plumeria

Hi there!
I hope someone can help me. My mother and I decided about 5 days ago on MT/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons for a vacation 9/26-10/4. Our Carribean ideas seemed a little dangerous this year!! I know little about the area (though I've been reading as fast as I can). We booked a time share in Big Sky,MT for this time. After reading other posts I feel that we will need to spend some time in one or both of the parks themselves. Seven day trips would become very difficult, I think. My questions are:

1.Where do you think it would be smartest to headquarter ourselves for 3 nights? Just Yellowstone, just the Tetons, or a mix? Oh and where??? In Yellowstone I was thinking Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge. In Grand Tetons I was thinking Signal Mountain lodge or perhaps Jackson Lake.

2. Has anyone used any of the Day trip tour companies that they would recomend? We are especially interested in the wildlife safari type trips (AM or PM)and photography. We can't do anything too active because mom was in a car accident 2 days ago and was banged around pretty badly.

3. For those days we are in Big Sky are there any suggestions? Bear Tooth Highway seems popular.
Thanks so much for the info!! I have been trying to figure it out on my own, but I just can't work out what will be the best plan.

wanderluster

Are you referring to THIS 9/26-10/4? If so, its unlikely you'll find a place IN the parkes, although cancellations do occur. Have you done a search here? There are many recent posts on your questions. I will top a few for you to get you started.

plumeria

Wanderluster,thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction!
I have found availability at the places I mentioned. Though now I'm nervous and am going to check again. When I said 'tours' I ment those very small or private type tours, not tours in buses. I've found some guides who come with you for a day for $300-400 a day or I've found some multi-day trips that are $400-500 a person. Before I plunked down $1000 for 2 days I wanted to know if anyone had been on this type of tour. I know in other safari settings good guides are well versed on the animals, flora, and fauna of the area. My mom is a scientist and finds this type of information fasinating. Also, well respected guides often share info on where animals were spotted, etc... between themselves. I figure this will increase our chances of seeing animals. What I don't want is some fly by night company or a whole tour of fluff.
I'm reading the other posts you pointed me to as fast as I can!
Again, thank you! These really were last minute plans but I want our vacation to be great!

njdave

plumeria, make sure you and your mother dress warmly for your trip to yellowstone. The high temperature today is 41 and the low tonight is 18. It can be chilly early in the morning. Have a great trip!

bob_brown

A guide for Yellowstone? What on earth for? I have been there many times and frankly I know of no reason to use a guide for anything. Roads to to the best places to visit, and a few trails take you to the other places. The visitor centers show you the features and the desk staff can tell you how to get there. For those kind of prices I will fly out and guide you myself!

There ain't no mystery about Yellowstone. I never needed a guide, I am not ever going to hire a guide, and I don't think I missed out on anything by not having one. A good book, a few questions, a little advice from my friends, and I find all I can say grace over.

plumeria

41 degrees...wow!!where I live that is dead of winter. I guess I'll do some shopping tomorrow and Sat. I've never been to such a cold location. Well, I'm excited. Thank you so much for the heads up!
Bob Brown- does that mean you think we'll see all sorts of wildlife on our own? Are bears just there, on the side on the road? I don't think I want to see a bear if I'm hiking,do I? The only real experience I have with wildlife was in Africa, and we were on a private safari. I think that has sort of set my frame of thought. Perhaps when I actually get there I'll understand better. But I would like to learn about the area and it seems that the ranger programs have stopped running. Any specific guide book you'd recomend? Besides Fodors of course

HowardR

Get a copy of Frommer's guide to Yellowstone and the Grand Teton. You'll find it enormously helpful in your planning.

maj

The animals go anywhere they want in Yellowstone. We have been there at this time of year and the elk, buffalo and antelope are everywhere--next to the road, crossing the road,in the fields, etc. You will know when there is an animal sighting--cars will be parked all along the road. In Mammoth, the elk were making themselves at home on the lawns of the houses there. Bears and wolves are alittle harder to find--but usually the rangers at the Visitor Centers will be able to tell you where they have been seen. I agree with Bob--it's fun and easy to explore without a guide.

lauren25

It has actually been snowing here (SE WY) this week. The animals will most definetly be wandering around. I didn't see any bears when I was there a month ago, but you may have better luck now.
My boyfriend was there two years ago around this time of year and saw some wolves. Have fun and stay warm.

plumeria

I'm very excited now. Snow...that is not something I see very often. And the thought of seeing it in September...well it never really occured to me that people got snow this early (not that I thought about this very much) in our hemisphere. I really appreciate all of the advice. I'm usually more prepared for my trips, but like I said, the hurricanes caused us to rethink our plans at the last minute. I shall buy the guide book, ask the rangers for information, and look for clusters of cars along the roadsides. Hopefully this will result in a rewarding experience or two!

maj

I just read a trip report on this site from someone who just got back from Yellowstone and she said they took a photo tour. The thread was called Western Trip Report Part 1-- Yellowstone by RuthMc if you can't get it from the following.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...t=0&dirtyBit=1

maj

Sorry, I don't think you will get it by the link I sent you. It was written earlier today--you can find it by scrolling back through the messages on the left side of the screen.

plumeria

Thank you so much for pointing me to that trip report! She sounds as though she enjoyed her trip. I'm interested in knowing the name of the company, just in case my own personal animal sightings aren't going well. Plus...she saw a mama bear with a cub!

Photodog

Last week Yellowstone got 4-6 inches of snow. Most of the entrances were closed as were the roads til the plows cleared them. Once the sun came out it disappeared quickly. The Beartooth Highway was closed due to snow. Not sure if they plow it or just close it for the season. The East and NE entrances are closed from 10 pm to 6 am for construction.
The pine bark nut crop failed this year, so the bears are trying to fatten up on the berry crop. There was a griz sow with cubs feeding most of the week along the road from Steamboat Prow towards Sylvan Pass. There were a number of black bears feeding along roads in Tower area.
The elk rut is about to start, good viewing along the Madison River from Madison Jct toward W. Yellowstone.
The aspens should be about prime when you go. They were a little late in the Tetons this year. Good number of moose in the Oxbow Bend area. Most ungulates, deer, elk, moose, feed early and late in the day.
There is no need for a guide. Just talk with visitors and ask where they have been seeing the wildlife.

plumeria

Photodog-Thank you for the report. Do you think that we should change our rental vehical to a SUV? Or do you think that the roads will be fine? 4-6 inches would close down the area I live in! I find this all so interesting. I can't wait to see it in real life. Everyone has been so very nice to share their advice and information. I bought lots of fleece, real hiking boots, and wool socks today; none of which I've owned before. Thanks again for the report!