[7]

June9, 2010

Vicki calls my attention to the other side of the road where just off the barrow pit this badger is chasing a mouse or vole through the frosty grass. He seems oblivious to me as I slowly walk down my side of the road shooting pixs as I go. Suddenly discovering my presence he quickly scoots over a rise and remerges seconds later out of camera range disgusted at having his hunt ended the way that it did. What a great way to have breakfast.

[8]
June 9, 2010
After breakfast we again continue to the area we were on yesterday. Slough Creek. Wolf watchers are out again with their high powered lenses and spotting scopes. No one has seen any wolves but they are watching elk and Big Horn Sheep high and so far away that I can barely make them out with my binoculars. There had been a grizzly sow with three cubs but they have dissapeared into the timber at tree line.
We need gas so head westward towards Gardner, Montana and then head south from Mammoth where we encounter another bear jam. Was a Black bear with cubs way out on the sage covered flats near Swan Lake but we are again too late to see any thing. My good friend, Merideth Taylor was by here the next day and was able to witness a Grizzly Sow with four cubs. A real rarity. She e-mailed me a video that is making the rounds of the internet world of the Bear group. It is pretty incredible to watch.
Continuing on we pass many Bison and agian many elk and another bear jam that we are again too late to see. Nearly noon the park critters are taking part in noonday snoozes. Calf Bison are flat out and the others are pretty well napping away.

[9]

June 9, 2010

We again find a wonderful spot along the Gibbon River for a picnic lunch where the weather catches us turning much coller and rain showers falling. The temperature dips into the 40's by the time we get to Old FAithful where we have some ice cream and a break visiting with my artist friend, Jim Reed who is the artist in residence at the Old Faithful Inn. If you make it to the Inn, be sure and stop by and tell Jim Hi. He is an incredible Gouache Watercolor artist.

We eventually make our way out of the park taking a side trip up the Grassy lake road at the south entrance hoping to see a Moose that usually frequents the area or one more Grizzly. The weather is now a steady drizzle and is mixed with snow at 37 degrees. This is Polecat Creek near the south entrance. A favorite area of ours.

[10]

June9,2010

We had an incredible two days in the park and were fortunate to see and experience many things and to capture memories that we will share in our lives. Anyone who knows me knows how I love the streams and waters of Yellowstone. I didn't get many pictures of them as they are running quite high and don't have that "hard to pass up" look to them as what they will have in a few weeks. I did find it hard to pass up Undine Falls near Mammoth though. It is a beautiful, passed by many, waterfall.

I had also brought my watercolors along for some field studies but just didn't have the time.

[11]
June9, 2010
Reluctant to end the trip we stop over at Colter Bay and as we have done befor visit the wonderful Indian Museum located there. It is a collection to die for. We then buy a rotisseried chicken at the cafeteria and take it back down to the Lake for a picnic bundled up in winter clothes . It has at least stopped raining.
I stop off at the Oxbow of the Snake and shoot a few pixs of the socked in Tetons. It is still magical and offers possibilities for paintings. We then watch a coyote trying to put a sneak onto a flock of Canada Geese and two Sand hill Cranes. Of course to no avail. Embarassed he slinks on into the willows. It is a cold wonderful evening.
On towards home we cross the continental divide at Togwotee Pass where they have had a good three inches of snow today that leaves the hiway slushy.
This weekend [June 11-13]was cold and rainey with heavy snow in the mountains. This morning it has cleared off with a heavy white coating of snow across the peaks. The sun is shining and it feels a lot warmer. Our fingers are crossed.

By clicking onto each image will enlarge it for a larger view of this magnificent Greater Yellowstone country we call home.

[1]

June 6, 2010

6:30 in the morning and artist friend, les Lefevre and myself are off to check out the country north of Dubois. it continues to be rainey and quite cool and this morning is no exception with rain lightly falling. Within three miles of town we are spotting elk scattered about in the hills above the muddy road. By the time we reach the forest boundry we have seen many elk and deer all looking pretty shaggy with their winter coats slowly shedding and needing warm weather and good food. they are all pretty thin looking such as this Buck Mule Deer with his emerging velvet covered antlers.