Visit to Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Today was a visit to Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center - one of our favorite places!  We've been here several times and know the bears and wolves by name and markings.  The cubs Grant & Roosevelt have gotten larger, but are still playful....Summit still has his unique folded ear, Akela is still letting McKinley know that she is the boss!  While they have split the packs into three now, it is still easy to see them and watch them interact with each other, even though fences separate them.


The Center is growing and today there were many more visitors than we have seen in the past.  Rachel & Ryan got to be "Keeper Kids" for the last time.....as the age for keeper kids is 5-12, but they can be "Keeper Crew" when we come back!  Keeper Sarah was here - she was the keeper that took the kids on "Keeper Kids" when we were here in January 2013 -- and it was funny to compare the pictures from then to now!

After visiting the bears and wolves, we visited several local merchants and improved the local economy, then feasted on pasta at Pete's Pasta & Pizza!  After carb-loading we returned to the hotel to pack up and ready for our road-trip to Boise, ID tomorrow.  We head there to visit with Chuck's nephew and his family for a few days before we head back to balmy Houston. 

Check out the photos in the album - same link, same bears and wolves - they are just older and bigger!

The Frolicking Featherstons

Return to West Yellowstone.....our favorite winter destination!

After our sleigh ride, we made our way back to West Yellowstone and Kelly Inn.  On our drive down U.S. Highway 287, we kept seeing the signs "Wildlife Crossing - Next 13 miles", or those ones with the jumping deer with large antlers....but we didn't see nary a jumping deer with antlers.  When we happened upon one that had "Big Horn Sheep Crossing - Next 2 Miles" I asked Chuck if that was a threat or a promise.....then, low an behold, I look to the left, and what do I see in front of a large garage, but TWO LARGE RAMS!!!  Chuck stopped the car (as best he could safely on an icy road!), I hopped out of car and got my large lens out of the trunk since I had given up on needing it as we drove from Missoula to West Yellowstone....affixed it to my camera and started shooting!  Little did we know that those two rams would turn in to almost 200 head of big horn sheep!  As we stood there on the side of the highway taking pictures and just being in awe of the magnificent creatures that seemed to want to be subjects of the photos I was taking, the owners of the garage and house drove up, waved to us, shouted "Hi!" as they roared up the hill to the log cabin, and we decided that they seemed friendly enough for us to go see them.


Chuck made his way halfway up the very steep, very icy and snowy driveway, the kids and I bailed and made our way to meet Kathy & Harry Sauter and introduced ourselves.  Kathy in turn told us the story of "their" big horn sheep.  The herd had numbered about 200 when earlier this summer the wildlife folks collared about 52 of them and relocated them around the mountain closer to Ennis, MT.  Unfortunately, most of them have returned to the Sauter's land.  Must be the pellets that the Sauters have put out to feed them.  In addition to the big horn sheep, they also have a black fox that makes an appearance - he tends to knock on the back door as if to say -- "Hey, you have any food for me?". 


It appeared to us that the fox might have been trying to chase the sheep as they all congregated in an area behind the house just as the Sauter's arrived home.  I was able to get quite a number of photos before the herd decided that it was time for them to head back up to their nesting area up on the hill.  They were quite funny about it - one made a specific noise as if to say "Ok, head up" and they all seemed to head up the hill.


As we departed and continued on our way to West Yellowstone, we encountered a single ram on U.S. Highway 287 strolling along - as if he did it every day.  It was quite amazing - we pulled up along side him, he looked straight at me, I aimed my camera, and snapped his photo!  What a guy he was!!


We made it back to Kelly Inn and were pleased to find out that what we started a few years ago (making soup for the guests here at Kelly Inn) has been continued on a nightly basis!  So good to know that they kept that going.  This year it seems that many more folks are here and there are many more businesses open to cater to the guests.  Our "secret" winter vacation location is not so secret any more....


New Year's Eve we spent on snowmobiles - we rode several new trails - Madison Arm, Black Canyon Trail, South Plateau - as well as several old favorites - Two Top Loop and Big Springs.  We even had an unexpected "Mama caught air" episode which resulted in a sled being towed from the woods....no injuries thankfully, but it made for gathering of 15 sleds at an S-curve on the South Plateau trail 11 miles from town!  Thanks ever-so-much to those 23 folks that assisted us with retrieving that sled from the trees....we couldn't have done it without you!


Here are some photos --

I've uploaded more pictures -- https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/1407 - take a peek and see what fun we've had and what sites we've seen....it is truly beautiful country up here!

We're still frolicking!

The Featherston's

Glacier National Park, Hungry Horse Dam, and a Sleigh Ride

A visit to Apgar Visitor Center at Glacier National Park so that I could get another stamp for my National Parks Passport was in order, but first, we stopped at The Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse, MT.  This place had everything imaginable made out of huckleberries!  (And even some things that you would never imagine .... like barbeque sauce named "Blazin' Rectums"....don't ask....cuz I'm not 'splainin!  We did get to taste some huckleberry fudge, bought some preserves, and syrup, and a huckleberry pie!  We learned that huckleberries grow wild even though folks have tried to grow them commercially, they haven't done well.  They make up 1/3 of bears diets, and are used in sauces, pancake mixes, waffle mixes, jellies, jams, fudge, ice cream and pies!


After we bought our fill of huckleberry items, we made our way to Apgar Visitor Center.  The Going to the Sun Road was only open for 11.5 miles - to the Lake McDonald Lodge.  We made it there and went to the lake.  We saw icicles on cabins that were almost 6 feet long!  Ryan found a part of an icicle that someone had broken off that was more than 4" in diameter!  Snow was plentiful in the area and we saw some folks strapping on skis to try their skills at cross-country skiing.  I am just not that brave....


After leaving Glacier National Park we drove to Hungry Horse Dam.  We got to drive across the dam then we got out and I was able to take pictures.  Funny thing about this dam - there was no water coming out of it.


Since it was really cold at the dam, we didn't spend much time here but headed back south to Seeley Lake, MT to Double Arrow Lodge where we were going to do a sleigh ride!  These folks have a lodge on a golf course and the sleigh ride is around the golf course....which to me seems like a pretty ingenious idea.  Why not use the golf course as your track to provide a cool adventure for guests?  We loved it....except that the Percheron horses that pulled the sleigh seemed to have had something that caused odiferous output from their south-end according to Rachel.....as Ryan and I were sitting at the far end of the sleigh, we really weren't able to experience it like Rachel and Chuck.... :)


Here are a few pictures -

I've added many more photos to the existing photo album - take a peek and see what we've been seeing!  https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/1407

We've got more frolicking to do!  Happy New Year to you & yours!

The Frolicking Featherstons

National Bison Range - on road from Missoula to Kalispell

The day started by us sleeping in and then packing up and hitting the road to Kalispell.  On the way, we drove through the National Bison Range in hopes of seeing the bison up as close as I did when I was up here in July.  Alas, it was not to be.....

But we did see a whole bunch of white-tail deer, several hawks including one hunting on the ground, LOTS of waterfowl in Mission Creek, and a herd of bison way up high on a mountain.

After leaving the National Bison Range we drove north to Kalispell along the western edge of Flathead Lake through the Flathead Indian Reservation.  This lake is more picturesque than Lake Tahoe to me.  I don't know if was the way the sun was hitting it today, or the snow, or what, but it was an awesome site!

We arrived in Kalispell and checked in to our hotel, went to dinner, then the fish came out!  Both kids wanted to take advantage of the pool being open 24 hours here....luckily, Dad took them while I trudged along looking at today's "photo haul" and updating the 

'blog for all of you who are frolicking vicariously through us -- we hope that we are doing a fine job cuz we are having fun!  Link from yesterday's post has been updated -- above are just a few of the photos from today!

Tomorrow is Glacier National Park - in search of Glacier Billy and his mountain goat pals!

The Frolicking Featherstons

Over the river(s) and through the woods.....or better yet, neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night.....

This past summer was so busy with travel for work for me and work for Chuck that we were not able to travel as a family.  Chuck is on an implementation project and it was decided that we would take family vacation during the project "blackout" weeks....so planning began for a trip to the mountains!


Boise, ID to West Yellowstone, MT to Missoula, MT to Kalispell, MT then back to Missoula, MT then back to West Yellowstone, MT then back to Boise, ID and finally back to Houston.  No big challenge you say?  Well, HA!  Considering that the Apgar Visitor Center at Glacier National Park is only open on weekends in winter, (and you know me and passport stamps at National Parks, right?), and it is entirely too far to drive from Boise, ID to Kalispell, MT in one day, I had to break the trip up.  Of course, you might be asking yourself, why start in Boise?


Well, Chuck's nephew and his wife (who live in Boise) had a new baby - that's why!  We had to see that new little Harley!  So, off to Boise we flew, then drove to West Yellowstone - only we hadn't planned on the 6 hour trip having to be made in the dark, while it was snowing, or when there was snow and ice on the road - in a sedan, and not in an SUV!  But, warriors that we are, plugged in our trusty GPS, and off we drove through the Snake River Valley, crossed that storied river about 5 times as we made our way toward West Yellowstone, and finally through the Targhee National Forest with snow blowing toward us.  Sometimes it looked like someone was throwing silver glitter at us! 


About 1 AM we had a welcoming committee of one MOOSE, about 8 feet tall and with a rack about as wide as our sedan, welcome us to his forest!  As luck would have it, my phone was in the pocket on Chuck side of the car and I could not get my camera out of the bag fast enough to snap his photo - but both Chuck and I were very glad that he did not decide to cross back in front of us!


We made it to Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone about 1:30 AM and unloaded the car, fell in to bed and woke up to several inches of the white stuff on the car.  No worries though -- Ryan to the rescue with the brush that the rental car company provided....he has become an expert with that tool in just one day!


We made our way to Missoula, MT tonight and drove through some beautiful country today - and saw some signs that will result in research projects for the kids -- like how did "The Lake that Tilted" and "Earthquake Lake" get their names, what is the Continental Divide?, as well as some of the most beautiful scenery.  I uploaded the few photos I took - take a peek and I will post more after our visit to Glacier National Park this weekend.  Here is a link to the photos -- https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/1407


Merry Christmas to you and yours -- we're frolicking again!
The Featherston's


p.s. -- SLOW DOWN when making left turns on snowy, icy roads.....story at 10!

Raindrops kept falling on our heads....

Tuesday we didn't let a rainy forecast deter us, no, not us!  We tramped through the streets of NYC making our way to the two favorite stores of chocolate lovers most anywhere - M&M World and the Hershey Store!  The kids were excited to compile their own bags of the delicious little colored morsels and take in all the various items with the characters on them.  At the Hershey store, first thing we noticed was the overwhelming scent of chocolate!  It was heavenly - unfortunately, the extra-large crowd in the super-tiny store kept us from spending too long in there!

After spending time getting our chocolate fix, we set out to visit one of the FDNY stations - we figured that we'd rather support a local fire house and buy one of their t-shirts that just some vendor....so we visited "the pride of Midtown" - Station 54 -- officially known as Engine 54 Ladder 4 Battalion 9.  We found them preparing dinner...but did not ask if we could stay!  One of the guys we met at Station 54 actually worked at Station 23 - the Lion's Den - the truck we saw on our first day here.

After leaving station 54, we made our way back to Times Square and rode the City Sights bus on our Night Tour of NYC.  One of the stops was Grand Central Terminal where we saw the beautiful clock shown below.  The second picture below is an eagle on the outside of the terminal.  We were also shown the "Whispering Corners" in the terminal as well as the "Kissing Hall" and told about the legend of Track 41.

Wednesday we slept in and let our legs rest a bit and got a late start.  We made our way (in the rain again!) to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum where we got to see the Enterprise, the prototype space shuttle that was awarded to New York by NASA.  She's a mighty fine bird.  Rachel made the comment that she felt like she was in science class when we were looking at the exhibits of the tools used in space!

Ryan enjoyed seeing the older war birds on the flight deck of Intrepid, and then we toured the inside again.  After closing the museum down, we made our way back toward the all-so-familiar Port Authority Bus terminal.  We're getting pretty good at finding restaurants that the locals frequent and have enjoyed them. After dinner, we made our way back to our hotel to tackle the dirty laundry...we hate to go home with dirty clothes!

We still have the Top of the Rock, Empire State Building and the 9/11 Memorial Museum to go!

Here's a link to the updated album - I've added more photos!

https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/965

Merry Christmas everyone - we're having a blast!

The Frolicking Featherstons

Lots of Legs and Lady Liberty too!

Sunday we had tickets to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes - and what a show!  (Getting tickets four months in advance has more than just the advantage of having something to look forward to....you can actually get really great seats when you buy them that early!)   We'd kept the show a surprise for the kids until just before we left for the trip, but they had both seen Radio City Music Hall on the television, so they recognized the neon when they saw it, and knew that they had seen it on our previous trip to NYC.  We loved the show - I think my favorite parts were Santa and the Rockettes dressed as reindeer, and then when the girls were dressed as shiny, sparkly, snowflakes!

After leaving the show, we made our way to Macy's to see their Christmas window displays, strolled the eight stories at the Herald Square store, then made our way to Fifth Avenue and saw the sights and lights on our way to FAO Schwartz!  I think Chuck and I had as much with the various stuffed animals and toys as the kids did.

Making our way back to the subway, old-pros at this game by now you know!, we got back to the hotel and readied for day two -- a boat ride to Lady Liberty and Ellis Island!

Okay -- so I ride to work every morning during rush hour in Houston.....most of you know this, and you would think that I would keep this in mind as I purchased tickets for our excursion....but did I?  Heck no, we would be on VACATION....so why would we need to worry about RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC in the most populous area of our country?  HEEEEELLLLLLLOOOOO?????  What a dork!  Chuck and I just looked at each other when we heard the words "standing room only" come out of the bus driver's mouth as we tried to board the bus into the city....then we understood.  Today was a MONDAY, a work day for the rest of the world.  So, we impatiently waited in the 36 degree weather for the next bus that was "right behind this one" according to the driver, just don't loan him a few bucks, okay?  25 minutes later, the next bus comes, and, yes, it is full as well.  We don't care that we have to stand, we get on and take the 35-40 minute ride into the city, then hop off bus, run to subway, then make it to the Statue Cruises place about 20 minutes late.  No worries, we're happy, we can catch the next boat!  Whew!  What a day already - and it's only 9:30!

We rode the ferry to see that grand Lady -- we went up in to the pedestal but were not brave enough to ascend the 188 additional stairs to the crown....there is not an EMS station on the island!  But, I did get some great shots of Liberty, we toured the museum, and then went through Ellis Island and then came back to Manhattan.  Having still several hours of daylight left, we made our way to the 9/11 Tribute Museum.

The 9/11 Tribute Museum is staffed by survivors and family members of survivors of the tragedy.  I was not prepared to turn the first corner and see the images of the twin towers in smoke.....I teared up immediately.  The images, artifacts, and exhibits as well as the notes left by visitors in this museum touched me.  Chuck and I had visited the Memorial Pools on our visit of July 2012, but this was more personal.  It is hard to explain.  We will go back for a tour of the Memorial Pools one day later this week and will have a guide that be with us to offer a "first-hand" view....

After drying our eyes, we decide we wanted to visit the South Street Seaport for some delicious seafood for dinner.  Unfortunately, after arriving there, we saw the signs notifying all that Pier 17 is currently under construction ... best laid plans of mice, men and Marie!  Plan B -- Texas Rotisserie Grill!  Pretty decent fare overall!  Once again we brave rush hour travel on subway and bus and make it back to hotel in time for kids to go swimming this evening.

Appears that NYC will be warmer the next two days than Houston will be....we'll be having fun up here - y'all have fun down there and keep warm!

I've uploaded some pics that I took....here's a link to the album:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=wEbNm7Vu5as2rlA

The kids got new cameras for Christmas - we gave them to them before we left Houston.  They shot lots of pictures, and I will upload them to their own albums and post the links soon, just have to cull through those photos and get the best ones....

It's quite interesting to see what photos they take versus what I take....my parents were photographers, I love it, and now they enjoy it as well.  Three generations.....my parents would be proud!

The Frolicking Featherston's
Chuck, Marie, Rachel & Ryan