Stardate 2016.816

Yellowstone
Snowcatcher's and my trip to the Pacific Northwest has come to an end. The trip went by too fast, as they usually do. Our final days took us from Moses Lake, Washington, to Butte, Montana, and down into Yellowstone National Park. Our final day was a long-day-drive down into Colorado.

We left Butte, Montana, early in the morning and arrived at the north Gardiner/Mammoth entrance mid-morning. In the past, we've seen grizzlies between Tower and Canyon and were hoping we were early enough to see more.



We traveled south through the visitor depots of Tower, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant and the Colter Bay area to a place known to have lots of bears. Regretfully, the dirt road we wanted was closed, due to recent fires.







Some of the main roadways were closed, and many trees in the fire area were tagged. We think this was a firefighter drop zone. A little rain had fallen throughout the day, hopefully aiding fire workers.



We pointed the car north again and journeyed back toward Gardiner, Montana, where we had a room waiting. We traveled up the Lamar Valley and then swung northeast toward Pebble Creek, the Absaroka Range and northeast park entrance – no grizzly bear to be had yet. We did see lots of bison and antelope.

This handsome devil is a buck (male) pronghorn antelope. Large populations exist here and in other western states. In the region of Colorado where I grew up, I casually refer to them as "speed goats." Does (females) have much smaller horns. Pronghorns are the fastest land mammals in the Western Hemisphere. They are often cited as the second fastest land animal behind the cheetah. They can hold speed much longer than a cheetah. A pronghorn can run 55 miles per hour for a half mile.




Lots of bison are grazing the Lamar Valley. This also is prime grizzly bear habitat.



The following morning we left very early. We had hoped for wildlife on Mount Washburn and Dunraven Pass. We had to settle for bugling elk and good photos at the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.






I'll end our vacation with this frosty shot of bison grazing in a frozen Hayden Valley. Winter is close!



Thanks for reading!

Adios

Stardate 2015.745

Home James – Day Four

As usual, the time to leave comes too soon. The Yellowstone/Teton region is a place I would like to visit yearly. I also would like to give the Jackson Hole Ski area, about 30 miles south, a try. I'm envious of those who live and work in this region. I even selected to earn degrees (BS & MS) that may land me in a small mountain utopia. The cards read otherwise. There are a few places in Colorado and Utah I feel the same about.

Just before heading out, we followed a little fishing road for a spell and were treated to a fairly good-sized bull elk. I can't count how many times I've been treated to this. I'm spoiled; yet, I never tire of it. Part of this trip was spent listening to numerous bull elk and their eerie bugling. If you are close enough to one when it bugles, it will make your neck hairs rise. I kid you not!

Some of the shrubbery along the Snake River was in fall costume.



A good number of quaky stands (aka: aspen trees, Populous tremuloides) were in full-on color mode too.



Another annual player, SNOW, is currently heading down the latitude latter.



Sheeeesh, it seems like ski season just ended.



Wyoming's breathtaking Absaroka Mountains are a delight any time of year.



We weren't far from the lightly frosted summit of 9,658-foot Togwotee Pass (pronounced Togatee).



The pass separates Wyoming's Jackson Hole Valley from Dubois and provides access to southern Yellowstone from the east. Togwotee was an under-chief of Chief Washakie of the Sheepeater branch of the Shoshone Tribe. These mountain dwellers traveled and lived throughout the Yellowstone region.



A riparian zone shares its gold on the east side of Togwotee Pass.



The eye-catching Breccia Cliffs remained shy, hiding their heads in the clouds.




That's it for Yellowstone and the Tetons 2015. Now it's time to take on Colorado's color season. Stay tuned!

Adios

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