Today was the last day of food service at Sheep Mountain Lodge for this season. Well, technically we are offering breakfast during a short period in the morning, just open to cabin guests. Many of the summer employees have left already. College students that needed to get back to school left about three weeks ago. We peaked at 11 employees...we're at 5 now.
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Added by Keith Larson on September 13, 2009 at 10:11pm —
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The current economic recession is giving some clues on how employees can best deal with future downturns.
I do have this penchant for making business plans. It’s my safety net. Some people that do seasonal work year round have the option of going home for awhile if things don’t quite work out. I do not have that option available. If I have problems, I’ll soon find myself among the ranks of the homeless. A plan in place is not quite a security blanket...it still has a lot of holes. So I’m always…
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Added by Keith Larson on July 26, 2009 at 3:08pm —
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This last winter season was my second time as Second Chef and Operations at the
Kay El Bar Guest Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona. Before I begin this review, I’d like to refer you to my blog about people’s views on places,
Ketchup on Waffles. I’m also going to write this review straight...you can decide for yourself which is good, bad, and/or ugly.
Current b…
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Added by Keith Larson on July 12, 2009 at 11:00pm —
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So it's not THE Tour, but there is a major bicycle race in Alaska taking place yesterday and today...the Fireweed 400.
There are several levels...from a 50-mile fat tire roll to the 400 mile race from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez and back. The longer races started yesterday. The…
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Added by Keith Larson on July 11, 2009 at 6:30pm —
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This weekend's hike from Sheep Mountain Lodge took me down the Alaskam Road to Knob Lakes.
It was a very pleasant morning. The last few days there has been very few clouds and very little wind. The temperatures soon rise in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Then in the afternoon rain and…
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Added by Keith Larson on July 5, 2009 at 12:07pm —
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So today I experienced one of the better perks of working at Sheep Mountain Lodge. The lodge does a lot of business with Meekins Air Service. They use the airstrip often for their sight seeing tours.
Anjanette Steer really liked the way this season's employees gelled and our basic attitudes and work ethics. The other night when the owner came in for dinner, Anj talked to them and arranged for us to take some short tours whenever they had the time.
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Added by Keith Larson on July 1, 2009 at 10:44pm —
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I complete my season at Sheep Mountain Lodge on September 16. Usually I have a somewhat longer time span between gigs, this one is quick. In the evening, I will take the Alaskan Direct Bus Line route back to Anchorage. I should arrive sometime between 9-10 pm. I’ll have to double check the time later.
This is the second trip that I’ve booked all my hotels through hotwire.com. I’ll be staying overnight in Anchorage at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. The next morning my plane leaves at 10 am. Ala…
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Added by Keith Larson on June 28, 2009 at 10:50am —
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Since my last blog I have experienced a couple of firsts at Sheep Mountain Lodge. First, I took my exam and passed. I am now a Certified Surface Weather Observer for the National Weather Service. Second, I felt my first earthquake. There was a 5.4 tremor centered near Willow. I went to my room during my work break and was sitting on my bed when I felt it vibrate for a couple of seconds. No damage.
Yesterday morning I thought the light rain was passing, so I decided to take a hike down to Lion’s…
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Added by Keith Larson on June 28, 2009 at 10:39am —
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The weather cleared today after eight rather chilly and wet days. It's my day off and I decided to take a walk. I'm at Sheep Mountain Lodge for the summer. It's at Mile 113.5 on the West Glenn Highway.
At Mile 115...that's east...begins a section of the Old Glenn Highway that trave…
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Added by Keith Larson on June 21, 2009 at 5:51pm —
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I'm at the Juneau airport right now, waiting for my connecting flight.
I took the bus/light rail system to the Phoenix airport. I wouldn't suggest it to many. It even became a bit long for me. But part of that was hauling my bags with me. I left Wickenburg at 7:50 am and arrived at the airport around 11:30. But it was only $5.50 for the entire trip.
Vegas was fun. Won some, lost some, won more, lost most of that again. But came out about $10 up. I was up over $100 at the peak and down $20 at t…
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Added by Keith Larson on May 10, 2009 at 10:46am —
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True West Magazine just published it's 4-page spread about Dee Steed. He's the general manager at the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch. He's embarrassed about it, so the rest of us are showing it off as much as possible.
If you can't find a copy at a newstand, they have some online:
http://www.truewestmagazine.com/stories/cowboy_bunkhouse/1121/ Continue
Added by Keith Larson on April 18, 2009 at 3:24pm —
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Did you ever have a bad personal day? Argue with your significant other? Expensive car trouble? Got turned down for the next gig?... Did you take that attitude to work with you? Do you know a co-worker that has done that? Have you ever been served by someone and wonder what that snottiness is coming from?
I worked many years at a resort that not only dealt with business groups. A large percentage of the banquet and catering business was weddings. We (the management) stressed the importance of h…
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Added by Keith Larson on April 16, 2009 at 6:35pm —
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I finished making plans for my trip to Alaska. I'll be leaving Wickenburg on May 5. I'll be on Southwest 1851 flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas in the afternoon, 3:10-4:20.
I wanted to test hotwire out for this trip and I used it to book some hotels. In Vegas I'll be staying at the Riviera Hotel and Casino for a couple of nights. Then on the 7th I'll be on Southwest again, this flight 574 heads to Los Angeles early in the morning, 6-7:05. I'll head straight for the train station where I catch th…
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Added by Keith Larson on April 10, 2009 at 11:24am —
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I just finished reading
Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn From The Code Of The West by James P. Owen.
It was meant for Wall Street and I am sooo far removed from that locale, but I think the ideals fit great with the seasonal lifestyle. The Code was never written down for cowboys to follow. It is more of a compilation from many sources that Owen places in ten ideas. It applies to the working cowboy, not really to the infamous gunslingers of the time.
Now I do work on a ranch. Bu…
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Added by Keith Larson on March 26, 2009 at 10:41pm —
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I just realized my random-date update was a couple of days ago. Me bad. So I'll throw a couple in...maybe a little less details though. Sorry, but I'll through in another date, May 1, it's not so random so I might remember. It will be the last guest-service date for the season at the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch in Arizona.
Thursday, March 5
Most Thursdays, as of late, is the day that the head chef takes off. So that means that I work all day. It starts around 5:30 am. I run the morning coffee…
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Added by Keith Larson on March 7, 2009 at 10:11pm —
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http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/682560.html
I worked at the Tamarack resort for their 06/07 ski season and summer 07 for their golf/mtn bike season. During the winter I was in the Seven Devils Pub at the base of the ski hill. The summer in their fine dining restaurant, Morels.
Tamarack Resort was an ambitious building project. They were developing an empty West Mountain near Donnelly, Idaho into a complete sk…
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Added by Keith Larson on March 1, 2009 at 9:25pm —
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This summer I will be working at the Sheep Mountain Lodge in Alaska. It's located along the Glenn Highway, but it's 60 miles to the nearest town center.
Some days my primary job will be as Prep/Breakfast cook. Other days my primary job will be as Baker. Neither position is a just only spot.
For the two days as the prep/breakfast cook, I'll start the day preparing and cooking any breakfast orders. Then I'll get the soup completed. Does any dishes along the way. I'll finish any prep needed for t…
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Added by Keith Larson on February 19, 2009 at 9:07pm —
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I worked the Social Season at the Basin Harbor Club in Vermont in the summer of 2008. I was the Ranger Room Breakfast Buffet Chef de Partie. This review is of my experience there during that time period. If you haven't read my previous blog,
Ketchup on Waffles, it kind of explains my personal views on reviews in general.
The Good: The Basin Harbor Club has been in operati…
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Added by Keith Larson on February 9, 2009 at 10:22pm —
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I'll be writing Part 4 of my Good, Bad, Ugly series soon on my summer season at the Basin Harbor Club. I just wanted to add this first.
I have always seen the forum questions about where the best and worse places to go. Lately, I've seen many taking the vague answers rather seriously. Maybe people always have and I'm just noticing it more.
There are a few responses that are more specific, but in general it's just a like or dislike. It was good, or not so good.
What does that mean? It va…
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Added by Keith Larson on January 31, 2009 at 10:33pm —
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I've been waiting for a typical day for "A Day in the Life, Take 2", but I haven't found one. So I'll just grab yesterday, maybe mention a few points, and sometime later make a third take. Let's make it a random date: March 5th.
January 7th is my birthday, but I kinda quit doing birthdays years ago.
I woke up at 6 am. I don't necessarily wake up then, sometimes earlier sometimes later. Most of my work is scheduled later in the day so usually I wake up whenever. I have a room right on the ranch…
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Added by Keith Larson on January 8, 2009 at 4:06pm —
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