Sunday/Monday May 27/28 - Grand Tetons National Park

Greetings Family and Friends!

It is that time of year for our annual spring trip to the Grand Tetons Mountains and Yellowstone Park. We arrived in the Grand Tetons on May 26th Saturday afternoon and was promptly greeted with a wintery mix of rain and slushy snow. We braved the damp, dreary weather to find wildlife but found none. The weather is dreary our spirits are not. We will be here for five days and the weather forecasts a lovely time in the park.

Sunday, May 27
We woke up to a 1 inch of white, fluffy snow blanketing the ground. We drove through the magical wonderland now looking a little foreign to us with this white stuff clinging to the evergreens. The snow was still coming down and we made our way through the park. Obviously the animals were hunkered down so we headed back to the trailer for lunch and a long nap.

We got dressed and made our way through the park, and again, the animals were a no-show. Our tummies were growling so we stopped at Dornans and I had a delicious pizza while Rick ate a great burger. Had it not been for the heavy overcast, we would have had a terrific view of the snow covered mountains. Since the weather was not cooperating, we drove to the city of Jackson Hole and walked amongst other tourists, doing touristy stuff like shopping for shirts and maybe a jacket. My Yellowstone jacket is getting worn, so a new on is on order this trip.

On the way back, the skies were darkening quick and big snowflakes were coming down fast. We spotted a small traffic jam and sure enough a young grizzly cub was feeding on grubs and roots. This cub is the descendant of the famed Grizzly sow #399. We first saw 399 with three cubs in the spring of 2006 on our very first visit. She charmed tourists from across the world.

In 2011, she gave birth to another set of triplets. However, one was separated from the pack late last year and ended up with a sow who had two cubs of her own-#610, 399's daughter from 2006. And then just recently, a boar separated mom from her remaining two cubs. One cub went one way the other one stayed near Colter Bay and that is who we discovered on this snowy evening. Rick tried out his new camera to see if the technical capabilities worked better with less light, as it is touted. Cold and more wet snow ended our stay and we headed back to the trailer.

Monday, May 28
We woke up to another inch or two of fresh snow on the ground but it was quickly melting. We got going and our first stop was to take photos of the snow landscape. Just as we finished, we saw a couple of cars parked in the same location we found the little cub the night before. We followed suit and took pictures of this little guy digging through soft snow looking for roots and grubs. After 40 minutes or so, we moved on to see the rest of the park.

At Moose Wilson Road, we came across a traffic jam I was not expecting. It was a great gray owl that everyone was after. We again followed suit with our cameras and as luck would have it, she flew off. With heavy gear on our shoulders we walk towards this large, majestic creature and finally have just enough time to snap off a few pics before she flew away again.

That afternoon, after a delicious lunch of BBQ chicken wings made by hubby dearest, we had a quick visit with the Newsoms. Earl and Carol Sue Newsom (friends from Wylie) try to meet up with us at least one or two days when we go to Yellowstone. They decided to stop by to say hello before heading on up to West Yellowstone. We see them in four days. No telling what adventure lies around the corner for us. There is always something! Last year it was a baby elk who sought refuge against our car tire in the middle of the road!

We head out looking for new sightings, so we pass up the disorderly bear jam that little guy near Colter Bay caused. It was a circus. I feel for the park rangers. People driving in the other lane to pass other cars in no-passing zones, tourists too close to the bear. We drive through the park and pull off onto a gravel road and we don't scare much up. Rick spots a Ruffed Grouse putting on a show. A couple of elk were grazing.

We take the obligatory drive up Signal Mountain. Found a female elk along the hillside that appeared to be ready to give birth. She was laying down but her belly was big! After coming down the mountain we learned of a bear jam with #610 and her three cubs (remember, one of those cubs belongs to her mother). We drove to the other end of the park only to miss some excitement. Apparently mom was attempting to get a moose calf for dinner. The failed attempt allowed the calf one more chance at a long life. but we never saw the four bears emerge.

We did have a little bit of luck down the road. We found a fox and followed her for about 30 minutes, finally getting some good shots as she came up the hill. It was dark and my photos prove that, but Rick's new camera should have done much better. We don't know yet because we haven't downloaded a software plug-in. And with limited Internet it will be a while before we see his photos.

Well, that is all for now. Tomorrow is another day!

It's been a while

It's been a while since I've posted and I see I'm missing some updates! I need to get on that. Right now I am thinking back to June and it seems a distant memory. I am inspired by what I saw and yet I feel I haven't seen enough to be fully satisfied. Yellowstone and her wonders call to me everyday. She feeds my heart. I ache for her as a lover aches for his lost soul mate.

One of these days, Rick and I will be able to enjoy four to five months of intense therapy, immersing ourselves within the heart of it all. I absolutely cannot wait. I tear up at the thought of what waits for me a few years down the road, however, I am willing to wait. I've got too much to do before then and it wouldn't be right to rush things. I'll patiently wait while relishing the thought of being there... completely there. Immersed in her belly. Slough creek, where wolves and grizzlies wander through mountains and streams. Where pronghorn and coyote give life. Where otters frolic and cranes dance...

Thus ends today's ramblings....

Grand Teton Update

We are unable to gain Internet access easily so this is just a note that trip reports will be posted later.

Basically we've seen 6 moose in 1.5 hours the day we got here, on day 1 another 6 moose, and this morning 4 moose. It is the year of the moose in the Grand Tetons!!!

We saw one grizzly, no photo, too rainy, and one wolf, too far away for a good photo. This is our last night here so wish us luck on seeing the famous grizzly sow #399 with her three cubs! We have seen this momma with triplets in 2006 so it's only fair to see her again right? Keep fingers and paws crossed!

Yellowstone Day 5 6/4/11

Yellowstone Day 5 6/4/11

We started late having spent the previous two days out all day with our friends the Newsoms. We traveled to Lamar and saw many folks scoping. We asked and apparently four coyote were chasing a wolf. They were so far away that we decided to move on.

Absolutely nothing was going on in Lamar this morning. Well, not until we had passed the Lamar river parking lot going west did my eye catch something – a Badger!! I had been eying this fresh dirt mound for a few days now and it finally paid off today. We watched two badgers pop in and out of their den for about 40 minutes. Much of the time it was just Rick and I.

After that we rejoined the scopes still watching the coyotes and wolf. We learned that two more wolves joined and they raided the coyote’s den killing three pups. Someone allowed us to use their scope and we could see the wolves and coyote. Again they were so far out so we didn’t look for long.

On our way out of Lamar, we confirmed that a nest in a tree near the river had an osprey in it. We also watched her mate flying above the river.

As we approached Petrified Tree we saw a few folks with their cameras pointed at some old logs on the grounds. It wasn't long before we learned the subject was a cute little weasel! Our very first! He posed very nicely for us a few times and considering how fast he moved I counted myself lucky to have gotten at least one decent shot.

In the evening we headed back through Lamar and all was quiet. Not even the badger would pose for us! It's a long, long trip home when you don't see anything exciting. But I'm in Yellowstone with the man I love and that alone makes me very happy!

Yellowstone Day 4 6/3/11

Yellowstone Day 4 6/3/11

We picked up our friends again this morning and just as we entered the park, the osprey that said goodnight to us the night before greeted us with a treat right off the bat. He had already captured breakfast and was enjoying it. We spent a good 30 minutes with him and these will be the best osprey photos we have ever shot. Just spectacular!

We decide to visit Hayden Valley first and again, we spot nothing on the way in. It isn’t until we make it all the way to Sedge Bay do we see our first predator sighting, no not a bear, a WOLF! A lone black wolf emerged from the woods and walked towards the hill side and off into the woods. We believe we would have had better viewing opportunities had the “photographers” with the “big lenses” behaved themselves and stayed put instead of running after the wolf. We didn’t let their poor behavior detract from this unique sighting for long. It was truly cool to witness her here.

A funny thing occurred while this was going on that we didn’t really notice until the wolf was out of sight. All of the marmots came out of their dens and were carrying on big time. Lots of chirps and running around. There were at least 6 of them, possibly more alerting each other of danger!

We head back to Mammoth on our way to Lamar Valley and just before the high bridge over Gardner River we see a momma elk who had just had a baby. We decide not to add to the congestion and shoot from the window instead of pulling over.

In Lamar, we came across a grizzly that was really high up on a hill, but this would be our friends’ first “naked eye” sighting of grizzly so we got an obligatory shot of her just before she went down the other side of the hill.

After driving to Pebble Creek we make our way back and join other folks who are keeping watch on a black bear. He had been eating on a meal and finally decided to cross the road to get a drink from the pond. He was backlit by the sun so the photos were not that great.

It was time to go home. It was 7:30pm and we had just talked about getting dinner at Town Cafe before they closed. It just wasn’t meant to be. We watched a mom and baby elk (may have been the same one we saw earlier in the day since it was the same area) walk into the road way just ahead of us. The baby's legs wobbled like a newborn's as she followed her momma into the grass. This is the last shot I got as the rest of the story unfolds. I’ll leave you with this photo and a link to the entire story of a very unique wildlife encounter. It was an awesome ending to an amazing day!

Link (copy and paste): http://aliciasramblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/up-close-and-personal-with-baby-elk.html

Here are some scenic shots I took in Lamar Valley:

Yellowstone Day 3 6/2/11

We picked up our dear friends, Carol Sue and Earl Newsom, at their hotel. On our way in we shared stories about what we had seen the days before.

Since this would be the first morning for Lamar Valley to be open after a major rock slide, we took that path. Just on the other side of Yellowstone Picnic area we stopped along with other viewers and saw a black bear. Apparently he had been eating on a meal and was now relaxing.

Not long after we spotted him, a coyote comes running out of the woods with the half eaten meal in his mouth. The crowd watched as he carried it down the hill and across the street and into some sage to enjoy his new found meal. The bear didn’t even seem phased.

After finding nothing else in Lamar Valley and eating a good breakfast at Log Cabin in Cooke City, we headed towards Hayden Valley via Mammoth and after passing Floating Island, we came across an elk with a really nice rack while it was sleeting. We entered Hayden Valley having seen nothing except for a yellow-bellied marmot near Hoodoos. In Hayden we came across a coyote just trucking along! His coat was so pretty!

Went all the way to Sedge Bay and drummed up a raven who followed us to several pullouts along the lake! We also took time out for the little guys: geese on the snow, several bluebirds, and other colorful birds. And also found the ice the wind had pushed up onto the beach of the lake a very interesting phenomenon. We stopped at the North Rim for a quick look but the howling, cold, harsh, wind drove us back to the car. The weather all day had been a mix of everything: sun, clouds, snow, sleet, rain and strong wind.

Traveling back through Mammoth to go home, we came across a cinnamon colored black bear. Couldn’t get a great shot of him but our friends surely enjoyed it!

And as if saying goodbye, an osprey perched perfectly on a tree above the river near Northeast entrance.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Up Close and Personal with a Baby Elk

The day started out great, but ended with an experience we shall not soon forget.

It was nearing 7:30 PM as we headed home to Gardiner. We were really looking forward to a big hot meal after spending a long day in the park. A mile or so south of Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park, we spot a momma elk and a wobbly legged calf. After comparing notes, we believe it's the baby elk who had been born earlier in the day that we passed by on our way to Lamar Valley.

My husband, Rick, was driving Earl and Carol Sue's car and slowed down as the pair crossed the road. Momma pushed on into the tall sage just on the other side of the pavement in front of us but baby didn't want anything to do with it. She wobbled back onto the road and headed straight for the car, so Rick stops to ensure the baby's safety. We all fully anticipated her to get scared by the big, noisy, metal contraption and return back to her mother, but she didn't, and continued walking our way.

Before we knew it, baby sniffed the front of the car on the passenger side, then the tire, and despite momma's alarming calls, she decided it was time to take a nap against our tire!

We were perplexed! We had never been in a situation like this before. We yelled "boo" and "scram," but she wouldn't budge! We knew not to touch wildlife in any way whatsoever, so nudging her was out of the question. We thought momma would eventually come and get her but she continued eating grass a few feet away from us with a watchful eye.

Sleeping Beauty from my view out of back passenger-side window.

Sleeping Beauty had placed herself under the car next to the passenger tire. We were stuck and couldn't move, nor would we move for fear of harming the little one. We made the best of it. Within a few feet of Earl in the front passenger seat and me sitting behind him, we had a front row view to a beautiful, new-to-this-world, living creature.

Shortly, we heard cars stopping behind us and people walking up to the car. Rick and Carol Sue got out on the driver's side to inform them what was going on and to direct them away from the baby. Some asked questions, others took photos.

About 20 minutes later we realize we aren't getting out of this anytime soon and we have created a traffic jam! I make a call to 911 and Dispatcher Steve asks, "What's the emergency?"

"I'm sorry I called 911 because I'm not sure if you would consider this an emergency. But there is a baby elk sleeping next to our tire and we are stopped on a main road," I reply.

Dispatcher Steve chuckles and says, "Yes, this is definitely an animal emergency!" Steve gathers our location and vehicle description and says a ranger will be in route soon. He was so good natured and calming, assuring us we did the right thing.

The view from the back of the car on the driver's side.

More time passes and our stomachs are now growling. We surmise that by the time we get out of this situation, the restaurants will be closed and the big hot meal we had planned will not happen. Not only will we be denied an enjoyable dinner, but so would all the visitors caught in this unique traffic jam - often referred to as an animal jam in the parks.

And, boy, did we receive some dumbfounded stares and nasty glares as onlookers drove by. If they couldn't see the baby elk, they hadn't a clue what was going on and probably called us a stupid tourist. Or worse, if they did see the baby elk under our tire, they probably thought we hit it. I would have paid high dollar for a sign that read, "We did NOT hit the baby elk. It's sleeping!"

Not only did the ugly stares concern us, but momma crossed the road away from her little one. Okay, the truth is only us girls were concerned. The boys tried to assure us that momma will come back, but she had walked so far away, probably due to the traffic congestion.

An hour after this all started, Ranger Joe drives up, surveys the situation and tries the "boo and scram" yelling technique we found useless. Rick and Carol Sue light-heartedly tell him we already tried that and he laughs and shakes his head. He moved on to a ranger's next priority - the first ensuring animal and human safety, of course - and began directing people back to their cars and moving the traffic jam along.

The road finally clears allowing Ranger Joe to work his traffic directing skills to get us out of our wildlife emergency. Using dynamic hand gestures and vocal commands, he directs Rick to drive forward a little bit, wait, forward a bit more, wait, turn the wheel, forward just a bit more, and then finally we were able to clear the spot we had occupied for over an hour without any harm to Sleeping Beauty.

We were all amazed that the movement of the vehicle didn't state the baby; she didn't move one inch. While it may not have phased her, it was a bit tense for the rest of us, I must say. Plus, I was concerned that momma would leave her baby behind. Just before completely leaving her behind, I asked Ranger Joe if momma would come back for her baby. He assured me she would.

Later that evening, I discovered a voice mail from dispatcher Steve informing us that the ranger wanted us to know that 5 minutes after we left, momma came and got her baby and they walked off into the sunset.

Ahhhhh! Relief!!! As awesome as it was to be two feet from a wild newborn elk, I hope to never experience that again!!!

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Alicia White is an Award-Winning Speaker and Photographer. Each year since 2006, she and her husband Rick travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to photograph the stunning landscape and amazing wildlife. To see some of their photos, please visit: www.facebook.com/YellowstonePhotos