Get Us to the Church On Time... Or Not...

Bison of the Day

Sunday morning, fairly bright and early, I woke up to find Joann, as always, awake, alert and rearing to go.

"So, I want to go to church today. She sat, curously paging through our park brochures. "Hum.. the church here in the park isn't open for another week or two... Oooo, there is a church in Jackson."

Being a long standing reformed Druid tree hugger, and not opposed to nourishing my soul, I nodded. And before long we on the road, headed south out of  the park. It's a lovely drive to Jackson Hole. We passed snow and ice covered scenery.

This lake was completely iced over.

We drove a long a river and soon I was screeching (in my gentile, banshee like manner) for Joann to halt a bit, so I could photograph a pair of Barrow's Golden ducks. They weren't too far from shore, and when the car stopped I shot round after round of photo, then we drove on. Then I checked my photo...

Oh yeah, no doubt about it: I have GOT to start checking my camera settings first thing each morning. This poor duck looks like he's floating on snow. Where is that lighting control at? Why is he also fuzzy? Uh... I was doing soft focus on purpose... make him look younger.

Soon we were in The Grand Tetons National Park. Before long we stopped (our 33rd photo stop) at a little area dedicated for wildlife observation. 

Mount Moran mirrored on Jackson lake

This Yellow-headed Blackbird bustled on over to check us out.

Another view of Mt. Moran across the wildlife viewing area.

Farther south on Hwy 89, we found a massive field of sagebrush, alive with birdsong and underfoot there were plenty of little wildflowers.

Elegant, drooping Yellow Bells

Yellow Prairie Violet

Did I say there was bird song throughout the meadows? The songs were sung by territorial little fellows.

Vesper Sparrow, taking five between his song sets

When I had taken about a b'jillion sparrow and wildflower shots, we continued south. We stopped to admire some totally breathtaking mountains.

Joann enjoying our Kodak moment

We found this stone bordered, picturesque spot
I remembered from previous visits to the Tetons.

Then we arrived at the quintessential rocky craigs of the Tetons. Behold! 

The Cathedral Peaks Grouping

 Round about this time, we realized, what with our frequent photo opt spots, there was no way we were making it to Jackson for 10 o'clock mass. Oh well! We settled for some internal mediation time across Jenny Lake. Amen.

A straight view down the Grand Tetons range

We had a moose encounter! This hungry bull moose was off in a meadown, browsing.

I love his barely grown in yet, fuzzy, velvet covered
antlers. Wish I could see him when they're grown in!

He made the willow saplings look rather tasty.

It was perhaps another half hour or so before we were closing in on Jackson - I was insistant on putting in a visit there even though there wasn't much of a reason to anymore. On the drive past the National Elk Refuge, we spotted something I never saw before on previous visits.

Interesting stone buildings sat on the hillside, at the
base of which metallic elk crossed a mountain peak

Something new since my last visit to Jackson Hole! The National Wildlife Art Museum. Curious, we drove up the steep driveway for a quick look-see.

This metallic bull elk silently bellows against a mountain
backdrop - and THAT was adjacent to the  parking lot!

I was impressed by this double bison statue - inspiring, yes?

There was even art in bicycle racks!

Though we had the option and time, neither of us were inclined to go indoors and view the art. With so much wildlife out and about, I rather felt, why not stay outside and see the real deal.

The National Wildlife Refuge is just north of Jackson Hole. Our luck - no elk! Then again, I don't think I have ever, in 20 years, been at the refuge when there were elk present. I think they might be seasonal there. 

Next up we put in a quick stop at the Visitor Center just north of town - more statuary.

A Grizzly rounds on a bull and his gal by the front entrance.

The view of Elk Range from the Visitor Center.

Our visit to Jackson Hole was brief but fruitful. Joann did a bit of shopping for camera gear, and we had a lunch at a local cafe.

Plaza view, downtown Jackson. Though elk shed their
antlers naturally, I find the antler arbor kind of makes me a little ill.

We made it back to Yellowstone and amazingly, not out of energy, we did some additional sight seeing. We put in a visit at the grand Old Faithful Inn. It was under a bit of construction at the back of the Inn.

Get inside the Inn, look up, and WOW!

The Inn is the world's largest log hotel. For myself,
I can't believe there are more than one, can you?

In the distant past, orchestras used to play in the little
'tree house' up top. That must have been a sight to see.

After the Inn we visited - quite briefly because it was about to close for the day - the 'new', to me that is, Visitor Center near the Inn. Quite grand.

Joann headed in for a look-see

In the Visitor Center, this view is the entrance...

...the opposite direction gives you a view of
Old Faithful Geyser, steaming in the distance.

So, for Pete's Sake, we didn't get Joann 'to the church on time'... or even to church, but if reverence for the works of Mother Nature and silent contemplation of her inspirational work counts, then our spirits moved none-the-less.

So Where the Critters At?

Critters? You want critters? Then Yellowstone is the right place. Our first couple of days in the park were chock full of the shaggy, hairy and antlered. We totally lucked out on the shaggy - bison? Nope!

We saw bears! Grizzlys galore! This skinny bear was probably fresh out of his winter's hibernation. He walked along, wolfing down grass like a ravenous shaggy cow. I asked a ranger if the bear ate the grass to 'clear' his post-hibernation intestinal tract, but nope. The bear was just loading up on free and easy to access calories. Who knew grass could nourish a b'jillion pound Grizzly bear?

The best, most up front & personal view of a Yellowstone Grizzly I've ever been privy to,

And did this beautiful boy mark the end of our bear sightings? Not a chance. On a drive towards Mammoth Hot Springs, in the Swan Lake meadows we lucked onto a big she bear, out for a stroll with her 2 yearling cubs. Unlike the close-up Grizzly boy, the sow and her cubs were far out in the meadow. This first photo gives an idea how far off the famly was. The black blots in the foreground are the bears.

The grizzlies are practically polka dots in the vastness of the scenery

 Happily, Joann was on her toes! While I took shot, after shaky shot of blurred bears, she got her tripod out and got this beautiful Grizzly family portrait.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful sage filled meadow, there were 3 bears...

We have seen no less than five Grizzly bears over the past couple of days; the grazing wonder, the sow with her cubs, and another bear, a single bear, walking far out in the Hayden Valley. That is the most bears either Joann or I have ever seen on previous trips to Yellowstone. Oh, and bears weren't the only great furry beasts in the park. Well... these are really rather petite as Yellowstone wildlife goes, but we saw many small groups and herds of Roosevelt elk.

A group of 'ladies' passing through a meadow.

 Want burlier beasts? Sure! There are big ole buffalo strewn throught the Park.

Minor Skirmish between friends

Early today our first event was finding a small copse of trees by the road, in which a kinder-herd of bison were down for a morning nap. There were maybe a half dozen bison cows scattered in the little area, accompanied by their bright red calves.

The Cheyenne called these little fellows, Red Dogs.

Isn't this litte guy adorable -and drowsy.

The little families were kind enough to share their morning with human kind.

In Yellowstone, the bison birthing season has produced loads of youngin's so we saw plenty of little red calves. Here are some more we spotted.

These cows were on the east side of the park along the Madison River.

Back off, I got dibs on Mama!

Keep those rowdy red brats away from us... we're digesting.

So, enough with the hairy beasts Claire, find any feathered folk? Well, it seems I did. Lots of birds around.

Osprey soaring over the Biscuit Basin

This pair of Mountain Canada Geese perched by the drive, over the Firehole River

Saw a couple of Bald Eagles, one on the ground in Hayden Valley, and another we spotted only because a guy with a HUMONGOUS spotting scope, and a lady with binoculars were on the side of the road. We stopped and I leapt out of the car, binoculars in hand.

"Hi!" I shouted, over-enthused as per usual. I walked up to the woman, my binoculars at the ready. She smiled at me in greeting, a look of trumph on her face.

I rattled on."A Bald Eagle!"

The smile instantly vanished from the woman's face. "THAT, she snarled at me, " is a Golden Eagle!" Her tone left no lee way for disagreement.

Slowly I backed away from her, and back into the car, Joann threw the car into get-away mode and off we raced before the mean lady could attack. I suspect, someone was determined to add a Golden Eagle to her life list. Here is the beautiful juvenile Baldie in question, looking, gratifyingly, nothing like a Golden Eagle. Oh, unless of course you need one for your life list....

I spent some time one afternoon, watching birds near the Old Faithful Inn.

The Mountain Bluebirds were pretty lively.

I was thrilled to get this shot of a Cassin's Finch

These beautiful little Tree Swallows aren't a stranger to me on my home territory. However, I certainly haven't ever had them close enough, or along side such a colorful tree. I am so tickled with these photos.

READY...

SET....

AND WE'RE AIRBORN!

Though the scenery and land features of Yellowstone are truly awe inspiring, the wildlife is my favorite thing about this unique park. Can't wait to see what we can find the rest of our time here.