Wednesday Night

We went to Blacktail Plateau today. I would say the kids have mastered the skill of snowshoeing. Up and down mostly fresh snow is difficult, but every child accomplished it. At one point it felt like we were hiking toward Heaven because we were going up hills surrounded by the snowy mountains.

Right now they are looking at a wolverine trap. They are about to start the evening class. I wonder who will be chosen as the beaver?

Wednesday Morning

Class this morning was great. They worked on animal adaptations. They created predators and prey.. Leaving for our hikehike in 30 min. Bundling up for a high of 20° today.

Tuesday

Water testing in Mammoth area. Ph, temperature, and identify type of bacteria. Hiked 2.5 miles today. Many accomplished the wilderness wiggle.

Wrote acrostic poems. Came very close to some elk too.

Monday

We took an orientation hike. Brutally cold, but the kids liked the snowshoes. Went in a time machine to learn about geology.

Good Morning!

We are wrapping things up here at our lovely hotel stay. I have to say I am very impressed with our accomodations. Last time we took the Expedition: Yellowstone, we did not stay at a hotel before going into Yellowstone. It worked out wonderfully so that we could get our supply shopping done, and relax before "roughing it" at the YCC dorm. :)

The kids have a great day planned. After our three hour drive into Mammoth Hot Springs, we will be doing a scavenger hunt at the Albright Museum in Mammoth. Then we head to the YCC to get settled, and we hit the trails for the first time in snow shoes!

We got about 4-5 inches of snow here in Billings since yesterday. I heard Mammoth got 10 inches of fresh snow recently.

I'm unsure about future postings from this point on. Our cell phone use is limited in the park, and I probably won't have access to Internet once we are there. Wish I brought my laptop because our bus has WiFi!!! Oh well, if that's the only thing I left at home that I wish I had now, then we're golden for the week!

God bless and thanks for checking the blog!
--Mrs. B

This afternoon

We were able to get our feet wet in the hotel pool. The kids were having a blast splashing around. Dinner came from Texas Roadhouse, and the kids gobbled it up. Exausted, they gathered for a little Expedition Yellowstone story time and then off to an early lights-out.

After the first flight to Denver

The stewardess stopped me and complimented the students, She said they were all very polite, and that she had taught for 30 years. She said kids like these are rare nowadays. Awesome kids!

At 5:00 a.m. at Detroit Metro Airport

In the security line, a man notices our group's "Expedition: Yellowstone!" sweatshirts. He asked us where we were from and asked how the trip waws funded. Some of the students explain all the fundraising events (bottle-drives, yard clean-up, babysitting, etc.). Then he said, "How about another donation, hot chocolate foreveryone when you get to Yellowstone!" and he handed me a $20. What a nice guy!

The Countdown

Thanks for joining us on another Expedition: Yellowstone! I am so proud to take these hardworking, knowledge-thirsting students on this trip. We leave in just a few hours. We will do our best to keep you posted on our activities.

The weather forecast is gorgeous. This is for Gardiner, MT which is just outside our entrance into the park:
Monday High 32 Low 20
Tuesday High 32 Low 20
Wednesday High 23 Low 11
Thursday High 16 Low 5
Friday High 15 Low 2

Please pray for our safe arrival and the safe arrival of our LUGGAGE!

God Bless,
Mrs. Boura