Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Yellowstone in October

My travels continued, which brought me next to the first National Park in the United States, Yellowstone. My friend Connor Tremelling Giorgi was working in the park for the fisheries department shocking various streams and rivers to see what species floated to the top. Exciting stuff. While he was out committing genocide in remote corners of the park, I did several day hikes out where the buffalo roam and the skies remained partially forecast all day. Being the end of October the mornings were a bit brisk reaching down to the low 20's but that didn't stop me. The above picture is Osprey Falls and below is the always abundant Lamar Valley.
Bison are an incredible creature. Absolutely massive and always on the move. They block the roadways in the park and move for no one. The Lamar Valley blew me away everyday. Herds of buffalo and elk graze through this wide depression with packs of wolves always watching from nearby. Connor and I were lucky enough to see one of these packs just before dust moving over the rolling hills on the fringe of the valley. Seventeen in all not more than 150 yards away. Even a park ranger who also happened to be there said that it was the best sighting he had seen all summer.

Just an example of what was following the same trail I was.