Yellowstone and Grand Teton May 2016
Jun 6th, 2016, 01:20 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yellowstone and Grand Teton May 2016
Here are my photos from the second week in May in Yellowstone and GTNP share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZNnDlk5YtmbMyA
Our primary interest was wildlife viewing and we spent 4 nights in Gardiner MT, 1 night at Old Faithful and 2 nights in Jackson, WY. It was 80 degrees the day we arrived in Gardiner and snowed two days later. We lucked out with the weather as several days of forecasted thunderstorms never materialized and the snow day was gorgeous and blissfully peaceful.
Lots of bison with calves everywhere. Bears were out at all times of day all along the northern road through the park. We got out early each day to avoid the worst of the bear jams. We saw wolves twice at the den at Slough Creek but from a far distance. Just south of the Moran entrance of Grand Teton we had a very lucky wolf sighting. One crossed the road in front of us, jumped a fence and went into a field with some bison. Our favorite sighting was of a mousing fox near the road on the Beartooth Hwy.
Our only previous trip to Yellowstone was in winter and we weren't able to drive past Cooke City. The Beartooth was open for 17 miles past the intersection with Chief Joseph Hwy this time. The scenery was breathtaking and we need to go back and do the drive when the road is fully open. This was our first time in the Tetons and we loved it and wished we had an extra day or two here. Except at bear sightings along the main road, GTNP was also much quieter than Yellowstone.
Our primary interest was wildlife viewing and we spent 4 nights in Gardiner MT, 1 night at Old Faithful and 2 nights in Jackson, WY. It was 80 degrees the day we arrived in Gardiner and snowed two days later. We lucked out with the weather as several days of forecasted thunderstorms never materialized and the snow day was gorgeous and blissfully peaceful.
Lots of bison with calves everywhere. Bears were out at all times of day all along the northern road through the park. We got out early each day to avoid the worst of the bear jams. We saw wolves twice at the den at Slough Creek but from a far distance. Just south of the Moran entrance of Grand Teton we had a very lucky wolf sighting. One crossed the road in front of us, jumped a fence and went into a field with some bison. Our favorite sighting was of a mousing fox near the road on the Beartooth Hwy.
Our only previous trip to Yellowstone was in winter and we weren't able to drive past Cooke City. The Beartooth was open for 17 miles past the intersection with Chief Joseph Hwy this time. The scenery was breathtaking and we need to go back and do the drive when the road is fully open. This was our first time in the Tetons and we loved it and wished we had an extra day or two here. Except at bear sightings along the main road, GTNP was also much quieter than Yellowstone.
Jun 6th, 2016, 03:37 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone!
We really enjoyed our winter trip and also stayed at Gardiner that time and drove to Cooke City and back. Then we took a snowcoach from Mammoth to Old Faithful and stayed at the Snow Lodge. Wildlife viewing was very good on that trip as well. We saw wolves in Lamar Valley. There were quite a few bison right in Gardiner and around the geyser basin in areas where there was less snow. The park was very quiet and the thermal areas very picturesque in the snow.
This time we really wanted to see bears so picked spring and it was also great to see so many bison calves. We were a little too early for most other baby animals but got to see grizzly and black bear cubs. Many bears were feeding on winter carcasses and hiking was limited due to the bear and wolf activity. The one thing we missed were the ranger programs as we had really enjoyed some of the evening talks but nothing was offered in between seasons.
Now we want to go back and see it in the fall.
We really enjoyed our winter trip and also stayed at Gardiner that time and drove to Cooke City and back. Then we took a snowcoach from Mammoth to Old Faithful and stayed at the Snow Lodge. Wildlife viewing was very good on that trip as well. We saw wolves in Lamar Valley. There were quite a few bison right in Gardiner and around the geyser basin in areas where there was less snow. The park was very quiet and the thermal areas very picturesque in the snow.
This time we really wanted to see bears so picked spring and it was also great to see so many bison calves. We were a little too early for most other baby animals but got to see grizzly and black bear cubs. Many bears were feeding on winter carcasses and hiking was limited due to the bear and wolf activity. The one thing we missed were the ranger programs as we had really enjoyed some of the evening talks but nothing was offered in between seasons.
Now we want to go back and see it in the fall.
Jun 6th, 2016, 06:25 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really nice shot of the sage grouse! Lucky you to see wolves. Ive been to Yellowstone more times that I can count and have never seen one. I think I have to head up in spring and make the wolves a priority.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
car_free_traveler
United States
5
Oct 20th, 2012 10:54 AM
