Pictures Are Only Worth a Thousand Words Until You See it in Person

"The mountains are calling and I must go" ... sit in traffic in Yosemite Valley.  Everywhere you turn in this magnificent park are breath taking views, and masses of visitors.  It's the DisneyWorld of National Parks.

The "Green Dragon" tour around the valley
at the end of orientation

Last week I finally arrived at Yosemite National Park to begin my second and final internship.  I took a cross-country road trip with two of my fellow Prorangers, Nick Fitkze and Brittany Kriner to get to our destinations.  With all the magnificent places we saw driving across the country I still was not prepared for the magnitude and the beauty Yosemite has to offer when you finally see it in person.  It truly is awe-inspiring. 

My first two days I spent in a new/returning employee orientation.  It was immensely helpful not only with information of what is going on in the park, but also meeting a bunch of new people who were just as lost and excited to be here as I am! 

Yosemite High Country

The following two days were followed up with a tour from Jesse Chakrin, which helped a lot of things finally connect.  People would explain parts of the park to me that I got to see and make the connection, finally putting the pieces together.  My week was finished off with a ride along with one of the supervising Valley Rangers, Kristen Loyd. It was a fantastic way to finish off my first week here and I am ecstatic to spend more time with LE.

This week has been a pretty mundane week, but it is a whole new subject for me.  I have been in S-130 and S-190 Wildland Fire training here in the park to become quailified to get my Red Card.

I am so excited for all the opportunities in store for me the rest of this summer!