for all five of us who went. Even Nate on the far right.

Melman (center) enjoyed a plate full of all-you-can-eat pancakes. 

I found the menu ironic-- all-you-can-eat pancakes... restrictions may apply. 

I don't have any control over what happens when we're at Denny's . I can only watch, laugh, and hope for the best. You may call us ridiculous, crazy, or absolutely insane-- and we'd probably agree. 

Movie in Taos

This week, I went into Taos, NM. (about 1.5 hours away) with a group to see a movie. Before we got to the theater, we stopped to get dinner. The restaurant was a Texas BBQ place and it was mighty fine. 

They even served JJs pies, made back home in Erie, Pa. 

We saw "Prometheus", some alien sci-fi movie. It was terrible. Don't see it.

So we salvaged the night by going to Wal-Mart. The ride home was more entertaining than the movie. 

First Truck

This is the first trading post supply truck of the season. It was headed to Ponil, one of four backcountry camps with a backcountry trading post. Ponil also features a root beer-serving cantina.

Backcountry Program Practice

Before the 24 backcountry staffed camps scattered through the backcountry, they practiced their living history programs and musical performances at base camp. This music clip was the grand finale.

Spinach and Crasins

This is Andrew. He likes spinach and crasins at dinner. When the dining hall doesn't provide spinach and crasins at the salad bar, he doesn't like it. This is pretty much an average dinner with our staff.

Cactus

This is a cactus. It has yellow flowers and sharp needles. It lives near the shower house, so I see it every morning. Luckily, I haven't stepped on it yet. 

It's Finally Up

Here's the yurt!  It's all done and we're ready to move all of our clearance items into it. The yurt remains nameless, but we're still working on it. I'm excited-- this bargain tent  has a lot of potential and can really turn into a lot of fun. 

Captain Warehouse

This is me and Casey. Casey is the warehouse seasonal manager. I'm Captain Warehouse. (Really, I just took a break and put a basket on my head).

Stickers

This is Chad-- the seasonal manager for the store. He has no idea there are a series of stickers on his backside. I may or may not have had anything to do with placing the stickers.

We were about to go to dinner, and he almost made it out without noticing, but Randa (on the left) couldn't let him walk into the dining hall like that. So she spilled the beans. Oh well-- there's always next time.

Kevlar Chicken

It was Chicken Alfredo for dinner last night, only the chicken came cooked "well done". The meal itself was pretty good, but almost impossible to cut. We figured it was bulletproof, so we named it Kevlar chicken.

Staff Hike

Yesterday, our staff of about 40 went on a hike. I did the first part of the hike, but didn't go all the way to to top of the Tooth of Time-- that mountain I'm pointing to. Just wasn't feeling it. It felt good to rest up a bit. Sometimes it's good to take it easy.

Yurt

Today, the trading post got its own yurt. It's a semi-permanent structure that we'll use as a bargain tent for clearance items. There's a contest to name the yurt. So far, suggestions are: Phil the Yurt, Burt the Yurt, Yurt Reynolds, and The Jackalope Den. We're still waiting for more submissions.