Mon, Oct 18, 2010



Monday, October 18, 2010

Not a bad way to start the week… waking up in West Yellowstone with plans to spend the better part of the day wandering the gorgeous land known as Yellowstone.  Charles was up early, made coffee and brought continental breakfast goodies back to the room.  Then he was off to get our flat tire repaired.  Things went well at the tire shop and by the time he returned I had everything ready to load.  The temperatures on our trip back through Yellowstone were a good bit cooler with a healthy frost covering anything that wasn’t moving.  The forecast was for clear skies later in the day but we began the morning in a wispy fog.

There were very sparse crowds, particularly this early in the morning, and at times it seemed as if we had the park to ourselves. We knew from our trip up that there was a trumpeter swan along a section of the Madison River so we took the river loop where we had seen it but no luck.  However, maybe a mile further and there it was slowly working its way up the river feeding.  We pulled out the big lens and tripod and made the short hike up the river. With not a soul around it seemed content to feed and then check us out occasionally.  We made a bunch of shots then just watched it feeding in the fog for a while before those temps in the twenties drove us back to the Jeep. 

The park weather changes frequently but the wisps of fog made for some gorgeous landscape scenes particularly as the mists rose from the river waters and floated away.  At times the fog was a hindrance to photography but other times it added a wonderfully mysterious atmosphere. 

A couple of miles further as we cruised along enjoying the Madison River we saw the signs of another animal… several cars pulled off on the side of the rode and cameras pointing into the woods.  It was a nice herd of elk cows.  We stopped a little away from the other cars searching for the bull.  Unless he was out gathering more cows he should be somewhere close by.  Many of the cows were still lying down so we figured maybe he was just up in the trees and not visible.  Just as we were about to move on a large cow emerged from the trees right across from us and there he was following her intently.  She started grazing and he did as well so I took a few shots but when a young lady from one of the cars approached he perked up and we got a few nice shots.  We thanked him and the young lady and continued on our morning journey. 

After several stops to enjoy the scenery, we met a large bull buffalo walking down the road.  He and a small car were having a bit of a standoff.  Buffalo are no different than we are in that they like to take the easiest route and he didn’t really want to give up the middle of the road.  The drive of the car was tentative but eventually eased forward and the buffalo shook his head in frustration and moved off to a well worn path on the opposite side of the road.  Right behind him was another large bull that looked just like the buffalo on the Indian head nickel.  To get our shots we had pulled into a picnic area and just waited for them to walk by us. 

Then it was time for puppy play when we got to our usual spot on the Firehole River where we can walk down the river a ways and take the pups off leash to take a swim and play between us. 

In hopes of finding more wildlife we took a side road with a parking area near the Firehole River.  It was still quite foggy so long distance photography was not an option.  We did see a nice herd of buffalo on the other side and down the river so we grabbed the big lens and tripod and headed out.  I have to admit it was a little eerie out there when you get away from the car and the only sound is the distant gurgling of the river.  The fog was just rolling across the landscape but there were beginning to be patches of blue sky and off in the distance we were seeing shafts of sunshine reaching the landscape.  Again, this is where the fog adds that atmosphere… I was just kidding Charles about keeping an eye out for wandering bears while I had my head buried in my camera.  Just about that time I glanced back over my shoulder and not 50 feet from us (insert silent scream here) was the dreaded bicycle rider.  It was a take your breath away moment! Then as if making up for scaring me to death God lifted the fog a bit and spread a little more sunshine and we got a few nice shots before departing.

We made more stops at the geysers and Cascade Falls and then headed for Yellowstone Lake for a picnic before beginning our departure from the park.  The skies were not mostly blue and the sun was shining brightly so the temperatures had made their way into the lower sixties.  After a wonderfully peaceful picnic overlooking the Lake we went back to the road that would take us south and out of the park.  Our final stop in the park was to see Moose Falls.  We had never made the short but steep hike to see this particular fall.  As one who suffers with horrible knees I don’t favor steep trails but after several weeks of building those leg muscles I felt up to the task.  It was worth it, of course, as most hikes are. 

When we returned to the Jeep we pulled out the maps and plotted a course for the last bit of day that remained.  We decided not to stay in Jackson Hole but to drive another 75 miles or so to Pinedale, WY a small town in the high sage desert.  We have a good room and had a good supper and are ready to relax. 

We are tired tonight but very well and hope that you all are well too!

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger