Stardate 2015.723

The Grand Tetons – Day One

Snowcatcher and I recently returned from a 5-day trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, Beaverhead-Deer Lodge, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests encompass the parks and make up the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the largest, close to intact, temperate-zone ecosystems on the planet. Yellowstone is at its center.

We enjoyed 2 full drive days and 3 play days. Forest fire haze was a daily constant, but not overwhelming. Normally, we see lots of animals, including black bear, grizzly bear and moose. Sadly, this trip did not yield any of the latter. You win some and lose some. On the weather front, it was quite comfortable. We enjoyed lots of sun and peaking fall colors. However, the morning of our return included snow sticking below 9,658-foot Togwotee Pass, which is cradled in the southern end of Wyoming's Absaroka Mountains.

Please excuse any photo replication; I'm kind of partial to the Teton Range, visually and historically. In the pic below, the Grand Teton and company pierce the sky from the vicinity of Jenny Lake.




Grand Teton



Teton Range—I think I'm looking at Cascade Canyon (left) and Paintbrush Canyon.




View from Jenny Lake




Grand Teton from Jenny Lake




Jenny Lake morning reflection




Jenny Lake morning



Both black and grizzly bears thrive here. Campsites at many campgrounds now have steel, destroy-proof bear boxes at each campsite for safe storage of anything that smells, which is just about everything, including sweaty clothes. They bear boxes are large enough to store everything needing storage. Backcountry bear-proof food containers are now available for backpacking as well.

During the 1960s and 70s, as the Park Service was weening bears off human food, the grizzly population declined to less than 200 individuals. The current grizzly bear population in the GYE rebounded, and is estimated at between 600 and 800. I've read that the current population may be at the region's carrying capacity. Not bad after 20 or 30 years of having to learn how to be wild again. Park/Forest Service personel recommend hiking in groups of at least 3 people, each armed with bear spray.




Fall is in the air.




Sunset on the Teton Range



More to come...

Adios

Stardate 2014.663

Yellowstone Part II

Hi folks, this is my final vacation post. Here are a few more pics from Yellowstone. Enjoy!





There was a good layering of fog along Blacktail Deer Plateau at sunrise.



The slopes of Mount Washburn, according to the Park, are prime grizzly bear habitat. We’re looking east from Washburn’s north flank.



A morning fog bank covers the Canyon Village area as seen from Dunraven Pass.


Snowcatcher Photo







Snowcatcher Photo

A sow grizzly and this year’s cub foraging on Dunraven Pass.


Snowcatcher Photo

A black bear foraging close to Phantom Lake.


Snowcatcher Photo

Another large denizen of the forest.



Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River





We left Yellowstone close to noon, arriving in the Denver Metro area close to midnight. It was a long trip, but a good one. I’m already anxious for our next road trip. The above two pics tell the tale regarding trip miles and total miles. The 4-Runner just keeps running and running!



In the end, a good trip requires a good ale, and the Nut Brown Ale from Montana’s Bitterroot Brewery hit the spot.

Thanks for reading.

Adios

Stardate 2014.658

Yellowstone Part I

Hi, Boo Boos! (Remember Yogi the Bear?) Welcome to Yellowstone! This was the last stop of our vacation. Yellowstone is a special place. The more you visit it, the more it grows on you. It’s huge in aerial extent. It is still very wild when away from the popular tourist pull-ins.



The bear population is strong for black and grizzly bear. The human-habituated bears lining roadways of past are no longer seen. Bears have slowly been de-habituated with humans. That’s good for both. Hiking remote sections of the park is still wild. In other words, carry bear spray and know how to use it.  Park rangers only recommend hiking backcountry trails with a party of three or more.



Our short stay was just that, short. We spent our evening and early morning wildlife viewing and had some luck, two black bears and a grizzly bear with this year’s cub.



We bypassed the geysers because they were, quite frankly, too busy. We’ll come back and play in the geysers during off season. However, we did get some late evening shots of the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces.











Adios