Beyond Foundation Workshop: Yellowstone in Winter (Day 3)
The Road to Cooke City
Sorry for the delay, but a very busy workshop schedule and no internet access at Old Faithful has been a problem.
We headed to Cooke City/Silver Gate. A long day in the saddle. Fortunately, no close encounters with four legged critters while driving the car.
George gave a few natural history talks as we drove along the Grand Loop Drive and the Northeast Entrance Road. Several encounters with bison gave us excellent opportunities for close-ups. But, dare I say it, I think I’ve overdosed on bison.
A couple of elk bucks rushed by my side of the car, freaked me out, and we missed the opportunity to take their pictures as our “caravan” couldn’t find a spot to stop.
The northern range coyotes were out in force throughout the drive from Blacktail Deer Plateau to Pebble Creek in the Lamar Valley. The one coyote we saw on the bank of the Lamar River west of the road bridge was moving quickly east.
Soon after the coyote left our field of vision, George spotted 3 wolves on a ridge to the west.
We soon lost sight of those wolves and move to a higher vantage point, but still failed to locate them. However, we saw 3 more following the route of the previous three. We quickly lost sight of them as well.
Judging by their initial route we thought they would follow the banks of the Lamar River, but none were seen coming around the corner of the ridge into the river bottom. As I scanned a far ridge line which I think was above Slough Creek, I saw a lone elk in a small clearing. The elk was obviously attentive and a little anxious. We continued to watch the elk thinking the wolves might be planning something.
After a seemingly long wait, the second group of three wolves appeared on the ridge very near to the elk.
We collectively held our breath as we all expect to see fur and snow flying. But the wolves just paused, then proceeded on the their way along Slough Creek. We were very surprised there was no attack, but still an extremely memorable experience.
Continuing along the Lamar River through the canyon then into the valley is always one of my favorite things to do here in Yellowstone. Several large bison herds and a few coyotes greeted us as we past the Yellowstone Institute at the Buffalo Ranch.
Near the trailhead to the Lamar Valley horse trail (where I took the panorama shots on Friday), a big horn ram was posing for a photographer. He, of course, stopped in the middle of the road to get out and set up his camera and tripod. George let us know that this practice was taboo, so some of our group walked from the trailhead parking lot back down the road to shoot.
There was much more snow on the ground in the northeast corner, especially as we drove up towards Silver Gate. The car just in front of me drifted off the road just a little bit and became stuck. Fortunately, one of our group had a big 4×4 truck and a tow rope and got here out of the drift.
A late lunch at Cooke City and then back toward Gardiner. We stopped a couple of times finally staying at the confluence of Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River for sunset. It was a beautiful twilight.
Then, back to Gardiner to start packing for our snowcoach trip to Old Faithful and then finally a pizza party and lecture by George about the history, geology, and biology of the park with his images giving great examples of composition and exposure.
Our assignment for tomorrow evening’s critique: Three images with one of wildlife.