Yellowstone 170928 First encounter with Bison / Buffalo

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First encounter with Bison / Buffalo
© NF Photos 170928 Elk Ranch Flats, Teton NP

Our first encounters with the Bison herd was after the sunrise at Teton Range. Our cameras already warmed up. And that was necessary as it was a frosty morning. We first saw the bison's on a small dirt road not far from the main road. Their tops was covered with frost. Then we went to the Teton side of the main road and just then the herd was moving over the road and came right at me as I stood at a tree at the edge of the road. And the fence was about 5 m from me. The herd run back and forth to get over the fence. They have done that many times before, I can tell, as the fence was broken both here and there. It was a running frenzy and several times one animal was to close to me. I had to back off and no shots taken as they were too close then. The main problem for the herd was the young ones. They had trouble finding a place where to cross. I saw one finally crawling under the fence.

A little later we found them again grazing peacefully close to a farmhouse.  😄

Lots of adrenalin that morning. Something I will never forget.


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Yellowstone 171004 Last day in Yellowstone

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© NF Photos 171004



Today we were up and out before sunrise. Packed and ready to leave. But the baggage would stay at the lodge until we comes back from Lamar Valley. We were given our breakfast yesterday evening as we were up before breakfast started.

I spent some minutes trying to capture some stars in the camera. Got Venus and halv Orion. Just for fun. It was a clear morning. Then we left.


After about halv an hour we spottes a group of Wapiti on a hill. Everyone out of the cars. This is the kind of shots I wanted for several years. But there are no hills or mountains like that where I live so I was quite happy about it.

Wapiti elk

Next animal up was a brown bear. Wery hard to see and to photograph. It was about two m up from the road and in bushes. I´m to short so my images was not good. The taller men got great shots. It is unfair!  😞  The bear is turned away from me and I had to work a lot to make it look rather OK.

Brown Bear

Later on we made a stop where there usually are wolfs. We had not seen one yet so it would be a treat. Here is the group looking for wolfs in Lamar Valley. But did not find any.

While they were looking I turned the other way. There was frost so I decided to have some fun until my friends screamed "The wolf is coming!" I had no wolf in sight, but a bison right in front of me.

Frost, bokeh and bison!

A little later we found, not a wolf, but three coyotes. Not bad either. And they did not care a bit about people on the road. They walked right through our group. We just moved away a step or two.

Bison and Coyote

Well, almost too close.

Coyote crossing

After a long morning it was time for picnic lunch at Lava Creek. We had a guest, a Dipper in the stream.

And a last look at Mammoth Hot Springs from the car as we are passing by on our way to Bozeman, our last lodge and tomorrows flight back home.


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Yellowstone 171003 Cody - Lamar Valley - Mammot Hot Springs - Gardiner

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© NF Photos 171003

This day started early as usual. Packed and ready to leave at 7.45. We go north from Cody to The Northeast entrance and then west to Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner where we stay the night.
During the ride out of Cody I tried to capture the "famous" face mountain. Can you see the face?

Now was the place where we started to see cows instead of bison. Quite weird, but they were far off and no reason to take shots from the car. 

We took Wyoming Highway 296 also know as "Chief Joseph Scenic Byway", "Dead Indian Hill" and "Sunlight Bridge" (one of the highest bridges in the US).
Nez Perce tribe in Yellowstone
I´m not that person that wants to be reminded of how evil people can be so, instead of sharing the history I noticed a chipmunk at this high altitude with snow,  still trying to get food out of people. Sadly we did not bring anything for it as we did not expect to see one. :)

Looking down from the Sunlight bridge

A cold chipmunk 

Lots of beautiful, scenic, views along the road 296

We made a stop in Cook City and it´s museum. They did have a sense of good humour. :) "Coolest small town in America". Quite nice from what I could see in that short amount of time.

And then we were going back into the park again. Heading for Lamar Valley. And picnic lunch. We had a fox as lunch guest and it was the first time I tasted jack fruit. It was tasty.  Think it suited the plate too.



Usually when you see critters and birds the birds are Cattle egrets. But here they were Starlings. Lots of them.

Please click to enlarge for a better view.


Last, but not least, Mammoth Hot Springs.
In Mammoth the Wapiti Elk are "walking in the park" or rather, live in the traffic roundabouts.

And the Hot springs are Hot. And so many I had no chance to see them all in the amount of time we were given for the place.

Then we went to Gardiner at the border between Wyoming and Montana and our new lodge. When settled in the room we had some time to edit images for tomorrow. Then we
 met at a restaurant for dinner. When back at the motel I took a shower, uploaded the images and prepared for the last day in Yellowstone.

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Yellowstone 170929 Exploring Grand Teton NP 2 Moose and other things Menors Ferry Historic District

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© NF Photos 170929

Done with Mormon Row we drove to a place called Menors Ferry Historic District. This was an old ferry passing the Snake River.


 But we went to the right and followed the river upwards. And soon enough we spotted a moose cow with a young. Quite hard to see among the high vegetation but still. They did not seem worried about our presence as after a while they laid down to rest. And we left the place not to disturb them further.

In the location there was also shops and other facilities. So some of us took the opportunity to have a cup of coffee at Dornans.

Well, I was windowshopping at Craig Thomas Discovery and visitor center, and figured it is always nice to know that you too are on the trip. So, a selfie in the window to the shop proves it and shares a bit of the surrounding as well. One of my companions and then Teton Range.



Next stop was close to Teton Village where a smaller river crossed the road we were travelling.

On the mountain were a Mountain Resort with people paragliding down the mountain side.

Close to Wilson Boat ramp we found a nice place for lunch. And just a short path down to the Snake River and the Teton Range.

After our late lunch we drove east and passed through Jackson Hole and then all the way up to Colter Bay and the motell. We had a short brake before we headed out again.

We met again at 16.30 for a sunset tour and late dinner at Signal Mountain Lodge.

Late sun shines on the treetops. 

Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson Lake and Teton Range


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Yellowstone 170928 1 Morning Grand Teton sunrise, bison and so much more

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© NF Photos 170928

We were awake at 06.00. for breakfast. And ready to leave the Ranch Inn at 6.45 to see the first light on the top of Grand Teton. It was a nice and slightly chilly morning. As we arrived at the viewpoint a lot of people was there already. So hard to get the reflection without people in the shot.

Next stop was at the Elk Ranch Flats where we saw a lot of bison. To begin with it was still cold enough to be frost in their fur. As we were there the herd was passing across the road to go to the area on the other side. And they were coming right at me. They wanted to cross an old fence which gave the young ones big trouble. I was in trouble too as they were too close for comfort. Hard to get great shots. And I did not know weather to stay or leave. But, they were only interested in crossing the fence. So I stayed put.  More images HERE

At the National_elk_refuge we were able to see a family of Trumpeter swans. Just a pity they were far away and mostly turned their back on us. I think I also have a Ring-necked duck in the photo.

Later on we were back to the Elk Flat Ranch
This time we also had great views of  a herd of  Pronghorn antelope. One male frenetically trying to keep the herd together.

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Well, I stop here or the post will be too long. Next post...Lunch!

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