YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Today was one of those days of breathless scenery that only comes from fresh snow and light filtered through fog.

And the first view to take away my breath was straight from my own front window when the first light of day hit the top of Electric Peak.

And the second breathless view came when some pink colored clouds settled over the peak, floating in the crisp morning air.  I wake up to this mountain every morning and count my blessing for the beauty that surrounds me.

And, so, off I went into the day, getting to the park a little later than usual, meaning there was daylight.  Meaning it would be a day for a slow drive in while I looked and listened.  My favorite thing to do is to read the landscape for tracks and watch the behavior of the animals, particularly the birds and the elk.  I want to make my own discoveries and so investigate the clues as they come along.  If the elk are grazing peacefully, I move on.  If their heads are up and they are prancing, I stop to watch and listen.  Most of the time there is nothing there, but some times there is.  Just not this morning.

I ran across some bison on the Blacktail, with ice on the backs and faces, and watched as they moved closer towards me and the road.  The sun was so close to coming over the mountain and I tried to wait for the magic moment but just as it arrived, so did a car behind me, forcing me to move along.  But, I still enjoyed my time and got a few images.

As I neared Hell Roaring the world was fogged in and there was very little to be seen.  I still stopped to listen but all was quiet and the elk were grazing.  At Wrecker I saw a few birds and so got out and went down the trail a little ways but soon discovered that a number of people had gone down to the confluence and nothing was in sight.  We could hear the plane flying overhead but could not see it, nor could it see us.

The frosted trees and the bison partially covered by the thick fog made for some stunning scenery.

In Lamar the pack was covered in thick fog and we waited and waited and waited for it to clear. The plane had been able to see five of them but we couldn’t see a thing.  Finally, just right before the fog cleared, I went up to the road a ways and spent much of my morning trying to track an ermine.  Its tracks ended and I waited but no ermine.  But, the sun was out and it was relatively warm so quite enjoyable to be outside wandering around.  After walking around quite a bit, climbing snow banks and looking, I did find a little chatterbox.

He was talking to me so I stopped to talk with him for a minute.

Back at Foot Bridge I could see 4 wolves bedded in the snow.  One of the pups had slid downhill and never got up to stop itself.  Just slid until it stopped and kept right on sleeping.  Thought I might have some images for you, even at a distance but the heat waves messed them up.  And, truthfully, my photography is not very inspired these days.  After a very big disappointment my heart just isn’t in it right now and so I go through the motions.

I left Foot Bridge and went to Little America to look for 870 but could not find her so put snow shoes on and wandered for awhile before returning to watch the Lamars get up, one by one, and head to the carcass.  First mom, then Stripe and then Patch.  Two or three others stayed on the hill – there might have been a grey hidden behind a tree.  We did not see Big Grey, Little Grey or 967.  Some cars were stopping on the road in front of the carcass so Mama sat on the hill and stared at her food while the two pups laid on a hill behind her.  They would most likely wait until dark to finish off their carcass and then tomorrow will probably be on to something else.

The plane got signals on 911 and 970 at Tower but could not see them.  Apparently the pups and yearlings of the Junction Butte pack were not with them today.  Hopefully 890 got them back and life will begin to return to normal for the family.  As normal as things can get after all that has gone on.

The Prospect Peaks had a carcass on Everts, according to the plane.  And, apparently there were a few wolves running around here and there but I did not see them – presumably Prospect Peak extras – pups probably.

One huge blessing today was that most of the roads were clear and driving was great.  The warm temperatures allowed the plows to really clean things up.  Thank you!

Oh, BTW, yesterday the big horns were at the confluence.  They were too close to the pullout for me to even legally get out of the car and grab my equipment and move away from them so I just took some shots from inside of the car.  Not taking any chances, though plenty of folks were out with them yesterday and today.

And, we had a stunning sunset by the time I returned to the Blacktail, on my way home.

Until tomorrow.