Crimson Red Sports

I’m in Cody WY this morning after two long days on the toad, dodging thunderstorms and worse. Yesterday I drove in snow, large wet flakes, from Casper WY all the way to Cody. None on the road was a bother.

Late yesterday, just before dark, I started seeing lots of wildlife near the road. I was an hour southeast of Cody. Several mule deer crossed ahead of me once, and I flashed my lights to warn an oncoming pickup. Then I saw a herd of elk grazing along the roadside. The area is mountainous, but good two-lane highway. I was making good time, going the speed limit: 70. To my right from an open area I saw two pronghorn (antelope).  I’d chatted with NALT earlier about seeing so many. But these two were racing toward me through the snow, one male chasing another. I could see they were coming at me full speed, and no way could I stop or dodge. The chaser had its mouth agape with exhaustion. I hit the brakes, swerved to the right, and all my gear behind me slide against the front seats. I missed the chasing pronghorn by inches, and would have hit them both had I not swerved. Wow. The lead one rammed into a fence to my left (can’t they jump?). I pulled over to recover. No other cars came by. Wow.

I’ll be traveling the next two days, staying in Cooke City Montana while watching bears and wolves, so I can’t post pics yet.

I’ll post them when I get to West Yellowstone on Wednesday. :wave:

My brother Mrs Dottie and I look forward to your trip with the pics. RTR!

Saw nine bears yesterday and got some pics. I’ll post them when I get to my motel tomorrow night or Thursday. Lots of snow here; some still falling. But yesterday had periods of warm sunshine, and I got sunburned. More later.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ad/ab/5d/adab5d89bf84511aa292b55e69f8dc0e.jpg)

Ten Bears little brother?

:lol: :lol: :lol:  Ecred for that...  #+ #+ #+

Love that movie with 10 Bears.  :lol2:

Tuesday in Yellowstone:
Got an update from Jamos. They will be here next week to see the sights. Woot.

Tuesday the bear total went up to 19. Seems like they’re everywhere. Seldom are they close; mostly high up on mountainsides.  But with a spotting scope they seem easy to find. I watched 3 at once yesterday, all adults, high up on Specimen Mountain.

Also a good wolf day. Saw three of the Junction Pack, two at an elk carcass and another moving along the Lamar River. Hours of sitting, waiting, and then watching. I visited with the wolf biologists yesterday too and got updates on wolf puppies for this season. Thanks to the wolf watchers I get daily updates on wolf locations.

Had close encounters with bison (from my car mostly). They were at times within arms’ reach from my window. No, I didn’t. :lol2:

Saw lots of nesting birds and took photos of peregrine falcon nests, sandhill cranes, and owls. Didn’t take pics of the osprey and eagle nests. Y’all saw them last year.

Time to get going. I’ll go back and add pics into each day’s entry when I get to better WiFi tonight and tomorrow. Until then use your imaginations.

:wave:

That is really cool about the bison.  I might have reached out if they were that close... :-[  Also, biologist from Auburn University Raptor's Center claim that the peregrine falcon are native to north Alabama and that there are still some here. But I have never seen any in the wild.  I would love to but...it really isn't' up to me...

You're not riding with me!   :lol2: :lol2:

PHOTO ESSAY OF THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE TRIP:

Sunday:
Driving through Nebraska City, Nebraska was an adventure.  I-29 was closed for a month due to floods.  Hwy 2 from I-29 to Lincoln NE was under water until 3 days before I left for the trip.  The good workers of Nebraska built the road up by lining the highway with concrete barriers, then dumping gravel and rock to build the road up 3' higher.  Here are pics showing the road through my windshield at daybreak:

(https://i.imgur.com/bFEYrXs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5BRsfmq.jpg)

Later that day I passed along the Oregon Trail, which followed the Platte River across Nebraska and Wyoming.  The pioneers periodically gathered along good water, such as Ash Hollow, NE.  The old wagon ruts are still visible there; it's a state park now.  Wagons were lowered along the hill by a hand winch, called a windlass.  The hill is "Windlass Hill":

(https://i.imgur.com/DI7rAIw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/u6TFkaM.jpg)
Closeup so you can see the winding ruts down the hill.

Farther along the Oregon Trail, in Wyoming, the pioneers were guided by Chimney Rock.  It's a funky mountain that you can see from 15-20 miles.  Here's my pic from a moving car, and one from the internet:

(https://i.imgur.com/D1QafkM.jpg)

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b8/12/bc/b812bc1e777cbcc32f76f27f94aa9c06.jpg)

Monday I drove from Cody WY to Cooke City, Montana.

To get to Cooke City, in the Rocky Mountains, I took the Chief Joseph Highway.  But it was cold, snowing, and slippy.  Beautiful though.  I saw 3 bears and lots of snow.

(https://i.imgur.com/YZnwm4t.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/goH8p59.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ACHO1C5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HeufAgc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SlyQact.jpg)
This pic shows how far away these big bears were.  A telephoto lens is your friend.

Monday afternoon I went into Yellowstone and found some good critters:

(https://i.imgur.com/6ifzbkr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QnvHBaW.jpg)
Baby bison are called "red dogs".

Tuesday May 21st was a huge day for me.  I found wolves and lots of bears, etc:

(https://i.imgur.com/h7KONxO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CjU2bkV.jpg)
Bighorn Sheep ewes.

(https://i.imgur.com/inrECPi.jpg)
Mama black bear and her 3 cubs.

(https://i.imgur.com/HEqQ39t.jpg)
Bear on left swatted bear on right, and left a gash on her nose.

(https://i.imgur.com/ileFPFi.jpg)
I saw 4 moose on Tuesday.

(https://i.imgur.com/y3havTl.jpg)
Great Horned Owl on nest.

(https://i.imgur.com/RDRCpxd.jpg)
NALT's Peregrine Falcon on nest (3 eggs).

(https://i.imgur.com/OxmrxmE.jpg)
Sandhill Crane on nest.

(https://i.imgur.com/VujxSqu.jpg)
Wet wolf (it swam the Lamar River) wearing a tracking collar.

Wednesday May 22 was a loooooong day.  I got up at 3am, saw a fox asleep on the sidewalk of the Cooke City bakery, and was in the park before sunup.  I parked along the road where I'd seen the wolf the previous day.  The wolves had killed an elk there, and part of the carcass was still along the Lamar River.

(https://i.imgur.com/sXw15WP.jpg)
A yearling wolf from the Junction Butte Pack showed up within an hour.  It chased away the ravens and eagles there and ate its fill.  It was wet in this pic, so it looks ratty.

(https://i.imgur.com/FNUiiY7.jpg)
See the antlers?  This elk was killed earlier in the winter, and was buried by ice and snow in the river.  Melting exposed it again.

(https://i.imgur.com/rmbj12l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NDpawjy.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WqESfeV.jpg)
Here it is nice and dry the previous day.

(https://i.imgur.com/eFvelME.jpg)
Saw several bears, like this grizzly, but all pretty far away.

(https://i.imgur.com/6tUwanT.jpg)
This grizzly had 2 cubs.  They were all beautiful, but it was very windy and blowing snow.  I couldn't get close enough for a better pic.  Maybe tomorrow.  I've seen 25 bears now (3 days).

I drove 50 miles across the park during the afternoon to West Yellowstone, checked into my motel, then went back into the park.  I'd seen an elk carcass along the Madison River.  There was a bald eagle on it, so I camped out there in the cold and snow flurries until I was too cold to stay longer.  But I saw some good critters:

(https://i.imgur.com/dOTZIDl.jpg)
Juvenile Bald Eagle

(https://i.imgur.com/BlpkAB1.jpg)
Spotted Sandpiper

(https://i.imgur.com/MahciYH.jpg)
Finally this guy showed up and ate for an hour.  That's the head of the elk on the bank behind him (top left).  This is probably the prettiest coyote in Wyoming.

Those are awesome pics Chech.  Ecred for sharing...

Thanks for sharing, Chech.  Enjoy the snow.  We're looking at near record temps in the SE this weekend.

 :worship: :worship: Thank you Chechem. I surely enjoyed these pics it just reminds me of how beautiful God's creation really is. Be safe on the roads and we look forward to you getting back. I hope you have some fish to show us during your trip. RTR!

Great pictures thanks for sharing

Thursday May 23

It was cold and sunny at first this morning, then the snow came.  It snowed most of the morning.  But I got some pics taken before that at the carcass along the Madison River:

(https://i.imgur.com/TmgL8h9.jpg)
The coyote was back chomping.  Saw another one later along the Firehole River.

THIS SERIES OF PICS IS FOR RICKY.  HE ALWAYS LIKES BALD EAGLES.
Three bald eagles fought over the carcass.  The 2 adults finally won and drove the juvenile one away.

(https://i.imgur.com/6o2J62m.jpg)
Sorry, but this was half a mile away.

(https://i.imgur.com/bZnCQ5S.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DxJY6Xv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/k4hY3oR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/a00qKxW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5t9C6Z0.jpg)

And before leaving I saw these sleeping Common Merganzers (duck-like birds that eat fish):
(https://i.imgur.com/DvISFCE.jpg)

Awesome pics Chech. I like the bald eagles too.  That second eagle pic looks like there is an alligator rising out of the water too...  :lol2:

 #+ #+ those were fantastic. The beauty of the Eagle is just plain good. I noticed the log sticking up in the pic it reminded me of an alligator,  :lol:. Gosh thanks so much Chechem but the real beauty of nature is God's smiling to us. Rest easy brother and thanks. RTR!

Thanks, guys.

The coyote and eagles were back on the carcass again this afternoon.  And I saw a different pair of merganzers; took pics so you can see them without their heads buried in their feathers:

(https://i.imgur.com/70Go4kl.jpg)

Outstanding pics, Chech! Glad you're getting to encounter all of this.

Friday May 24th

Up early and off to Lamar Valley.  Had to go through Mammoth, because Dunraven Pass was deep in snow; closed until 8am.  It started snowing even before I got halfway, and kept it up all morning.  No problems with the roads, though.  Saw huge herds of elk; hundreds.
  
Got to Lamar Valley by 6am.  Was chatting with folks from Carolina when I saw a large black bear in the tree line.  While we watched that the wolf watchers radioed that wolves were on a carcass.  Got there and saw 4; then 2 hikers innocently passed near them and the wolves moved away.  

I moved west through Lamar Valley, and was watching bison when the radio told us that a black wolf was coming our way (north of the road).  It went into the sage, so I never saw it.

Was standing with Mark and Carol (from Colorado).  They have a pet Husky that is the "mascot-in-waiting" for Colorado State's teams.

Saw a grizzly with 2 cubs, and got distant pics of them.  Drove home via Dunraven Pass (and deep snow).  

(https://i.imgur.com/kcrFzhY.jpg)
Black wolf howling (1/2 mile away)

(https://i.imgur.com/IfQIszF.jpg)
Last-year's pup of Junction Pack; resting along the river.

Wifi down - more pics later......    :panic:

(https://i.imgur.com/79l5WF3.jpg)
Too far away to get a good pic, but here is the grizzly sow and one of her 2 cubs.

(https://i.imgur.com/A0p5fB1.jpg)
Dunraven Pass.  Check the depth of that snow!

 :o :o that was some serious snow Chechem. What do they do scrape the road and pack it on the side? RTR!

No, that's how deep the snow was before the plows cut down through it.  It gets thrown downhill on the opposite side of the road.  Here's another pic from today that finally uploaded:

(https://i.imgur.com/m50KGrg.jpg)

The snow's beautiful, Chech, but I get cold all over again just looking at it. Yesterday, we had to go straight to the office to do commissions. While my partner was in the middle of it, I left to run an errand. The temperature on my car thermometer was 101 degrees. Two extremes on weather if there ever was one.

Awesome pics Chech.  I was thinking that you may be driving through Siberia with all of that snowpack... :lol2:

Wow from the snow of Chechem to the heat of 2Stater. That snow wouldn't last long in in S.C. lol, RTR!

Saturday May 25th

Got up at 3:30 for a 4:30 trip to Lamar Valley.  No problems with Dunraven Pass, except some fog.  Got to Lamar Valley by 6am.

We stopped first at "Footbridge", and people had already seen wolves coming our way from Soda Butte cone.  There were 2 Junctions (996 and gray yearling).  Within minutes we had them in our scopes.  They joined a third wolf (black yearling), and ate at the carcass and entertained us for over an hour.

Next we watched grizzlies at a different carcass west and within view from Slough.  Eventually 2 grizzlies and 2 gray wolves battled for the carcass.  At one point we watched a wolf teasing and running circles around the bears.  The entertainment went on most of the day, but we traveled elsewhere.
  
I got updates on softball from both 2 and Jamos during the grizzly show.

Excellent day.  We saw 11 new bears, 2 moose, 5 wolves, and lots more.  

Met a Dutch couple and had lunch with them; delightful young people.  

(https://i.imgur.com/xIfGJ8K.jpg)
Two of the Junction Pack.  The gray was playful, and jumped on the black (see its GPS collar?).  No collar on the gray.

(https://i.imgur.com/jq2TEZV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/snjHPjF.jpg)
Big grizzly high up the mountain

(https://i.imgur.com/DijGRmv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/j08AOxD.jpg)
Cinnamon-colored black bear.

(https://i.imgur.com/5617BR8.jpg)
Moose with its new antlers just growing a bit already.

(https://i.imgur.com/VrZqbCr.jpg)
Cow moose

(https://i.imgur.com/zz2s9eN.jpg)
This was over a mile away, so fuzzy.  Video is better.  As soon as I can get YouTube to work I'll add video for y'all.
Two grizzly (sow at left and 2-year-old young one sitting at right).  Just right of young bear is a gray wolf that was playing chase with the grizzlies.

(https://i.imgur.com/KZa0uzE.jpg)
Wolf in middle between the bears.

(https://i.imgur.com/krxxsGS.jpg)
My fishing buddy taking a pic of a baby bison.  Our car was surrounded by bison, and we were stuck for a while.

(https://i.imgur.com/QK2lP5J.jpg)
Buddy has a high-dollar telescope; here is a better pic of the sandhill crane on its eggs.

(https://i.imgur.com/IQzIBor.jpg)
Even though we were 100 yards away, his scope could zoom right in on the crane.

(https://i.imgur.com/p2Dt4iL.jpg)
Black bear yearling at Calcite Springs

(https://i.imgur.com/spfPQZ0.jpg)
Great Horned Owl on nest

(https://i.imgur.com/FNIToc6.jpg)
Peregrine Falcon on next.

These are great, Chech. Keep em coming!

Again Chechem thanks  :clap: :clap:. I am so grateful you get to visit these places it is almost like we are there with you. RTR!

Thanks.  Jamos will be here tomorrow.  Maybe you should have ridden with him!   :lol2: :lol2:

Sunday May 26th:

Got up at 5am, rigged up my fishing gear, and went to Hebgen Lake at 6am.  The lake is down 4-5'.  My buddy slept in.

It was 38 degrees, but no wind, so it didn't seem cold.  I set up the boat, and was out fishing by 6:45.  The grassbeds are almost nonexistent this early in summer, so I had trouble finding fish.  Usually the fish hold to the grassbeds until late morning.

I think all of the ones I caught were just cruising around.  I caught 4 smallish rainbow trout and a whitefish; no big fish.  But it was nice to be out there.  No pics.

About noon storm clouds gathered, and it got windy, so I headed to shore.  I took apart the boat, and as I was deflating the pontoons it hit: hail.  Large raindrops and hail came blasting down.  I crammed the pontoons in the car partially deflated and headed to West Yellowstone.

When I reached the main highway (Hwy 191 to Big Sky; Gallatin Road) I saw cars stopped and expected it was an accident.  But it was bison in the road and hail.  Crazy.  I've never seen bison there.  I managed to get through them and to West.  It hadn't even rained there.

I know you want pics, so here's one borrowed from last year:

(https://i.imgur.com/3EUc3uj.jpg)

Nice looking trout. Rainbow I think you taught us? RTR!

Yep.  You're a good student.   :lol2:

Monday May 27th:

Jamos and Mrs Jamos arrive today to join us for a tour of Yellowstone.  Preacher, we need good weather and luck finding wolves and bears; help welcome.

They arrive early this morning, and we plan to immediately leave for Lamar Valley to find wolves.  Reports are good, and we know where two carcasses are.  Just hope there's still enough meat on the bone to attract wolves.

Also, it's Memorial Day, and we don't need to get stuck in bison or bear jams, like this one that got us a few days ago:

(https://i.imgur.com/qmjhrkz.jpg)

Monday continued:

Jamos and Mrs J arrived by 6am.  They are early birds.  We got into the park by 7am, drove across the park to Lamar Valley, and had 2 grizzlies in the scope by 8:30.  We also watched wolves play with bison (pics), a newborn bison calf, a newborn pronghorn, and lots of bears, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, etc.

(https://i.imgur.com/kY9iThM.jpg)
Uinta Ground Squirrel

(https://i.imgur.com/2DjGdXe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0db5BdS.jpg)
BIG Grizzly

(https://i.imgur.com/4sdcqdZ.jpg)
Wolf teasing and playing chase with bison (the video is better)

(https://i.imgur.com/sJQo2Fh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s4hkCXQ.jpg)
Elk bull

(https://i.imgur.com/8ceuQMY.jpg)
Newborn bison (see umbilical hanging from Mom)

(https://i.imgur.com/XRYJitp.jpg)
Chewy elk

Great stuff, Chech! I'm guessing J and Mrs J are eating that up.  :clap:

Yes they are.  I'm so pleased that we lucked out and the animals cooperated yesterday.  You cannot believe how many people walk up and "ROLL TIDE" J.   :lol2:

This morning we're off to search for a grizzly on a carcass near Ole Faithful, then tour the geyser basins.  Weather forecast looks good; sunny and high of 50s.

Wish y'all were here to enjoy this.  Lots of critters active now.

(https://i.imgur.com/c5eNFhJ.jpg)
Three cinnamon bears (Mom and yearling cubs).

Maybe one day.  :(

Man this is exciting pics of our nature. The little Bison reminded me of the calves I saw in our pastures when I was living on the farm. thanks Chechem again. RTR!

Yeah, like 2 said, maybe one day I'll be able to go on that tour...  :'(

Tuesday May 28th:

Our group of 4 drove into the park yesterday morning at 6am.  We soon spotted a pretty coyote standing along the road, and (of course) lots of bison; some in the road.  We arrived at Ole Faithful, toured the historic Old Faithful Inn, and watched the geyser erupt.  It was cool and breezy.  Then Jamos and Mrs J went on toward Yellowstone Lake while Buddy and I did touring elsewhere and prepared our fishing gear.

Today we'll be fishing the lake; no wind and warmer.  Can't wait!

(https://www.yellowstonepark.com/.image/t_share/MTQ3MzIwMDY5MzIxOTI2MDk0/ys-old-faithful-inn-night_ordelheide_680.jpg)
Old Faithful Inn

(https://ak.jogurucdn.com/media/image/p25/place-2015-06-28-11-Oldfaithfulinnb5b70d9a8f3929ca278c39114017e8f3.jpg)

(https://res.cloudinary.com/miles-extranet-dev/image/upload/ar_16:9,c_fill,w_1200,g_face/Wyoming/account_photos/23e2c72d5703d377422c982f1d434212_OFI4017.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WvBZYee.jpg)
Old Faithful

(https://i.imgur.com/jeozvi7.jpg)
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - waterfall

(https://i.imgur.com/K1cyb4s.jpg)
Yellowstone Canyon - see river far below

(https://i.imgur.com/1ZJ91Ol.jpg)
Green bacterial mat at Norris Geyser Basin (pics thanks to Mrs J)

(https://www.yellowstonepark.com/.image/t_share/MTQ3MzIwMDY4NTMzNzI0NjIy/ys-grand-prismatic-people_dkrause_680.jpg)
Grand Prismatic pool

Gorgeous pics, Chech. Got to be breathtaking to see in person.

This video from the web makes it come alive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzxlyTJD66Q

 #+  :o this is just beautiful Chechem. Thanks so much e-cred for the pics. God made such beauty man does not even understand. Well done sir. RTR!

I'm glad you enjoy them, Ricky.  Thank you.

Wednesday My 29th:

Mrs. J and Jamos went north today to visit Mammoth (in YNP) and Gardiner (the town).  Meanwhile Buddy and I went to Hebgen to fish with another friend who drove down from Whitehall MT to join us.  The J's had a grand time, and told us all about it at dinner tonight.  We had an absolutely beautiful day on the lake (blue skies, no wind, high 70).  We all caught fish, but none really big.  I caught a rainbow trout that was edible size, but that was the only one worth mentioning.  I haven't downloaded its pic, so I'll include it later.

This afternoon we all drove over to Earthquake Lake to visit the museum dedicated to the 28 people killed during the 1959 earthquake.  We also stopped at Three-dollar Bridge for a lesson from Buddy about the history of the Madison River.

(https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20090816__20090817_A16_CD17QUAKEp2.jpg?w=600)
The earthquake caused a huge landslide, and a mountain collapsed.  It buried a campground, killing 28 people.  

(https://i.imgur.com/aBPW4r7.jpg)
Three-dollar Bridge

(https://i.imgur.com/qtpRbo0.jpg)
Three-dollar Bridge on beer label

(https://i.imgur.com/cJCctqi.jpg)
Herd of Rocky Mt Bighorn Sheep (all rams) in the road.  Jamos managed to stop just long enough on the busy highway for Mrs Jamos to snap a pic of their butts and junk.
 :unsure: :unsure:

 :lol2:

Chech, how did the bridge get it's name? Did it used to be a toll bridge?

I found a computer at work that doesn't filter the images but I still can't see the video yet.  Really beautiful pics Chech.  Like 2 said, I'd love to know the origin of the name of that bridge...

I pay my $3 when I fish there!   8)

It earned its name because for the last 40 years landowners have charged anglers $3 to park there.  They tuck the money into a big steel safe that has been rusting away on the parking lot for decades. Payments are on the honor system, according to Jess Armitage, one of two partners who own the property, which is part of the Candlestick Ranch.

https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/oregon-river-advocates-lead-effort-to-keep-montana-access-site/article_a2fc2f62-a0cf-52a7-ab83-ac67fb208e31.html

Thursday May 30, 2019

Buddy and I went into the park before daybreak.  Jamos and Mrs J did some touring of the town, packed for tomorrow's travels, and went into the park this afternoon.  We met with the Jamos family for dinner, then returned to our motels to watch the softball game.

We saw 2 bison in the road just in time this morning.  Their eyes lit up, so we saw them in the darkness.  They're dark brown, so they are almost invisible.  We got to the Lamar Valley by daybreak, saw a car pulled over, and they pointed to grizzlies walking up a steep hill.  We saw the Mama and one cub before they topped the hill.  There were twin cubs.  Then we found wolves and watched them for 2 hours, found 3 moose, a badger, newly hatched Sandhill Cranes, etc etc.

We got delayed at daybreak while a herd of bison crossed the road.  Buddy managed to capture fun pics of 2 baby bison playing "bully"; head butting and spinning around.
(https://i.imgur.com/YXeQB56.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z3sTR2C.jpg)

Lots of mooses.   :lol2:
(https://i.imgur.com/9rjl243.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rxJ9npu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2dVSGGq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dqfoXmz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YvHWvV1.jpg)

The Sandhill Crane eggs finally hatched:
(https://i.imgur.com/no9dg6t.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/udxA298.jpg)

Grizzly boar (male) far up a hill:
(https://i.imgur.com/Iyh2LM0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/X399kD1.jpg)

We saw 5 Black Bears today, including this one right beside the road:
(https://i.imgur.com/FWKnmST.jpg)

Four wolves had a reunion right in front of our spotting scopes; three blacks and a gray (no pics of the gray).  Thanks to information from "LeAnn", a wolf watcher, we set up on a hilltop.  During the two hours there we saw a wolf from our left walking west along the river, and it met with 3 other wolves moving east.  They played, tumbled, and challenged herds of bison (trying to separate a baby from Mom's protection), then walk east for a mile around a corner and out of sight.  

The white on the collar of the wolf at left is a GPS box that tells researchers where she is.  This wolf is #1107, a female of the Junction Butte Pack.  She has puppies, but nobody has seen them out of the den yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/lt1A1ZE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1sOpIb7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OCx6FW7.jpg)

On the drive home along the Madison River we suddenly saw a bear ahead.  We pulled over and waited, and it walked right up to my car and crossed the road right in front.  All 4 pics are through the windshield.
(https://i.imgur.com/qaMnl4g.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wAlzPEV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JZP4c5u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6DeOPRJ.jpg)

Wow, y'all hit the jackpot yesterday! Great pics!  #+

 #+ #+ gosh well done Chechem. RTR!

Friday May 31st:

Another beautiful day; 35-70 degrees on the lake.  We fished early, then thunder sent us home early about noon.  It never did rain, but storms come fast at this elevation (7000'), so we always get off the water when necessary.

We each caught 5 fish; not great, but some good fish and plenty of laughing and fun.  Here are my best two (cold at dawn and fogged my lens):

(https://i.imgur.com/R51hFuL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zNyXBKe.jpg)

Nice!  :clap:

Friday addendum:

After dinner we drove into the park for a fun outing.  We watched birds (osprey, goldfinches, chipping sparrows, etc), and I photographed this Mountain Bluebird.  In Firehole Canyon we saw this newborn elk calf and its Mom:

(https://i.imgur.com/dY6CMlg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mHrPLGw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3fhhboo.jpg)

Sweet!

Wow!  Chech, those are awesome pics.  I especially like the pics through the windshield of the grizzly bear.  Why didn't you step out of the car to get a little better pic though?  ;D  The fat guy in overalls did...  ;)

Saturday June 1st:

What a day Buddy and I had in the park.  Saw 9 bears!  We left at 4:15, found the "Slough Sow" grizzly and her 2 cubs, got pics, then found numerous other bears (black and cinnamon), some bighorn sheep (all rams), then yellow-headed blackbirds, a moose and its yearling, and a cooperative fox.  Mixed within that was a great breakfast at the bakery in Cooke City, and beautiful weather.
Our friend, Rosie, is cooking dinner for us: real burritos.  Yum.

Griz and her 2 cubs:
(https://i.imgur.com/IJPsR3O.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7s0qt4y.jpg)

Cinnamon bear (right next to the car):
(https://i.imgur.com/PmqzXnV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/j6T1pkh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uNJXvUq.jpg)

Black bear:
(https://i.imgur.com/3wLYR6f.jpg)

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep:
(https://i.imgur.com/S3FXodL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SmeMqdw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ycIq5iy.jpg)

Red Fox
(https://i.imgur.com/SCOuKpn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iUf63PG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VGZTKBQ.jpg)

Yellow-headed Blackbird on a rock:
(https://i.imgur.com/NyrtSKR.jpg)

Pronghorns (males):
(https://i.imgur.com/QYXGEe7.jpg)

Osprey on nest:
(https://i.imgur.com/5emUvW0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SMgbt2M.jpg)

https://i.imgur.com/cfOhaLE.jpg

Bald Eagle for Ricky:
(https://i.imgur.com/40Iy1k4.jpg)

Trout Lily:
(https://i.imgur.com/qPleHKl.jpg)

Looks like another banner day, Chech. You're killing it!

Chech,  going out there you had ONE job...






NAILED IT!

Sunday June 2nd:

Fishing was fast and furious this morning.  It's been slow.  I caught a fish on my second cast, and ended up with 30-40 fish.  Unfortunately most were either smallish trout or non-desired species.  Caught at least 30 chubs and a bunch of whitefish.  Fun, but like catching ladyfish.

Beats catching nothing, but I feel your pain.

I know you do.  :lol2:
I moved to a grassbed after catching half a dozen chubs right away.  My fishfinder was full of fish in the grass, from the bottom at 11' to 5'.  I'd never seen so many fish in one view.  But few were trout, and the chubs were like piranhas.  I moved every half hour or so, and never found a concentration of trout.

Today's another day.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/AkbteAKgPTFXq/giphy.gif)

So glad you're having fun Chechem. Good fishing should always be fun. RTR!

And indeed it is fun.
Caught another boatload of fish today; again mostly non-desirable species and a few trout.  Local folks like to say, "It's better later in June".
 :popcorn2:

The later into June, the closer I am to real work.  :unsure:

Tuesday June 4th:

Much better day today.  The trout showed up.  It was cool and foggy early, then cleared into a beautiful day.  I caught all rainbow trout today (no browns), plus one whitefish and only one chub.  WOOT.

I haven't downloaded pics from my GoPro yet, so no fish pics.

Here are pics of the lake this afternoon (from Horse Butte; high hill adjacent to the lake - 7000' elevation), and a pic of my buddy and his truck (fuzzy beard added to protect those who know how to fish from members who prey on them -  :lol2: ).

(https://i.imgur.com/RGpjtqF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i8uWJWG.jpg)

 :lol: :lol: it is amazing what an ink pen can do.  :clap:, RTR!

(https://i.imgur.com/i8uWJWG.jpg)

Etch-A-Sketch Eddie?  :lol:

I'm just catching up with the last couple of day's pics.  They are awesome.  Well, except for that fuzzy-bearded guy in front of the white pickup...

 #+ #+ #+

I just didn’t want you guys to think I was out here meeting a woman.
 8)

I've seen women with beards.  Just sayin...   :lol: :lol: :lol:

 :lol: :lol: Chech, you sure he isn't scaring the fish?  :lol2:

Glad you guys are entertained.  :lol2:

This morning we're going into the park.  Not going to Lamar Valley, where the action remains hot; going to Hayden Valley - home of the Wapiti Wolf Pack.  The lead wolf (alpha female) is a white female.  Nobody's seen her lately; prolly at the den.  Not likely we'll see her, but there's other good stuff there.  I'll try for pics.

This afternoon my son and his wife arrive to join our growing group of enthusiasts.  Last night we had a cookout at the Rainbow Point Campground; 6 of us fishermen.  One guy caught 4 yesterday; most of us only 1.  Slow yet.  But those who know say the lowering of the lake during early May messed up the trout migration.  They'll be back in our section of the lake within a week.  Woot.

Good stuff! You haven't had a bad day yet. And we are indeed, enjoying the pics.

Thursday June 6th:

We went to Hayden Valley at daybreak, and saw a snowshoe hare (rare to see in YNP), lots of bison and elk, a big grizzly, bald eagle, etc etc...  Good morning, and home by noon.

(https://i.imgur.com/RD0FGIT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9yVhGU2.jpg)

Snowshoe Hare:
(https://i.imgur.com/fwHMdsH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yc8sInL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/M6xOJtZ.jpg)

Elk in velvet:
(https://i.imgur.com/eSTZF5F.jpg)

Grizzly through the scope:
(https://i.imgur.com/gfxcr43.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AInzufR.jpg)

Red Squirrel:
(https://i.imgur.com/EPjc64z.jpg)

Wow Chechem, the hare was really a delight. I like the old looking Bison. RTR!

Really cool pics.  But if you don't mind, let's not discuss hair, aight?

 :lol3:

 :lol:  You guys!

Thursday addendum:

During the afternoon we found lots of goodies in the park.

(https://i.imgur.com/WG4KGt1.jpg)

While looking at nesting herons, we saw these two buddies.  One is a male Blue-winged Teal (left), and the other is a Cinnamon Teal.  What, no dates?
(https://i.imgur.com/Y2ombQz.jpg)

Young griz
(https://i.imgur.com/MEAJeuO.jpg)

Friday June 7th:

Excellent day in Lamar Valley.  We saw 17 bears today.  It was nuts.  One was on a moose carcass.  Also saw a moose with twins babies, baby ducklings, baby bison, baby pronghorns, baby elk, baby owls, baby peregrine falcons, etc.  Great day.

Wolves?  It was rainy, and they stayed inside all day.  None of the wolf watchers saw any at all.  Maybe tomorrow.  They'll be easy to track in the snow.  
 :tinfoil:

Forgot to mention these Harlequin Ducks that were playing in the LeHardy Rapids.  They swim in the most rough water, diving for food among the rapids.
(https://i.imgur.com/r9m45G7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zXZ4q9e.jpg)

Babies and Mama Lesser Scaup:
(https://i.imgur.com/9IHIWMb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UbrZViX.jpg)

Great Horned Owl and babies (white things at right):
(https://i.imgur.com/zq1Hx5v.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J5I54I0.jpg)

Cinnamon Black Bears, Black Bears, and Grizzly (most were all too far away):
(https://i.imgur.com/xy2e1yU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/x45EiJT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lW2hOwi.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rOJ4MA0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Rc62aMq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rIMqXDA.jpg)

More:

Black bear munching grass:
(https://i.imgur.com/rz82TnW.jpg)

Baby:
(https://i.imgur.com/Wf4b1ce.jpg)

Teenager elk (right at the car window):
(https://i.imgur.com/zKlu9DZ.jpg)

Saturday June 8th:

It's snowing.  My car is covered, but the roads look okay.
 ???

(https://i.imgur.com/m32aUqu.jpg)
The one in the foreground is my car.

Just now catching up on your pics from the last few days, Chech. Just outstanding! Hard to fathom getting snow in June.  :o

Snow looks cold and beautiful. Well done sir. RTR!

Wow!  All those babies...Incredible pics Chech. Thanks for sharing. 

Saturday June 8th:

We awoke to about 2" of snow today.  Dunraven Pass got much more, and it was closed.  So we drove north through Mammoth to get to Lamar Valley.  Along the way we saw grizzlies lying in the snow, and nesting swans at Swan Lake.  At Mammoth upper terrace we saw a black bear.  Then we found several wolf watchers we know at Nature Trail.  They showed us 4 of the "8-mile" wolf pack.  They'd seen puppies earlier in the week, but none were seen by us.  Fields of snow, and silhouetted wolves!  

In Lamar the snow got worse, and at one point we couldn't even see the bison in the meadows 100 yards away.  The wind howled from the west, and all bison started moving east.  Some were running, and most were in long lines.  They streamed toward "Hitching Post", where the Lamar and Soda Butte Rivers joined.  As 4 bulls crossed the road one paused to almost lick my friend through the open window.  Later we saw black bears at Hubbard Hill and Tower, then a Junction Pack black wolf near the old Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley (50-70 yds away).  Cool.  

(https://i.imgur.com/W2zsOc8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SIcz1R2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bjbPuhX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aMTZHXP.jpg)
See the ravens top right?

(https://i.imgur.com/SQTvp48.jpg)
The grizzly in the next pic is up on that mountain.

(https://i.imgur.com/gdvUvmj.jpg)
Grizzly boar lying in the snow.

(https://i.imgur.com/dB0XlJf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5zTAZpX.jpg)
Black bear among the snowy trees.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZgbwifA.jpg)
Big bull heading east.

(https://i.imgur.com/mkXL7Wh.jpg)
Coyote chasing ground squirrels.

(https://i.imgur.com/8TP2W1x.jpg)
Black bear near Tower Junction.

(https://i.imgur.com/JTfIkzk.jpg)
Mountain bluebells after the snow melted from them.

Just beautiful!  #+

Sunday June 9th:

My visitors had to catch a plane from Bozeman at 7pm yesterday, so we did a half day in the park.  Saw the geyser basins, Old Faithful, etc.  Then we drove into Hayden Valley and saw a friend: Ranger Lorna.  She told me where an elk carcass was.  We found it, and watched a wolf for half an hour.  He'd rip away a piece of meat and go flop down in the sage to eat.  We couldn't see him when he was down, but had good looks while he walked to and from.  No pics, because I was sharing the scope with my guests and Ranger Jon.  But a good day spent there.

Old Faithful
(https://i.imgur.com/aOk17Gm.jpg)

Peek into one of the hot springs
(https://i.imgur.com/PrJ74o6.jpg)

Geyser and pool at Lower Geyser Basin
(https://i.imgur.com/xRGoYD0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xcPfMZh.jpg)

Tree Swallow.  They are common in bird houses all over the area, but this one was actually nesting in a tree!!  How odd.   :lol2:
(https://i.imgur.com/UYuyUnB.jpg)

Big bull bison sleping on the lawn of the historic Lake Hotel on Yellowstone Lake.
(https://i.imgur.com/KJpr77k.jpg)

That bison looks like he owns the hotel.  :lol2:

Love the geyser pics!

Monday June 10th:

The fish finally showed up in the lake.  Caught a bunch today, both brown and rainbow trout.  No chubs; no whitefish!  Woot.

6:15am was cold and fogged the lens.
(https://i.imgur.com/zqkCl9T.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aVgXXRX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8LrWKTJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cGG8WTw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/h0ilS0V.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4Un5yF6.jpg)

 #+ those are great Chechem. My congrats and thanks for the pics. RTR!

Good job on the fishing and the pics.  #+

Monday (addendum):

Yesterday afternoon we drove into the park for a late-afternoon outing.  Saw a guy with a spotting scope intently looking across a field.  "WOLF!", he told us as we walked up.  I raised my binoculars and saw a healthy coyote.  

This is common in Yellowstone.  People want to see wolves, and the big coyotes here can be confusing.  So usually I don't tell them otherwise.  My buddy walked up and raised his binoculars.  "That's a coyote, not a wolf."  Scope guy got pissed: "I know what a coyote looks like, and this is a wolf."  Buddy said, "Then you would know this is a coyote."  Scope guy started a long lecture about it, telling us we were idiots; he has "coyotes in his back yard in Texas", etc.  We had to walk away.

We stopped again to look at an osprey nest 10 miles up the road.  As we were looking a woman walked up, telling us: "There's a wolf over there", pointing.  Coyote.  Buddy says, "Yep, nice", and keeps looking at the osprey.  :lol2:

Poor quality image at that distance, but certainly a coyote.
(https://i.imgur.com/mrtaqXp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Rs184CK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XE1TdTw.jpg)

Again, not great image.  Wind was shaking the tripod.  Sandhill Crane among the bison.  Everybody has their heads down.  :lol2:
(https://i.imgur.com/neF5GoA.jpg)

Dude must have been from Lee County. Even I know the difference between a wolf and a coyote.  :lol2:

Tuesday and Wednesday; June 11-12:

First we drove from West Yellowstone to Red Lodge via Belfry (and Chief Joseph Hwy), because the Beartooth Hwy was closed.  It reopened Wednesday.  We saw a big cinnamon bear near the NE Gate, and got good pics.  Tuesday night we stayed at the Pollard Hotel, and watched the "High Country Cowboys" perform.  Visited with friends Bob and Greta before the show, the again after.  Fun.

Wednesday:
We awoke at the Pollard to a big breakfast, then off to the Chief Joseph Hwy.  Before leaving Red Lodge we saw a beautiful fawn in town (motel grassy yard), then drove through Belfry and back to the intersection of the Beartooth near Cooke City.  We decided to try driving the Beartooth, which had just opened, and enjoyed the deep snow atop the mountains.  At the apex of the mountains (11,000') we took pics of Black Rosy Finches; rare birds found only in alpine habitats, and watched folks ski down steep mountains.  We ended up back in Red Lodge, the drove north to I-90 and across to Bozeman, ate dinner there at the Pizza Compania, then south to Red Sky.  Walked through their outdoor festival, then south toward West Yellowstone.  Saw a moose and baby along the way; good pics.  WOOT

Cinnamon Black Bear:
(https://i.imgur.com/ThsaMiH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0Ctylyu.jpg)

Wolves in Lamar Valley walked right past us:
(https://i.imgur.com/jzLWArg.jpg)

Cowboy Music at Pollard Hotel
(https://i.imgur.com/KmBfiDy.jpg)
(https://s3-media2.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/wTPkrq9E7vZTtOBCOFfsnA/348s.jpg)

Pilot Peak
(https://i.imgur.com/2XLBmua.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HtRlV0A.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QtzeSRk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/54htZij.jpg)

Skier far up the mountain.  :unsure:
(https://i.imgur.com/ltcU5Ub.jpg)

Dog
(https://i.imgur.com/XTwS6jJ.jpg)

Black Rosy Finch:
(https://i.imgur.com/AtamuHv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4UrGbO7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JQs1tH6.jpg)

9-lined ground squirrel in mountains:
(https://i.imgur.com/P3Ns0T1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A24IdxN.jpg)

Ring-necked duck and ruddy duck (red one):
(https://i.imgur.com/Ix6AI23.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3OsiA0l.jpg)

Mama moose and baby:
(https://i.imgur.com/ZpHLsed.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/88Ntzvp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7pnJALm.jpg)

Wow so beautiful Chechem. I especially like the look of snow on the big mountains in June wow. I guess the true mountain man had to really know how to take care of himself back in the early pioneer days huh? RTR!

Great stuff, Chech. If I were that skier, I'd be worried about an avalanche.  :unsure:

Thursday June 13th:

The trout are finally in the lake and snapping.

(https://i.imgur.com/P7fuSsa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/05WqLDB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fByO528.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QiH1ibe.jpg)

Nice looking specimens there, Chech.

Thanks, buddy.
We went back into the park this afternoon so my friend could try out his new camera (mounted on his telescope).  While he did that I spotted 6 mountain goats high up above the Madison River.  It's a long look, but there are 3 cute baby goats (kids?) and 3 hens (ewes?).
Nice.  The little guys were running around playing.  Can you imagine the view from up there?  It's prolly 500' above the river.
 :worship: :worship:

(https://i.imgur.com/UXDYTR2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AM6bfxT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZHppjXW.jpg)

Those are all really cool.  Especially the wolves/coyotes/dog pics... I also like the pics of the new baby critters...

 :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: golly how our wildlife lives. Chechem you are so blessed to be able to see this and thank you so much for bringing us along to view the beauty God has created. RTR!

 :worship:  You're the best, Ricky.

Friday June 14th:

(https://i.imgur.com/Fvg1Bky.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WBdrxPh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GDXIbb5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Uls8Kxr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WDtIu2B.jpg)
This one was thin thin thin.  Like a snake!

Very good pics though. RTR!

Saturday June 15th:

Zipped into the park for a visit.  Saw a black wolf at daybreak, and several of us watched him as he walked along the sagebrush in Lamar Valley.  Later I saw a fox and a coyote, so I had a "THREE-DOG DAY", one of the goals of seeing "dogs" in the park.  Saw a badger as I sat on my chair with my telescope, and watched lots and lots of babies: Pronghorns, Uinta Ground Squirrels, Elk, Bison, Grizzlies, Black Bears, etc.  Good day.

(https://i.imgur.com/sqnq51c.jpg)
Tiny little Uinta Ground Squirrels

(https://i.imgur.com/ryJb62Y.jpg)
Newborn Pronghorn

(https://i.imgur.com/0jj2g4z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TGXIj0f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/t4DnQJ1.jpg)
Rains came, and the Bison walked in the road ("Road Rats").

Those are awesome pics Chech.  Thanks again for sharing them with us...

Hey Chechem are there any of those animals on the protection list? RTR!

Wolves, Bison, and Bald Eagles for starters...

If you've ever seen the Asians drive in YNP, then you know all animals here are endangered.

 :dunno:

Sunday June 16th:

Best day yet at the lake.  I had 3 fish by 7am, and 14 by 11am.  Then the thunderboomers came, so I went home.  Excellent.  All but 4 were brown trout.

Check out the fog in the first few pics.

(https://i.imgur.com/9199BJz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IrzpivQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AYDQQDJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rUrXov1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/C5Nv8mN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cm8JF5t.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nQ3YqKv.jpg)

Let us know when you start to have fun.  :lol2:

Seriously, great stuff!!!

Monday June 17th:

Off to Lamar Valley at 4:30 with 3 ladies from Costa Rica (friends) following us in a separate car.  Fun time despite being 5 minutes late in seeing wolf 969 in Slough Creek; saw no others either.  But we saw lots of grizzly and black bears (2 new for me), a badger, lots of baby critters, several coyotes, a fox, and watched a pronghorn chase a coyote away from its baby at high speed for 5 minutes - amazing.

(https://i.imgur.com/LreCW23.jpg)
Elk

(https://i.imgur.com/QylmTyZ.jpg)
Coyote

(https://i.imgur.com/ytkqqQL.jpg)
Pronghorn (arrow left) chasing Coyote (arrow right).  Taken from a video; amazing speed.  They ran right through a bison jam.

(https://i.imgur.com/jW29rSw.jpg)
Great Horned Owl with baby (at right)

(https://i.imgur.com/hEySrh7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/g5thyK5.jpg)
Coyote just before chase began.

(https://i.imgur.com/VHb6eTg.jpg)
Taken from a mile away through scope.  An idiot guy waaaay atop a mountain saw the grizzly bear and 2 cubs we were watching.  Rather than leave, he closed the gap to take photos.  The bear charged him at first, then took the cubs away at a run.  JERK!

(https://i.imgur.com/zfbvuyo.jpg)
Cinnamon Black Bear on Mount Washburn

(https://i.imgur.com/5IWU66s.jpg)
Rainbow.  Never as pretty as seen in person!

Chech, that might have been the best set of pics yet! WTH was that guy thinking with the bear and her cubs?  :o

No idea.  I actually videotaped it, expecting him to be killed.   :dunno:

Those are beautiful especially the rainbow. I didn't understand the man wanting to get so close to that bear. RTR!

He was prolly taking a bad photo.

And he's an idiot.

Tuesday June 18th:

Another great morning fishing (13 trout and 4 whitefish):

(https://i.imgur.com/33nxdCY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZKSd1ft.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6GOjDAg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ew2F375.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sHV8MI2.jpg)

Looks like the fishing is getting better every day. Nice haul!  :clap:

Wow, those trout look awful tasty... Too bad the bear didn't catch the idiot.  He needs to do more to purge the gene pool...

 :lol:

Wifi working briefly.  I'll try some pics:

(https://i.imgur.com/rPgHGBV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UOZ7xgh.jpg)
Western Tanager

(https://i.imgur.com/hMJw8xh.jpg)
It has snowed all of the first days of "summer"

(https://i.imgur.com/WE1nQZx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xCeax5P.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i0nrIUI.jpg)

I think this was last Friday.  A 7-mile line of cars waited.
(https://i.imgur.com/WygqPSM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1uuetbo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/em969BW.jpg)
Purple=larkspur  Yes, that's snow on the ground.  The road where I took this pic was closed for 2 days after that evening.

(https://i.imgur.com/OXTZ0nv.jpg)
Alpine Avens (in the snow)

(https://i.imgur.com/UnKb2C6.jpg)

Last Friday:

(https://i.imgur.com/a94zhH6.jpg)
Baby badgers.  The gray one is unusual.  I have a video of the mother carrying a ground squirrel to feed them.

(https://i.imgur.com/fQDoFXa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A04u3H0.jpg)
I watched this wolf (#907F), a female whose babies were killed during May, for 2 hours.  At daybreak, when these pics were taken, she was eating a baby bison and carrying part of it across the Lamar River.  This was taken at 5:15am, so it's hard to tell, but she's wading shallow water.  Later she swam with it to the far bank.

(https://i.imgur.com/D3zn7VS.jpg)
Bison are weird.

(https://i.imgur.com/N6MfJQk.jpg)
"He said we're weird!"

(https://i.imgur.com/1xjAybE.jpg)
Lots of bears.

(https://i.imgur.com/fyiunRE.jpg)

I'm not posting a bunch of trout.  Use your imagination.   :stars:

Great pics, Chech. How were the wolf pups killed?

By 907F's jealous sister (969F).  Complex behavior that's not well understood and seldom documented in wolves.
 :dunno:

Interesting. Thanks.

Great job Chechem. Glad to see you're back online and having fun. RTR!

Great pics and a wonderful experience.  Thanks for sharing with us Chech...

Thanks much, guys.  Glad to be back on line.

Monday June 24, 2019:

Great day fishing AND seeing bears.  Caught 14 trout despite the rough seas (10-15k winds).  We stayed until 2pm.  

Then on the way home, right at the West Yellowstone Airport exit from Hwy 191, a GRIZZLY BEAR RAN ACROSS THE ROAD.  Yes, right on a major highway.  I took pics of it in the woods (without getting out of the car).  I'm also including pics of other bears seen but not yet posted.  I've now seen 77 different bears (as best I could determine).  I've been careful not to count the same ones twice.

This is the grizzly that crossed Hwy 191.  Sorry for the poor quality, but it was drizzling and low light.
(https://i.imgur.com/JP74tMq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1vYLwih.jpg)

Here's a black bear I saw in YNP last week:
(https://i.imgur.com/HQept6g.jpg)

Huge cinnamon bear seen last week crossing the road along the Madison River.
(https://i.imgur.com/ns1lSoP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/C3ocBdJ.jpg)

That's got to be exciting to see all those bears. Great stuff!

Thanks Chechem for the pics. It is sunny and nice here today. Rained last night but don't see any today. Looking forward to hearing reports on practice now. RTR!

Went to Hebgen by myself this morning.  The fishing was so good that I'm going back tomorrow.  :unsure:

I caught 21 trout and 2 whitefish.  That's the most trout in 2 years at Hebgen.  Excellent fishing, especially after 11:30.  If the wind stays calm long enough, the mayflies hatch and the trout start snapping.  WOOT!

(https://i.imgur.com/ZgDnJmK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jWwWXyz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3wnkTKI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xr5ptLs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Dm4lFQT.jpg)

Man, I got the jelly!!!  :-\ Nice job fishing, Chech.

Tuesday continued:

The road to the new fishing spot is beautiful, through sage meadows and around/over steep hills.  There are wildflowers, ground squirrels, lots of birds typical of sage habitat (like the Lark Bunting), an eagle nest, a badger den, and plenty of ducks, geese, and white pelicans along the shore.  BUT, the road is also full of rocks and deep holes; travel is slow.

The Road
(https://i.imgur.com/VWCL89L.jpg)

Example of the rocky road (much worse in person, especially with no auto repairs for 70 miles):
(https://i.imgur.com/CzQv9su.jpg)

An aspen grove with Balsamroot flowers.  Sage in foreground.
(https://i.imgur.com/s5yDqRO.jpg)

Can you imagine what the early cowboys thought when they rode through such beauty with their horses? It must have been breath taking as it is now to your pics Chechem. Thanks so much. RTR!

Wednesday June 26th:


It keeps getting better.  The wind cooperated today, and we fished until past noon.  I CAUGHT 28 TROUT!

This was the biggest; a 4-5 pound brown trout.
(https://i.imgur.com/6x6zF5s.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bDRWciq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ve9jaT2.jpg)

Here is my car showing the huge meadows of sage near our lake.  I'm not a cowboy, Ricky, so I drive this pony.
(https://i.imgur.com/anfhgje.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4BCoqJu.jpg)

That is one big ole trout!  #+

Beautiful fish pictures thanks for sharing

Mrs Dottie and I saw the fish and your horse. She was laughing. Those are beautiful pics of fish. RTR!

Great pics Chech, looks like the weather did a big change after we left the park but it also provided some great pics and good fishing for you. I'm glad the fishing got better, you were working pretty hard to find them as we left you. Thanks again for the wonderful vacation in Yellowstone, as we watched some Yellowstone shows on the National Geographic channel last night we could relate to a lot of their show, thanks to our wonderful guides. #+ #+

Thanks, everybody.
Jamos, you and Mrs Jamos are certainly class people.  Nice to enjoy the park with people who love the outdoors as much as we do.
 :worship: :worship:

Thursday June 27th:

We left for Lamar Valley at 4:20am.  As soon as we got there (just before 6am) we met up with the park's new wolf biologist (Jeremy) and some other friends.  Jeremy told us his tracking system had picked up a wolf near the Lamar River (south of our location).  Within 30 minutes we saw the wolf, #1048 (black adult male born in 2015).  We watched him for the next 2 hours as he walked the river bank.  We kept moving east, staying ahead of him for good viewing.  

We also saw 7 bears, mostly grizzlies, a badger, and lots more.  Fun day that ended at 8:45pm in the park when we saw and followed 4 more wolves walking along the north side of the road in Lamar Valley.  Good viewing of them.  We didn't get back to the motel until 11pm.

First grizzly we saw.  From video and into the sun, so fuzzy.  It was high up near an elk, and we watched as it stood on its hind legs then chased the elk.
(https://i.imgur.com/vcZWAHz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/c6tEHRX.jpg)

Patch of heart-shaped snow a mile away, high up the mountain near the grizzly and 2 cubs.
(https://i.imgur.com/m1RlIsw.jpg)

Mama and 2 cubs far away (over a mile).  We took video and watched them play in the snow patches for 2 hours.  One of the cubs slid down the patch on its butt and slid right off the patch.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZrTVrXG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6uOciQQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Kl2uElN.jpg)

Eagle; for Ricky.
(https://i.imgur.com/dBqoVCv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/f38v0sk.jpg)

Uinta Ground Squirrel
(https://i.imgur.com/2LxQwzO.jpg)

Sunrise over pond.  This photo is printed upside down to show the incredible reflection.
(https://i.imgur.com/CsmQNZg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/37ELIXv.jpg)

Man those are nice Chehem. It is good to see those beautiful eagles. Freedom still rings. RTR!

Outstanding pics, Chech. Glad you were able to make Mr. and Mrs. J's visit there a good one.

Those are incredible pics.  Tuesday afternoon when I left work I drove by the mouth of the Pasagshak river.  There were >18 Bald eagles hanging around looking for Salmon.  Among them were 3 or 4 young ones that haven't gotten their white head feathers yet.  One of the adults swooped down and snatched up a fish and took off.  All of the others immediately followed it hoping to steal it.  That was wonderful to see... I got some pics of them but hadn't figured out how to use Dad's camera at that time so they aren't very good pics.  I'm hoping to see them again before this trip is over so maybe I can get some better pics.

The wind was up to 18k at 11am today, so I only caught 12 trout.  
BUT, THIS ONE IS THE BIGGEST I'VE EVER CAUGHT IN HEBGEN LAKE.
It took 15 minutes to get to the net; ran all over the lake.  Caught on a nymph less than an inch long.

(https://i.imgur.com/AaFCVcK.jpg)

Wow, that thing either was REALLY big or REALLY close to the camera...  :lol:

Since it was you claiming it I'll go with really big...   :lol2:  Seriously, any idea what it weighed?

I didn't know orca's were spotted.  :lol2: That thing is huge, Chech. Nice catch!  :clap:

I'm not good at estimating weights of trout.
But I have a tape measure on my casting apron (in the boat) for measuring trout up to 20".  This one was beyond the 20" and its tail hung off the end of the apron well beyond the 20" mark.
About 24-25" prolly. 
 :dunno:

(https://i.imgur.com/ipLK1WC.jpg)

Wow big time nice catch Chechem. My compliments sir. RTR!

Thanks, guys.  Wish you could all experience the fun of fighting in such a big fish.

Saturday June 29th:

D and I fished at Hebgen early.  By 8am I had 4 big trout, all rainbows.  But then it slowed, and I ended up with only 8 by 11am when the wind started.

But the story of the day was a porcupine, the first we've seen this trip.  I was driving the horrid, bumpy, rocky road along Hebgen's shore at sunrise when I saw a porcupine waddling toward a stand of willows by the shore.  I jumped out in pursuit with cell phone in hand, but he got into the willows ahead of me.  I plumged in behind him, he stopped, and I got video and a few pics.  But when threatened they turn their butt and quills toward you, so most of the video is porcupine butt.

Here is the porcupine lateral to me through the willows.  His black face is at right.  Unfortunately his head is down, so you can't see his eyes.
(https://i.imgur.com/XsDLtyW.jpg)

As I approached in the thicket he turned his rear end with quills toward me.  That's this pic.  His tail is at bottom, his quills are spiny and white, and his fur is beige surrounding his quills.
(https://i.imgur.com/Bc1FykE.jpg)

Great pic but be careful. RTR!

Thanks, Ricky.  No problem; just like a sea urchin.   :lol2:

Sunday June 30th:

No pics today; everything is packed.
I got to the lake at 7am, and the wind held off until noon.  I got 12 trout, and we had mucho fun.  Excellent last day fishing.

Starting home tomorrow early.  I'm driving through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks.  It's the closest route, but slow when critters are on the road.
Wish me luck.

 :-*

(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/ca/ca56bb976b459c85e6a1573dff6270290143c62af7f0f2a6f3ca9863ea4ca70d.jpg)

 :pray: :pray: for all of you. RTR!

HOME AT LAST!

I traveled 6225 miles on this trip.  And I'm tired.

Here's a pic from the last day of fishing.  It's at sunrise from near where we launch.

(https://i.imgur.com/8FIeuoC.jpg)

Beautiful sunrise pic.  I have really enjoyed your trip.  Thank you for sharing it with us.  Glad you made it home safely too.  Now get you some rest...

Thank God you are home and the family is together. RTR!

Beautiful pic, Chech. Glad you had such a great time. One of these days, maybe........

Welcome home to the heat and humidity, Chech.  Thanks for sharing some of your fantastic sights with us.

Thanks.  I plan to do it all again next month.

 8)

Thursday August 15th:

I made it here safely.  Looooong drive.

Saw lots of pronghorns, several bald eagles, one golden eagle, and 3 mountain goats during the drive through Tetons and Yellowstone NPs.  Got to Tetons at noon today.

Fishing tomorrow.  WOOT!!

Glad you made it safely, Chech. We're just kind of waiting around for the pics.  :popcorn2:

Hey Chechem glad you made it safely. have a grand time my friend. RTR!

 #+ #+ #+  Glad you made it.  Now, go catch some fish and photograph some wolves and bears and other critters...

Glad to hear you made it safe, buddy. Enjoy it.

Friday August 16th:

Had a great day fishing on Hebgen Lake.  It was 34 degrees and foggy when I got there, but warmed to 75 by noon.  Windy after that.  I caught 13 trout (2 browns and 11 rainbows).  Here are some of the best:

(https://i.imgur.com/lSQlxsY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2F5ZbEt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NZWwuba.jpg)

Back at it tomorrow morning early!  Woot!

NICE!!!

I have to live vicariously through you right now.  :clap:

Great catch Chechem. RTR!

Beautiful fish Chech.   #+

Saturday August 17th:

We got to Hebgen Lake by daybreak, were out fishing by sunrise (6:30), and started catching fish right away.  It was 40 degrees.  By 10am the wind started blasting and drove us off the lake, but I had 13 trout (can't get off that number).  An excellent day of fishing.

We spent the afternoon visiting with friends, then grilled steaks for dinner.  It was Saturday, so we walked across the street to the park where a "Music in the Park" outdoor party was ongoing.  Several bands played on the stage.  By 9pm I was done.
 :lol2:

Some of today's fish (first 2):

(https://i.imgur.com/4yHlVq2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hO4nGg1.jpg)

Sounds like you had a great day. Yeah, you better get off that '13' streak.  :unsure:

Today might bump me off.  The wind is predicted to start by 10am again.  They'd better be snapping early or I'll be lucky to get 7-8!

Those fish are really beautiful.  Why do they have a totally shocked look on their faces though?  Did they somehow NOT know you were coming?

 :lol2:

Great job as always Chechem. Hey do you have a camera with you or do you do your pics on the phone? RTR!

 :lol: :lol:

e-cred

Sunday August 18th:

I expected to be limited in catching today, because the wind started blowing at 10am.  But I was lucky enough to catch 11 (9 rainbows and 2 browns).  No fish pics (didn't take the GoPro and you know what fish look like).

Here are scenes from the lake instead:

(https://i.imgur.com/Ncx6fwp.jpg)
Wild Asters along the shore of Hebgen Lake.

(https://i.imgur.com/6rTiOn2.jpg)
California buddy's wife in her fishing tube.  Nice day, eh?

Nice pics, Chech. Glad you got off the 13 streak, even though it was less.  :lol2:

Man the flowers are beautiful Chechem. RTR!

Monday August 19th:

Hebgen Lake was again beautiful.  I fished a new area, and caught just 9 trout; still some fine fish and plenty.  Great day that ended with bbq tonight.  Yum.
 :P

(https://i.imgur.com/1hjplMO.jpg)
That's the little fly I used (stuck on its nose).

(https://i.imgur.com/wrg981G.jpg)
Brown Trout for comparison.

(https://i.imgur.com/QOYHI3y.jpg)
My buddy's wife with a brown trout she caught.  I added the facial hair.   :lol2:

Man those are some nice sizes. Well done sir. RTR!

What, no pics of the BBQ?  :lol2:

Awesome pics.  I just hope you didn't show your friend's wife the pic that you added a mustache to her...

 :lol2:

I didn't live this long by being stupid!

Tuesday August 20:

Good day at the lake.  I got up and dressed in the dark, and I was fishing by 6:45.  I had 2 trout by 7am.  Then it slowed.  I ended up with 8 trout and a whitefish.  But we had fun, and it was a beautiful day.  Everybody caught at least 2 trout (all 5 of us).

(https://i.imgur.com/VvcRn7o.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6EnJS2k.jpg)
Not so good when it's cloudy.

(https://i.imgur.com/9iKR3L9.jpg)
This one had tiny eyes.   :dunno:

(https://i.imgur.com/qe6Pmrd.jpg)
I wasn't about to tough that nasty, slimy whitefish.  :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/9iKR3L9.jpg)

I'm surprised he could see the fly.  :lol2:

What are the high temps getting to, Chech?

Got to 80 yesterday.  It's 40 right now.  
But tomorrow a cold front is coming through; supposed to get cooler.   :unsure:

 thanks for sharing the pictures really enjoy the scenery ;)

Nice catch. Though the whitefish you spoke of, is that what we call a sucker here in Alabama? RTR!

No, different species; same mouth.   :lol3:

Broken record, but IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE LAKE.  Almost no wind and almost 80 degrees (after a cool start of 38).  I caught 13 trout; 2 browns and 11 rainbows.

Forget to mention that last night we set up a friend's telescope and saw the rings around Saturn.  This afternoon a family here from Germany asked if D would set it up again.  SURE!
 :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/gvjauAf.jpg)

Maybe tonight you can find Uranus.  :lol2:

Congrats again on the successful fishing.  :worship:

Thursday August 22:

Even though the wind started blasting before noon at the lake, the hay was in the barn.  I had 9 trout already, and some nice long, fat ones.  Not a great day for pics (overcast), so I took only 2 pics.

(https://i.imgur.com/iq7SqWj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9oYjKHq.jpg)

Great pics. Thanks my friend.
Hey only 8 days till kick off. Hope you back home by then. RTR!

Good point, Preacher. You got a good pacle to watch the game there, Chech?

Yes I do.  They have TV here now, and a waitress at the Buffalo Bar (sports bar) is from Florence, AL. 
ROLL TIDE!

It is amazing Chechem how we tend to find our fans wherever we go. Well done sir. RTR!

 :clap:

Friday August 23rd:

What a great day today.  The temperature range was 35-69, and almost no wind or humidity.  Just perfect for fishing.  I caught 25 trout, mostly big ones (4 brown trout; 21 rainbows).  Just a lovely day at Hebgen Lake!

(https://i.imgur.com/4a73LDr.jpg)
A different look; into the net!

(https://i.imgur.com/Y3ZKNEU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XUhI1pD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ewLdVpy.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/civZSBr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Cb2G7Vr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QaZxWdE.jpg)

Trout are dumb fish. They all look alike and it seems you're catching them out of the same family. rofl, RTR!

Preacher, could be the same one, over and over again......from a pic he took 3 years ago.  :lol3:

Hmmm...

(https://bullgatorslounge.com/images/smilies/think.gif)

Saturday August 24th:

Okay you jerks  :eyeroll: I went into the park today just to show how easy it is to photograph wildlife.  Here ya go:

(https://i.imgur.com/pwP7rc0.jpg)
I saw 6 SIX grizzly bears.  Here are 2 of them eating a dead bison.

(https://i.imgur.com/GJ65to0.jpg)
Here are 2 of the grizzlies after the sun came up.  Half a mile away.

(https://i.imgur.com/vW6yAzN.jpg)
Wolf #907 from the Junction Pack

(https://i.imgur.com/QfwMQQI.jpg)
Just like the trout, same wolf.   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/cJ2V0r6.jpg)
Wolf puppies (almost grown).

(https://i.imgur.com/pFD44iZ.jpg)
Wolf 907 again.

(https://i.imgur.com/cmUGliv.jpg)
Black Yearling of the Junction Pack

(https://i.imgur.com/J0LFg7B.jpg)
Same Black Yearling

(https://i.imgur.com/sOpL2RV.jpg)
I watched both of these wolves for 3 hours, and here is the yearling swimming the Lamar River.

 :)

More pics:

(https://i.imgur.com/d3J32am.jpg)
Okay you clowns, you go find and photograph a wild badger!

(https://i.imgur.com/W2L3J7G.jpg)
Or a beautiful Pronghorn buck.

(https://i.imgur.com/cDtpPLl.jpg)

Ok, since you seem offended by our poke of humor, I'll give you the kudos you deserve for these  outstanding pics.  :lol2:

E-cred!

Chechem Dottie and I really enjoyed those pics. RTR!

Thanks, guys.
Maybe NALT will see where all of the grizzlies reside.   :-X

(https://media.tenor.com/images/1933a4fd26ea33936bf725d0a6f9d96c/tenor.gif)


BTW Chech, were you involved in the incident of the bison attacking a car out there in YS the other day?  How much damage did they do to your car? 
 :lol2:

 great pictures of the wildlife how far away was the badger

I was about 50 feet away. It had just emerged from its burrow. Fourth one I’ve seen this year ( plus two pups). Beautiful animals.

Poor WiFi so brief reports;

Sunday and Monday August 25 and 26.
Caught 10 trout Sunday before winds blew hard at 10:00.
Caught 15 yesterday during a great day on the lake. A bald eagle and two ospreys kept us company all morning, squawking and spiraling overhead.

Back at it today.

Man I love hearing our famed Eagles squeal as they fly. Chechem tell them hello for me. lol, you have a safe and wonderful day on your visit. RTR!

Monday August 26th:
Again a very good day at Hebgen.  I fished near Whiskey Point early without much luck, then moved to the dropoffs out from our launch area; immediately caught fish.  I caught a couple of fish on grassbeds, but everything else was out from the launch.  Caught 15 total (4 browns), and several were 20-22". 
Hotdogs for dinner.  Fun day.
(https://i.imgur.com/NFnSIBz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QDkQsxY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5Xkikmd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VNegJaj.jpg)

Tuesday August 27th:
Our buddy G from Montana joined us at the lake (early), and by 7:30 I had 2 nice trout.  BUT, that was the highlight.  We fished until nearly 4pm, and I caught only 5.  So did buddy G.  D had 1, and B had just 2.  SLOW day.
Dinner at the Buffalo Bar. (Reno NV).
(https://i.imgur.com/ZMxkCiJ.jpg)

Wednesday August 28th:
Off to Hayden Valley to see the herds of bison.  They didn't disappoint.  Snorting and grunting announced the rut season; bulls were following their chosen cows everywhere I looked.  Saw some bison swimming the Yellowstone River near Nez Perce Ford, and others standing in the water with their dates.  One dusted off with dirt and mud, then he shook it all off.   :dunno:
Cool 32 degrees at daybreak, and by 10am it was 60.
(https://i.imgur.com/qM6J0r2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2L6euar.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PuHTA1P.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z0VpqVT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5RUgBfk.jpg)

That OL'boy on the bottom looks like he has seen some better days. RTR!

Preacher, I think his face is covered by his breath steam.  :lol2:

Good to see your pics again, Chech.  :worship:

Thanks, Ricky.  I'm off to the park again this morning (early).
 :wave:

Really cool pics.

have you ever gotten close enough to 1 to check their defensive mechanism

I had a badger walk up a trail and meet me during June.  When it closed to about 40' I make a grunt so it'd see me.  It stopped and hurried away.

Thursday August 29th:

Excellent day in the park.  We got up at 3:15, and got to Lamar Valley before daybreak.  At dawn we saw a grizzly and her 2 cubs walking toward a bison carcass.  The cubs are light beige, with black mane, legs, and ears.  We watched them for 3 hours.  They never got closer than 1/4 mile.  

While watching them a coyote walked right past me (5' away; photos).  

A black wolf walked past the carcass while we were focused on the bears.

Then we fished the Lamar River and caught Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout.  Fun and exhausting.

(https://i.imgur.com/i8VIbuc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dLQ095I.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tG6bCQb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/P4UK7gB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HbIsfx4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DO3HkKy.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WV3pnxs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ktVJbxo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ph984JS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7BPifdA.jpg)

Those cubs are a beautiful color, Chech. That is very cool about the coyote. Great pics!

August 30th:

Hebgen was calm and beautiful for 2 hours, then the heavy rain and lightning started.  We left.  Only caught 3 trout and a whitefish.  Best trout (brown) is in the photo.

(https://i.imgur.com/MxfrJs5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/80IZ4jf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ipxpkun.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OqzyzYG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qTzY8JR.jpg)

RAIN!!   :panic:

Bummer, you got rained out, Chech. Nice looking trout, though.

One thing the rain can't take away, is the fun you have while there. RTR!

Saturday August 31st:

Got up early and went wolf watching.  Back for the game.  Saw 10 wolves, 5 coyotes, and 6 bears.

(https://i.imgur.com/cO5gpEE.jpg)
Two wolves resting.  These are 2 of the 3 new puppies this year.  Another den of the same pack had 7 new puppies.  This is the first day these puppies have been seen outside the den area.

(https://i.imgur.com/xlWe6u7.jpg)
Same, closer and fuzzy due to heat waves (1/2 mile away.

(https://i.imgur.com/8FPgWPx.jpg)
Three grizzlies in Lamar Valley

(https://i.imgur.com/vKbbnEx.jpg)
Coyotes.  One at left is howling.  They howled all morning near a carcass; maybe because the wolves had the carcass.

(https://i.imgur.com/5VulVQP.jpg)
Pronghorn buck.

Things of beauty.  :clap:

Sunday September 1, 2019:

I left early (4:30) for Lamar Valley today, and immediately saw wolves.  I was set up with my spotting scope next to Rick McIntyre, the most famous wolf biologist in Yellowstone.
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/valley/feature/wolf-watching-s-main-man-lets-up/article_489794b4-948c-505d-9e70-80fa4b53b395.html

There were initially 4 wolves watching 3 grizzly bears at a bison carcass.  Eventually there were 8 wolves and 3 bears.  I sat on a hillside over the Lamar River and watched until almost noon (wolves and bears bedded down for naps).

About 5pm I was back up there with a friend from Virginia (Big John) and others.  There was quite a show of wolves being chased off the carcass by bears and much growling.  Back at the motel LATE!

Two especially for Ricky.   :worship:

(https://i.imgur.com/vHCt8TG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/e5MhU2n.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2KwzT3o.jpg)
Grizzly turning over the carcass (1/2 mile away).

(https://i.imgur.com/Ve52oHP.jpg)
From video.  Like a rocket the grizzly charged a wolf (at left), who bolted to safety.

(https://i.imgur.com/C39b8NI.jpg)
Wolf wading the stream.

(https://i.imgur.com/9TSffQT.jpg)
Bison taking a cool drink.

(https://i.imgur.com/7sK130v.jpg)

Outstanding stuff! I would guess McIntyre had some good stories to tell?

Beautiful pictures

Those Eagles was beautiful. They look like a warrior and stands proud over his victory. RTR!

Monday September 2nd:


Excellent day at Lamar.  Got there early (daybreak) and climbed the hill north of Coyote (steep hill, waaaaay up) with 3 buddies and waited.  Soon Rick McIntyre joined us.  The wolves began to awaken.  One group of the pack chased a herd of elk, including two bull elk.  Others sat and waited around the rendezvous area (near an elongate pond).  We saw 11 wolves at least (3 gray; 8 black).

I chatted with Rick about Yellowstone, his new books, and the state of the park.  Fun morning.  And yes, 2, he told us some good stories.  One was about a young wolf trying to catch a pronghorn, which normally is much too fast.  The older wolves watched.  But after a brief chase the pronghorn hit a soft snow patch and bogged down just enough for the young wolf to catch it.  The older wolves went to help, and they had a great meal.

Then I sat under a tree during the heat of midday, ate lunch, and joined the group again for watching 7 wolves until sunset.

Long drive back to the motel (10:30).  No pics yet.  I'm too tired.

Glad you had a great day, Chech. Great stuff!

Photos from Monday:

(https://i.imgur.com/HbJBmG1.jpg)
Here are two wolves from the same pack.  It shows the radical differences in color among them.  The gray is a collared (GPS radio collar) adult (#996), and the black one was born last year.  Sorry for the quality; half a mile away.

(https://i.imgur.com/BcYZHhc.jpg)
Here are 3 members of the Junction Butte Pack greeting a new member who just arrived near the carcass.  The bottom left black one is the new arrival.  Two blacks and a gray are running to greet it.  They often have a "meet and greet", where new arrivals are celebrated with jumping and climbing atop one another, rolling around, and lots of tail wagging.

Really nice coloring on the Pronghorn.  The bison are looking better than they were earlier in the year as well.  Someone finally got them some hairbrushes.

Beautiful shots Chechem. Well done sir. RTR!

Outstanding pics, Chech. You have really got a good eye for some beautiful shots.

Tuesday August 3rd:


Best day yet for wolf watching.  I got to the Lamar Valley at daybreak, and my buddies and I climbed the mighty hill for best viewing.  It's more than a hill; a steep, rugged climb through sage, loose rocks, and ground-squirrel holes.  On the map it's called Cardiac Hill (appropriately).

Right away we saw the wolf puppies milling around their rendezvous area (near a wetland).  They were a mile away, but in clear sight.  Within half an hour there were wolves howling over the mountain behind us, several approaching the rendezvous from the valley floor at left, and three trying to cross the road to our right.

What a show as the "puppies" (60-lb 3/4 grown, wolves) raced uphill toward an old bison carcass, playing as the went.

Anyhow, we watched it all from 300' higher than our cars parked below.  So high that the photo of the black-yearling wolf looks like it's right below me (see photo).

Oh yeah, a grizzly boar was down there along the Lamar River too.

During the afternoon the show repeated, as we watched all 7 puppies and 4 adults hunt among the sage for rodents and such.

(https://i.imgur.com/I6D41m0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BaDpo5q.jpg)
The guy at his car was totally shocked when this wolf popped out of the sage and crossed within 40' of him.  We laughed, because after it crossed (and he froze there) we saw him scramble into his car for a camera.  He missed the shot of a lifetime!

(https://i.imgur.com/NHxw7x8.jpg)
This black wolf howled from a ridge to our right.

(https://i.imgur.com/Fh4MsJy.jpg)
This gray wolf trotted behind us (along the hillside) within 200 yards.

(https://i.imgur.com/wNDASXs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dbr4ia4.jpg)
This petrified tree stump was at the top of our viewpoint.

(https://i.imgur.com/hzBY8C5.jpg)
This shows you how high up we were.  I took this photo of an old bull bison to our left along the ridge line.  That's the Lamar River and valley (with a herd of bison) beyond him.

(https://i.imgur.com/80A0a78.jpg)
My first real danger (lately).  I was walking along the hilltop in dense sage when I heard a grunt.  To my left, about 50' away, was this old bull lying in dense grass and sage.  His left horn was camouflaged with sage.  He never stood up, but it surprised me how well he was hidden there.

(https://i.imgur.com/hgygu73.jpg)
Junction-pack Wolf #907 (subordinate female) leading a group of puppies to the carcass.

(https://i.imgur.com/I6D41m0.jpg)

He must be related to me. I have the worst photography timing in the world.  :lol2:

Great pics, Chech. Just awesome!

Wow that hill side shot across the valley was breath taking even on the site here. I can only imagine what it was like in person. God Bless. RTR!

Wednesday September 4th:


Up and off by 4:10am.  Saw a red fox along the Gibbon River.  By noon I had also seen coyotes and wolves: a 3-dog day!  
:clap:

Another incredible day at Lamar Valley in YNP.  I arrived before daybreak, gathered my gear, and walked up "Cardiac Hill".  Soon Rick McIntyre joined me high up above the valley (200' higher than the road I was told).

Within minutes we had 4 wolves, then 6, then a grizzly to their right, then 9 wolves.  Finally some adults came in from hunting and regurgitated for the 7 pups, who came running.  Now we had 17 wolves!!

The gathering of wolves included all 7 puppies born nearby and all of the adults except #1109, a female who has 3 pups at a different location.  What a day!

We watched wolves in all directions it seemed.  Here are pics.  

(https://i.imgur.com/8r762fT.jpg)
This shows better the perch we had.

(https://i.imgur.com/zEaXHx6.jpg)
Distant wolf howling.

(https://i.imgur.com/JCwPXgi.jpg)
Black wolf in the sage.

(https://i.imgur.com/AUWOq2r.jpg)
Black wolf along the river.

(https://i.imgur.com/NjPgu0n.jpg)
Wolf lying down right in front of a grizzly, who appears to be sniffing the air to test the wolf.

(https://i.imgur.com/iBRKxHP.jpg)
Wading a nearly dry stream.

(https://i.imgur.com/myypVb7.jpg)
Griz

(https://i.imgur.com/dkgTKee.jpg)
Wolf wading the Lamar River.

 :-*

More great pics, Chech. Looks like you were in the perfect location.

Wow the telescope looks like a big deal. Great pics. RTR!

Yes, one needs a scope to see we’ll from a mile away.

I have some photos from September 6th to download yet, but had these 2 on my cell phone ready to go:

(https://i.imgur.com/Iiu81wi.jpg)
Sometimes these big bison sneak up on you.  Yes, that's my tripod and stool.

There were 10 of us lined up watching wolves at daybreak.  You can't tell from this photo, but it was barely daylight when I took this pic.  A lady (Miss G) to my right suddenly said, "We've gotta go", and I looked right to see this bull bison walking toward us, just 15' away already.  Everyone quickly backed away from their cameras and tripods, and the bull walked up, turned right and passed between Miss G's tripod and mine, then stopped right at mine.  It stood there.  Both my camera and scope were on tripods next to him, as was my Bama cap and stool.

I went to my car to get my cell phone.  Bully stood there.  I snapped pics; he didn't move.  Everyone was taking pics and laughing.  Miss G suggested I try the "bag trick".  A ranger had told me bulls don't like plastic bags, so I got one from my car and rattled it at him.  NOTHING.  Then I walked to the right of our cameras and started shuffling my shoes on the roadside gravel.  It made a grinding sound.  He turned and looked at me, then he walked into the prairie.  Whew, no damage!

(https://i.imgur.com/WtBYcU5.jpg)
The long Wyoming highway at dawn.

(https://i.imgur.com/Wy28Blj.jpg)
Nightmare world of St. Louis.  Sunday traffic backed up for miles over the Missouri River.

You outdid yourself with the pics, Chech. Great stuff!

 #+ great pics as always Chechem. RTR!

Friday-Saturday September 6th-7th:

This was the same day the bison nearly wrecked my gear (see photo above).  It was drizzling rain, so the photos weren't great.  But what's cool is these pics document the first day that puppies from den #2 came out to play.  There was a bison carcass near these photos (in a ravine; out of view), so lots of animals came to eat it.

(https://i.imgur.com/8Wm1SMQ.jpg)
Mother wolf (at right) and several puppies.

(https://i.imgur.com/aPmJgOh.jpg)
Black puppy at left (running) and gray sitting at right.

(https://i.imgur.com/2fooPlz.jpg)
Black wolf (at right) who walked right past a coyote sitting (at left).  The wolf stopped when he smelled it and spun around: "Huh?"  That raven saw the whole thing! 
 :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/JJNuI9z.jpg)
Coyote along the Lamar River; heading to the carcass.

(https://i.imgur.com/phI4X5N.jpg)
Mountain Goat billy resting 1/2-mile away.  He's at Baronette Mountain.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ka3i548.jpg)
Pronghorn walking on cobble along the Lamar River.

(https://i.imgur.com/WCj4vC9.jpg)
Pronghorn along a ridge near Soda Butte Cone.

(https://i.imgur.com/uBY3Orp.jpg)
Golden Eagle on power pole along highway 120 in Wyoming.  I saw it at sunrise, and I stopped for a pic before it flew away.

Pics are great. Thanks so very much especially the Eagle. RTR!

Awesome thanks for sharing also thanks for sharing this story about the buffalo and the tripod

Addendum:

Miss G sent me pics from today (Monday).  Wolves killed another bison, and a grizzly was eating it.  Check this out!  Right where we sat on the hill to watch wolves on Friday:

(https://i.imgur.com/I5ClTVk.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wfBE47C.jpg)

Those are all really great pics and even better experiences.  Thanks Chech for sharing them all with us.

While I was in Kodiak, I was told that there was some folks with tri-pods and cameras set up hoping to take some pics of a Brown bear sow that has three cubs.  One guy had his set up right next to his car and either he heard something or someone said something but he turned to see the sow trotting towards him pretty quickly.  He jumped inside his car without even thinking about his camera.  The sow ran right past him knocking the tripod over.  He was literally feet away safely inside his car though.

Ole Griz must've eaten himself full. Looks like he was ready to take a nap on the carcass.  :lol2:

All the pics were great, Chech. I felt like I was there.

Thanks, guys.  It was loads of fun.

NALT, after the bison left Mis G told me that a herd of bison once ran into the group with photographers.  Some cameras and scopes were stepped on.  At least THAT didn't happen.

Can't imagine a big bear like a Kodiak - yikes.

Yeah, these bears get greedy and sleep on the carcass.  Then they bury it for later.

 :tinfoil:

(https://www.yellowstonereports.com/photos/20507.jpg)
Wolves howling September 17.  Maybe they miss Chech.  :dunno:

(https://www.yellowstonereports.com/photos/20513.jpg)