WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE 2020 - 4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19TH:

This morning we were off to Mammoth Hot Springs for sunrise. As the sun rose I was able to get some nice low light on the slope. The play of the light with the steam coming off the Hot Springs made for a few interesting images. 

We then headed for the Lamar Valley in pursuit of animals.
As we had a sunny day the drive was quite lovely. We found some large and stocky big horn sheep browsing the hillside.

Then we found found a Ram sitting and posing for pictures in a lovely setting. We spent a good bit of time with him, and then drove to Cook City. This was our turnaround location as the highway is closed from here East. There is more here for the snowmobiler than anything else. as we returned to the West we stopped several times to take in the beautiful landscapes with peaks and valleys.    

Once again came upon the big horned sheep, and spent more time with them. They had created quite a following so it was slow going along the "Ram Jam".

We also saw that the other natives make use of the Highway as an easy path to move along.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH:

Today was the last day of the Photo Tour. A few of us went off to Mammoth Hot Springs area for a last chance of getting a sunrise. We did succeed though we set up before reaching Mammoth Hot Springs. 

After sunrise Klara and I parted ways with the group as they headed back to Gardiner to finish packing and having some breakfast. They were then off to Bozeman, and their flights home.

Klara and I then headed off to the Lamar Valley to see what we could see. We did not see the "bear going over the mountain, but had a couple of good sightings of elk and bison. 

Our fist encounter was with a couple of elk on a ridge who entertained us with some sparring. Another group of photographers joined us in the area and we all settled in for our photography. 

We then moved on so that we could let Klara's dog, Beeps, have a chance to get out of the car and stretch her legs. We
then found another turn out where there was a small herd of bison close by. It made for some good photo ops, and they were not anxious to move on.

There were several people along the way looking for wolfs. The only canine we saw was a lone coyote. It was now mid-day and time for us to make our back to Mammoth Hot Springs, and points North. We stopped at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to pay a tourist visit which included a stop the restaurant for a cup of tea, and a "little something", as Winnie The Pooh would say.

Finally we were off to Bozeman where we would spend two nights, and enjoy some family time around two delicious restaurants, a bookstore, and most of the day at the Museum of the Rockies. This museum is a delight and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about dinosaurs and their discovery in Montana. 

A BOZEMAN LIGHT SHOW ABOUT A BLOCK FROM OUR MOTEL.
Though this trip was a challenge because of the snow and cold, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If one is properly prepared Yellowstone in winter is a delight.