Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

as a bell in contrast to yesterday. 1,000 cliff swallows flying in and out under the bridge at Elk
Antler Creek.
Spent most of the day in a picnic area near Mud Volcano reading Bruce Anthony's thesis, University
of Newcastle, Australia. Coyote walked by the car 20 feet away, and prowled the picnic area.
Profuse spring beauties (Claytonia), often a virtual carpet under the lodgepole pine. Grizzly bears
eat the roots of these.
Back to Fishing Bridge, and keyboarded the trip in the Visitor Center Parking lot.
There was a moose walking around in the junction area. Supper back at the picnic area. Scouting
till dark. Moose again. Western grebe. In the night, the Milky Way was quite visible.
June 4, Wednesday. Up at 5.45. Mercifully, the mildest night of the three by far, since I had to
pack up. Off at 7.00 a.m. Showered, then drove to Canyon. Gas. Canyon to Norris, one moose
in the timber.
Norris to Mammoth, then Gardiner. There was a bighorn ram right at the streamside (pix), having
difficulty, apparently getting up the hill and not wanting to fall into the swollen river.
Groceries in Gardiner. To Slough Creek and pitched camp and ate lunch, about 12.30. Spent the
afternoon finishing Anthony's thesis, and keyboarded it at Yellowstone Picnic area. Supper there.
Then scouting. 50-60 people at Slough Creek seeing nothing, not yet anyway. But there had been
a wolf kill in the area a day or two before.
Up to the lookout one mile west of Buffalo Ranch. Sow and two cubs of the year at great distance
in the snowline across the valley. Watched her half an hour.
Drove on up toward Soda Butte. One mile beyond Soda Butte, saw one grizzly in the woods, in and
out on a sage brush hill. Seen quite nicely for about a minute, after waiting there some time
because others said they had seen it. Well developed hump, and one of the more satisfying
viewings on the trip. About 9.00 but still surprisingly good light. This would be grizzly no. 24.
Back to camp. All the riverside campsite are flooded, the water up to the seats on the picnic
benches.
June 5, Thursday.
Up at 5.45, off at 6.00. Sow and two cubs of the year at Slough Creek, at great distance, on a
carcass (presumably the one reported to be a wolf kill a couple days before).
One black wolf seen above the bear. Others said they had earlier seen two. I saw it running, and
thought it had laid down beyond a fallen aspen, and, though I watched it 40 minutes, it did not
move. Since the black spot was still there that evening, it must not have been the wolf. But I did
see it running.
Two bald eagles, adults perched in a dead tree.
Drove to the lookout west of the ranch. Sow and two cubs of the year in the distance across the
valley. The cubs were quite playful on the snow, and moved across it with surprising speed.