Trip Report July 3-4
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:23 pmWell here it goes. I have been content to post on the photo forum but Chuck reminds me how nice it is to read all the other reports and how I should do my part.
Chuck had a prior commitment so we didn't leave home till 9 pm on Thursday. Arrived at the west entrance just before midnight and was suprised to see a ranger in the booth. She kindly asked where we were going and when I replied Gardiner she stated not through Norris. I didn't know and Chuck had forgotten that some road construction had begun between Madison and Norris. FYI - The road is closed between 10pm and 8 am during the week. So she said we could go check and see if there was a tent spot in Madison (sign said full but she said the computer said there was room). There were a couple of spots but others had beaten us to them. We drove out of the park and found a place to throw down the sleeping bags and then up again at 4 am to make the long about trip to the north country via OF and Lake.
We came upon a bear near Fishing Bridge right along side the road.
Then we found a light colored fox with three voles (?) in it's mouth. Stopped, posed for a picture and then was off to deliver breakfast.
Two grizzlies on the other side of the river in Hayden Valley.
On the way to Lamar Valley there were a lot of people on a little knoll so we stopped and they told us there had been a black bear with cubs. Then out towards the confluence there was a really big crowd and across the river and far away there was a buffalo kill with wolves and five grizzlies.
On we went to Trout Lake, the purpose of our trip. There were a few cars in the parking lot so up the hill we went. No one had seen the otters. We picked out a spot near the inlet and waited. After about an hour they popped up on the dead log. And mom took off to catch a fish. She caught four and passed them out to the kids and kept one for herself. Only one came to the log for a bit while the others headed for the grass. It was exciting for the short while it lasted. Then off they went. Later that day and after the rain storms we noticed some people on the south side taking pictures and sure enough we could see the otters were there. We hot footed it to that side and true to luck they were gone when we arrived. We waited, took a little nap, chatted with a nice lady from LV.
Hours later the mom stopped by for a minute and headed for the inlet. We hustled over and got there just in time. She caught a fish and headed for the grass. Crossing the bridge we saw her eating supper along the bank. The kids must have been full as they didn’t show up and she took off when she was done.
Drove North and there was a bear jam at Phantom Lake. Two young bears, black and cinnamon.
Back to our campsite at Tower. Up the next morning and on the road again. Down the road just North of Rainey Lake were two black bears. Near Elk Creek we saw a young lone black wolf that crossed the road several times. No owl out in the open at Phantom.
There was a griz east of the restrooms on Dunraven Pass. Saw a nice bull elk and two mule deer near him south of the Canyon horse corrals. We worked out way back north to Mammoth. Stopped for lunch and had to shoot the marmonts.
Peek-a-boo
I should have taken better notes as it is all kind of fuzzy. The Park is green as ever. Lots of rain and water. Many kinds of flowers. Lots of bears. It was a great trip. Still working on the rest.
Chuck had a prior commitment so we didn't leave home till 9 pm on Thursday. Arrived at the west entrance just before midnight and was suprised to see a ranger in the booth. She kindly asked where we were going and when I replied Gardiner she stated not through Norris. I didn't know and Chuck had forgotten that some road construction had begun between Madison and Norris. FYI - The road is closed between 10pm and 8 am during the week. So she said we could go check and see if there was a tent spot in Madison (sign said full but she said the computer said there was room). There were a couple of spots but others had beaten us to them. We drove out of the park and found a place to throw down the sleeping bags and then up again at 4 am to make the long about trip to the north country via OF and Lake.
We came upon a bear near Fishing Bridge right along side the road.
Then we found a light colored fox with three voles (?) in it's mouth. Stopped, posed for a picture and then was off to deliver breakfast.
Two grizzlies on the other side of the river in Hayden Valley.
On the way to Lamar Valley there were a lot of people on a little knoll so we stopped and they told us there had been a black bear with cubs. Then out towards the confluence there was a really big crowd and across the river and far away there was a buffalo kill with wolves and five grizzlies.
On we went to Trout Lake, the purpose of our trip. There were a few cars in the parking lot so up the hill we went. No one had seen the otters. We picked out a spot near the inlet and waited. After about an hour they popped up on the dead log. And mom took off to catch a fish. She caught four and passed them out to the kids and kept one for herself. Only one came to the log for a bit while the others headed for the grass. It was exciting for the short while it lasted. Then off they went. Later that day and after the rain storms we noticed some people on the south side taking pictures and sure enough we could see the otters were there. We hot footed it to that side and true to luck they were gone when we arrived. We waited, took a little nap, chatted with a nice lady from LV.
Hours later the mom stopped by for a minute and headed for the inlet. We hustled over and got there just in time. She caught a fish and headed for the grass. Crossing the bridge we saw her eating supper along the bank. The kids must have been full as they didn’t show up and she took off when she was done.
Drove North and there was a bear jam at Phantom Lake. Two young bears, black and cinnamon.
Back to our campsite at Tower. Up the next morning and on the road again. Down the road just North of Rainey Lake were two black bears. Near Elk Creek we saw a young lone black wolf that crossed the road several times. No owl out in the open at Phantom.
There was a griz east of the restrooms on Dunraven Pass. Saw a nice bull elk and two mule deer near him south of the Canyon horse corrals. We worked out way back north to Mammoth. Stopped for lunch and had to shoot the marmonts.
Peek-a-boo
I should have taken better notes as it is all kind of fuzzy. The Park is green as ever. Lots of rain and water. Many kinds of flowers. Lots of bears. It was a great trip. Still working on the rest.
The Peek-a-boo marmot cracked me up! 
Thanks for the great report Leo!