The Grand Loop...Yellowstone

First views of Yellowstone

After our drive through the Snowy Mountain Scenic Highway we turned toward Cody, WY.  We thought we may get lucky and reach Mammoth Hot Springs early enough to get a campsite.  Actually looked as if we might just pull it off based on the big board at the Northeast entrance (Cooke City, MT).  It claimed that Mammoth still had open sites... of course by the time we drove the hour to Mammoth the sites were all taken.

Hayden Valley

Thankfully there are a number of Forest Service Campgrounds within a few miles of Yellowstone.  We chose Canyon since it is one of the closest to Yellowstone.  Once the trailer was set up we headed back to the town of Gardiner, MT for a buffalo burger.  Our "order taker" just happened to be from Virginia and a recent William and Mary Grad... taking the summer to work/play in Montana before she "starts looking for her real job".  She was enjoying herself in Montana.

Bright and early (who could sleep with the cars whizzing by the campground) we packed up and headed to the Park.  We got our site, but we found out later in the evening way too close to the road.  The traffic noise was like you were trying to sleep next to an interstate... traffic late into the evening and construction trucks started up the mountain before dawn.  One of us was concerned he would not sleep well...

 

Our first Hawk...still unknown

We set up our camp anyway and headed off for a bit of critter gazing.  The Grand Loop Road is the main loop that circles the Park.  Along the way are several turnouts and side roads where one can always find something interesting to watch.  One of our side trips along the Firehole River we came upon a rather large Hawk.  We still have difficulty identifying large Hawks... this one chose a tree right alongside the road.   Perfect viewing and no one else bothered to stop and watch the hawk.  

Eagle in flight

Once back on the Loop we pulled over in Hayden Valley to look for eagles, wolves or maybe a bear.  The valley was lush and green with only a single buffalo here and there along the banks of the Yellowstone.  Suddenly off on the river bank we discovered TWO bald eagles sitting on the bank... seemed odd.  We did managed a few pictures as they took to the sky.  Beautiful birds, but they never seem to be close enough for the 'perfect shot'.

First Grizzly...AKA Scarface

The best was yet to come... traveling back down Mount Washburn there is a huge meadow area that always looks as if it is perfect habitat for bears.  This time of year it is covered in wild flowers... bright yellows and pink cover the hillside.  Though we've never actually seen anything other than a few elk and bison we always stop at to look through the scope and binoculars.  Until today...a Grizzly bear in all his glory right down the hillside.

Scarface enjoying his meadow

The Park rule is 100 yards and he was well past that, but still closer than we have been to one.  According to one the the Bear Gazers this bear's name was Scarface...his face was supposedly covered in scars.  We never could get a clear view of his face since he kept mowing through the high vegetation.  Lots and lots of pictures were taken while he ate his way through the grasses and

flowers until he disappeared into the trees.  Pretty darn impressive animal.

Our first black bear sighting

We left Mr. Scarface behind and headed back to camp to get some dinner.  Wouldn't you know that we'd see another bear...a black bear motoring through another meadow.  He was very nonchalant going about his business of eating and basically ignoring the mass of people clicking away along the roadside.  

Once he disappeared into the trees we continued out trek back to camp feeling pretty excited that we'd seen two bears in under an hour on our first day in the Park.

After a night where one half of us (Bill) had difficulty sleeping through the traffic noise whizzing by all night we asked if we could move to another open site.  Thankfully the Campground Hosts agreed and we moved to a site much further from the traffic noise.  Now it reminds us of Hull Street Road noise off in the distance... much improved and better sleeping.

As a side note... always have ear plugs which I thought worked really well since I was able to sleep through the night.  Someone laughed at me when I said I'd packed a set.

Lunchtime...no bugs

Our view for lunch...

Coming down Mt Washburn...grizzly habitat as far a the eye can see