Morning came early and I had actually slept! I heard the rocks crunching under tires of other vehicles attempting to sneak out of camp early to do just as I planned. I peered outside the tent. It was still dark but the stars had gone to bed. I roused the men folk and headed for the outhouse. We decided not to break camp just yet. We grabbed our cameras and hopped in the car. We too slowly drove out of the campground keeping our eyes wary for any sign of wildlife. I heard that the wolves had a den somewhere tucked back just off of the road to the campground. I strained my eyes in all directions as my husband slowly drove us back out to Lamar Valley even though I knew chances of the wolves being near the den in the fall would extremely slim. Nothing, all we saw was another Buffalo. We pulled out on to the main road through Lamar Valley. It was 6am and hoards of people lined the roads jockeying for a space. We stopped at a few pull off areas whenever we could find space. I'd hop out and scan the fields river and hillsides. There were Buffalo a plenty, and some Sand Hill Cranes way out in the distance. Then there was some movement closer to us but still quite far away. It was canine and good sized but was it a wolf? I stared as hard as could through my camera, the snout was pointy! It was just a tawny colored Coyote. We have lots of coyotes here in New York but I hear them way more than I ever get to see them. So I took as many photos as I could of it. Personally I think the photos are not very good but I will share a few as they are still documentation of the trip. Off in the distance a pair of pronghorn raised a dust cloud. I didn't see anything chasing them so perhaps they were feeling frisky. The coyote ignored them. After that I turned my attention to the buffalo as more and more were coming into the valley for breakfast. At one point we stopped in a jam. Bison were coming down a hill on one side of us to cross into the valley. I noticed one bull at the top of the hill and just got the feeling. The car ahead of us started to move, "Gun it," I cried! That bull came charging down the hill and crossed the road just missing the back of the car! I was grateful my husband listened to me! I enjoyed watching the mothers and calves. We returned to camp and had everything repacked in the car by 9:59 a.m. Today we were going to head over to Mammoth but I wanted to get some hiking done in Slough Creek first. I told my husband that we were not going to do the whole trail but just a small section as we did not have the time. The first part of the trail was steep so I had to take a couple of breathers but I can guarantee you my son's whining and complaining did not help. I am sure he frightened all the wildlife away except for a chipmunk. It was nice when the trail finally flattened out and we caught up to my husband who was carrying the bear spray. Next time I'll buy my own can since I get left in the dust ninety nine percent of the time! Spoiler alert though we didn't have any grizzly bear encounters this trip. We turned around and enjoyed the scenery. I think we only hiked a mile and a half up the trail. Perhaps we should have tried going further on the Buffalo Fork trail maybe there would have been less complaining and more wildlife. Anyways we hopped in the car and headed west toward Mammoth. I kept my camera and big lens with me in the front of the car. You never know what you will encounter. Not to far down the road Mama Pronghorn was crossing the road so we stopped. Youngster took a few steps into the road and went back turned around wanting to be with mama but scared to cross the road. It eventually ran back into the field and Mama crossed back over. We pulled off the road, turned the car off and watched them run about for a bit. Then Mama took off running making everyone else hit the breaks with the youngster a few body lengths behind. This time they both made it across and didn't stop running full tilt until they were quite some distance from the road. I enjoyed watching them and glad they crossed safely. I don't blame that youngster for being hesitant in the least, perhaps it will live a good long life! We drove by several ponds along the route.. Most of them had ducks or Coots on them. They were not very big but most were labeled as lakes so they must be fairly deep. Pictured above is Floating Island Lake. We stopped at the trail head for Wraith falls, I looked behind me and someone was asleep. We woke him but he pitched a fit and refused to go on the hike. We drove down the road just a little further to the parking area for Undine falls. This waterfall was roadside. The lighting was rather harsh so the photos did not turn out well. Meanwhile my little buffalo wallowed in the dirt at our feet, despite being told to get up off the ground multiple times. We weren't going to be able to shower for a whole week! Can you tell I was getting frustrated. Eventually he saw his antics were not getting him the attention he wanted and he stopped. After that we headed straight for Mammoth following more buffalo down the road. It took a while but we found the visitor center, put on our masks and picked up a Jr. Ranger booklet. We wandered the exhibits. Then stopped at the gift store where our son picked a stuffed wolf that would provide means to further their conservation and j paid for it himself. After that we went off to find and make camp. The guy at check in warned me that a big bull elk liked to frequent the area near our site. My husband would love that but this was rut season so I was also a bit nervous. We had great a view despite the pea soup looking sky hiding the further mountains. The smoke from the wildfires in California and Oregon was thick and heavy in the air. We set camp up as quick as we could grabbed lunch and headed for the Hot Springs. This area of the park I really wanted to see and it did not disappoint! When first arrived at Mammoth Hot Springs, rangers had a portion of the boardwalk blocked off. At first I had no idea why but then when we chose to take a different route I notice a bull Elk lying down in the spring. I went back to the car and grabbed our long lenses. By the time I got back the elk was head down napping. We continued traversing the series of boardwalks and stairs. I was having trouble breathing partially due to being out of shape but more because of the smoke in the air. I used my inhaler a few times. The colors and shapes of the formations were amazing. The skies were lackluster so I was glad I had gone back to the car to get the 400mm lens. I played around with the colors and textures of the rocks but really wished I had the tripod with me. I didn't bring it because I didn't want to cause any trouble for others walking on the boardwalk. A trip over a tripod leg could be deadly in a hot spring! At one point though my son looked down into the water tricking below us and saw a Killdeer walking around in the shallow water. "Mama, how can that bird stand that hot water and not get burned?" Well, I wasn't quite sure how to answer other than it is probably not as hot in that area and that bird may have less feeling in its legs than we have in our legs. We explored the Hot Springs all afternoon into the evening. As we neared the end of the boardwalk I spotted a Jack Rabbit grazing a few bits of grass. I tried to hold the men folk back so as not to frighten it. I managed one or two shots before they frightened it away. We talked about it as we neared the end of the trail. I had seen the direction it had ran. I told them to walk softly and be quiet. We slowly walked in the direction I had seen it run, and there it was grazing again. We approached quietly and I sat on a bench watching and photographing it for quite a while. It isn't everyday you get sit and watch the antics of a wild rabbit just a few yards away from you. It may seem strange but photographing that one jackrabbit was more exciting to me than the buffalo, coyote, or pronghorn! Did you think that was the end of our excitement for the day? Oh, no remember what we were told at check-in about that bull elk? Well, he did make a visit while cleaning up from dinner. Suddenly there was a bugling! We looked out over the sage grass and rabbit bush blossoming before our tent, lo and behold there he was coming straight to us! He would walk a short ways stop look around and bugle, maybe graze bit and repeat. I was excited and nervous. My husband was beyond himself in joy! He loves elk and the sound of their bugle. That bull just kept coming closer and closer. I must have been excited because I had to delete almost all of my images between fading light and hand holding, they were blurry! Then the moment came I made everyone get in the car just in case he decided to charge. Thankfully he did not and just casually meandered through! What a thrill! At least two shots came out of when he was playing peek-a-boo with us! That was the end our our first full day in Yellowstone National Park!
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Julie MetottNature Photographer, wife, mother, lover of outdoor adventure! Archives
November 2022
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