ELK AND BISON ABOUND

START :      Yellowstone NP                   TODAY:         112

ENDING :   Yellowstone NP                    TOTAL:      2,711

CAMPGROUND:        Fishing Bridge—Yellowstone

By 6:00 a.m. we were on the road in search of elk and bear.  It was a brisk 40 degrees and clear.  We headed northeast to Lamar Valley which was carved out by glaciers.  At one time this area was covered by 4,000 feet of ice, as the glaciers moved large rocks were deposited in the open valley.  Lamar Valley is also the area where wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1996. 

 We were well rewarded for our sleep sacrifice by a sighting of elk close enough  to appreciate their size and beauty. 

The sunrise over the mountains wasn’t so bad either.  This is God’s country!

It took us an hour to drive the 40 miles to Lamar Valley—a wide-open grassland with a stream running the length of the valley.  There was a group of pronghorn antelope grazing in the distance.  Ron scanned the tree line with binoculars but the wolves were elusive. 

  

After crossing the Montana border we turned around to head back to Roosevelt Lodge for brunch.  On our way, just off the road,

 a few bison were grazing allowing us to film

 and snap a few more photos. 

Not much further, a couple of 


pronghorn antelope welcomed us as well.   Pronghorns are the second fastest animal in the world, up to 55 mph. 

Brunch was a treat.  A stack of Huckleberry pancakes made Ron a happy camper!




Returning to the car we headed south and before long we sighted a heard of about 50 bison just at the edge of the road. There were none in the vast Lamar Valley, but here they were just 50 feet off the road. 

We were set to return to the camper and have a restful afternoon uploading and editing photos, writing our daily log and blog and making chili for tomorrow.  Up ahead we sited a car jam and pulled over to determine the cause.   A bison heard 200 strong were within 25-50 yards from the pull off.  What an amazing experience and what a gift this morning proved to be. 

 

A rare three-headed bison. 

Had dinner at the Yellowstone Hotel.  Ron had grilled quail and I had rack of lamb - now that's camping!     Location:  The Lamar Valley - furthest point today.