Into the Woods: Stop...Huckleberry time!

Wow, it's almost August now. Time is flying by since the weather is nicer, there are a ton of people, and I'm actually able to get out on the trails during the weekends. Because of these reasons, I'm not posting as often. I'm out busy enjoying my summer and the Park! It's incredible.

A lot has been happening in the exploring, social world and in my work world.

First, huckleberry season is in full swing. I've picked berries two times around headquarters in a secret spot my boss told me. Look at these yummy things.

Hucks on a bush.

My loot.

Last night, I even saw a bear hanging out in the woods by headquarters. He was pulling down dead trees and digging. I'm sure he was also enjoying the berries. They have been ripening from the second week in July and are still going strong now. Amazing!

With work, I have made some good strides and connections. The week before last, the regional archivist and her assistant were in town to check up on things and help Karen and I process. I enjoyed working with both seasoned government workers and learned a lot from them. Combined, they have over 50 years of experience in National Park Service archives. I am so thankful they got to meet me and that I'm on their radar. Fingers crossed they keep me in mind for future projects!

Also at work I pretty much have the 'N' files done. This past week, after my space was taken over by the two visitors, I was able to get things back together and had a new rush of energy. I felt more confident in my archiving and had a better grasp on what types of things were to be saved and what was not relevant. This week I finished the 'N's but had to back track and work on the bear files. These things are important and massive. I had to make sure each sections was specifically what it was coded. Going through these last boxes, it was a mess and a mix of all bear things. I had incident reports mixed with bear management, mixed with bear observations. Each of these gets a separate code and foldering group. So, time to make it all pretty.

I feel glad to be done with this section and luckily will get a decent break before I start the next group. My brother and Dad are coming in this week and I get to take almost an entire weeks off to travel around Waterton and Glacier with them. This will be a great experience. Then when I return, I'll have fresh eyes to work on the 'H' (historical) files. After that record group, I'll only have 'K' left. ALMOST THERE! Our goal is the end of September. I think we can do it.

For my weekends, I have been loving it! Trails are now open and Aubrey and her guests have been kind enough to let me join them on big hikes. Last weekend, I went with Aubrey and her sister to Iceberg Lake at Many Glacier. Many Glacier is my favorite place and Iceberg Lake was a fun and long hike.

Many Glacier, my fave.

Beginning of the trail.

On the trail. About 3/4 of the way there.

BEAR GRASS makes another appearance.

We started out about 9:15am and walked for about 4.5 miles through wooded areas, alpine areas, and marshy bogs. We saw the top of a moose when he was bedded down in the boggy area below the trail. Iceberg Lake itself was beautiful and of course is named iceberg because of it's year around floating ice. So pretty! We even had to cross some snow fields.

Pre-lake glimpse.

Snowfields and ICE BERGS!

At the lake!

Yesterday, Saturday, Aubrey and I hiked to Scenic Point in Two Medicine. This is one hefty trail. You literally hike up a mountain and then out across some foothills for an amazing double valley view on one side and the view of the plains on the other. So pretty. Our hike was only three miles total but we gained 2,300 feet in two of them. What a grunter! Aubrey and I counted 16 switchbacks on the way down. We rewarded ourselves with Mexican food at a much talked about place in East Glacier. Worth it.