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 2015.734

Wet And Woolly – Day Three

Day Three slid into Yellowstone in the rain. A wet day; it was a good travel day back to the Tetons. Our route took us through the park villages of Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris, Madison, Old Faithful and Grant Village. We spent another night in the Signal Mountain area. Close animal viewing had been a bust. The only animal I can think of whom might enjoy the deluge would be a moose. On the other hand, I'm sure there were some very happy land agency firefighters.

I actually enjoy rain days while traveling. You get to see and feel an entirely different persona of the landscape.



In places the understory was radiant in full-on autumn gold. The wet seemed to intensify the coloration.



We visited some geysers and hot springs along the way. The following pics are from the Norris Geyser Basin where we spent a soggy minute or two at the Artist Paint Pots.









We also visited one of the hottest springs in Yellowstone. Beryl Spring boasts 196 dancing Fahrenheits at any given time.



I tried to get a video of Old Faithful when it erupted but had a malfunction right at spew time. Oh well. As we left Yellowstone and entered Grand Teton National Park, the weather opened up a bit. Grand Teton was busy trying to shed its snow-laden shroud.



The mountain gods were busy with Mount Moran, as well.



Don't you want to see what's up Leigh Canyon? I do! Perhaps next year we will return for some hiking, climbing and running from bears.




Keep tuned for Day Four...

Adios