RED LODGE, MT – We’re enjoying a week with our son Michael and his family at a KOA campground northeast of Yellowstone National Park, backpacking in the park, marveling at the geysers and hot springs, and spotting a bear, a wolf, and lots of bison.
On Thursday, Michael, our daughter-in-law Lizzy and I backpacked 8.3 miles up Slough Creek in the northeast section of Yellowstone Park. We stayed overnight at a campsite on a hill overlooking the valley and the two bison bulls content to graze on the other side of the creek. We walked down to the creek that evening to get a closer look at the bulls, and then on Friday on the way back, we swam in the creek’s swift and cool waters near another campsite about halfway back. (Check out the video of me and Michael riding the current.) Near our campground we found the skull and antlers of a 10-point elk.
Yesterday, we all drove over 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass and through the Northeast Entrance to spend a full day seeing the more popular geothermal sites of Yellowstone. Highlights were the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Prismatic hot spring, and Old Faithful and other nearby geysers. The roads and parking lots were crowded, but we managed to find a place for the truck at each stop and we didn’t mind the crowds on the trails and boardwalks. They were a wonderful mix of American families and international tourists.
During our two excursions into the park, we also spotted lots of bison and other wildlife. On the way to our backpacking trip, we saw mountain goats near Beartooth Pass and hundreds of bison along the Lamar River and its confluence with Soda Butte Creek . Lizzy also spotted a wolf running along the hillside above the bison and took the photo below through their 10-power binoculars. We also spotted the striped backside of a badger heading into the brush as we were leaving the Slough Creek trailhead after our hike.
As we entered the park yesterday, we decided the three animals we had yet to spot that we really wanted to see were moose, bear, and elk. The park ranger at the entry station raised our expectations when she said, “The critters are out today!” Sure enough, shortly after entering the park, we spotted a lone moose standing in the woods. Further on, a medium-sized black bear crossed the road in front of us. And later in the day we saw a small group of elk running in the distance through the woods. (I could only get a photo of the bear, and that was from a moving car and at a distance.)
***
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we break camp to head to Colorado Springs for a few weeks to enjoy summer near the mountains and family and friends in the state. After visiting 18 national parks, staying in 42 different campgrounds, and towing the RV 6,627 miles since February, we’re ready to plop down in one place to just call home for a while.
Daniel Griswold's Blog 