May 24 - Settling In

The first thing I learn today – and I learn it very early – is that the blinds in my room are just short of useless. They're too short to reach the windowsill, and don't cover the sides. The window faces east, so the sun blazes in at 5 AM. This awakening occurred after a very restless night. As I'd feared, the non-fitted sheet came loose repeatedly, and the resulting discomfort woke me up repeatedly.

So that makes about 5 hours sleep on top of the altitude troubles. Yellowstone Lake is 7,732 feet above sea level, so the air is pretty thin. To my dismay, I discover that the EDR offers only instant coffee. I've never been one of those Starbucks-obsessed individuals who rattles on in pseudo-Italian, but there are limits. Instant coffee is crap, plain and simple. And it also has almost no caffeine. Basically, I'm a zombie. Amazingly, I manage to make conversation over breakfast.

I don't do so well at Safety Training, though. Mostly what I got out of it was that I should be careful with chemicals, stay away from bears, and don't be mean to anyone. (There was also a harassment segment.) They also mentioned something about pathogens, airborne vs. bloodborne. I'm supposed to not let them fight, or something. The way I felt, not dozing off & hitting my head on the table was an accomplishment.

Afterward, we're given the option to take a van tour of our area from an employee's point of view. We get paid for this, since it's part of orientation. So the tour included not only background about the spiffy hotel (the oldest hotel in the world's first National Park), but where we sign up for free tours and get discounts.

Xanterra sends us on free tours for multiple reasons. One is to keep us happy and reduce turnover. But it's also best for employees to be well-informed, so that we can be useful to the guests. A lot of us don't cross paths with guests as part of our jobs – kitchen staff, maintenance workers, etc. But if we're in view and wearing a uniform, it could happen. Of course, the free tours are on a space-available basis. We're also told that if the piano lounge lobby or lake view porch (with bar) fill up, we should move on. It's only fair, really. We're here for 3 or 4 months, and they're here 3 or 4 days.

On the orientation tour, we learn that the pretty mountains across the lake are the Absorokas. At sunset they get an alpenglow effect. I also learned why the lake is blissfully free of waverunners, waterskiers, and other noisy things. At best, the water temperature reaches 60° F. The average survival time if you fall in is 6 minutes.

The tour also takes us by the marina, the general store, and Fishing Bridge. Contrary to the name, no fishing is allowed here. In 1973, it was discovered that fishing off the bridge hampered the cutthroat trout's spawning efforts. I think they should change the name to Cutthroat Bridge. It's more accurate, and sounds kinda badass.

We also learn that our dorms are in a "high bear management" section. The rivers feeding into the lake are full of trout this time of year, and bears are hungry. Because of this, some areas are off-limits to both tourists and employees. These areas include the path I'd walked along the previous evening. Oops.

Once the tour is over, I have lunch and head for Cody. Wal-Mart may be evil, but I know they'll have sheets I can sleep on. Having seen that coffee makers are allowed, that also goes on my list. Also toothpaste and hand soap.

There's a Costco in Bozeman, but that's farther away. That route would take me through Hayden Valley, which is prone to bison jams. And I already know where the Wal-Mart is. Time is running a bit short, since it's a 2 hour drive each way, and I want to return before dark.

On the way into town, I realize that this route does look a bit familiar after all, from this direction. Still, I'm amazed at what I'd forgotten. Probably it was a combination of sensory overload and being preoccupied with the approaching snow. In any case, it's a beautiful drive.

At Wal-Mart, an impulse purchase finds its way into my cart. There's no radio reception in Yellowstone, but the small boom box I find can be used as speakers for my little MP3 player. They don't have any extra long twin sheets, but I find an extra deep set, in a pleasant shade of avocado green.

As I expected, the sheets don't fit perfectly, but they get the job done. I use the dorm ones to cover the extra bed. I also retrieve my dark gray throw blanket from the car, and hang it over the window. That night, I sleep very, very well.