6PM 9/2/2012
Hi all,
Last I wrote I was heading from the Sawtooths near Stanley,Iowa to Glacier NP with Sandy in her car. The "in her car" part was short-lived. We decided before the end of the first day to go independently in our own vehicle, with only vague plans to find each other. Nevertheless, we ran into each other by sheer chance on three separate occasions on trails in Glacier. I suppose that's not quite as improbable as it sounds since we sort of shared the same short priority-list of must-see locations along with everyone else that visits the park. Began to recognize a number of other visitors who seemed to be using the same list.
We've shared dinner on those evening's we met, but have been overnighting at our own favorite (mostly free) spots just outside the park. In my case I "based myself" longer on the west side of the park on BLM or NF land near Hungry Horse Reservoir before shifting to the east side on Indian Reservation land just outside the park border on the Many-Glacier Road.
Sandy is now on her way west into Washington then Oregon then California. I'm "taking a break" from the rather brisk very windy weather of the last few days to re-stock at a "real" grocery store in Browning about 40mi east of the park, which happens also to have a little cafe' with wifi, so I'm researching the "dispersed camping" situation in Alberta, Canada. (In Canada "Queen's Land" corresponds with US BLM land, it seems.) Not sure yet how long I'll stay on the Canadian side - there are still lots of areas on this side I want to see...
I may need to make a decision about how much backtracking I have time to do. I have been intending to explore the Bob Marshall Wilderness area south of Glacier on my way back down for a 2nd go at Yellowstone & the Tetons before continuing south through a bit of Utah into Colorado, but an alternative is to spend more time in Glacier and maybe a bit further north on the Canadian side.
Hope everyone is doing well. Would like to know any news. Email seems to work best - cell phone coverage pretty non-existent (for TMo or Att at any rate, and so I haven't "bothered" keeping my pay-as-I go plans paid up, tho I may do so later..).
Gary
7PM 9/6/2012
Greetings from Pincher Creek, Canada
...the nearest big town to Waterton, where I'm doing some grocery shopping, laundry, and of course using the free wifi. I happen to be using the library's wifi now, but the campground in town also offers free wifi, as does, surprise surprise, the McDonalds inside the Walmart at the shopping center here! No such connectivity at the Waterton Park, as there wasn't on the US side in Glacier NP. There to, I needed to drive 40 miles to the nearest "big town", Browning, on the Black Foot indian reservation east of Glacier. Cell phone reception, likewise, is described as "spotty" in Glacier NP, and then only Verizon anywhere in the area. So now in Canada, I would need to get a Rogers phone plan, though at least that would be compatible with the radios in my phone, so, one reason I'm in this town is to see how much that would be and what kind of reception I could expect in these mts maybe including up to the Banff/Jasper area.
Haven't even done any hiking in Waterton park yet, so why with my limited time left am I considering Banff/Jasper??? Not really sure but one theory stems from my experience this morning finally getting around to crossing the border.
This is actually my second time crossing the border. First time was a few weeks ago, late in the afternoon and was only asked a bunch of interesting questions to which I gave interesting answers, such as to "so you're traveling with all your worldly possessions?" explaining that I was trying to "track down" my friend who was "somewhere between" the Many-Gacier Campground and Waterton, but now since it was later in the day than I had planned to get this far, I would probably just drive a few miles toward Waterton, then turn around. "So you're going to spend the night at Many-Glacier Campground? No, it's full, I'll probably stay on the Indian Reservation Land just outside - I bought an environmental pass that permits me to "recreate" on indian land. I've scoped out a few locations. "Do you have any weapons or things could be used as weapons?" Um, some kitchen knives, some tools, a trowel. "A trowel?" Yeah, a small shovel/pick-ax I use to dig a cat-hole. "So you're a real mountain man." I guess I'm trying to be.
So the border agent let me through. I actually just drove into Canada about a mile or so to a nice view along the Belly River. Decided to turn around, worried I might have trouble getting back into the US. That went more smoothly, after I explained I was only "gone" for about a half hour.
So after that brief trial-excursion into Canada I spent the next week or so back in Glacier NP USA systematically hiking to all the mt passes from "both sides" of trails (much like last spring I did portions of the PCT that were "near" roads when I was "with my car" only this time it's portions of the Continental Divide Trail and pretty much all the other trails in all directions from the Many Glacier Road ant the Going to the Sun road.
But last night and into this morning it rained, so I did my laundry and then decided to head for the border again. This time, same interesting questions & answers to a different agent, found me directed to pull over for further inspection. They inspected my car thoroughly, then told me the main reason I was pulled over was because I was not "rooted", (no Home, no Job, no Obligations. No reason I might not stay in Canada. I pointed out the irony that I used to live in Canada. He checked some online records, then printed out some formal looking form that allowed me to visit Canada for up to 17 days.
Hmph! Well, I was only thinking of staying about a week to begin with!
Hope I can get back into the US.
Library's closing.
Gary
10AM 9/5/2012
Hi Gary,
You seem to be covering a lot of ground and seeing a lot.
Do you have an estimate as to when in October you expect to be in Ct with us? I'm trying to make plans.
you wanted some news...
Andy's Eagle court of honor will be Dec 29th, not after Thanksgiving, so you may be able to go, if you are still with us.
Mark is almost done covering all the fabric parts of the plane. We (Mark's Dad and me) started painting the primer on these parts, next comes light sanding, then I think he will try spray painting the next layer of primer.
Erik, Andy and Gretchen seem to be settled into their school routines. No major problems so far, none expected.
I've started back with my portrait and figure drawing groups, and may sign up for a watercolor class with a new teacher. That's partly why I want to know when you plan to arrive in CT.
Hope you enjoy Canada, etc.
Liz
2PM 9/7/2012
Hey dad,
It sounds like you're having a lot of fun. That's great to hear. I don't have much of an idea of where you are exactly or what the landscape is like except that it is in the Rockies near the border, so it's probably cool, mountainous, and beautiful. Those are some things I could use right now.
You asked for news, and I guess I do have a little:
On Wednesday night we returned to Tucson from another short trip in California. This time I was back to be in my friend Thomas' wedding, where my role was to be he and his fiancee's officiant. I was a little nervous about standing and speaking in front of my friends' families and feeling the pressure of having such a visible role in the ceremony, but there were no embarrassing screw-ups or mishaps and I ended up having a lot of fun being up there with them. I had also scheduled an informational interview with a small hydrology firm in Oakland, and because a candidate they were looking at didn't work out for them the meeting became a formal interview. Just like the wedding I was nervous about it until I was actually there, then I felt comfortable and prepared. The company seems like just the type of thing that I am looking for and I really hope that they offer me the job. They are a small firm made up of some very good hydrologists, they have a good variety of projects, and they specialize in working on water management and water supply projects rather than on environmental assessments and remediation for companies that are just trying to appease regulators. Most of there work is local too, so I'd get to learn more about different issues around the Bay Area. The interview itself seemed to go really well and now I'm waiting for them to contact my references and get back to me. If they did offer me the job I would be moving back and starting in January. I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime I'll be continuing to work my ass off on my thesis. The work is going well and the project has remained interesting, but I'm certainly ready to be finished with school and to get the hell out of Tucson. If you ever feel like giving me a call I'm around most weeknights (especially Tu-Thu) after 7 pm.
Happy travels,
Stephen
9PM 9/7/2012
Hey Stephen,
Cool! ...how your "public speaking" experience at the wedding may have prepped you psychologically a little bit for that next challenge.
My gut feel is you will have the job - although you may well have a few more hoops to go through - firstly be sure to follow up promptly with a thank-you letter! You should also expect more interviews with different people for example, some maybe over the phone.
Good luck in the mean time on keeping your cool enough through that process to stay focused as well on completing your thesis! Doesn't that also involve a series of presentations with proffs & others? You might also be asked to make presentations to interested citizens groups or such - some of the CNPS" general meetings" featured grad students presenting their research results they were working to complete - in fact in Santa Rosa if you were interested you could probably do a presentation of your work to the Water Coalition. Doing that sort of thing get's your name around and can connect you with other people in your field.
So, a big (hopefully not overly premature) CONGRATs on having a job lined up as you get your diploma!
Will I have to plan on being in the Tucson area with my camera for some ceremony?
Gary
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