John & Cheri's Adventure Blog: Yellowstone - September 18, 2014

Good thing we checked the weather the night before and learned it was going to be grim. We took the opportunity to catch-up on some much needed shut-eye! Ahhh. 10 ½ hours to feed the soul! An egg creation of egg whites, tomatoes and elk bolognaise. After processing images and actually reviewing them, we got our act together around 10 am as the weather appeared to be clearing.

At this point, Intellicast is still saying it’s going to clear and we think we’ve timed it right – so off to 6 blacktail plateau. By the time we get there, storms engulf us, big rain drops fall like crocodile tears and then form into a good cry. After about 15 minutes, the sun starts to poke through again. This would be the story for the day. Great! Shooting moody skies is a real treat that is hard to come by. Most of the time when the weather is bad you get slate grey skies which are patently unphotographic – but not this time!

As we got toward the end of the dirt road, we stopped to shot the autumn colors and sat for a bit. Suddenly, out of nowhere, we were treated to some birds we’d never seen before – ruffed grouse! There were about 8 of them and they crossed the road right in front of us. The sun came out in full force. As they entered the tall grasses on the other side of the road, one flew into a tree…pow, pow, pow. Then the male got onto a branch right next to Cheri and proceeded to pose in every possible way!! Jackpot!!! The sun picked up all his colors and with a backdrop of fall golden grasses and yellow aspens – what shots!

rough grouse

We headed for Lamar Valley. Along the way there were a gaggle of cars and people and park rangers stopped; lots of big lenses visible. We asked what was up – it was a black bear. So we stopped. No sooner was Cheri out of the car, but the rain started again – big crocodile drops. Luckily, she was in five layers and the outer layer was a Northface Hyvent Goretex shell! She walked down to where the bear was, but the views were rough. The bear clearly knew we were there and had no intention of offering a clear shot. So – shots taken and she was wet enough that we carried on.

Black Bear

We had lunch by the river at the far end of Lamar Valley when the rain stopped enough that Cheri could make our customary ham, dill pickle and brown mustard sandwiches. The thunder was rumbling loudly all around us.

After lunch the sun broke again and moody skies were on offer. Pow, pow, pow….Bison in huge herds….pow pow pow.

As we slowly made our way back toward Mammoth, we pulled into a pull out just as big drops began to fall again. As we rounded a giant rock on the edge of the pulloff – we saw movement. Cheri had the wide angle lens on, but pulled it out quickly – but the animal was quicker! That night we asked around for what it might have been; maybe a marmet or maybe a badger. The next day we found an animal guide and learned it was an American Badger! Another new animal for us – even though we didn’t score a picture of this solitary animal, it was wonderful to see!

We sat and waited for the rain to let off in hopes of seeing the creature again. As we waited, the sun began to shine though the black clouds and a rainbow appeared. It was one of the most vibrant rainbows either of us had ever seen; ROYGBIV all in their glory. And then, a second, fainter rainbow appeared above the first; two, parallel, streams of joy and life, each leading to their own pot of gold. Finally the sun came out enough that the rainbows disappeared.

As we drove on there was another group of Bison right next to the road on both sides. Cheri said, “stop, stop, stop” and jumped out. There was a yellow headed blackbird which she had never seen before! WOW – another new species!!!

yellow headed blackbird

We drove on and got to Hell’s Raising. Another rainbow appeared. We pulled in and Cheri took off rapidly down the trail hoping for a clearer spot to shoot. The clouds were thickening and the thunder was picking up considerably. She kept thinking, “I know better than to be doing this after having shot rockets to attract lightning many years ago, but….”. She got the shots and was hoofing it back up the trail as John appeared. He said, “ I was getting worried when I read the sign that said bears in the area don’t hike without 3 or more people and make noise!”.