Thehikingmermaid

03/20/2025

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

The last thing I wanted to do was jump in the damn pool with my clothes on. I didn’t care about the pics or the photo op. Real talk, I couldn’t have cared any less about the pool jump.
But she did.
She wanted it.
My wife has been married before but never really had a proper wedding. It was down at the courthouse kinda s**t.
And this time she had a dream. She wanted the gown and flowers and location and cake and photographers etc. she wanted the fairy tale when in reality I’d have been just fine down at the courthouse.
So I jumped in the pool.
Not cause she made me. Not cause she’d have been mad or held it over me (she ain’t like that), I did it because it was important to her.
And I’ve learned over the years that I have things that are important to me that she’d likely never give a damn about but I want her involved.
So I jumped in the pool.
Because I love her. And I love her dreams and her desires. I jumped in the pool not for the photo, I jumped in the pool for her.
Her dreams may not be my dreams, but I wanted my queen to know her dreams were important to me. Her desires I care about.
So I jumped in the pool.
Fellas, jump in the pool.
Don’t be an ass. Don’t be a stick in the mud. It ain’t a flex to push her down or roll your eyes at her dreams. It ain’t tough to mock her or call her your old lady. It ain’t a flex to keep her down, it’s a flex to push her out to fly! It’s KING s**t to empower your woman to LIVE HER OWN LIFE!
This is your fu***ng queen.
You want her to treat you like a King? You want her by your side when you do your s**t and live your life?
Than stand by her. Do the silly s**t. Take the photos. Dance in the middle of the restaurant.
I want my baby to dream and I want her to know that I may not have the same dreams, but I support her and will take whatever pictures she wants.
So I jumped in the pool.
Love you baby.

03/20/2025

Ohhh did you think you heard a bird!?!

02/27/2025

LOOK UP: Seven planets to line up this Friday, February 28, 2025. 🪐

A PLANETARY PARADE will take place in just three days, with Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars all lining up in the evening sky. This combination will not happen again this decade.

Four of them (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars) will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope. Saturn will be the hardest to see due to its proximity to the Sun at this time.

To observe this event, it is recommended to choose a location with minimal light pollution and clear skies. The planets will appear just after sunset.

02/23/2025

Some good news for RMNP❤️❤️

Here's the Denver Post article: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/02/22/colorado-national-parks-federal-hiring-freeze-reversal-donald-trump/

Well, it looks like all of those calls to representatives on behalf of Rocky Mountain National Park and other parks have made some difference in this situation. The Denver Post just reported that the administration is taking a step back. They have not recinded their firing of park staff, but have apparently removed the hiring freeze on seasonal workers. They have also increased the number of seasonal workers that the parks can hire.

While this does not address the loss of long-term skilled people, perhaps some of those who were fired may be rehired in a seasonal role. This change will likely help Rocky Mountain National Park get through this summer in much better shape. However, this does not address the long-term needs of the park for adquate, skilled staffing.

One challenge that I see is that the application process for seasonal workers is a painful multi-month process with extensive background checks and hoop jumping. The park normally begins the hiring process even before the start of the year in order to have staff trained and working by late May. Since they have to go through this whole process again, I'm not sure when the short-term staff will be able to start. I've heard some people say they might not be hired and trained until July. That could make for a rocky start to the season.

Anyway, I just wanted to let folks know that there is some good news and that speaking out in a thoughtful and respectful way can make a difference. We're not through it yet, but there seems to be some positive movement. I'll put a link to that Denver Post article in the comments below.

02/18/2025

My hearts been heavy with soooo many friends loosing their jobs

Erik said it so eloquently ❤️

In the last few days, we've seen Rocky Mountain National Park take a major hit. For the past several years, Rocky has struggled with being significantly understaffed, making it difficult to operate a park that sees over 4 million visitors annually. From 2012 to 2019, Rocky experienced a 58% increase in visitation and a 16% decrease in staffing. Since then, staffing issues have remained tenuous. The cost of living has skyrocketed, especially in Estes Park, but park staffing budgets have not kept up. Many people assume that entrance fees should generate enough income to cover staffing costs, but entrance fees cannot be used for permanent park staffing. Additionally, a significant portion of those funds is distributed to other national parks. Because of this and other factors, staffing at Rocky has been a growing problem for many years now.

On Valentine’s Day, just a couple of days ago, a significant number of Rocky Mountain National Park employees were fired—employees essential to the park's operations. I just spoke with one of them, who lost their job and may now lose their home as well. This individual worked in search and rescue, as a paramedic in the park, and at the park entrance station. It would be difficult to classify them as non-essential.

Getting a job at a national park like Rocky is not easy. It typically requires a degree in the natural sciences, years of unpaid volunteer work, and eventually securing a paid position—one that does not offer high wages. Those who pursue this path do so out of passion, a passion for our natural world. These are truly special people.

The impact of these staffing cuts on the park remains uncertain. I have been unable to obtain any information directly from the national park staff, as they are not permitted to discuss the situation or its effects. They can only direct inquiries to a contact in Washington, D.C. As a result, we are facing an information blackout, leaving us uncertain about how severe the consequences will be this summer.

Our national parks generated over $55.6 billion in economic output to our country in 2023, primarily through gateway communities like Estes Park and Grand Lake. This figure represents a $5 billion increase from the previous year. This income provides over 400,000 jobs in rural areas of this country. Yet, in an effort to “cut government corruption”, decision-makers may be creating a situation where the economic damage far outweighs any savings. Firing staff who weren't that well paid and who are absolutely essential is insane.

This year, it is highly likely that Rocky Mountain National Park will experience long entrance lines, overflowing trash cans and restrooms, fewer rangers available to assist and educate visitors, and an increased risk of fatalities due to inadequate search and rescue staffing. Would you want to visit a park under these conditions? Probably not—meaning these staffing cuts may result in decreased visitation and reduced economic activity in nearby communities. How is this helpful?

If the goal is to eliminate government waste and corruption, the approach should be precise, like a surgeon’s scalpel, targeting areas where inefficiencies are clear and cuts would have minimal impact. Instead, it seems like a blindfold and a machete were used. The U.S. Forest Service and other agencies responsible for protecting our public lands are facing similar struggles. I, for one, am deeply concerned, and I believe you should be too.

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Now before everyone goes and comments with polarized political perspectives let me say that anger, hate, and attacking are all unproductive. We need to simply address what is not working and have it fixed. Voice your support for our national lands and for our park rangers, bring to light what is not right, but let go of your hate as it only leads to more of the same.

02/01/2025

Magical things happen early in the morning!!!!!
Dont worry, I hate getting up too! But for this to be a possibility to see with my own eyes?! Okayyy okay you got me…. Ill get up stupid early!!!

01/29/2025

We finally found it!!!
The BEST sledding hill in my neighborhood has been located!!!!

01/22/2025

Funnest way down… on your BUTT!!!

01/18/2025

heyyyyyyy!!!! Long time no post!?!?! I f you’re still here…. And wanna see some RMNP from a couple days ago… LooooK!!!!!Dream and emerald were their usual spicy cold and snowy!!! Nothing like a beautiful January hike in the snow!!!!!Thanks for the great time .wal2 and 🫶🫶🫶

01/14/2025

🚨 Viewers across the world can now see the planet parade of 2025! Here's how 👇🏻

As the twilight fades to darkness, look toward the southwestern horizon. There, you’ll spot Venus and Saturn appearing close together. Venus, the brighter of the two, will be unmissable.

Higher in the sky, you’ll find Jupiter, the second brightest speck of light in the night sky after Venus. Jupiter recently passed its opposition, making this one of the best times of the year to observe the gas giant with the naked eye.

Near the eastern horizon, Mars will shine brightly with its signature red hue, making it a captivating sight in the night sky. January is the best month of the year to observe the Red Planet, as it will steadily grow brighter leading up to its closest approach to Earth in over two years. On January 15, Mars will be at opposition. This means the planet will lie opposite the Sun and shine brightly throughout the night.

Uranus will be positioned near Jupiter, and Neptune will be close to Venus and Saturn. You will need optical aid to see both these ice giants as their magnitude is beyond the naked eye limit.

01/14/2025

Wacky Sign of the Day! 🪧.🪧.🪧