1. Nature

Yellowstone Spring Backpacking Trip May 2008

Friday, May 9, 2008, the landscape still draped in winter, temperatures in the 30s, windy with snowflakes the size of downy feathers. East of Tower Junction we set out for three nights, four days, traversing the Hellroaring Creek Trail, camping at two sites along the creek, then traveling north along the Yellowstone River Trail, finally through the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone, up and over several rises, some very rocky, one very slippery and muddy mile-long exposed edge of the canyon, entering Gardiner on Monday, May 12. Wildlife sightings and sounds were in abundance, including: elk, mule deer, bison - many with new-born calves, pronghorn, black bear, grizzly (along the road before starting off), a yearling wolf, marmots, bald eagles, flocks of mountain bluebirds, killdeer, magpies, ravens, robins, Canada Geese, sandhill cranes, kestrels, red-tail hawks, falcons, ospreys nesting, and in the mud and snow, stories created in the multitude of tracks of bear, wolf, cougar, martin, elk, bison, deer.
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  • Female grizzly on an elk carcass observed through spotting scope, May 9

    Female grizzly on an elk carcass observed through spotting scope, May 9

  • May 9. Honest

    May 9. Honest

  • May 9, Tower Junction, temperature hovering in the 30s, overcast and snowing, windchill factor=cold.

    May 9, Tower Junction, temperature hovering in the 30s, overcast and snowing, windchill factor=cold.

  • May 9, Candi and Sam

    May 9, Candi and Sam

  • May 9, Nathan

    May 9, Nathan

  • May 9, Chris

    May 9, Chris

  • May 9, Chris, Julien, Tina, Linda

    May 9, Chris, Julien, Tina, Linda

  • May 9, Susan and Julien

    May 9, Susan and Julien

  • May 9, Jeri and Chris just starting out on the trail

    May 9, Jeri and Chris just starting out on the trail

  • May 9, Yellowstone River suspension bridge

    May 9, Yellowstone River suspension bridge

  • May 9 Yellowstone River suspension bridge

    May 9 Yellowstone River suspension bridge

  • May 9, suspension bridge crossing

    May 9, suspension bridge crossing

  • May 9, Yellowstone River suspension bridge crossing

    May 9, Yellowstone River suspension bridge crossing

  • May 9, cheese break, suspension bridge crossing

    May 9, cheese break, suspension bridge crossing

  • May 9, Hellroaring creek crossing

    May 9, Hellroaring creek crossing

  • Hellroaring Creek crossing, May 9

    Hellroaring Creek crossing, May 9

  • May 10, 2H7, Hellroaring Creek campsite "residents"

    May 10, 2H7, Hellroaring Creek campsite "residents"

  • May 10, Sam, morning viewing site

    May 10, Sam, morning viewing site

  • May 10, morning viewing site. (shadows on the rocks are real) ;)

    May 10, morning viewing site. (shadows on the rocks are real) ;)

  • May 10, morning viewing site

    May 10, morning viewing site

  • May 10, morning viewing site

    May 10, morning viewing site

  • May 10 morning viewing site
(taken by Candi Knopp)

    May 10 morning viewing site (taken by Candi Knopp)

  • May 10, morning viewing site

    May 10, morning viewing site

  • May 10 morning viewing site

    May 10 morning viewing site

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • May 10, black bear on elk carcass, observed through spotting scope from morning viewing site

    May 10, black bear on elk carcass, observed through spotting scope from morning viewing site

  • May 10, elk carcass site, wolf, bear, coyote tracks in mud and snow.

    May 10, elk carcass site, wolf, bear, coyote tracks in mud and snow.

  • Untitled photo
  • May 10, evening viewing site, yearling light grey wolf (possibly Oxbow pack) observed @8:30pm

    May 10, evening viewing site, yearling light grey wolf (possibly Oxbow pack) observed @8:30pm

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    May 9 Yellowstone River suspension bridge
    May 9, suspension bridge crossing
    May 9, Yellowstone River suspension bridge crossing