The elk in the neighborhood must be in full rut. The bulls are bugling non-stop in the dark, wish I could see them, they're in my side yard!
We're off to Jellystone today, a trip I've been anticipating for a year so needless to say up way to early. It's about 270 miles to W Yellowstone and another 90 min drive past that to our campground. The Wx is mostly predicted to be sunny and mild(for Yellowstone) w just a couple days of rain/snow predicted. Those days coincide w my wife's 65th birthday so a night off in a motel seems like a smart move since I'm already pushing her to edge of her camping limits.
The typical day starts w coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. We drive a mile or so to known wolf watching spots, view wolves and all the other animals and birds for a couple hours. We have a small spotting scope and some good binos. There are a few people that dedicate their lives to wolf watching and their are very willing and happy to show others their hobby. Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to renew some acquaintances from last year.
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Back to camp for brunch, a bit of rest, my wife knits or reads or we can go for a hikes on several trails that originate in the campground. I prefer hiking mid-day to reduce the chances of running into a bear. Then as most Yellowstone visitors are returning from their day driving around we again make our way out to view animals in the Lamar Valley as wildlife activity builds towards sundown. We might be searching for another pack of wolves to view or perhaps see some bears. In the past years we have found spots that we can view mtn goats, and bighorn sheep so there's plenty to keep us busy.
Food is a big part of the experience for me as the family cook and I know my wife is happier eating well. Putting out good food under less than ideal conditions is a challenging, but fun!
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