Yellowstone, Day 1

(I tried to post this last night but couldn’t get an internet connection!)

We are all in our PJs and snugly tucked in at the West Yellowstone Super 8 for the evening. Though we’re all exhausted and ready to hit the hay, I wanted to post our photos before I forget anything!!!

We pulled out of Helena bright and early! Just before we made it back to I-90, we were greeted by this pack of grazing horses!

Horse sculptures, that is. :-) Very intriguing!

As we neared the north entrance of Yellowstone, Ryley was bound and determined to be our tour guide. I called her Ranger Ryley. She had been scouring the brochures and magazines she had picked up from the hotel, prepared to throw out random Yellowstone facts!

As we waited in the long line of cars at the park entrance, this mommy and baby deer hung out right by us!

Our first stop was Mammoth Springs!

As you can tell, I am having trouble narrowing down the photo selection!!

We had had a planned route and had meant to go to the left. But somehow we missed the turn and ended up staying to the right. We were kicking ourselves, because suddenly we found ourselves in construction traffic with no way to turn around. It all worked out for the best though, as you will soon see!

We kept our eyes peeled for wildlife…specifically a bear, a wolf, and a moose. We know the chances are not great, especially this late in the season, but we prayed that we would have great opportunities!

Lo and behold…we came across a looooooong line of cars and people parking along the side of the road. We rolled down our window, and some guy walking by said there was a grizzly bear up ahead. He kind of laughed though, so I didn’t know if he was serious.

Finally, when we got close enough to the action, Ryley and I hopped out of the van and joined about 100 other people camping out along the side of the road with high-powered cameras and the protection of park rangers. There was even an ambulance sitting there (just in case, I guess?). Haha.

Across the meadow, about 100 yards away, we saw this…

A grizzly bear feasting on an animal carcass! Ryley and I found a spot behind two professional photographers and started eavesdropping on conversations while we snapped photos as fast as we could. Apparently the bear had been there yesterday too and had chased a wolf away from the bounty. Then it had returned to continue working on it today. People seriously had their camp chairs out like they’d been sitting there for hours.

We couldn’t believe our good fortune! God answered our prayers!

Zooming in that closely affected my ability to keep a steady hand and still get a good picture. But we managed to get a few!!!

At last we moved on.

But it wasn’t long before we met this bison all alone on the side of a mountain….

Eventually we found our way to some paint pots and springs…

We finally made it to our hotel around 7:00 and walked next door to a pizza place for dinner. Our cell service has been spotty, so we feel like we’ve been a bit off the grid all day! But we’re back to home base for the night, and both of the Rys are sound asleep. I better go join them!!

Tomorrow: Old Faithful, thermal pools, and the lake….Yay! Plus, we’ve still got to track down that moose and wolf! ;-)