Tag: Yellowstone

Yellowstone! Its Pretty Much A Given…

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Yup, its Summer (not that that matters), we are in Montana, and there is time, so guess what? We took a day trip to Yellowstone! Yeah, its pretty much a given that if we have the means and opportunity, we will take a trip. So blessed that my parents live close enough to take just a day trip to my favorite place on earth!

The day in the park was perfect, a little warm but what can you expect for August! Grandpa let the girls use his binoculars and they were really excited about it. They became our animal scouts for the day!  I worried that constantly looking through them as we drove along might result in the need for some car sick bags.

We started our trip as we usually do, heading out to the Lamar Valley area. Summer time allows for us to go a few extra places within the park, one of which is a favorite along the Blacktail Plateau. Its a nice spot off of the beaten path where you can sometimes see bear, wolves, eagles, hawks, marmots and more. Most of the drive produced a lot of dust on the dry dirt road, a prairie falcon watching us from his rock perch and some pretty wildflowers in the open fields. We had made our way through most of the drive without seeing anything and then, there he was!

A very small group of people had stopped just off of the road near an open field. We were stuck behind a small hill but got out of the car to see what was going on. Just as we made it to the top of the little hill we saw the big bull moose, sauntering across the field. He was less then fifty yards away but well within a safe a difference from us. It has been a long time since we have seen a bull moose and this close too! He seemed content with us nearby and just went about his business walking through the field and up into the trees. We hopped into the car and drove further up the road to a pull out near petrified tree. From there we pulled out our binoculars and watched the moose head to a small meadow. He took his time there, eating and drinking from what must have been a small stream or pond and then decided to lay down for a late morning snooze.

Our animal scouts hard at work.
The beautiful big bull moose came sauntering out of the trees and less then 50 yards from where we were standing.
Such a big and beautiful animal. Its been a long time since I have seen a moose this close and a bull at that.

After the excitement of the moose we continued on our way out to Lamar Valley. Lamar was pretty quiet and the heat of the day was most likely keeping the larger animals in the shade of the trees. We did see plenty of pronghorn, some of the big male bison and an eagle off in the distance. We went as far as we had time for and then turned around. The next plan of action was to find some lunch and hopefully a few more of the big animals. So with that we headed up and over Mt. Washburn and down to Canyon Village for some lunch.

After lunch we headed out to Hayden Valley with hope of seeing more then just bison and other hooved animals. But that was not the case, unfortunately. It was a beautiful drive though. Hayden Valley is just one of those places you have to see for yourself. The wide and meandering Yellowstone River and the rolling green and golden hills are peaceful and stunning. Its one of many reasons Yellowstone is my “Happy Place”.

We could only go so far through Hayden Valley if we wanted to have time to see other things, so we turned around and headed back towards Canyon Village. During the drive back both girls fell asleep. I couldn’t blame them. The day was sunny and warm and there was a nice cool breeze blowing. Who wouldn’t want to fall asleep?

Lots of fun, sunshine and mountain air makes kiddos tired. I know someone else who used to cover herself with a blanket in the car.
This yellow-bellied marmot was one regal looking fellow.
Hands off of my berries!
I think this little chipmunk was hoping to steal a berry from the marmot.

From Canyon Village we drove through Norris and back up to Mammoth. We decided to take one last drive out to Lamar and through Blacktail Plateau. Maybe, just maybe we would see a bear or a wolf. But alas, we did not. The late afternoon drive through Blacktail was beautiful. The sunlight lit up the remaining wildflowers and remnant burned trees from the fire of 1988. It was a wonderful last picture to have before getting ready to head home.

Blacktail Plateau Afternoon Sunlight
The lone coyote spotted by our little hawk eyes!

As one last little jaunt through the park, we took the secret road from Mammoth to the north gate. Last year when we took this same road Abby spotted the bones of a bison sitting right on top of a small hill. She wanted to see if they were still there. As we turned up and around the first hill she spotted them! Some of them were gone, most likely taken by tourists or other animals. Abby was pretty happy and I think she hopes to see them the next time we travel there.

On our way through the narrow, one way road we spotted a young bull elk getting an early start on his harem of ladies. Then Abby started yelling that she saw something. At first we thought that she was being silly because she had been using the binoculars to spot Grandpa Jerry. But she was being serious. Her sharp little eyes found a lonely coyote walking along the hillside. Neither Grandma or Grandpa or mommy had seen it! She spotted her first animal all on her own! What a way to end the trip through Yellowstone.

That coyote was the last animal we saw that day but it was a special sighting. The drive home was peaceful and quiet. The fresh mountain air and the beautiful day had left us relaxed and happy. Can you see why I call this place makes me so happy? No? Well then I suggest taking a trip there sometime, its worth it.

Its Not Montana Without Yellowstone!

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Visiting with my parents in Montana always means being tempted with a trip to Yellowstone. Each time, Yellowstone wins. How could it not? Its such a beautiful place and even though the winter keeps all but one road through the park closed, it still holds something magical to all of us.

This trip found us taking a day trip to Yellowstone. Once again we couldn’t resist. Luckily my dad was able to rent a car large enough for all us. This meant that we didn’t have to travel separately and we could enjoy the time together. The one perk for Abby and Ellie is that the rental had DVD players and screens in the backs of the seats. They could enjoy movies when boredom struck and as much as they love Yellowstone, boredom strikes fast with them. So, with DVD’s playing and the car all packed up, we took off early in the morning for Yellowstone. Luckily for us the weather was gorgeous and perfect for a drive through the park.

On the road and almost there. As you can tell the DVD player  is keeping Ellie so happy.
Overlook from Upper Mammoth Terrace looking down at the Gardner River
Steam and frost along Mammoth Terrace. Picture courtesy of Jerry Taylor
Its amazing what the steam from the nearby geysers and hot springs can create when its so cold out.
When we arrived we headed up to Mammoth and the upper terraces. From there we had a beautiful view over Mammoth Hot Springs and out towards the Gardner River. We couldn’t go to far so we turned around and headed out the only way we could go, to Lamar Valley. We kept our eyes peeled for animals. People were stopped along the way looking with spotting scopes. The wolves were out but off in the distance and too far for us to see. We did see bison along the way, mostly the big males who were out sunning alone. We did see a lone coyote hunting mice and voles in the snow. We watched as he patiently listened but kept a sharp eye on us. Eventually he jumped into the air, pounced and pulled a tasty snack out of the snow. Once he had it, he continued on his way trying to find a place to stop and eat.
Relaxing and sunning in the snow.
Carefully watching us as he or she hunts for a snack.
Afternoon Sun on the Snow
A long day in the fresh mountain air means sleepy children.

We continued through Lamar Valley, enjoying the snowy landscape and taking in as much as possible. We stopped for a bit of a lunch break and then made our way back to Mammoth. In Mammoth we did a bit of shopping at the General Store (a few snacks and little souvenirs for the girls) and then said goodbye to Yellowstone.

That night on the way home, Grandma and Grandpa treated us to dinner at the Rib and Chop House. I was in heaven. I love the food there, especially the stuffing! We each enjoyed a yummy dinner after a gorgeous day in Yellowstone. That night we all slept well and maybe even had a few dreams about our next visit to Yellowstone, whenever that might be.

Girls Expotition… Day Fourteen: One Last Trip to Yellowstone

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Well I think we know what I am about to say next, considering its said every time we come up to Montana but here we go… With only two days left in Montana we made sure to fit in one last trip to Yellowstone!
Unfortunately, Jillian had to work so she couldn’t come with us, so we packed into my parents SUV!
Our first sighting within the park were the herd of Big Horn sheep, mostly females with their young.
We watched them play and run along the mountainside after a dumb tourist chased them away from the roadside.

With some time spent watching the bighorn sheep we continued on our way out to Lamar Valley.
We stopped on several occasions, thinking we had seen wolves or other animals in the distance, but we didn’t.
Just past Soda Butte, in an open field and creek area we came across something that Abby had been waiting to see.
Off in the brush along the creek was a big Bull Moose!
We waited a while to see if he would move but it was obvious his intentions were to lay low and nap.

During our stop to watch the moose, I realized that something was missing. Ellie’s glasses.
I panicked and the search for them began. They weren’t in the pockets in the back seat, or the seat, or the car. 
They were gone and my heart was racing. Ellie’s glasses are not cheap and all I could see were dollar signs flashing.
We began to back track and doing that is hard in a National Park. 
We drove as fast as we could back to out first stop and there in the pull out were Ellie’s glasses. 
They had been run over, one lens was popped out and missing and I was a mess.
Luckily we found the missing lens, popped it back in and discovered that the frames and lenses weren’t too bad.
They would need repair but they weren’t a total loss.
After the drama of the hunt for Ellie’s glasses we went back to where we were and decided to stop for lunch.
Lunch was calming, even after the Grey Jays surrounded us and tried to steal anything we didn’t have our hands on.
After eating we explored along the creek and the girls skipped rocks with Grandpa Jerry. 
The girls really enjoyed themselves and it gave them time to run and play in the fresh air.

Our day started to slip by so we finally packed up and starting heading back towards Mammoth.
On our way we discovered that the Bull Moose was still in his spot along the creek bank. 
We could see him better this time but he was still happy laying down and relaxing.
Abby was able to see him clearly with binoculars this time, which made me smile. She really wanted to see a moose!

As we made our way back we ran into a bison jam on the roadway. 
This time the jam was made up of one bull’s harem and it was a big one. The harem and the bull for that matter.
The male bison was big, in charge and his eyes were red. You could tell the fall mating season was in full swing.
This guy was probably one of the most impressive bison that I have ever seen.

After admiring the male bison and his impressive harem, we headed back to Mammoth.
There we found three Bull Elk competing within a very small space for land and ladies. 
I didn’t get pictures or video but it was impressive to hear all three bugling to one another across Mammoth.
We wanted to wait and see what happened and if they would clash with one another but we had to head home.
We took a back road out of Mammoth to Gardiner. This dirt road was the original stage line many years ago.
On our way saw another small Bull Elk and a the bones of an animal we could not identify.
The highlight and the last goodbye for the evening was what we heard as we made the steep descent out of the hills and into Gardiner. Not too far off we could hear the howling of wolves. Most likely it was the Eightmile or Canyon pack waking up from an afternoon of relaxing and sleeping and getting ready to begin their hunt for food. To me it was beautiful and a bit poetic. My heart has a very special soft for the wolf and when I have watched them in the past I feel a connection there. Hearing their howls in the distance as the sun began to set, felt to me as though they were saying their goodbyes. Until next time but we will see you soon. I shed a tear or two, knowing I was leaving a place that always makes me happy but I know it wont be long before I am back again. Until next time Yellowstone.

Girls Grand Expotition… Day Eight: Waterfalls, "Hidden Trails", and Bull Elk

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This morning we had a much better start. Having the girls sleep in their own little “nests” on the floor made a huge difference, so much so that I actually slept through the night! Yay! So, feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed we grabbed something to eat, packed the car and headed out.
Before beginning our adventures on our last day in the park, we did a little souvenir shopping at Canyon.
Once our shopping needs were fulfilled, we started our journey by heading back out to Hayden Valley.
We were hoping to see wolves and other wildlife near the bison carcass.
Sure enough they were there and while everyone was focusing on them, Kelli spotted something along the river.
There he was, a beautiful and very big Grizzly Bear lumbering along the banks of the Yellowstone River.
We were thrilled to know that Kelli would not be leaving Yellowstone without seeing a bear!
After our bear sighting we continued a little further into Hayden Valley.
We spotted a mama coyote with several of her pups traveling through the brush.
One of the pups wasn’t good about keeping up so mama had to stop a lot. But that gave me a beautiful moment. 
We sat and watched for a good half hour or more. What a sight it was! 
The ravens were also keeping us busy too. Grabbing our attention when they could.

Pretty soon we had to move on and turned around to head back to the other side of the Canyon and Artists Point.
I couldn’t let Kelli leave Yellowstone without seeing one of the most famous shots of the Lower Falls.
We also had the chance to take the one and only picture of all of us (minus Dad because he was behind the camera)
The day was a little smoky but it didn’t take away from the beauty of the falls.
From there we went to the Brink of the Upper Falls, although the highlight was the sighting of two Blacktail bucks.

We moved on from there but it was becoming apparent that both Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Denise were sick too.
They didn’t let it get them down and continued on with us.
We drove along the Firehole River, stopped to see Firehole Falls and then made our way to Midway Geyser Basin.
From here we took one heck of an adventure to find the overlook to Grand Prismatic Springs.
Jillian had been told about a “trail” that takes you too a beautiful overlook that was worth the hike.
Its too bad the person who told her this forgot to mention that it wasn’t an official park trail.
Lets just say it was more of a path beaten down by people that meant scaling the side of the mountain.
Yes, we did it even with Abby in tow and it was worth the view. No, I don’t plan on doing it again.
By the time we got back to a solid and flat surface, we were a mess and ready to head back to the car.
A storm was starting to blow in as well and I didn’t want to be on that hill when the skies opened up.

Now that the unexpected scale up the mountain side was behind us, it was time to feed the tired, hungry and weary.
We stopped at Old Faithful at the Snow Lodge Cafe to eat. It felt great to rest and enjoy time with the gang.
As we finished our food, the skies began to darken and the wind began to blow hard. Finally some rain!
With the car packed up, we headed back to Mammoth and enjoyed the last drive through the park.
The bull elk were in Mammoth and boy were they mad.
The Big Daddy of them all stood near the official park Post Office, bugling and showing off his strength and prowess.
According to the ranger, he had charged, rammed and damaged five cars that day. He was not to be messed with.
Gotta love the rut season in Yellowstone. What a show!

After a fun show with the elk we left Mammoth and made our way out to the North Entrance. Another bull elk had his harem of ladies collected along the Gardner River. He was also a big guy and had created quite the traffic jam. Once we passed by with a few more pictures of some impressive animals, it was time to say goodbye to Yellowstone. We left happy to have seen all that we had seen but with heavy hearts knowing we had to go. The clouds gave us some rain and wind on the trip home which helped us all relax. I know we will be back again and I also know that Kelli will be there with us to enjoy it too. I cant wait to come back but until then I will enjoy the wonderful memories.

Girls Grand Expotition.. Day Seven: Surprises In Hayden Valley

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I am very glad that I didn’t hold my breath when it came to the girls being sick and getting some sleep because I didn’t. At all. Okay, well maybe a few hours but that’s about it. I was hoping to be up and go out with my dad and Kelli to walk to the Lower Falls Overlooks but I was too tired to do it. I tried to sleep in a bit but based on the meltdown I had with my mom, an extra hour of sleep didn’t help much. Once they returned and everyone was dressed, ready and fed, our day began together.
Lower Falls at Sunrise

Lower Falls at Sunrise
after breakfast, our first order of business was to head out to Hayden Valley.
we all wanted to check out the tip given to us by a gentleman we met the night before at dinner.
sure enough, the tip was a good one. When we arrived there were wolves feeding on the bison carcass.
luckily my dad had borrowed a spotting scope from a friend at work, so Kelli was able to see them wolves up close.
we also had the chance to see a young bald eagle perched atop a dead tree, probably waiting for the wolves to leave.
A young Bald Eagle watching over the kill. He doesn’t even have his white feathers on his head yet.

Looking at the carcass and the wolves. The small black dot in the left,center of the picture is the black wolf. Her pups were feeding on the carcass so they were hard to see from our spot.

after stopping and watching the wolves for at least half an hour, maybe more we continued on our way.
we stopped at Mud Volcano to get out, walk the boardwalks and show Kelli what makes Yellowstone so unique.
it had been a long time since I have walked this boardwalk, but it was completely worth it.
Abby and Ellie used their imaginations to figure out what the mud pots and fumaroles looked like to them… dragons.
we found the mommy and daddy dragons hanging out at Mud Volcano, one was hanging out in a cave!
Ellie even had the chance to catch a fun and bumpy ride down the stairs in her stroller. Thanks Grandpa!

Heading up the hill and enjoying the view!

Mud Volcano, one of many bubbling mud springs.

Dragons Mouth Spring

Dragons Mouth Spring. It was determined that this was the “Mommy Dragon”.

after a wonderful but stinky walk (according to Abby) we decided to drove around Yellowstone Lake.
we drove a little ways out towards the East Entrance, but stopped at the Yellowstone Lake Overlook.
the smoke from fires kept the day from being clear but the blue water was still amazing and the view was stunning.
we stopped at Fishing Bridge for some souvenir shopping and some yummy ice cream.
as we sat out on the general store porch eating, my dad and I watched as a raven stole cookies from a side bag.

Overlooking Yellowstone Lake. So beautiful.
because we did dessert first, we headed back into Hayden Valley to stop for some lunch.
we chose the LeHardy Rapids picnic area, which was shaded, tree lined and very quiet. So perfect!
the girls ate on their own picnic blanket and ate their lunch quietly. Their focus was on the river and skipping rocks.
after eating and cleaning up the girls had the chance to skip rocks and relax by the river.
it was a perfect afternoon and so much fun to enjoy with the girls, Kelli and my wonderful family.

Eating lunch and having a chat.

Just in case we don’t end up seeing a bear.

Skipping rocks.

Le Hardy Rapids on a beautiful and clear day.

Little bird playing in the rapids.

after lunch we continued through Hayden Valley, hoping to see some bears or wolves.
the bison kill site was empty and it was obvious that the animals were probably still snoozing after filling their bellies.
from Hayden Valley we cut over to Norris and headed over to Old Faithful for dinner at Old Faithful Inn.
the largest and closest fire burning in the park was the Cygnet Fire.
on the road to Norris we could see the smoke plumes. At one point we could see the flames in the trees near the road.
along the Firehole River we spotted a big bull elk that we stopped to snap a few photos of. Boy was he pretty.

The Cygnet Fire burning on the ridge near the road closest to us.

Beautiful Bull Elk just hanging out near the Firehole River.

next on our agenda… dinner at Old Faithful Inn! Yummy!
as always the Old Faithful Inn was beautiful and the food was great. I will dream about that risotto for a while.
with our tummies very full we quickly made our way over to the Old Faithful viewing area.
we had timed everything just right and within twenty minutes of dinner, we were watching Old Faithful erupt.
watching Old Faithful was perfect. Kelli had the chance to see Yellowstone’s most famous locations.
that and Abby was excited to see the “Grandpa Dragon” talking to us.

Old Faithful erupting at sunset.

Pondering life and where the Grandpa Dragon lives inside Old Faithful.

After the eruption the light faded quickly. We packed up into the car and headed back to Canyon to wind down and relax. On the road from Norris to Canyon the flames from the Cygnet Fire were very apparent  especially the ones right next to the road. You could see the firefighters setting up a sprinkler system to create a fire line from the road. It was sad and impressive all at the same time. Now the girls are asleep in the cozy nests we have made on the floor. I hate doing that to them but they are enjoying it. It was determined that they needed to sleep there so that I could get a good nights sleep without children kicking and smacking me all night. I need the sleep so lets hope this works! Oh well, despite the exhaustion I had an amazing day full of amazing memories. Cant wait for tomorrow!

Girls Grand Expotition… Day Six: Off to Yellowstone!

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After some rest, its off to Yellowstone for three days! While Kelli has had the chance to come through the park already, this will be the first time we really get to explore, get out of the car and see all that is Yellowstone. And away we go!
after a beautiful drive through Paradise Valley, our first stop was the archway at the North Entrance.
the original entrance to Yellowstone is a must see for a first timer into the park.

Kelli at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park on a beautiful day.

the next stop for our motley crew, was the 45th parallel. 
as it says below, the 45th parallel is the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. 
its a pretty cool stop and one I don’t think I have taken the time to do before.

The crew 45th parallel.

Abby the explorer using her binoculars to find animals.

after our stop we headed to Mammoth Hot Springs for a break and then set out for Lamar Valley.
on our way out we stopped at Petrified Tree, for a quick stretch and a walk.
the grasshoppers were everywhere on the walkway up, one even landed on Auntie Jillian.

Walking up to Petrified Tree with Auntie Jillian and Auntie Kelli
Petrified Tree. There are a lot more along this hillside but this is the largest of them all.

after our stop we continued on to Lamar Valley.
the day was a bit smokey but beautiful.
with the exception of bison and pronghorn, the animals were hiding from us but we were having fun.
we stopped for lunch at a beautiful picnic site right along a small creek.
we ate, enjoyed a cool breeze and then the girls played near the water where Grandpa showed them how to skip rocks.

Abby and Ellie sit down to eat lunch outside of Lamar Valley close to Ice Box Canyon.

Skipping rocks along the creek with Auntie Jillian, Auntie Kelli and Grandpa Jerry.

after lunch we made our way back through Lamar Valley and on to Tower Junction.
we took a drive down to Slough Creek Campground in hopes to see some wildlife
we found some and while it wasn’t a bear or wolf, it was the closest I have ever been to a pronghorn.

A family of Pronghorn right next to the road on our drive to Slough Creek Campground

After our sighting, we hit the road again over to Tower Junction and up of Mt. Washburn.
Because of construction mess and noise, the usual spots to see black bears were empty.
Up on Mt. Washburn it was too early to spot the usual wolves and grizzly bears, but we were able to take a potty break!
Lower Falls at Sunset

our trip over Mt. Washburn led us right to Canyon Lodge, our stop for the next few nights.
so… we checked in, unpacked the cars, freshened up and then headed to the Canyon Rim.
the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone looked gorgeous at sunset, despite the fire nearby.
after walks to the Brink of the Lower Falls and the Lower Falls overlook, we headed back for dinner.
as we waited for a table we met a gentleman who informed us about a bison kill in Hayden Valley. 
apparently bears, wolves and other animals have been hanging out this spot for a few days.
at dinner that night we talked, laughed and Kelli tried something new for dinner!

Kelli tried a Bison Burger for the very first time and she liked it!

A wonderful day has come to an end and its quiet in our cute little cabin. The girls are asleep and there is very little sound outside. I love being out in the woods, far from the craziness of life. I had hoped we would see more animals today, but we still have a few more days. What we did see was beautiful and I know Kelli has enjoyed it. Here is to hoping that we get some sleep. Both Abby and Ellie have the cold that I have been recovering from and its been a bit rough. Fingers are crossed but I wont hold my breath…

Girls Grand Expotition 2012… Day Three, An Unforgettably Gorgeous Day!

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Refreshed after a much needed night of sleep, we started our third day bright and early. The fire near Jackson seemed to be creating allergy issues for me, but I certainly wasn’t going to let that stop me. We got up, packed the car, enjoyed our breakfast and then hit the road. Well, sort of…
once in the car we stopped moments later for pictures with the famous antler arches.
then we stopped for gas.
we were then caught in a construction stop for about 15 minutes.
finally, we were moving along…
Mommy and the Girls underneath the famous Jackson  antler arches.

once we were moving we crossed into Grand Teton National Park.
we stopped for pictures in front of the sign.
we stopped for a lot of pictures on our way to Moose Junction.
from Moose Junction we took the road in towards Jenny Lake.
Mommy and the girls about to enter Grand Teton National Park

Auntie Kelli and the girls about to enter Grand Teton National Park.

the road towards Jenny Lake gave us spectacular views. 
you couldn’t tell there were fires nearby.
it also gave us a lot of places to stop and take some great pictures.
the day was perfect. the skies were blue with the perfect wisps of clouds.

The Tetons approaching Jenny Lake

The Tetons are growing as we get closer to Jenny Lake.

we decided to take the Jenny Lake Loop Drive.
we made a stop at Jenny Lake for some pictures. 
the girls were cranky so Kelli was the only one to get out for pictures. it was a beautiful view though.
by the time we reached Hoback Junction, the girls were growing restless.
we quickly drove to Oxbow Bend, which looked beautiful with the willows starting to change color.
after our photo op, we hit the road and began the quick trip to Yellowstone.
It almost doesnt look real. The willows are starting to turn at Oxbow Bend.

on the road out of Teton and through the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway we hit construction.
two construction stops along the way slowed us a bit.
after the last construction stop, we decided to take a break at Colter Bay.
we stopped to shop and I found two replacements for my favorite key chain.
after a potty break, lunch and souvenirs we were back on the road and only 20 miles from Yellowstone.

The girls at the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. This would be Kelli’s first time entering this wonderful National Park. I did not get a picture of her at the sign on my camera, so I will have to get one from Kelli.

after a quick drive we arrived at the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
this would be Kelli’s first time in Yellowstone, so we had to stop for pictures.
we took pictures of Kelli, the girls, the girls and I and more.
we also watched several men from back East fish the Yellowstone. they caught a few too!
after taking it all in, we got back into the car and crossed the boundary into Yellowstone.
Kelli crossing the Continental Divide over Craig’s Pass. Another first for Kelli!

our first stop was Lewis Falls. one of my favorites.
we then drove to Grants Village and around Yellowstone Lake to Fishing Bridge.
on our way we stopped to see the Lake Hotel. Such a pretty place and not well known either.
from Fishing Bridge we drove a few miles out towards the East Entrance.
we didn’t see Wolves or Bear as we hoped, but we saw a lot of Bison.
from there we turned around and headed back the way we came, diverting our travel towards Old Faithful.
on our way over Craig’s Pass, we stopped at one of the two markers for the Continental Divide.
this was another first for Auntie Kelli, so we had to stop and document it.

One of many beautiful thermal pools along Firehole Lake Drive.

we reached the junction at Old Faithful and headed towards the West Entrance.
we had a bit of extra time so we decided to explore the Firehole Lake Drive loop.
the thermal pools were gorgeous in the afternoon sun.
fall means that water levels are low but Firehole Lake and its surrounding pools were spectacular.
A lone Coyote out for an afternoon hunt. Our first non-hoofed animal sighting of the trip.

after finishing our drive around Firehole Lake, we headed towards the West Entrance.
along the way we saw our first animal that didn’t have hooves, a lone Coyote hunting rodents in a meadow.
we cut off at Madison Junction and headed towards West Yellowstone.
along the way, we saw a Bald Eagle perched at the top of a pine tree.
from this point we drove and didn’t stop. our destination was my parents house in Bozeman.ft
The drive through Gallatin Canyon and the outer borders of the park was beautiful, especially at the time of the afternoon that we did it in. Within an hour and a half we had arrived at my parents house and boy were we happy to see them. I have to say I was a little sad, because it meant the big road trip portion of our trip was over but we still have a long weekend in Yellowstone and some down time in Bozeman to enjoy. What a great day! I certainly hope Kelli felt the same way!

Christmas Vacation in Montana… Snow Fun and Travel Through Yellowstone

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After an amazing dinner and a great nights sleep, Shaun and I woke up and headed back in to Yellowstone for the day. What a difference there was between this winter and last. For starters it was a balmy 28 degrees out as opposed to -10 degrees last year. The snow pack on the road was very thin to non existent. In most spots through the park, we could still see pavement.

The unseasonably warm weather did keep many of the animals away though. So no wolves for me this year. We had been told about several animal carcasses that the wolves had been frequenting for food but to no avail. We did see the usual bison throughout the park and even a long trail of them heading out to Hayden Valley. We also had the chance to catch two coyotes trying to catch mice in the shallow snow and grass.




The only road open in the park to vehicles is the road from the North Entrance at Mammoth to the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City. Shaun and I decided to drive the entire road and it was beautiful! On the way back we stopped to eat the sandwiches we bought before coming into the park. We hadn’t been stopped more then twenty minutes, so when we tried to start the car and it didn’t we were completely baffled. It was our battery and we were stuck in Yellowstone, with cell phones that did not work, and only a few people near by. Luckily one of the few people sitting at the lookout waiting to a glimpse of a wolf had a portable jumper kit.

Once the car was running, we got back on the road and decided to head back to my parents house just to be safe. The drive through Paradise Valley was beautiful at sunset, despite having to keep our eyes on the sides of the road in anticipation of deer, which were everywhere. We had such a wonderful time but it was nice to get back and see the girls. They were somewhat excited to see us, but you could tell they had a great time with Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Jillian.




During the day Abby and Ellie watched movies and played. When Ellie took a nap, Grandpa took Abby outside to play in the snow. She had a great time, rolling up snow balls, making snow angels and enjoying what was left of the snowfall from a few days ago. She even sat and what was left from their snowman for a picture. I good day was had by all, that’s for sure!

A Third and Final Visit to Yellowstone for the Win!

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Yup… today was trip number three for the Wharton girls to Yellowstone since we have been here. One might say I have a problem, but I think its better to say that its a love for such a wonderful place. Its just what I do.

After a disaster of a breakfast at the Pop Stand, something I would have never expected from this wonderful little diner, we headed out to Yellowstone with what looked to be great weather and hopeful to see many animals. After a stop in Mammoth we made our way out to Lamar Valley and what did we find. A cute little black bear! Well he is cute from the car but I respect what this animal can do, especially when just waking up from a winter’s nap and looking for food. We watched him eat and play and scratch himself for quite some time before continuing on our way. But, we were happy to see a bear so early into our trip.



After our black bear sighting, we didnt see much else in the way of animals in Lamar. The drive was beautiful though and between this trip and our last a lot of snow had melted. I could even see the grass and wildflowers starting to grow. On our return trip back to Mammoth, we stopped at Undine Falls for a few pictures. Its a spot we usually pass on our trips and one I haven’t stopped at in quite some time, so I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Abby enjoyed it and had a bit of time to explore with Grandpa Jerry too.




From there we headed down the west side of the park, over to Canyon for a stop to look in the shops and then headed out to Hayden Valley. The road from Canyon, through Hayden Valley over to East Entrance, South Entrance and over Craigs Pass to Old Faithful had opened just yesterday so I was excited to take this route. We had packed sandwiches and snacks for the day and decided that we would stop along the Yellowstone River to eat a late lunch. Once again, Abby had the chance to picnic in the back of Grandma and Grandpa’s car and she had a blast! When lunch was finished Grandpa Jerry walked along the large pull out with Abby, letting her stop to play in the snow that was still piled pretty high. Abby loves the snow and tries to take any chance she can to play in it.



As we were stopped and watching birds along the Yellowstone, two American White Pelicans landed in a small tributary near us. They moved away from us a few times but after following them around we watched them swim along, doing a synchronized water ballet. The two are a mating pair and the horn on their bills only appear during mating season. The Pelicans were so beautiful to watch we probably could have stayed there all afternoon. However, a Blue Heron didnt seem to like having them around and after about 10 minutes they took off to another spot along the Yellowstone, out of the sight of people.



Watching the Pelicans lulled us into a a relaxed state, but Yellowstone has a way of doing that to you. It was time to move on and see some more. We headed through Hayden Valley down to Yellowstone Lake. Despite the warmth and beauty of the day, it was obvious that Yellowstone Lake was still frozen over, but it was a beautiful and impressive sight to see.


As the day started to fade we headed over Craigs Pass, past Old Faithful and back towards Mammoth. On our trip from Madison to Norris we came across a small clearing. Standing in it was a small fox, whose coat was close to finishing its turn from white winter to red. Its hard to spot a fox due to the fact that they are extremely shy animals but we were able to stop and snap a few pictures before he or she disappeared into the tree line. Jillian, who looks to find a fox as hard as I look for wolves, had the chance to see another fox in Yellowstone. Along that same stretch of road, we came across another bison caravan of females with their young. One of the calves still looked to be be very small and probably only a dew days old. It was still wobbly on its legs and had to stop often to lay down, but mom was patient and protective.



After all that had been seen that day, we left Yellowstone for the last time feeling happy. Its no wonder this place in the world is my happy place. Everytime I leave Yellowstone, I know I leave a piece of my heart there but I find it again when I return. Goodbye for now Yellowstone! We will be back again soon!

Yellowstone… A Second Trip

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Yup we did it again! Everyone had the day off, so what do we do? We head to Yellowstone! I know it might seem obsessive to some, but this is my happy place and if the chance to go is given, I take it.

Today was going to be yet another gloomy spring day, but we didnt let that stop us. We were up bright and early, ready to take on the day. We stopped for breakfast at a popular spot in Livingston called the Pop Stand. It was a super yummy breakfast and because it was a Tuesday, quiet too!

Once we arrived in Yellowstone we stopped in Mammoth to change diapers and use the restroom. While it was cloudy, it certainly didn’t look like rain would be falling anytime soon. I think we were hoping for a beautiful sunny day, but the gray of the day made for some great photography.


As usual, we left Mammoth and headed for Lamar. Only a few roads in the park were open at this point, so we are a bit limited in where we can go. Another road is set to open Friday. I am hoping to come back then too but we shall see. Today Lamar wasn’t as active as it usually is. No wolves or bears were within sight of the naked eye. They were out there though, you just had to use a spotting scope to see them.

The Bison were out in force though. The large bulls in their small secluded groups as well as the cows with their babies. One of the males had a little hitchhiker on his back but he didn’t seem to care. As we continued on we came across a group of females with their little ones. Two of the little ones seemed to be happy playing with one another, running, jumping and practicing their fighting. It was a cute sight to see and they had a very captivated audience in us and many other park visitors.





Despite the lack of animals on our trip out through Lamar, it was beautiful. We turned around at our usual spot, Trout Lake, and headed back to Mammoth for some lunch. As we approached Tower Junction and the bridge over the Yellowstone River, we found a lot of people stopped taking pictures. There just along the roadside were a ram and ewe Big Horn Sheep. Both had been eating a lunch of their own and were now just hanging out, posing for pictures.



After our goat encounter we headed back to Mammoth for some lunch. The grill there was finally open and Abby and Ellie were happy to stop for some noodles and hot dogs. It is amazing how lunch can bring cranky kids out of their funk and back to the land of happiness. I think it did the same for mommy too. The girls were adorable and the one thing that put a smile on my face was watching them hold hands. Abby and Ellie sat there holding hands for a good ten minutes as they ate and watched all of the interesting people come in and out of the grill.




After a yummy lunch we headed into the general store to check out some souveniers for the girls as well as a few snacks for the road. You cant leave and not have a t shirt or something to remember your trip by! The clouds began to part a bit but didn’t go away as we continued our travel. The rest of our trip through Yellowstone was enjoyed with very few stops, but we didnt mind. We were in beautiful country and sometimes you just cant take pictures of everything! It was yet another great day in Yellowstone!

Mother’s Day 2011

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Happy Mother’s Day! Being a mom is the best in the world and there is no better way to celebrate the day then to head to Yellowstone National Park. My mom and I both decided that this is what we wanted to do. Because it was going to be another gloomy and wet Spring day, we decided not to get up super early and just make the day a more casual one. We took our time getting to the park and even stopped to pick up some lunch in Gardiner.

With our lunch in hand, we headed in to Yellowstone in search of a place to eat our lunch. We were hoping to find a picnic spot, but unfortunately many of the covered picnic areas had a lot of snow around them. After trying several places and failing, we decided just to stop and picnic in the back of our cars. Abby sat in Grandpa and Grandma’s car with them while Jillian and I hung out in the back of my car. While it might seem like an odd place, it was pretty fun! One of the many perks of owning an SUV! Abby had a blast as well and stayed warm and dry as the rain started to pick up.




Once lunch was finished we hopped back into our cars and continued on our way out to Lamar Valley. As we entered the valley it was obvious that people were stopped and looking at something. Down along the river was a bison kill and coyotes had just been on it feeding. While everyone was focused on that, along the hillside across the road we saw three or four wolves running along. It appears as though they were heading to a den way up in the hills. I couldn’t catch a picture of them, but I was so excited to once again see wolves that close in Yellowstone.

As we continued on, we ran into a few visitors who had just come from a spot where two Grizzlies had been. Not being in any hurry, we decided to head out that direction to see what we could find. A lot of people had stopped in one spot, but we could not see what everyone was looking at. We decided to turn the car around and head back to Mammoth Hot Springs, taking another quick look to see if we could spot anything. Just as we came up on the popular spot, two sub adult male Grizzlies came darting across the road and onto the hillside! It was amazing! Once across they stopped and continued to forage for more food. Luckily I was able to snap a few shots.


After our two in one Grizzly bonus sighting, we headed back towards Mammoth with big smiles on our faces. As we headed out of Lamar Valley and close to Tower Junction, we ran into another large furry friend. This time, our Grizzly was walking down a small creek just outside of the Slough Creek area. I was able to snag a few shots but unfortunately the rude wildlife photographers were out and ruining everyone’s photo ops. It was still fun to see this guy and once again we were on our way with smiles on our faces.


The remainder of the day was quiet in regards to wildlife, but still beautiful. We drove down through the west side of Yellowstone to Old Faithful. There we stopped for a break and to look around the inn before taking off and heading home.


Our drive home, after a stop in West Yellowstone, was pretty for what we could see. The sun was setting fast but we took in all that we could see. Once the sun had set, the drive became a little bit nerve wrecking as there were animals everywhere! But, we made it home safely with another day of great memories.

Christmas In Montana Part Three

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After what was an extremely restful night of sleep, we woke up to frigid temperatures but very blue skies. It was one of those mornings that was just a tad deceiving. The clear blue sky and sun shining down made it look like it was warm, but when we stepped out of the hotel room… it was far from it. The temperature in Gardiner that morning was around -3 degrees and we knew that climbing into the park it wouldn’t be any warmer.

After packing up the car and having a lovely breakfast, we decided to take one last drive through the park before heading back to my parents house. I was sad to go but very excited to see the girls again. The morning was perfect and as we made the turn back towards the gate a large group of cow bison and their yearlings started to make their way from a small field outside of the gate through the historical arch. I think the only thing that defines Yellowstone more then this, is a bison standing in front of Old Faithful as it erupts. Needless to say, it was picture perfect.


On the drive up to Mammoth it was apparent that it had snowed again the night before. The roads were snow packed but it didn’t seem as icy as it had been the day before. Mammoth looked gorgeous in the morning sun. The steam from the thermal areas could be seen from Gardiner. After stopping a brief moment for some pictures we continued on back out to Lamar Valley in search of wolves and to enjoy Yellowstone in Winter.


The drive to Lamar was quiet in regards to animals, mostly bison off in the distance and people stopped along the roadsides waiting for the wolves to appear. Aside from the crazy drivers rushing to and from Cook City, the roads were deserted which allowed us to stop and casually take pictures. Sometimes this meant stopping in the middle of the road, which generally is frowned upon during the peak season in the park.


As we turned off at the junction and headed out to Lamar we noticed a large group of people stopped at the Slough Creek campground entrance. Now, generally you see people stopped like this all of the time and they have spotting scopes set up but nothing is going on. This time people were intently watching something off in the distance along one of the many open areas of the mountain sides. One of the men offered us a look through the spotting scope he had set up. We could see a pack of about six to seven wolves playing and casually eying a small heard of bull elk. While it didnt look like it the pack was on the hunt and playing it cool, trying to lull the bull elk into a sense of false comfort. Because someone was so kind to let us watch through his scope we had to step away and move on.

We drove out to Lamar but once again did not see anything aside from your usual bison, elk and deer. We turned around at our usual spot and headed back to Mammoth. On the way back we were greeted with a large bull bison once again using the road to travel to his next location. This guy let us pass by slowly without a care in the world. As we passed by the Slough Creek area again, people still had their eyes trained on the mountainside. We did not stop but we could see things from where we were. It looked as though the wolf pack was now chasing and attempting to disrupt the bull elk. From what we could tell, the elk were able to seek refuge amoungst the lodge pole pine. I have seen a lot is Yellowstone and been only a few 100 yards from my favorite animal in the world, so the next thing I would love to see is a wolf pack take down their intended prey. I know to many that sounds odd and maybe a little demented to some, but the pack mentality and the ability to watch several wolves who are only about 180 pounds each take down a bison or bull elk who are 3 times their weight or more, fascinates me. I felt like we were close to seeing that, but unfortunately that was not the case.



Our drive back to Mammoth was once again a quiet one but I enjoyed it immensely. The sun was shining and even though the high for the day was -11 degrees, it was a gorgeous day. One last stop in Mammoth near the terraces had me intrigued by an elk cow who was busy eating. It was so cold that you could see her breath everytime she exhaled. The sun behind her lit everything up… the perfect photo opportunity.


After that last moment it was time to leave. Shaun and I hit the road and headed back to Bozeman. I hated to leave but I know I will be back to Yellowstone soon. Now we had the chance to get back to my parents house and see the girls who I missed dearly. It was also New Years Eve, so I wanted to be home in time to enjoy the evening and ring in the New Year with family as well.

When we got back to the house, Abby and Ellie were very happy to see us. That feeling was extremely mutual. Nothing beats seeing that little face of Abby’s light up as we walk through the door and then of course our hearts melt as she screams “Mommy! Daddy!”. Ellie was also very happy; bouncing around in Grandpa Taylor’s arms when she saw us. It melts my heart to know that she recognizes us.

To celebrate the New Year, we had our usual Chinese Food and then hung around talking, playing games and watching movies that Abby picked out. Surprisingly, the girls stayed up long enough to ring in the New Year. It wasn’t pretty though. The picture to prove it is posted below.



Despite the near meltdown that occurred when mommy asked for a family picture, the night was great. Yet another wonderful memory for the books. Happy New Year everyone! Here is to a great 2011!