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.
In my heart, Yellowstone National Park will always be the oldest & the best. I wasn't born in Wyoming, and I never had any hankering to live there, but that's where the nature seeking, critter bits of my heart will always dwell. But enough rhapsodizing. Arriving in West Yellowstone I noticed it was notably empty compared to the last time I was there in the 1990s. Not surprising as I normally visit in the summer, and May - well in May, winter is hardly done with in the Rockies and winter occasionally puts in an appearance. In fact, West Yellowstone was looking a bit ornery.
Mean looking storm clouds hovering over the eastern gateway to the park: West Yellowstone
As we drove through the entry kiosk, and drove the road along the Madison River we were estatic to once again see our first herd of wild bison.
Another Day in Yellowstone... Hey, pass me some of that clover.
Off to the north, the park was plenty full up with the lingering snows of winter
Took us a delightful bit of driving to get to where we had a cabin reserved, in the Old Faithful area to the south of the park. We put in a bit of sight seeing for the day, then tired out - we started our day in Twin Falls Idaho for heaven's sake - we were done in for the day.
Old Faithful blowing off some steam, late in the day (iPhone photo)
The Snow Lodge - must be time for breakfast!
Next morning we began a routine, beginning each day with breakfast at the Snow Lodge, where we would pick up a box lunch to see us through the day. Then we were off for the day's exploring.
Our first morning in the park we visited the elk strewn, West Thumb Geyser Basin. Loads of wooden boardwalk to traverse, and lots of cool colorful pool of water to gaze into.
On a chilly morning sitting near a geyser really warms up a body - especially if you're an elk
Yellowstone Lake shimmers in the distance
Most of the geyser pools are sky blue
Of course the West Thumb Geyser basin has to share the spotlight with all the other geyser spotsin Yellowstone. Another spot with loads of sights is the Lower Geyser basin.
Just above are the boardwalks along the Lower Geyser Basin are where classic examples of bubbling paint pots and high rising geysers can be seen.
And can one stop with the Lower Geyser Basin? Nope. there was one infamous park spot, forever a joke between myself, Barbara and her boys back in the 1990s when, tired, we couldn't manage to say 'Biscuit Basin' and it came out, wrong, forever to be known to us as 'Biscuit Bacon'.
A bridge crosses the Firehole River over to the Biscuit Geysers
The colorful Biscuit Bacon... I mean, Basin
Riverlett running off a sizable 'biscuit' and into the Firehole River
Here are some big ones, making their way across the scenery at the Biscuit. Cue the drummers.
A couple of days ago, after very nearly, almost extensive planning, or entire lack thereof, my teenhood buddy Joann and I headed off on vacation. Bright and early-ish I picked up Joann at the Sacto airport, and we were off to the little known exotic local (I'm lying here) to Winnemucca, Nevada. Once there, the big event - after finding rooming for the night - was din-din. We dined at a genuine Basque family style restaurant, the Martin Hotel. I must say, the food was awesome. I had the yummy lamb chops but the side dishes alone would have sufficed for a tasty, filling meal which included a lovely house red wine. By the way, Family style meant we were seated with other patrons of the Hotel. The couple we sat with were on their way to a dog show with their Norwegian Elkhound - oh joy! Right. I found, as did Joann, plenty to talk about with our table mates.
The following morning we were up very-nearly-early, driving until we spotted the sign that let us know we were on the right track. See below.
Land of Russets
Yes, lovely, largely unoccupied Idaho! Home of russets and... well, I'll get back to that. Anyway, we got a room for the night in Twin Falls. For entertainment we visited the very Twin Falls that the place is named after - but we were more impressed with the fancier Shoshone Falls. Not a lively enough photo? Try this video. Not much happens but it does give you the entire feel of the place.
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Canyon
The following morning we were off to the Northeast, for a visit to the Hawaiian look-alike spot of the lower 48, Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Craters of the Moon is an easily overlooked 'kissin' cousin' of Yellowstone - a fascinating fact I just made up. You see, both parks are volcanic, with Craters of the Moon actually being the older, having slide over the area the Yellowstone caldera sits atop, perhaps some b'jillion years ago. Is that clear? No? well, tough calderas to you. On to scenery!
See the round face like figure in the center of the lava mound above? If only I'd video-taped it, I could pass it off as an evil demon on one of the many popular ghosty reality shows. Right. It's not a spirit, its a lump of lava, but there you go.
Argh... Beware! There be bats here!
Spooky Face Mound
An ancient ropey lava flow
The picture below appears to be yet another tiny mound of lava, but it is in fact a HUMONGOUS lava cone. You can see a walkway on the right side of it, a bit that puts it more into perspective.
Aha! The first Yellow-bellied Marmot of our trip.
Craters of the Moon has a stark landscape, but is far cheaper and easier to get to than Hawaii. And note, it has many caves for exploring. No we did not explore any caves, but the signage around the park makes one a tad shy of entering the park caves, as gigantic white bats, the size of eagles are apt to fly up in your face. Really. Check out the sign below.
Still, even if you are too lazy cautious to enter a cave, there are plenty of walkways and scenic areas to explore.
Lava and Sage
After a couple of hours exploring Craters of the Moon, we headed off Northeastwards, towards our next stop, Yellowstone. Just along the road a bit, we found a nice little spot - Goodale's Cutoff. There I enjoyed myself, due to ample birdage (I invented a new word!) and wildflowers. If you look in the photo below on the far right you can spot Joann enjoying the scenery.
Hairy Skullcap: creepy name for a petite and beautiful wildflower
After a couple of hours exploring Craters of the Moon, we headed off Northeastwards, towards our next stop, Yellowstone. Just along the road a bit, we found a nice little spot I enjoyed, due to ample birdage (I invented a new word!) and wildflowers. If you look in the photo below on the far right you can spot Joann enjoying the scenery.
Mural in the tiny town of Arco
Post Goodale's we drove past this pretty little mural in Arco, Idaho - that's a wee town, of the 'blink & you'll miss it' sort.
Oooo... only a few hours later, we spotted this sign, meaning we were darn near at our goal for the day - Yellowstone! The oldest and the best.
