Grand Teton & Yellowstone NPs 2015

                                                            

                                         

               

We started our trip at Grand Teton NP. Camping at Gros Ventre campground in a nice quite place
and the moose come through your site.

Nice weather and some great day hikes gave us some nice times. There were a few moose around with two coming right at our site.
There are nice walks to the lakes and got you back into the base of the mountains.

Our first camp spot in Yellowstone was at Canyon.Not having camped there before we didn't know what to expect.Actually it's a nice camp even with the large rigs.It's close to Lamar Valley where the animals are.
The next camp was at Norris it's a great spot for our campers.The meadow gets Elk and Bison through it.A nice show.

We made 4 trips over to the Lamar Valley to watch the herds of Bison and Pronghorn with their young. A female Bison had died in birth and the wolves were having their feast. We watched the site over the week and a lot of animals came to eat at the carcass.

Fishing was good on the Gibbin river at Norris camp,the Brook Trout were fun to catch.A 4" one feels like a much larger fish. One evening while fishing a lighting storm moved through off in the distance. It was fun to watch the huge strikes way off in the distance.

After 3 nights at Norris we moved to Madison for the last 2 nights. Fishing was good but the catching wasn't.There was so much food on the water there was little interest in a fly.Although I did hook two nice cuts but both broke the fly off.

By out last night the park was starting to get a lot of people so it was time to move on.Driving out through Teton and spending a quiet night back at Gros Ventre was the plan before our long ride home.

The last night was spent at the Hope Valley campground on Blue Lakes Rd. This is a small camp but quiet. We had some more rain, the leftover of the storm that came up from the south and across the east Sierras. It only lasted about an hour than a great sunset.

Yellowstone area is one of our best places to visit.With all the animal viewing and the scenery it's hard to beat. Yes there are a lot of people there but we manage to get out and away from the biggest crowds.

Spring time there is special with all the new young animals ,and the wild flowers. This time there seemed to be a better show of flowers than the last spring trip we made.Just the difference in a couple weeks earlier.

We always look forward to our trips there.Maybe a fall one is in the works.

                                                                                              

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Wild flowers were out,a nice surprise.

A nice young bull still in velvet.He made two trips through our site.

Wild Clemitis,ours here on the coast are white.

Phelps lake looking west.This was the Rockefeller's privet cabin area.

The Teton shots just keep going.

Buffel-head Duck

Another pair of Sandhill Cranes.We saw several pairs but no "colts".

The Canadian Geese were everywhere.

White Pelicans,with the perfect background.

Another shot from the Jackson Lake area.

Shar spotted these goats on the far canyon side of the Yellowstone river.

This group just kept moving and eating,don't know how they stay on the steep terrain.

Bison and their calves were all over in the Lamar Valley.

This was a new kill and the wolves,eagles,& coyotes were all taking their turn at the meal.

After 3 days of viewing this site most of the female bison was gone.

A solitary bull bison.

A nice yellow head blackbird.

We enjoyed watching the "small" animals this trip.

This mother Black bear has her hands full with 3 two year old cubs.

This fox still in some of his winter coat was searching for some food.

The coyotes are getting the last of the carcass. Nothing goes to waste.

Still winter up on Beartooth Pass.

Norris geyser basin.

Another old bull laying around after having a snack.

Glacier Lilies,fields of them all over the place.

The wildflowers were out and putting on a great show.

Yellowstone canyon with all it's color.

Osprey sitting on eggs,the nest is on a spire at the canyons edge.

Lower falls,the water was very high in the river and made for a huge fall.

This Osprey just sat there and watched us.

This Coyote was at the "Old Faithful"area just roaming around the trail area.

This Marmot was trying not be a meal for the Coyote.

He was searching though. There were 3 in the area and they were "talking" to each other.

Morning Glory pool.

A family of Marmots coming out of their den.

The little animals were fun to watch.

Pinedrops.a little different than ours in the Sierra.

The trip ended at Hope Valley campground,nice to see our granite.

The last of the storm that came through the east side and into the valley.