YELLOWSTONE CHAPTER TWO

Yellowstone National Park has two major valleys that are known for wildlife watching. Now I mean serious wildlife watching where people set up their mega sized scopes and cameras on tripods and WAIT. and when an animal is sighted it is amazing how quickly the roads jam with cars and people running helter-skelter to mostly peer into the distance at a moving speck. And yes, we joined in on the wildlife enthusiasm and were rewarded with some great views. Bear warnings are everywhere and we faithfully carried our bear spray whilst nervously looking over our shoulders. Well, the bears were being elusive and it wasn't until our last day in the park that a grizzly showed its backside and then his nose in some tall prairie grass a good distance away, but the thrill was still there to join in with the watchers.

LAMAR VALLEY

THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER AT SUNRISE

An early adventure to go wildlife watching began at 6AM at a chilly temperature of -3 C but 'nothing ventured is nothing gained' and I think this view alone was worth it. 

STEAM RISING FROM VENTING FUMAROLES

ELK AT SUNRISE

PRONGHORN

These slender animals are the fastest mammals running up to 95 Km/h

MANY HERDS OF BISON

BISON IN CHARGE

BREAKFAST BY A BABBLING BROOK

WYLIE COYOTE

SODA BUTTE
A now-extinct geyser in the Lamar Valley



HAYDEN VALLEY

MR BISON BESIDE OUR CAR

Looks like he prettied himself up for the photo

GRISSLY BEAR

Quite unaware of the hundred cars that stopped to see him.

SWANS ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER

JUST BECAUSE I LIKE GRASSES

MERGANSER DUCKS

Braving the rapids and then drying out on a rock in the river

SULFUR CAULDRON

GURGLING MUD CAULDRON

MUD VOLCANO

In 1870 explorers heard the rumbling and came across mud spewing into the treetops from this volcano. Two years later it had blown itself apart. 

DRAGONS MOUTH SPRING

Water surges out like the lashing of a dragon's tongue

COLOURFUL GRASS AMONGST BUBBLING MUD

FISHING BRIDGE

Built in 1937 

 CALM WATERS ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER