Work’s Done, Fish to the End

Last day of the Inn's 2012 season, October 14th

Sunday, October 14^th, was the last morning of the Old Faithful Inn’s season. I worked the last shift. Guests trickled down to the Front Desk to check out, and the Inn’s doors were locked promptly at 11:00 am. Housekeeping and Maintenance had already started to winterize the Inn (plumbing, bedding, kitchens, storm windows), work that would go on through mid-November. The Inn will sit idle for five months until next April, when work will begin to re-open for the 2013 season.

My Yellowstone work began back on May 5^th. It is a sense of accomplishment to have lasted the entire season. Twenty people were on the Front Desk Team when it started; only ten of us finished the full season to the end. Attrition came from early contract end dates, health/family issues, termination, transfer to other departments.

Final Hour for the Front Desk Team

The employee release procedure covered the basics: turn in my cash drawer; clean/return bedding; clean dorm room; turn in employee ID card and keys. I had been packing and loading my car for a couple of days in order to make a quick departure..

At 11:00 am on Monday morning, I had the final signature on my release paperwork. Ahead of  me lay four straight days of camping and fishing in the Park before I would have to start heading for home. 

It was an exhilarating feeling. Fall’s big fish season was here, I was a free man, and a weather system was moving into the Park over the next two days.

The promise of good fishing weather hangs over the Madison River

I headed for Madison Campground to set-up my tent, then on to the river to find the big fish.