Yellowstone NP bus tour

The night before we left Yellowstone, I scheduled a bus tour of the park. I figured that I might have the chance to see one more unique animal. Since I was the only person in my party, I benefited from sitting shotgun for the duration of the trip. Great views!!!

The driver was extremely versed in the flora and fauna of the park. And... we had a very successful search. Not only did we see the grizzly bear by the river, we also so a slew of bison and pronghorns, one coyote, two osprey in a nest, two bald eagles, a black bear and two grizzly bear mothers with two cubs each. Unfortunately, most of the critters were out of range for photos, but the memories are quite vivid.

Bison calf

Lamar Valley

Osprey

Yellowstone NP Dusk Drive

As mentioned in a previous post, many who knew and loved Yellowstone recommended touring the park at dawn or dusk. Well... the dawn suggestion went in one ear and out the other. I don't really care how early wildlife get up, I'm not going to be a part of that festivity. After a long day's journey through the park chasing down Ansel Adams' falls of choice, I announced that as soon as I made sure the parents were fed, I was heading back into the park.

Since I have traveled in such a manner many times before, I did not harbor any concerns. However, my parents highly encouraged me to be careful on the roads when it got dark. It has been a while since someone has shown such loving concern for me.

I was very pleased with my venture back into the park.

My first wildlife sighting was a fox. He was resting at one of the lodge locations with people, especially kids, only 3 feet away. Every now and then he would look our direction, but he never moved. I have witnessed foxes in Monument and Colorado Springs several times, but this one was stunning. His ears were tipped with black fur and his coat was a warm creamsicle orange.

At the suggestion of a Yellowstone Association Institute volunteer, I took a dirt road towards Slough Creek. I encountered several vehicles stopped to view, but did not have the focal power to make any distinction. I turned around to make my way back to the main road and decided to make one more attempt at a crowded pullout. As I drove into the parking area, I noticed a group of deer-like creatures running over the ridge. All of the spotters were looking towards the mountains, but behind them an antelope and her triplet fawns were running towards them. It was thrilling to be the one to notice them. Come to find out, triplets are rare.

I got back onto the main road and drove until I found another crowd. Cars were pulled off both sides of the road for about 50 feet. People had congregated on a ridge and the big scopes were out. One hint my "wildlife advisers" gave was to stop when I see big scopes. I pulled off the road in my trusty Subaru, dinned the binoculars and camera and made my way up the steep incline. Boy, did I wish I had purchased some hiking boots.

I gravitated towards a quartet of scopes and eavesdropped on their conversation. One had a radio and was communicating with a different group of people who had just sighted "them" on the mossy rock. The longer I listened, the more details were revealed. I was standing among faithful wolf trackers and they had their powerful lenses trained on a wolf den and its occupants. Two alpha females and 4 pups emerged and romped around a mound. My tools were so amateurish that I could not begin to pinpoint the location let alone the creatures. But... I was disappointed for but a second. The trackers willingly offered several opportunities to view the playful follies. I was able to see the glorious mothers and impish pups three times. What a thrill! Unfortunately, I was not able to document this with my pocket camera.

Reluctantly, I slid and stumbled down the rise, again bemoaning the fact that I did not possess adequate shoes. I needed to head back to Gardiner before it got too dark. Since the weather was so pleasant, I had my windows open. I approached another crowd of cars, but this time I also heard howling. Looking out the driver's window, I noticed two coyotes howling some syncopated chorus that seemed to have no conclusion. If you enlarge the picture below, you'll find a coyote in the center of the sagebrush.

After relishing in the canine counterpoint, I was determined to make it to the northern entrance before sundown. Another group of beings had different plans for me. Frequently throughout our park visits, we would run across herds of bison crossing the road. In this case, I encountered a herd of bison crossing a bridge. Their trek required them to cross a river, so they chose to cross single file over the man made bridge rather than battling the current of the river. It was fascinating to see the cows manipulate the movements of the calves and the bulls eye the vehicles wearily. If I had had the courage, or the stupidity, I could have reached out the window and touched their fur. Though the picture below shows a hoard rather then a line, the moment the beasts stepped onto the bridge, the organized file developed. You should have felt the trembling and bouncing those 2,500 lb. bovine caused.

As the night was drawing to a close, the sky offered gentle pastels that soothed the eyes. The pairing of blues and pinks as well as the greens and browns brought a sense of perfect harmony. We live in a country of variety and gifts!

Yellowstone NP - Day tour with Mom & Dad

On our second day in the park, we decided to head to the Lower and Upper Falls. We were told the evening before that these falls were photographed my Ansel Adams, so that really perked Dad's interest.

Along the way we saw several herds of bison, three black bears and a handful of prong-horned antelope.


Mom marveled at all sorts of flora and wished to see more fauna.
Dad constantly found the best vantage point and frame for his shots.

On the way to the falls, we encountered the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Tower Falls

Upper Falls

A subtle reminder of God's promise to His people.

And a wonderful demonstration of how nature can coexist.

Yellowstone National Park - Mammoth Springs Terrace

Thermal waters were quite evident at the northern entrance of Yellowstone. As one drives through Mammoth Springs, a white mound becomes visible. Among the tourists, elk, bison and plush grounds of the old army installation, the protrusion catches the eye.

Walkways surround the natural phenomenon offering the viewer a close up of geyser cauldrons and mineral deposits. The juxtaposition of colors is vivid and amazing.

If you didn't know any better, the image seems to be covered in pristine snow.

Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort

Sitting on the Grotto Bar patio with Mom, she mentioned the dichotomy of old skills versus new. She, hand quilting a Hawaiian applique and me using Dad's computer to update the blog. Per comments from one of Mom's friends, I am aware that it has been a while since my last update. Time gets away from me very quickly and I find myself wrestling with the dilemma of experiencing the trip or documenting it. Thankfully, I have at least 450 pictures to help me remember the events and some of the thoughts.

With the man-made waterfall and the chirping birds in the background, it is easy to be thankful for the peace and beauty that God generously provides. This entire trip has been full of lessons that can so easily be overlooked in the busyness of the travel process. Tempers can flare, patience quickly wanes and humor diminishes as the miles loom ahead of us. Yet, God is quick to offer a salient point to those who are open to such guidance. No one is perfect excepting Jesus and we all have some level of agenda. I am realizing how much I do not give to God. It is quite humbling as I recognize my imperfections and begin to grasp the concept that God wants all things lifted up to Him, not just the big things.

Within the close quarters and during the long distances, we also begin to understand that each of us have differing levels of relaxation. As pictured above, some of us find it a nice respite to sit back and be in the realm of nature while passing time creating something or just breathing. Others express an intense desire to "veg" once we get to a destination designed for a longer stay only to plan most of each day and accomplish tasks. That has been an interesting one to balance and negotiate. Yet, God has given me a mother who is a great ping pong player and knows how to masterfully help everyone see things from a differing perspective. I don't know how many times she has told me, "Don't let it bother you." Very wise words that are difficult to implement when you are such a controlling person. Like I said, this has been humbling.

Both of my parents are exceedingly generous and loving. This trip has been a great awakening for me with regards to how smart, clever, funny and quirky my parents are. Not a day goes by without a little laughter. Sometimes the guffawing is so extreme that a pit stop becomes a necessity. Great memories, thrilling experiences, genuine warmth and healing laughter are all such uplifting gifts.

For more information about Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, check out their website or Dad's blog.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit

When this trip was initially planned, I had convinced my parents that going to North Dakota would be an adventure. Of course, with little knowledge of the state, we were not quite sure what we would do. So, I did a little research.

On NPR, there is a broadcast of a show called "The Jefferson Hour." In listening to it on a regular basis, I learned that the show is broadcast from North Dakota. I perused the site and became intrigued with Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Oxbow Overlook specifically. Dad had had enough driving for a while, so Mom and I hit the road to view this particular destination. The pictures below are some of the stops along the way.

Slumps are upper portions of a butte that have become so saturated that they slide down to a lower level of land in tact. If compared to the mound above it, the same levels of rock segregation can be found.

Cannonball concretions are formed as the soil and rock move and slump.

Two views of the Oxbow Overlook.

Our second wildlife sighting. Little did we know our time in Yellowstone would be filled with bison encounters of the herd kind. :)

Painted Canyon, ND

Among the deserted flat lands of South Dakota, we faced huge topographical changes in an instant. Land would suddenly disappear to reveal Grand Canyon like gorges and rises that were riddled with color and vegetation.

As we were doing laundry in Dickinson, ND, Dad found a little coffer shop. The proprietor shared that we should be sure to stop in at the visitor's center of the Painted Canyon on our way to Medora. Few do and they miss the view. It was a fabulous recommendation.

The attendant had a scope set on a herd of elk on the rise in the distance. This was our first wildlife spotting. The colors were brilliant and the shapes very pleasing to the eye.