Wednesday in Wyoming -- August 16, 2017

No trip to Yellowstone would be complete without at least one sighting of a bison. This one's resting in a meadow, perhaps because he realized that snow was coming and wanted to conserve his energy.

Did you know that not only is the bison the dominant design on Wyoming's state flag, but it was recently declared the national mammal of the United States?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- August 9, 2017

Summer and early fall are fire season in Yellowstone. If you're old enough, you may recall the fires of 1988 which destroyed a huge portion of the park and created an uproar when the flames approached iconic parts of the park.

The dead trees that you see in the middle ground are evidence of that fire, but -- as you can see from the amount of new growth -- new trees have grown, creating a reminder that while fire is destructive, it can also benefit forests by providing opportunities for new trees.

Did you know that some trees are so well prepared for fires that they produce two types of seeds, one of which germinates only after the heat of a fire opens the shell? Those seeds are called serotinous.  (Even though spell checker is protesting, that's the correct spelling.)

Notice the smoke hovering over the hills in the background. Yes, it's yet another fire, although fortunately not one of the magnitude of the '88 fires.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- August 2, 2017

When most people -- myself included -- think of Yellowstone National Park, we focus on the thermal features. No doubt about it, those are dramatic and unforgettable, but there's more to the park than geysers, hot springs, and mud pots.

The wildlife are another attraction. Who can forget their first sight of an elk, a moose, or a bison? What about the elusive wolves, whose reintroduction to the park was so controversial? And then there are the coyotes, the swans, the otters ... the list is much too long for this blog post.

It was a warmer than normal day in September when this picture was taken, which is why the elk were taking advantage of the cool river. You'll see that one even appears to be lying down in the water. But this is Yellowstone, where the weather can change rapidly. The next day, we had snow!

I hope you'll return next week for more of Yellowstone's attractions.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- February 10, 2016

 Wyomingites are justifiably proud of the many "firsts" that the state can boast.  Among them is Yellowstone, the first national park.

You probably knew that Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States, but did you know that it was the first in the world?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 14, 2015

Doesn't this look like an inviting place to spend a snowy winter day?  It's at the appropriately named Snow Lodge in Yellowstone National Park.  The first time I visited Snow Lodge, the best I could say about the accommodations was that they kept us warm and dry.  Years later, the old motel-style Snow Lodge was replaced by Yellowstone's most modern facility.  It's still a warm and dry place, but now it boasts style and luxury. 

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 7, 2015

It's winter in Wyoming, and what better place to be than Yellowstone National Park?  Even though the majority of the roads are closed, limiting travel to snowmobiles, snow coaches and ... yes ... cross country skis, the contrast of the thermal features with the snow is spectacular. 

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 29, 2014

Swans in Yellowstone?  I was surprised when I saw them.  Somehow, I thought they migrated to warmer climates as most birds do, but there they were, apparently unconcerned by the ice drifting only a few feet from them.  What beautiful birds!

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 22, 2014

Yellowstone has so many beautiful areas that it's difficult to choose a favorite, but if I had to, it would be the northwestern part of the park near Mammoth Hot Springs.  I love the views of the mountains in the distance and the abundance of wildlife in the Lamar Valley.  And, of course, there are the terraces at Mammoth itself.  While not as dramatic as the geysers in  the various basins, they're still a beautiful example of thermal features.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 15, 2014

Last week we looked at what appeared to be fairly tame elk.  This week's wildlife sighting is a bison, and there's no doubt that it's a wild animal.  Though they normally walk (lumber might be a better word) slowly, you definitely don't want to be in the path of an angry bison.  Their sheer size, not to mention those sharp horns, can be deadly.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 8, 2014

If you go to Mammoth Hot Springs at any time of the year, you'll discover that you have to share the roads (and the grass) with the elk.  They're particularly fond of the lawns in front of the buildings, including the Federal courthouse.  No chance of their being picked up for jaywalking.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 1, 2014

Happy New Year! 

I thought I'd spend this month taking you to what you probably already know is my favorite place on Earth: Yellowstone.  Although each season there has its own beauty, since it's winter right now, I'm going to focus on winter in Yellowstone. 

Access is considerably more limited, with only a few roads open and travel to the interior possible only by snowmobile, snow coach (an adventure in itself) and skis.  Despite that, there are compensations, including seeing the the power of the geysers vividly displayed against the snow.  It's one thing to know that the geysers spew hot water, but when you see how much snow is melted by each eruption, there's no doubt that that's very hot water and that there's a lot of it.