sometimes glass glitters

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zx. 20+. wants(1 gpa to stay abv 4.00 (2 big watsons dog/guitar lessons/tohoshinki cds/dvds/polaroid camera(on a whimsy)/new sandals/dresses!/skirts/tops/shorts... (3 summer holidays to come soon

more than diamonds

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goodbye


designer: eminence.
image: Sara Bareilles' Site
background: Photobucket quote: Terry Pratchett

Friday, June 19, 2009


16/06/09 OFF DAY

We were planning to take the morning Across the Northern Range bus tour but there was no more space, so we went to the Backcountry office instead to check on the trail conditions to Cascade Lake since it was the only other nearest trail besides the one to the Lower Falls which I did already. Apparently the trail was swampy but passable, which didn't sound very appealing but it beats having nothing to do. On the way, guess who should we meet but people from Mammoth! Rex, Nicole and Chin Chin were getting a Yellowstone day tour courtesy of Gina, but they still had space in the car, so we tagged along too. ^^ Luckily we did though, it was raining sporadically all over Yellowstone, which would have made the hike very horrible indeed. Great to be able to see them too, not just Yellowstone. =)


17/06/09 OFF DAY

It was supposed to be camping day and we were meeting Chase and Janeh at 12 to decide on camping plans but from about 11 or 10ish to 12, the weather varied from hail to rain to sun in whatever order. Only at about 2 or 3 did the sky stay clear, which was when they decided to go camping anyway and we decided to tag along. We got lucky in the sense that it wasn't raining or hail(ing?) when we were hiking to the camp site, though the trail conditions were wet and muddy (or practically a small stream on its own). At least it didn't rain when we were hiking to the camp ground or setting up tents. After setting up the tents we went exploring a bit, then gathered wood for fire, which was very very very nice since it was quite cold and occasionally drizzling.

We had (cold) sandwiches for dinner and ate toasted marshmallows and smores! (toasted marshmallows between melted chocolate and two graham crackers) for dessert. It was super cold (and dark) by the time we went back into the tent since we're not allowed to sleep too close to the fire. Didn't really sleep very well at night either cos it was so cold, but the sleeping bags were quite thick though, so sleeping on the floor wasn't too bad. Oh! They have poles really high up for you to tie your food up to, so the wild animals (BEARS!) can't get to them. The sound of the trees creaking was super creepy as well, since they either sound like wild animals or like they're about to fall. Which reminds me that we heard something resembling a bunch of dogs barking and howling at night (which we were told later were probably coyotes) and since the trees keeping our food up were like |-|, one of the | poles had a humongous claw mark on it! Chase suspects it was a bear trying to get to our bag, but it's so scary! We were definitely within walking or running distance to that bag and to imagine a bear might have been circling around looking for food or something. Which is why you should never never keep food in your tents. Or in bags in your tents anyway.

18/06/09

The hike back out took a much shorter time than the hike in, since there were much more downhill parts than uphill, so we made it back to our dorms at about 10? Still a super rushed day though, I only managed to finish bathing and go for lunch at 11 (the EDR queue was disgustingly long), which consisted of a tuna sandwich, a few mouthfuls of cereal and cream of mushroom soup. I ate lunch in 15 minutes then went for work till 1030 at night. It was an insanely tiring day. =S

19/06/09

20/06/09

21/06/09
Campfire with Chin and the Taiwanese people. After finishing work at 1030ish pm,

22/06/09

23/06/09 OFF DAY

Stella and dear and I decided to hike to Cascade Lake since the weather looked fine and I was hoping the sun dried up all the marshy areas. We hiked in towards Cascade Lake and the front bit was fine, quite dry with only small patches of water (that I could easily avoid and walk over), though towards the afternoon the number of mosquitoes/flies/insects were so overwhelming and disgusting and annoying so we didn't stop much. When we were approaching Cascade Lake, the trail got more and more marshy and to avoid the marshy official path we moved off onto what seemed to be grassy, drier areas, only to sometimes walk into puddles of water. Needless to say my shoes, socks and feet got wet and I got so annoyed by that. Plus my cap was blown off my head by a strong gust of wind and landed somewhere wet. )= Went back to wash it though, and thankfully the stain came out. Which is more than I can say for my shoes though, they were white but not anymore. )= After hiking back we treated ourselves to ice cream (strawberry cheesecakeeeeeee! ^^) at the deli, which was our first time trying it (and tin roof sundae) and it didn't feel very guilty to indulge in it after hiking to Cascade Lake then attempting half of Observation Peak (since we sort of lost the trail at that point when it suddenly became a stream).

24/06/09 OFF DAY

Was spent recovering from hiking the day before, wandering around the general store again (what can be considered the major department store of the area) and having more ice cream. The weather can be deceptively bright and sunny, yet when the wind blows your goosebumps start appearing 'cos it's so darn cold!

25/06/09

26/06/09

27/06/09

28/06/09

29/06/09

Last day of work for the week and I was stuck alone at Lodge Favourites in the evening (the busiest and worst station to be serving at ever!) which was supposed to have two people (but they didn't schedule anyone else) so Roger (asst manager) made Emily come and help (though Emily had never served before). As usual we ran out of food/sides/vegetables ever so often and had to make guests wait for their food. And since we were expecting a health inspection some time within those few days, we did "deep cleaning" meaning moving things around we had never moved and sweeping and scrubbing and mopping. Thankfully we did manage to get out before 11 though. And my new schedule is much much shorter than the previous weeks which is good (so I have more time to wander around and do things) and bad (much much less pay). So we'll see.