Saturday, September 20, 2014

Yellowstone - September 20, 2104 - Saturday



Well the final day is always the saddest day, but that is the mark of a good trip – one where you are left wanting more.  We awoke at the customary 5:15 am, again taking heart that it was really 7:15 on the east coast (yeah right!).  Cheri made the final spectacular egg creation – this time egg whites with tomatoes and bison meatloaf.  Yum!  John had the usual pastries.

We were on the road, fully packed and checked out, by 6:30 am.  Still dark – perfect!  We elected to go back up to elk flats just outside of Mammoth on the way to Norris.  The elk all seem to hang out there and bugle the day in as they get ready to mate or fight to mate.  The sunrises are really good there too with lots of mountains and trees to make a photographer’s dreams.





As we waited, Cheri pulled up to the edge of the area where there were a number of rocks below.  Out of the corner of her eye there was movement.  What was that?  Something was darting in and out of the rocks.  Wait for it….it was a little American Pika!  Cool!!  A new animal to our list of never seen before animals!  It was so cute with its little whiskers as it was eating red leaves from a nearby bush.  At one point it stopped gathering food, stopped eating, stopped running and just sat and watched the sun come up! 




It was 7:20 am and we decided to try the alternate path back to the airport.  It would take us through the park but it was considerably longer.  We stuck off and shot elk along the way back into Mammoth.  The big elk that had been terrorizing Mammoth had rope around his antlers. 

We turned for Tower and then Lamar Valley.  Passing a few lakes on the left, steam a rising giving the heat of the season back to nature.

As we shot toward Tower there is a big open sage filled valley that was lit with precious morning light.  All of the sudden – John yells “Wolf” on the ridge!!!  Cheri says, “which ridge?”  The sun is shining brightly into our eyes and we are looking for all we are worth!  Cheri pops through the sunroof and begins to scan.  The wolf dropped back into the sage brush not to be seen again.  At least John saw it!

We headed down towards Tower and hooked up the gps.  Alas, there wasn’t time enough to make it to the airport with enough time to spare for gas and vehicle drop off, so we turned around and headed back out through Gardiner.  8:30 am – goodbye Yellowstone!




Got to Billings in record time with Cheri in the backseat out of the sun tying this blog all the way!!  A quick bite at the Mexican restaurant we ate in on the way in and whoosh….into the air and back toward the East Coast.

Enjoy!
Cheri & John

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