Time's A-Windin' Down

*Critters we’ve seen on our 2013 trip so far:  bison, pronghorn, elk, white-tail deer, Uinta ground squirrel, coyote, snowshoe hare, grizzly bear, moose, wolf, red fox, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mule deer, llama, white-tailed jackrabbit, American badger

*Birds we’ve seen on our 2013 trip so far: osprey, pheasant, magpie, raven, Canada geese, mountain bluebird, grouse, golden eagle, bald eagle, American avocet, sandhill crane, red-tailed hawk, cliff swallow, northern flicker, Clark’s nutcracker, Brewer’s blackbird

 

[Click on any photo to enlarge.]

It was another wonderful month in Yellowstone, but our time was winding down.  The seasons were changing, and there was still so much we wanted to see, but mostly we just took short drives.  At Snow Lake Flats we could see snow in the mountains, but we were there for another reason.  We had heard there was a grizzly on a carcass across the river, and though we couldn’t see the remains, we could distinctly see her with our binoculars and scope.  However, I had to divert my attention for a few minutes to watch a soaring hawk above our heads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was particularly chilly one day as we made our way towards the Norris area, and in the distance we could see the steam rising over the Norris Geyser Basin…almost looked like fires burning.  We only went as far as the Norris campground because the weather was getting worse with flurries starting to come down.

On our way to Gardiner one afternoon, we saw several cars pulled over which meant there must be critters in the area, probably big horn sheep.  We found a spot to park and discovered that there were 6 rams sunning themselves on the opposite river bank.  It was so surprising

 

to see them down here at this time of year since they usually stay at the higher elevations until November/December when the temperatures are cooler, and it’s time for their rut.

 

         The bison were starting to make their annual migration. After the rut, the bulls generally travel solo, and this big guy was not only traveling alongside the road but obviously getting too close to

    the tourists.  Oh, wait, it’s the human’s responsibility to keep that 25 yard distance from the wildlife!  A couple of day’s later he actually came through the campground (well, maybe it wasn’t the exact same bull), came right up to our

       site, and crossed over to hang out at the site across from us for a bit before moving on down the road and up the hill.

 

 

       This was also the month of Russ’ 60^th birthday, and I had a big surprise planned for him.  I secretly contacted several of our friends and family across the country via email and asked if they’d like to join in the fun by mailing a card

for him to the attention of friends in St. Louis by a specific date.  (I couldn’t very well have the mail coming to our mail box in Mammoth!)  The plan was to have Jim then mail the package of cards to Connie, one of our co-hosts, in time to get them to me to give to him on the big

     day.  The morning of his birthday (Sept. 27) we awoke to a couple inches of snow (pictured above left) and after breakfast I presented him with a bag full of 41 cards!  My sister even sent a couple of party hats and noise makers!

 

       That evening we joined Connie and Frank for dinner at the Yellowstone Mine Restaurant in Gardiner, a place we had never eaten, and enjoyed a fabulous meal shared with wonderful friends.  We had promised Russ there would be no singing, but our server surprised him with a huge candlelit Red Velvet Cupcake with buttercream frosting (big enough for the 4 of us to share!) and
along with the other servers (and us) serenaded him with happy birthday.  Thanks to all who participated in the fun with a very special thank you to Jim, Gloria, Frank, and Connie who helped me make this an extra special day for Russ!

 

    A few days later we met up with friends at the Slough Creek Campground (pronounced slew), about a 45 min. drive if there are no animal jams.  The colors were changing, and it was a beautiful drive, but of course, we ran into
   a bison jam.  As you can see from this photo out the front window, we were going nowhere until he moved!  Now some of you may remember that last year we enjoyed an incredible sea scallop dinner with Rich, Annette, Bill, and their friends.  This group has been
     getting together every year at the same campground for over 20 years and always eats in style when camping…no hot dogs and hamburgers for this gang!  Rich served as Chef Bill’s assistant this time and was in charge of toasting the tortilla triangles and plating the huge
   scallops on triangles topped with homemade guacamole and  a tossed salad served on the side.  The food was yummy, and the group is always fun and very gracious, even inviting a couple of young men from Australia who were camping nearby.

 

We were scheduled to stay in Yellowstone until Oct. 15 but with the looming government shutdown, we weren’t sure that was going to hold.  We’d been told of temporary plans in the event it did occur, but more on that in the next post.

 

Yellowstone Tidbits:

• Bighorn sheep ram skulls have 2 layers of bone above the brain that act as a shock absorber in head-on fighting during the rut.
• More people are hurt by bison than by bears each year in Yellowstone.
• There are about 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, that flow year-round in Yellowstone.
• The Sheep Eater tribe of the Shoshone Indians lived in many locations throughout Yellowstone and used dogs to transport their food, hides, and other provisions.