Half Way Point

5/28/21- Well yesterday was the half way point of our trip! In some ways it feels like we have been gone months but I know when we pull into the neighborhood, it will feel like we just left.

We had another sunny day in Yellowstone 😎. We wanted to see some of the wildlife in Lamar Valley, where we were told we could see bear and wolves. The clincher is that you have to go at daybreak…I don’t do daybreak so well! Paul and Kim came up with a plan to get up at 5:00 AM 😬. We packed all our lunches last night and made ready for today’s adventure. We did it! Up at 5 am and in the park around 5:45.

  • Sunrise
  • The Gatlin Range

We had about a 2 hour drive to Lamar Valley (this park is massive) and shot north east to the valley. There are many bison in the meadows as well as near (or on) the roads…we were looking for something different! When we came across wildlife wat hers along the road, we stopped and tried to see what they were seeing. They were happy to share information and one man let us look into his telescope and see a grizzly bear lumbering down the mountainside. Cool! Bears ✅

After the bear sighting, we saw coyote, small prairie dog like creatures and in Slough Creek, we came across people that found a wolf den on the hillside. I could see something moving with the binoculars so…wolf ✅

  • Road hog!
  • Coyote
  • Hillside where wolf den is

By the end of the wildlife hunt, we saw antelope, elk, bison, coyote, prairie dogs, grizzly bear and wolf. Successful hunt!

On the way back west, we passed Mammoth Hot Springs which, in the summer, is a bustling center for tourists with hotel, eateries and gas station. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the hot springs so we walked, uphill, for awhile, and got these amazing shots of the spring and the formations it makes.

  • Liberty Cap Hot Spring Cone
  • Mineral Terrace
  • Mound Terrace

These formations were spectacular and the pictures don’t do it justice. Well worth the climb up the boardwalk! On the way down, we saw a snake… someone told Paul it was a Blow Snake ?

  • Snake
  • Elk
Harley met her first elk! I was walking her near the hot spring area and an elk rose from a laying position and started walking towards us. I quickly moved Harley to the car, neither of us was ready for that confrontation!

Last night in West Yellowstone celebrated by naps (priority#1), showers, shopping, grilling dinner and campfire.

Next stop, Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton National Park. Total miles driven in the RV: 3119. Add Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to the list of states. Enjoy your Memorial weekend!