Wyoming, Random Images From...
Wyoming is our favorite place to visit. There are several journeys I would like to publish but until I do, here are some images that I don’t want to leave sitting in a drawer until that happens.
An hours old “Red Dog” baby bison cavorting in the lawn at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
They have two speeds. Full speed and off.
Just up the hill are the surreal terraces of the hot springs.
Lamar Valley in Northern Yellowstone is called the “Serengeti” of Wyoming. The deer and antelope play but the skies can be cloudy all day.
Violent rain cells were passing through Lamar Valley. A herd of Elk huddle together in fear of the passing storm.
The Pronghorn has been called an antelope but is more closely related to the giraffe. It is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere and is quite shy and elusive. This fellow didn’t get the memo.
This “Red Dog” emerged from the brush and was probably only an hour or so old. His fur was still wet.
It was the first day out of the den for this Bear cub and his first attempt at climbing a tree.
The bear on the left is Yellowstone Grizzly #815 also known as Mini Mom due to her small stature. The other bear is her yearling cub who has very little interest in digging for grubs.
Several very young Bighorn Sheep were hanging out together. I think they were on their own for the first time.
A Bison wanders by while a bird hitches a ride and dines on anything edible in his molting fur.
We had driven by this meadow a hundred times on the road between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks. I’m driving back ahead of a storm when I catch this scene as I pass. A quick “James Garner handbrake turn”, scramble for equipment, and caught this “lightshow” moments later.
Music to storm by.
We walk into Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park to wait out a storm cell. The view of the mountains is obscured by the torrents of rain but it provided a fascinating background for the resident musician.
Obligatory capture of Oxbow Bend. It’s required before they stamp your exit visa.
If the Mormon settlers had only copyrighted their barn…
One of the few advantages of forest fires - dramatic sunsets.
A Wyoming sky is an endless source of drama. I came for the lightning - stayed for the sunbeam - the eighty mile per hour wind was close enough for the voice of God. Thank you, Sir!
The sunset on the way to Devil’s Tower National Monument. We hadn’t found a motel yet but this was worth sleeping in the car if necessary.
Over 5,000 climbers a year scale this formation but they had to wait for the shroud of fog to dissipate on this particular morning. Fog is common in the area but on rare occasions it will cling to the rock surface before it dissipates.
On a winter trip to Yellowstone National Park, we took a night excursion to the thermal fields of Biscuit Basin. While doing some “astro-photography” a snowplow came by to groom the nearby road for the snowcoach.
I was upset that the snowplow was ruining my images - until I downloaded and examined the files. But disaster turned to Blessing.
This was the only photographic triptych featured in the Fine Arts Competition at The California State Fair and I was honored with an Award of Merit.
I have seen Old Faithful Geyser many times. It’s fun watching other people see it for the first time.
Travel tip! Walk fifty yards on the path to the right and view it from the side. 99.9% of the spectators won’t walk that far - you will have the view all to yourself.
Or you can go in the winter when only the Snow Lodge is open and you might be the only person to see it.
Some idiot sunk a drone into the Grand Prismatic Spring and got that practice banned. So the next best thing for a “birds eye” view is a hike up the mountain from the back side trail.
We spotted a Blue Heron along the Madison River in Yellowstone - a massive wingspan - the C5A of birds.
Gosling take-off instructions in the park at the Jackson Hole Visitor Center.
Ran into Mr. Moose along the Gros Ventre River in Jackson Valley.
He gave a “come to Papa” bellow and then wandered off with his entourage.
If you are questioning your present situation, consider the the sign on the right.
….THANKS FOR THE LOOK!