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Hi. I’m Ben Benton from Flagstaff, Arizona. I believe that you will enjoy my daily journal from Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 1999. I left downtown Flagstaff with my saddle and duffel in early July and lighted in the horse corral at Mammoth Hot Springs. My journal will continue through September 20th, unless the weather shuts us down earlier. You’ll read about adventures on the back country trails, Yellowstone history, people I meet, and anything else I can think of to write about. I’m the author of “National Park Employment Data,” a guide to working in national parks, which is available for purchase on my web site at www.gorp.com. I’ve been working in national parks and ski areas off and on for over twenty years. Because I want the data in my book to always be fresh, I continually test the concepts, employers, and tips that I provide. Right now, I’m working for Amfac Parks and Resorts. They are a top notch concession company because they place employee training, morale, and amenities first. |
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Saturday, 7-17-99I met the head wrangler, Amanda Bramblett, and found out that her father is superintendent of schools in Flagstaff, Arizona. She showed me around the barn and explained the operation. For my first day on the job, I was assigned Apple as my guide horse. He and I took to each other right away and I think he will work out fine. I saddled him with my Keyston Working Rancher but used the corral’s bit and bridle because they don’t allow any bits other than basic curb bits. I brought a bit that I used on my guide mules at the Grand Canyon. It has a few features that gets their attention real fast. They won’t allow that here, and they don’t allow spurs. I met wranglers Russchelle, Jett, and J.C. and we all saddled the dude horses for the day — about 14. The one-hour trail is three miles and passes through some beautiful country. I swept the barn during the first ride and guided on the next ride. In the afternoon I was one of three guides on a string of twelve dudes. The next ride would have been Japanese exchange students from the University of Montana but got rained out. The evening ride was the other 17 Japanese students of the party of 34, and they got to ride. Barely spoke English and none of them had ever been near a horse, but the ride went well. Head wrangler Amanda, Jett, and Russchelle guided the ride while J.C. and I stayed in the corral to feed. Heading back to my room in Aspen dorm, I saw a large crowd of tourists surrounding the building. The lawn was filled with cow elk — probably 50 of them — totally ignoring the sign which reads “Please stay off the grass.” Somebody should teach these elk to read. After a shower, I headed out for the evening. There’s plenty to do in Mammoth and in Gardiner, Montana. All in all, it was a perfect first day on the job. |
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