In which Moominmama arrives at Yellowstone National Park after a last hurrah at Grand Teton National Park...

Moominmama applied in July for a part-time job at Yellowstone for September and October -- and got hired! My arrival here on Sept. 9 starts a five-week stint that will be one of my last big adventures out west.

The Helping Hands program at Yellowstone places part-time workers in food service and housekeeping, or some mix of the two. For now I am assigned to Lake Lodge, with its tree beams and glorious front porch facing out over Yellowstone Lake.

In terms of work, I'm stripping linens and making beds in the cabins near the lodge. I'll do that five mornings a week and have afternoons off plus a two-day "weekend" during the week.

There are many regulars here,  mostly retirees, who work here for the privilege of living in the park for part of the summer or fall. There are dormitories, but there is also an employee RV park, where I am staying.

This afternoon when I came back from work, I had a new neighbor in the next RV site. I trust he'll forgive me if I keep my distance. Bison and other wildlife are all over the place at Yellowstone. And when I proposed walking to work in the morning instead of taking my car, I was advised not to. This area is frequented by bears.

I don't think that will stop me from sightseeing and hiking on my days off. It is nice to know I have five weeks to take advantage of all the park has to offer. 

For starters, I get to live on top of a volcano. The Moominhouse is parked in the caldera, a 30-mile by 45-mile basin in the center of the park that collapsed during the last major eruption 631,000 years ago. 

While no one expects to get swallowed up soon, the volcanic activity is what powers the famous geothermal features from geysers like Old Faithful to steam vents and brightly colored pools. 

Yellowstone also has its own Grand Canyon, which is top on my list to see on my days off. 

My arrival here came after a couple days exploring glacial lakes to the south. My favorite hike was in Idaho, up Palisades Creek to Lower Palisades Lake. Besides the glory of walking along rushing water, the trail has light brown canyon walls that look much like castle ramparts.

The hike is about five miles up a trail that crisscrosses the tumbling waters of the creek before arriving at the source -- a glacial lake. A small stony beach along one side gave Moominmama a chance to test the waters. Very cold! 

But by getting in one step at a time, I actually was able to swim out and look at the mountains while floating on my back. 

And then on my final day before heading north to Yellowstone, I hiked around Phelps Lake in Teton National Park, and also took a swim in the warmer and shallower southern end. 

The water is crystal clear and a brilliant turquoise. Down the far end is Death Canyon, where melted ice feeds into the lake. But strangely enough, it was warmer than Lower Palisades Lake, at least where the sun hit the shallows.

It was a glorious way to end my visit to the Tetons, and a nice way to cool down mid-hike, by taking a swim. 

Here is Moominmama emerging from the watery depths! Can you tell I'm having fun?