- Joined
- Dec 11, 2015
- Messages
- 2,084
After my 6-nighter in Yellowstone, I had a couple days to roam around. One hike I was interested
in was where there was a lot of wolf activity the last couple of summers. On the drive in through
the Park, I passed a suspicious vehicle likely associated with a crime wave in the Ice Lake area.
Park Rangers are still trying to locate this owner of this vehicle. Law enforcement intel suggests he is faking
surgery recovery in the greater Salt Lake area to gain sympathy from the locals.
I also passed the grizzly who spent a lot of time along the road this fall. I'm not sure what she is digging for,
at first, I thought she was digging roots or something similar, but it appears she is digging for ground squirrels.
A few minutes earlier, I had been viewing 2 wolves in the area I planned to hike.
I continued on to my intended starting point, organized my pack, and slipped out of sight, heading up a
bison trail. As always, skeletal remains were scattered about.
It was a chilly morning to start but the weather was unbeatable.
I ventured past a beautiful thermal area, spending a lot longer here than I had planned.
I rejoined the bison trail and continued on.
Soon after I topped a hill and was treated to this serene setting.
The bull here was quite interested in the cow, following her around for several minutes until she loped off.
I circled back around the hill to leave without disturbing these bison and quickly ran into this guy. I slipped
off the trail and hunkered down in the sage and he passed by seemingly oblivious to me.
I crossed the creek and soon after this guy ambled by.
I continued on until I caught a quick glimpse of movement in the sage. I sat down and pulled up the
binoculars. A few seconds later, this wolf appeared.
It continued east, went up the slope, and remained there for quite a while. It was very aware of me, glancing
my way frequently.
I was fairly close to the active wolf area but was excited to have one milling about.
The wolf bedded down and became almost invisible in the sagebrush.
Eventually, it stood back up and started a series of real low howls. I could hear the howls but just barely
and I was only ~200 yards away.
After spending nearly an hour here, I ventured up creek.
I came upon this bison skull.
I eventually hiked to the lake I was hoping to reach. Every few minutes I bumped into another bison
which slowed my progress substantially. I can't resist stopping and observing any bison that passes by.
The view north. The weather is still awesome, it has warmed up substantially. The clouds are starting to build a bit.
I start heading to my primary destination, the area of high wolf activity. I raise my binoculars and see this.
It raised it head and howled but I was too far away to hear it. I assume it was another low howl.
Along the way, I come upon another bison skull. This one has one horn sheath remaining.
Another bull passes by.
I hike through a wet area that has been grazed heavily.
As I approach my destination, I pass by these lodgepoles that have been scarred by bison rubbing.
The view towards the high wolf activity area.
I have been making sure to stay out of sight from the road as I hike. I followed the bison/wolf trail as I
approached my destination and left it, as it was mostly invisible from the road.
A rare find, a rib bone. These are usually chewed up fairly quickly after a kill/consumption period.
A great skull to find. Hopefully it's heavy enough and far enough away to prevent anyone else from
carrying it away.
I start back to the vehicle and look across a small creek to see this.
I head over to take a closer look.
Hard to tell here but it looks like it hasn't been used in a while, a year or more.
An old scat not too far away.
There is a large bison wallow farther up the ridge. I eventually notice it also has a den.
A wolf track.
This den has 2 tunnels partly dug but then ending a few feet in. No denning area at all.
After milling around for quite a while, I decide it's time to head back toward the road. There's plenty
of bison trails to travel around on. I head back a little farther south than I came in. Tracks
from someone else's footwear.
More skeleton, a long spine section.
I continue up this creek. Eventually the warm water becomes a deep green from algae.
An old telephone pole.
A great view to the northeast.
A den on the hillside, I'm guessing coyote due to its shape and much smaller size.
Along the low ridgeline.
I had to hunker along the low ridgeline as a storm passed by. It was all cloud-to-cloud lightning but I
didn't want to risk it.
Another den.
I mostly followed bison trails back to the car.
More bison-scarred lodgepoles.
An old road, I'm guessing to one of the trash dump grizzly viewing sites.
@scatman ??
A nice griz hind foot track.
Another section of old road. Looks like some type of pavement.
Next to the car.
All-in-all another great day. It's always tough to leave.
in was where there was a lot of wolf activity the last couple of summers. On the drive in through
the Park, I passed a suspicious vehicle likely associated with a crime wave in the Ice Lake area.
Park Rangers are still trying to locate this owner of this vehicle. Law enforcement intel suggests he is faking
surgery recovery in the greater Salt Lake area to gain sympathy from the locals.
I also passed the grizzly who spent a lot of time along the road this fall. I'm not sure what she is digging for,
at first, I thought she was digging roots or something similar, but it appears she is digging for ground squirrels.
A few minutes earlier, I had been viewing 2 wolves in the area I planned to hike.
I continued on to my intended starting point, organized my pack, and slipped out of sight, heading up a
bison trail. As always, skeletal remains were scattered about.
It was a chilly morning to start but the weather was unbeatable.
I ventured past a beautiful thermal area, spending a lot longer here than I had planned.
I rejoined the bison trail and continued on.
Soon after I topped a hill and was treated to this serene setting.
The bull here was quite interested in the cow, following her around for several minutes until she loped off.
I circled back around the hill to leave without disturbing these bison and quickly ran into this guy. I slipped
off the trail and hunkered down in the sage and he passed by seemingly oblivious to me.
I crossed the creek and soon after this guy ambled by.
I continued on until I caught a quick glimpse of movement in the sage. I sat down and pulled up the
binoculars. A few seconds later, this wolf appeared.
It continued east, went up the slope, and remained there for quite a while. It was very aware of me, glancing
my way frequently.
I was fairly close to the active wolf area but was excited to have one milling about.
The wolf bedded down and became almost invisible in the sagebrush.
Eventually, it stood back up and started a series of real low howls. I could hear the howls but just barely
and I was only ~200 yards away.
After spending nearly an hour here, I ventured up creek.
I came upon this bison skull.
I eventually hiked to the lake I was hoping to reach. Every few minutes I bumped into another bison
which slowed my progress substantially. I can't resist stopping and observing any bison that passes by.
The view north. The weather is still awesome, it has warmed up substantially. The clouds are starting to build a bit.
I start heading to my primary destination, the area of high wolf activity. I raise my binoculars and see this.
It raised it head and howled but I was too far away to hear it. I assume it was another low howl.
Along the way, I come upon another bison skull. This one has one horn sheath remaining.
Another bull passes by.
I hike through a wet area that has been grazed heavily.
As I approach my destination, I pass by these lodgepoles that have been scarred by bison rubbing.
The view towards the high wolf activity area.
I have been making sure to stay out of sight from the road as I hike. I followed the bison/wolf trail as I
approached my destination and left it, as it was mostly invisible from the road.
A rare find, a rib bone. These are usually chewed up fairly quickly after a kill/consumption period.
A great skull to find. Hopefully it's heavy enough and far enough away to prevent anyone else from
carrying it away.
I start back to the vehicle and look across a small creek to see this.
I head over to take a closer look.
Hard to tell here but it looks like it hasn't been used in a while, a year or more.
An old scat not too far away.
There is a large bison wallow farther up the ridge. I eventually notice it also has a den.
A wolf track.
This den has 2 tunnels partly dug but then ending a few feet in. No denning area at all.
After milling around for quite a while, I decide it's time to head back toward the road. There's plenty
of bison trails to travel around on. I head back a little farther south than I came in. Tracks
from someone else's footwear.
More skeleton, a long spine section.
I continue up this creek. Eventually the warm water becomes a deep green from algae.
An old telephone pole.
A great view to the northeast.
A den on the hillside, I'm guessing coyote due to its shape and much smaller size.
Along the low ridgeline.
I had to hunker along the low ridgeline as a storm passed by. It was all cloud-to-cloud lightning but I
didn't want to risk it.
Another den.
I mostly followed bison trails back to the car.
More bison-scarred lodgepoles.
An old road, I'm guessing to one of the trash dump grizzly viewing sites.
@scatman ??
A nice griz hind foot track.
Another section of old road. Looks like some type of pavement.
Next to the car.
All-in-all another great day. It's always tough to leave.
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And sympathy I have! They will never catch me! 