One day we drove north out of the park to visit Hebgen Dam and Lake. This was formed by an earthquake in 1959. We saw two moose. The larger was a female and the smaller one was a male. I am assuming the male was hers from last year. We also saw an osprey munching on his latest catch.
The next day we had planned to drive to the Tetons traveling through Yellowstone, but we came to a long line of cars just after entering the park which was not moving. We then remembered Good Morning America was going to broadcast from Old Faithful that morning. We assume everyone decided to go there and could not get into the parking lot. The people apparently didn't get the memo (we didn't either until later)that the show had been canceled so they could cover the Moore, Oklahoma tornado. Allan and I decided to make a U-turn and visit the north end of the park instead. We visited Mammoth Hot Springs and Fort Yellowstone.
The fort was built in 1891 to protect the area before it became a national park. This drive was perhaps our favorite as we saw plentiful wildlife. Our first siting of a black bear was on this trip.
At the fort they must have paid a few bison and elk to pose for everyone. They just made themselves at home.
We saw Sheep Eaters Cliff. It is suppose to look like teeth?
One of our pictures is of the side of a mountain where a fire had occurred 25 years ago. Trees are beginning to grow back but I was surprised at how small they were. It must take so many years for the forests to return to its original state.
We also spotted a coyote traveling through the brush, only because someone else had seen it first. The coyote had something on his mind as he was not paying us any attention.
The next day we decided to try again for the Tetons. We took the Idaho side and returned through Yellowstone Park.
We took a side road to Mesa Falls. Allan got some good pictures.
We talked with three ladies who were riding their horses in the area.
Here is a view of an Idaho agriculture field with irrigation and the Tetons in the background.
We got a picture of an old bridge that was probably taken out during a flood.
We really didn't stop in Jackson, just drove through.
By the time we arrived in Wyoming the clouds were rolling in and bringing rain. The pictures of the Tetons give a different look than what we had taken years ago when it was a clear day.
We got to "Old Faithful" in time to see it spout off.
Allan was tired from driving so I took over. All of a sudden a huge grizzly bear came out of the woods and crossed the road right in front of us. Allan was so upset with his camera. He had just bought new batteries, but had not put them in. The camera would not come on quickly enough. The bear slowly walked across the road and down into the forest. He got a picture, but it was a small brown blob in the thick of the trees. It was getting late, but we decided to take a pull off road near the river where Allan had seen elk earlier. Much to our surprise there was a bear across the river getting a drink. We watched him for about 30 minutes. There were two Canadian Geese who followed him all over. I think they may have had a nest and he was hungry. That was so neat to watch him. He assumed a standing posture for us. I am glad there was a river between the bear and us.
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