larger view

Taking four teenagers and a 7-year old into Yellowstone Park on a cold and soggy Sunday was not my idea of a good time.  Regardless of fuel prices, the tightly packed bunch of us – 7 in total – jumped into my pickup for the adventure of a lifetime.  A packed cooler in the back, a few umbrellas up front and a box of Dramamine was what we started with…and NO CAMERA!!  What kind of a mother am I?  As we headed up around the northern tier of the “loop”, the rain and snow really put a damper on the damp day.  (In from West Yellowstone, up through Norris to Mammoth)  The idea was to go around the large loop clockwise, but to our dismay, the road had been closed about 4 miles after Tower junction due to an avalanche.  But that’s near the “end” of the adventure…

We stopped in Lamar Valley about 2pm…the rain had stopped, a little sun was peeking through the clouds here and there, and there was a very light breeze.  All the “die-hards” had their enormous spotting scopes and thousand dollar cameras, and were taking a break.  The wolves had been active in the morning and they were just waiting for their evening appearance.  Lots of people; nothing to look at….Well, until we arrived.

My 15yr old and his buddy headed down the hill to the river.  I was making sandwiches in the back of the truck.  I saw a couple of Pronghorn Antelope around the knoll – didn’t think anything about it.  A few moments later, the antelope started heading towards the boys.  So, I’m watching and thinking to myself that as soon as the antelope see the boys, they’ll run away.  Wrong.  I think the big buck saw them first.  He stopped and watched cautiously.  The young buck carelessly grazed along the river bank.  Well, the 13yr old girls wanted in on the action and headed down the hill with the boys with the 7yr old in tow.  All 5 kids were silently standing there, wondering what this odd creature will do.  The young buck finally sees the kids – his ears twitch forward…the wind at his back.  No scent.  Brandon picks up a piece of brush and offers it to this curious creature…and he comes closer, closer.  The big buck is probably 50 yards behind him pawing the ground and snorting…but the young one appears unafraid.  When he was within about 20 feet of the kids, one of the boys got spooked and they all jumped and headed off in opposite directions while all the people on the hillside with their spotting equipment laughed and applauded the kids.  Entertainment at its best.

What a wonderful trip for a wet and cold Memorial Weekend.  We saw a grizzly bear – not huge, but not young – beautiful cinnamon color (and pretty close!!) and we saw a black bear cub playing in the brush and climbing a small tree.  (Not getting out of the truck THIS TIME…MAMA is not far away!!)  There were buffalo EVERYWHERE…pretty ratty looking – loosing their winter coats.  And the babies look just like little cows…very little resemblance of these big honkin’ slow moving animals.  We saw a few elk – also loosing their winter coats – the bulls have no horns this time of year, so they all looked the same.  We saw some deer – one with a fork in his velvet-covered antlers.  He’s gonna be a monster soon!  Absolutely gorgeous!!  No moose, though.  But I still would call the day a success – I don’t remember the last time I saw a Grizzly and a Black Bear on the same day!!

If you are headed to Yellowstone, Old Faithful and the geyser basin are in the lower loop – but some of the best animal spotting is between Mammoth Hot Springs (near the Gardiner, MT gate) and Tower Junction.  And Lamar valley will never fail you if you like buffalo.  Camping…there is a Campground in Lamar Valley next to a quaint little stream for the brave at heart and a “hard sided” camper.  (In the HEART of wolf and grizzly territory) 

We bought a season pass, and look forward to heading up there again…soon!

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