Through Yellowstone to the OTO dude ranch
Aug 22nd, 2013, 03:31 PM
#1
Original Poster
Through Yellowstone to the OTO dude ranch
A few months ago I applied for and was accepted for a Passport in Time project.
I left home very early on Saturday 8/10/13. I drove US 20 through eastern Oregon through Ontario. I got over the Snake River into Idaho about noon Mountain time.
I took I-84, I-86 and I-15 to get to my motel in Idaho Falls.
I got another early start and took a little detour through Rigby to see the town where television was invented.
I stopped at the DQ in West Yellowstone for some lunch before heading into Yellowstone.
I did the research for some Earth Caches which is a type of geocache allowed in National Parks. I hung around the Old Faithful visitor center until time for the 5:12 eruption of Old Faithful. I also gathered the information I needed for a virtual geocache which was at a cemetery in Yellowstone south of Mammoth Hot Springs. There were at least 20 elk on the yards in Mammoth.
From Mammoth I went down the 5 miles to Gardiner, MT. I had a late dinner at Subway.
As I was driving across the bridge over the Yellowstone River, there was an elk in my lane coming toward me. I stopped and she walked past me in the southbound lane.
Monday morning I showed up to meet the other PIT volunteers at the Ranger Station.
After our briefing, we all drove out to the OTO which is about 2 miles up Cedar Creek from the highway. The OTO was founded by Dick Randle as the first licensed dude ranch in Montana. During the week, we put on many squares of cedar shingles on the main lodge. All in all it was a great week except the time that it rained and the lightning was nearby. To be continued...
I left home very early on Saturday 8/10/13. I drove US 20 through eastern Oregon through Ontario. I got over the Snake River into Idaho about noon Mountain time.
I took I-84, I-86 and I-15 to get to my motel in Idaho Falls.
I got another early start and took a little detour through Rigby to see the town where television was invented.
I stopped at the DQ in West Yellowstone for some lunch before heading into Yellowstone.
I did the research for some Earth Caches which is a type of geocache allowed in National Parks. I hung around the Old Faithful visitor center until time for the 5:12 eruption of Old Faithful. I also gathered the information I needed for a virtual geocache which was at a cemetery in Yellowstone south of Mammoth Hot Springs. There were at least 20 elk on the yards in Mammoth.
From Mammoth I went down the 5 miles to Gardiner, MT. I had a late dinner at Subway.
As I was driving across the bridge over the Yellowstone River, there was an elk in my lane coming toward me. I stopped and she walked past me in the southbound lane.
Monday morning I showed up to meet the other PIT volunteers at the Ranger Station.
After our briefing, we all drove out to the OTO which is about 2 miles up Cedar Creek from the highway. The OTO was founded by Dick Randle as the first licensed dude ranch in Montana. During the week, we put on many squares of cedar shingles on the main lodge. All in all it was a great week except the time that it rained and the lightning was nearby. To be continued...
Aug 23rd, 2013, 12:22 PM
#4
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PIT = Passport in Time, according to the OP.
OTO = name of the dude ranch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OTO_Hom...and_Dude_Ranch
Lee Ann
OTO = name of the dude ranch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OTO_Hom...and_Dude_Ranch
Lee Ann
Aug 23rd, 2013, 09:18 PM
#5
Original Poster
Thanks Lee Ann for posting the Wiki. The picture shows the front of the lodge. The lodge building is 136' across the front.
The building is T shaped with a rear wing that extends 68' back from the peak. This year we shingled the back side on the right side. The remaining left back side will have the old ugly green asphalt shingles removed and replaced with nice cedar shingles.
When we were done with the roofing I swept out the entire lodge with a push broom.
The building is T shaped with a rear wing that extends 68' back from the peak. This year we shingled the back side on the right side. The remaining left back side will have the old ugly green asphalt shingles removed and replaced with nice cedar shingles.
When we were done with the roofing I swept out the entire lodge with a push broom.
Mar 26th, 2014, 09:57 AM
#6
Original Poster
When the project to finish the roof on the lodge shows up on the Passport in Time website I will apply again.
If anyone wants to work hard for 4.5 days with free lodging and great food, The OTO north of Gardiner, MT is worth considering.
Over the past 6 years, I've worked on PIT projects in OR, WA, AZ and MT.
If anyone wants to work hard for 4.5 days with free lodging and great food, The OTO north of Gardiner, MT is worth considering.
Over the past 6 years, I've worked on PIT projects in OR, WA, AZ and MT.
Jul 17th, 2014, 03:28 PM
#7
Original Poster
I got the email today for a return to the OTO Dude ranch.
We will be putting on the final third of the new cedar shingles. We may be doing some foundation work on the lodge and maybe some of the small cabins.
Several of the ladies will be working on cleaning horse bridles and other leather.
I'll be there from 8/4 to 8/11. I get to see another section of Yellowstone NP on the way and returning to Oregon.
We will be putting on the final third of the new cedar shingles. We may be doing some foundation work on the lodge and maybe some of the small cabins.
Several of the ladies will be working on cleaning horse bridles and other leather.
I'll be there from 8/4 to 8/11. I get to see another section of Yellowstone NP on the way and returning to Oregon.
Aug 21st, 2014, 01:00 PM
#10
Original Poster
The construction between Mammoth and Norris has been delays of up to 30 minutes during the daytime. The road is closed from 11PM to 7AM 5 nights a week. The Park Service has little control over what hours the road contractor chooses.
The first major project you will see south of Mammoth is a bridge replacement just south of Sheepeater Cliffs.
The worst construction nightmare I had was between West Yellowstone MT and Rexburg ID on US 20.
I had a great 12 days working as a PIT volunteer on the roof of the OTO lodge. We put on about 29 squares of Cedar shingles to complete the final third of the roof including a valley that had a large chimney.
We didn't get paid but we were fed well and had free lodging in small cabins.
The first major project you will see south of Mammoth is a bridge replacement just south of Sheepeater Cliffs.
The worst construction nightmare I had was between West Yellowstone MT and Rexburg ID on US 20.
I had a great 12 days working as a PIT volunteer on the roof of the OTO lodge. We put on about 29 squares of Cedar shingles to complete the final third of the roof including a valley that had a large chimney.
We didn't get paid but we were fed well and had free lodging in small cabins.
