Friday, May 29, 2020

Come Monday Morning

PHASE TWO IN MONTANA
Yellowstone Park Opens
some facilities still closed
10:00 AM MONDAY, JUNE 1 2020 = YELLOWSTONE OPENS
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.. With the opening of the West Entrance, North Entrance and Northeast Entrance, all five Yellowstone gates will be open for the season. The two Wyoming entrances had previously opened on May 18.
NATIONAL PARK MOUNTAIN
..  It’s important to note that NPS officials are implementing coronavirus pandemic mitigation efforts, including: additional protective barriers, encouraging the use of masks or facial coverings, metering visitor access in some locations, increasing cleaning frequency of facilities, adding signage on boardwalks and other public spaces.
.. Substantial investments have been made in mitigation measures by the park’s business partners including Xanterra, Delaware North, Yellowstone Park Service Stations, Medcor, and Yellowstone Forever.
.. The park has also approved 126 commercial use authorizations for local businesses to operate inside the park after reviewing individual COVID-19 mitigation plans submitted by each company.
SOFT NYMPHS FOR SEARCHING
..  Fishing has not been seriously impacted except in parking areas. Continuing openings and restrictions will be informed by the Yellowstone Park Resource Page, [[LINK-1.]]
.. In West Yellowstone some shops, motels and other facilities remain closed. Village information is constantly updated on the Chamber Of Commerce Website, [[LINK-2.]]
.. Road construction north of our village is scheduled for all summer. There is also road construction at the North Entrance for the Gardiner bridge. Several places throughout the park have small and large projects currently underway.
.. Join the discussion: "KEEP 'EM WET."
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WALLPAPER:  THE YELLOWSTONE EXPERIENCE

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

10 Minutes

NOT COVID RELATED
American Image
what to do ???

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.. Four responding officers were placed on paid leave for one day. They have been fired. FBI investigating the incident.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Maybe In The Center


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WALLPAPER:  ROOM TO LET

Friday, May 22, 2020

Thursday, May 21, 2020

From The Right


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WALLPAPER:  SO SOON ???

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Even Further Left


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WALLPAPER:  EMPTY HOTEL

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Leaning Left


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WALLPAPER:  LADIES FIRST

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Zone Of Death


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WALLPAPER:  IT'S PANSY TIME

Friday, May 15, 2020

Yellowstone Park Opens Up

BUT NOT HERE
Only East And South
day use and drive thru
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.. A phased reopening has been announced by the National Park Service. Limited facilities and services are opening for day use and lower loop drive through visitors. This is phase one and will start on Monday May 18, 2020.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
.. Campgrounds, backcountry permits, visitor cabins, additional stores, expanded tours, takeout food service, boating, fishing, and visitor centers will remain closed. These Phase 2 services and/or facilities will open when safe and appropriate mitigation measures are in place. This will happen at different times. 
.. It is important to read the "official" park notices for your planned visit. There have been erroneous reports in various media outlets about the details.
RESOURCES
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.. Our village is showing some gentle signs of Spring and cautious behavior by the neighbors. There are pansies in the flower beds of a few houses. There is gardening activity scattered through town. There are mothers taking walks with their children. Despite the intermittent snow and rain showers there is a brightness all around. There is very little snow left in piles facing north in dark corners.
ROYAL COACHMAN BOMBER
.. We are expecting our Spring mix of weather for the next 10 days or so. Snow, grauple, rain, hail, wind and, dark or light clouds are in the offing. We may finally break 70°F for a glorious weekend.
.. There are a few 'outdoor' pubs gathering anxiety ridden imbibers. Conversation includes such topics as: economic devastation in a tourist town, the stupid high price of meat products, the continuing escalation of grocery prices in general, limits on grocery selections, the suspicious lack of declining local gasoline prices, observations about greed and exploitation, catching opportunities on local streams and lakes, lack of young foreign women in town,
.. There are now boats and brave tubers on Hebgan Reservoir. Leaches and giant novelty nymphs are fooling the winter starved trout. It's unclear if the streams leading out of Yellowstone National Park will be legal to fish on May 18, 2020 or not.
.. The Montana state regulations stipulate that those streams above Hebgan Reservoir are open to fishing when the park opens to fishing. Quandary - huh? We have inquiries out and will let you know.
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WALLPAPER:  THE DARK SIDE OF THE GROCERY STORE

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Under The Radar

A DEEP DIVE
Trespass Or Not
private vs. public interest
PRIVATE LAND - PUBLIC TRAIL
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.. Percolating under the corona-time and, becoming more of local interest than it should be, is the ongoing battle for access to isolated public lands.
THE SHORE OF UPPER TWIN LAKE
.. A couple of years ago the concerns were of national interest. Now they have become submerged by the political climate, a pandemic and, the malaise/fear of our population. AND, in truth, all politics is local. But the access question is still national and urgent.
.. We refreshed our memory with a re-read of a seminal piece by Monte Reel. It details the continuing saga of access and ownership and development in the Crazy Mountains, [READ IT.]
.. The U.S. Forest Service just announced, in a news release,  that the Porcupine Ibex Trail will be open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers on Friday, more than a year and a half after it was first proposed. The 2.7 miles of new trail will connect the Porcupine Cabin Trailhead to the North Fork Elk Creek Trail, [ READ IT - 2.]
.. Since last fall there has been development on private plots that use public access to facilitate construction ingress and egress, [READ IT - 3.]
.. In a rare, and mostly unseen, online letter, Kate Gervais reminds us all about the actions of out-of-state land owners and their hiding in the shadow of Greg Gianforte. Indeed, actions do speak louder than words, [READ IT - 4.]
.. As bad as it is - right now. And as bad as it is going to be - we should keep our eyes on the many balls we were juggling previously.
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.. Food prices are climbing. Gas prices are slowly dropping, (within the West Yellowstone Cartel.) Yes it's true all the prices are the same; after all only three families own all six gas stations. One family owns 3 -my, my, my. Just where is our FTC or ICC?
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WALLPAPER: JUST TOO PRETTY TO BURN !!

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Creativity

NEED A CHUCKLE ?
Imagination Plus
smile and click on
CORONA LISA
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WALLPAPER:  GUACAMOLE AND SCOOPS

Monday, May 11, 2020

Perfect Timing

MONTANA NEEDS YOU
Take The Time
do it online
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.. With covid-time on our hands it behooves each of us to participate in this year's census. Just once every 10 years do we get to help the United States of America characterize the nation.
.. This data is used for all manner of planning endeavors: political redistricting, environmental planning, insurance rates, social characterization, etc.
.. It is illegal to release personal data to any person, organization, or governmental agency, (local, state or, federal,) - even law enforcement.
HOW TO RESPOND
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WALLPAPER:  HIPSTER DELIGHT


Sunday, May 10, 2020

Dodging Bullets

BOMBER SENTENCED
Murder Trial
covid-19 arrives
KILLER GRANDMOTHER ?   . . .  courtesy Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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PIPE BOMBS FOR COYOTES ??
.. Our remote village location is no guarantee of safety nor of serene existence.
.. Violence exists in the heads of some. Extreme violence exists in hearts of some. Flaunting of safe health practices exists in the psyche of some selfish folks.
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..  The long drawn out trial of a suspected terrorist with illegal bombs and guns has reached the sentencing stage. Charles Gibson Bailey, 33, was sentenced Friday to 40 months in jail. He previously pleaded guilty in January 2020 to possession of unregistered explosive devices. He claimed the pipe bombs were for killing coyotes. [ LOOK-1.]
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.. The murder case of a family beating to death their 12-year-old grandson is progressing slowly. The case is mired in technical aspects. Negligent homicide vs deliberate homicide vs juvenile status and, flight to avoid prosecution are all in contention. Prosecutors have filed motions for the death penalty, [LOOK-2, LOOK-3, LOOK-4.]
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HBFD
.. A couple returned from recreational out of state travel bearing the gift of Covid-19 to our village. Contact with other village members was curtailed prior to the discovery of symptoms and diagnosis of the virus infection.
.. As these things go, there is no guarantee that these two cases will be contained. The resources of the county health system, our first responders and, the fire department have been mobilized. Isolation facilities and extensive testing by the staff of our clinic are underway.
.. The plans for a viral triage clinic are progressing in spite of no currently available funding. The city council, business owners associations and, the chamber of commerce are still planning to open our village on the state schedule and are waiting for Yellowstone National Park declare safety and open. [COVID-A, COVID-B, COVID-C.]
.. Our fire department webpage includes on line resource links, [SEE HERE.]
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TRY THIS ONE NOW
.. The neighborhood fishers are now wearing bandanas fashioned after the outlaws of bygone days - very appropriate. The counter help is wearing fancy neck gaiters.
.. Most of the neighbors are bemoaning he closed park and no access to the upcoming fantastic salmonfly hatch in the Firehole Canyon.
.. Mythic skwala flies are tickling the fancy of fishers in Missoula. Water temperatures are now above 43°F up there.
.. The lowland Madison River fishers are hoping that the little yellow nymphs they have been fishing will bring forth a stampede of the big black and orange flies dwelling in the deep.  Discharge temperature from Hebgen Dam is 40°F.  We'll see.
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WALLPAPER:  SPRING VISITATION

Saturday, May 09, 2020

More Road Work

MDT PROJECT
Gardiner - Yellowstone
bridge surface repair
A MOST BUSY BRIDGE
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.. In 'normal' years more than 60,000 vehicles cross this bridge during 'high season.' Fortuitously Yellowstone National Park is currently closed - AND - minimal traffic disruption is expected.
.. The project is occurring in two phases and the Montana Department of Transportation has timed construction to minimize impacts on the traveling public.
.. Phase 1 entailed rehabilitation of one lane of the bridge and its approaches in early September 2019, through November 2019.
..  Phase 2 construction on the opposite lane and approaches starts today and, is scheduled to end June 2020. You can follow progress of the project with the following resources:
PROJECT OVERVIEW,
OVERVIEW PDF,
PROJECT UPDATES,
TRAVEL CONDITIONS,
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.. Business continues to propagate slowly through our village: more kids on bicycles and skateboards, fewer parking places at the hardware store, a proliferation of masked faces at the P.O. and grocery store, long distance conversations on street corners.
BIG BUGS ON THE HORIZON
.. We're still scared shitless as we gear up to visit the normal places of our daily round. We have some advice: don't get old or, let your guard down.
.. Our kindest neighbors have snelled some flies and offered to truck us down to the current catching spots. They'll even let us ride in the bed of the truck.
.. We may just take them up on it. Passing the early morning coffee through a crack in the back door does put a high nuisance on a simple task.  AND, our porch only has room for three 'distanced' folks.
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WALLPAPER:  ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Thursday, May 07, 2020

A Phased Approach

MONTANA OPENING
A Detailed Plan
three phases
HERE WE GO
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.. We suggest that it is important to read and download the PDF file for the phased opening of Montana:
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.. Interesting side blessing. Our meat and produce is looking better than recent memory allows. This is probably because it is fresher and spends less time, (or no time,) in storage lockers. It's the little things.
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WALLPAPER:  GROCERY STORE BOUNTY

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Real Fishing

TAKES MUSCLES 
Lacks Finesse
an intimate experience
..
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.. Unlike the finesse laden mystic of fly fishing, (where we do things as remote as possible,) this fisher is intimate with her quarry. We don't recommend it but, it is fun to watch.
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WALLPAPER:  SURPRISE AT THE GROCERY STORE

Monday, May 04, 2020

Road Work

STARTS NOW
Be Very Careful
an essential service
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.. In the midst of our current trials the Montana Department Of Transportation is continuing with extensive improvements to Highway 191 north of West Yellowstone.
.. This is the most significant, (and disruptive,) of the recent  work on this section of highway. We take this opportunity to post the entire notice for our highway department.
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US Highway 191 near West Yellowstone draws thousands of drivers each year, many on their way to witness the beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Roads in this region are seeing increasing usage on top of wear-and-tear from harsh winters and frequent underground geologic activity. As a result, US Highway 191 between Big Sky and West Yellowstone has degraded, showing numerous cracks and potholes. It needs to be rehabilitated.
To ensure this roadway remains safe and smooth for the thousands of drivers on this route for years to come, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will complete the Highway 191 – North of West Yellowstone project.
23 miles of roadway improvements will include:
  • Creation of a northbound left turn lane at Rainbow Point Road
  • Bridge crossing repairs over Specimen Creek and the Gallatin River
  • Installation of new guardrail
  • Road resurfacing

What to Expect

The project is split into two, with a roughly five-mile gap between construction areas: 1.) A turn lane will be constructed at Rainbow Point Road, north of West Yellowstone, to provide safer access for the growing communities along the roadway. 2.) The road will be repaved from Grayling Creek by US Forest Service Road 986 to Tepee Creek Trailhead by Elk Horn Ranch Road.
Work for both projects is expected to begin early May and last through August 2020. Traffic will be limited to one lane. Work on the turn lane at Rainbow Point Road will be slightly delayed until June to allow for bison herd migration in the spring. These timelines are all weather dependent.
Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes in each construction zone from early May through August. Work is expected to occur in daylight hours, Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 5-minute delays should be expected during non-work hours.
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Weekly updates are available throughout construction. To sign up:
  • Email: Takami
  • SMS Text Update: HIGHWAY191 to 41411
  • Project hotline: 406-207-4484 during business hours

Recycling Pavement

MDT recognizes that for many Montanans, our environment is key to our wellbeing. As part of each project, we identify ways to limit our impacts as much as possible. For this project, we are utilizing an environmentally-friendly technique called "hot-in-place recycling" to improve the road.
During the warmest months of the year, July and August, conditions are best for repaving. This process involves three main steps:
  1. Crews align equipment in a "train." The first driver manages a heater that heats the roadway to the point where the top layer becomes soft and removable.
  2. A second worker assists in removing the surface layer of asphalt. They mix it with rejuvenator which helps restore the asphalt to a like-new condition.
  3. The “caboose” works on laying the asphalt back down on the road, as if they were laying new asphalt.
This technique reduces the amount of mining needed and requires fewer asphalt trucks, making it more environmentally friendly. Crews use the existing asphalt and recycle it to prolong the life of the road. Through this recycling, we continue to keep good roads good and our state beautiful.
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.. Our village continues to show increased activity as shops show signs of life. The Post Office has cars and bicycles clustered around it. The hardware store has cautious activity and, correctly parked pickumups, (how unusual.)
LIMITED CHOICES
.. The grocery stores still have empty shelf sections but there are small amounts of toilet paper on display. Product limits are still in place and "spit, (sneeze,) guards" have made their appearance around the checker stations.
.. Interestingly some excellent produce and meat cuts have made their appearance. Shopping early has it's rewards. Avocados are still grossly oerpriced as are the excellent rib eye steaks. Such is life.
.. A few more of the neighbors are venturing to the nearby fishing locations. Big Grizzle Bears and giant Black Bears have been reported close to town. Even the South Fork Moose Family is close to the bridge:  AND = even on the road west of town.
THE ORIGINAL BLUE BOTTOM
.. Sneaky fisher folks have invaded the mushy, slushy, gooey, bottoms of Grayling Creek, Cabin Creek and, even Beaver Creek at the Quake Lake estuary. They have ignored the water below Hebgen Dam to allow the spawners a rest and, avoid trampling the redds. Also, there are too many Lexus and 'TRD' pickups from Utah.
.. Some surface action on Cabin Creek and in the Grayling Creek bottoms is being reported. The neighbors fly of choice is the Original Blue Bottom which can be fished on top or underneath - such fun.
.. We apologize for the erratic schedule of our posts. It has something to do with couch time and, garden time and, streaming 'B' movies from the 50's.
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WALLPAPER:  STANDARD AMERICAN BREAKFAST

Sunday, May 03, 2020

Not Open Yet

DO YOU PLAN AHEAD ?
Are You Poor
some places to consider
 ..
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.. Despite the current closure of Yellowstone National Park there is a small buzz about possible visitation coming soon. We've heard nothing official but it is a topic of conversation. We might suggest, on the off chance that you are thinking about it - check out the video above.
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WALLPAPER:  THE WAY IT WAS

Saturday, May 02, 2020

Where There's A Will . . .

IN ISOLATION
..
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WALLPAPER:  GETTING SOME RAIN

Friday, May 01, 2020

This Day

THE FIRST OF MAY
Is It For Summer Or . . .
the common worker ?
THE CORRECT WAY TO DO IT   . . . courtesy EarthSky
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THE MAY QUEEN
.. When thinking of May 1st,  the Pagan Holiday Beltane comes to mind along with the annual international celebration of workers. The day has a convoluted meaning in the mind of contemporary populations.
.. Usually folks just name the day and go on about their business. Celebrations are small and, scattered around the world. That's sad. This is a day for the world to rise together in celebration. It is an ancient recognition of the "warm season" beginning.
.. It was once the rallying cry of the IWW. (international workers of the world - wobblies.) It is famously the day for imperial Russia, (and the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia,) to parade the power of the state.
.. Up here, at this time, it is seldom mentioned. Today it is passed over in the gloom of Covid-19 and the relief that we have survived one more day. In real terms it is now a day of relief. The evolution of meaning for the day and it's celebration provides an interesting story of who we are and, how we became this way.
RESOURCES
Wikipedia,
Travalanche,
Goodnews,
Washington Post,
Parting The Mists,
EarthSky,
Playmakers,
London May Day,
Russian May Day,
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TRICOS SOON ?
.. If they think about it the contemporary fly fisher may associate May, (the month,) with their favorite bait. Sunk or floated the mayfly is an important enticement for trout, (and other fish as well.)
.. The piscatorial use first came about around 1645-1655 as two words may+fly. The term was used because the thinking was that these little bugs were most prevalent in the month of May. QED.
A VERY TWISTED BAETID
.. Many of the neighbors have disappeared into the hidden parts of the South Fork of the Madison River. They brave willow thickets and Grizzle Bears for a chance of tangling with a spawned out monster.
.. We are sheltering in place and tending the strawberry bed. It suffered more this year than previously. We attribute this to the ice that formed at ground level during our gentle winter. A little love and some gentle massage will bring us strawberries by the end of June.
.. Our village is waking up slowly. The kids are out - a good sign. There are residents and some neighbors with commercial face masks. There are some neighbors wearing bandanas - outlaw fashion. There are even a few cars parked by eager shop owners - hoping the park will open soon - are all foreign visitors still banned from entry?
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WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP AND TATERTOTS