ACGPSY Blog

Yellowstone National Park

August 23, 2016

Yellowstone has an abundance of elk or wapiti (pronounce WOP-it-tee).  The names are used inter-changeably as they refer to the same species.  I see wapiti as a more poetic name as it is handed down by the Shawnee Indians.  It meaning is “white rump” and is a description that aids in their identification.

The subspecies of elk inhabiting Yellowstone and the Tetons is called the Rocky Mountain Elk, a native to montane forests and subalpine foothills.

This lovely youngster posed for a shot along the Madison River.

Taking a short rest break in a beautiful meadow

A young buck crossing the Madison River

Finally on our last day in the park, I spotted a large buck taking a rest in the shade.  He was a beauty but never stood up for me.  A wonderful way to end our visit on the 100th anniversary of the national parks.

Yellowstone National Park

August 18, 2016

While staying in West Yellowstone, MT, we have enjoyed access to Yellowstone National Park from the West Entrance along the Madison River.  Fires are a fact of life in Yellowstone with many historic fire damage still very evident.

The Maple fire was detected Monday evening, August 8 by a smoke jumper aircraft passing over the park. It is located in a large expanse of the 1988 North Fork fire scar, 1 mile east of the Gneiss Creek trail, 3 miles north of the Cougar Creek cabin, 6 miles east of the Park’s west boundary, and 8 miles northeast of the community of West Yellowstone.  It has burned 12,199 acres to date with smoke evident in West Yellowstone.  I clicked this pic on Sunday night from our campsite.  The fire is 8 miles northeast of West Yellowstone and burning in a northerly direction so we were in no danger.  Unless the winds changed…..

We got out early this morning to shoot the dawn light and discovered that the smoke had thickened in the park.  Here is an image shot from the banks of the Madison River near Three Brothers Mountain.  The sun was burning through the smoky skies.

The forest was very quiet with the heavy smoke in the air.

Later in the morning, I walked along the scenic banks of the Nez Perce Creek with smoke still in the air.

Yellowstone National Park

August 17, 2016

We are nearing the end of our stay at Yellowstone but have enjoyed the park every day.  The landscapes are truly unique here and the wildlife is amazing.  An early morning view near Grand Prismatic Springs.  The ridge in the background is the volcano tabletop.  Yes, remember we are standing in the caldera.

This is called a bacteria mat near Grand Prismatic Springs.  The colors are caused by different types of bacteria that can survive the extreme thermal temperatures.

We watched this pair of sandhill cranes from quite a distance.  Every time I took a step closer, they took 10 back.

Have seen Trumpeter Swans on the Yellowstone River (could not get close enough for a shot), Swan Lake and here on the Firehole River.  This famous bachelor often poses on this small sandbar.

While waiting for White Dome Geyser to erupt, I spotted these two buffalo fighting over a dust hole.  Nothing like a good dirt bath.

Spotted these two elks, grazing along the steaming Firehole River near Black Sands Basin.  They were very curious of the crowd that gathered to watch them.

Let me know when you have seen enough elk images.  This gentle soul was taking a drink from the Madison River early Sunday morning.

Found a nice picnic spot along the Nez Perce Creek.  The famous Nez Perce Trail passes through the park.

A young elk grazes under the watchful eye of a buck along the Firehole River. I must admit that I was focused on the young one and did not see the buck stick his head into the frame.

Yellowstone National Park

August 9, 2016

Yellowstone is a very special and unique place where wildflowers bloom in the lower geyser basin and the ground steams from many geysers and paint pots along the beautiful Fire Hole River.  I took some liberties and added canvas to this image as the plain blue sky lacked drama.

We stopped at Mt Haynes this morning to enjoy the view and watch the fly fishermen wade into the water along the Madison.

The Nez Perce Creek flows into an open valley where buffalo often roam.

A pair of buffalo taking a drink before crossing the Yellowstone River in the Hayden Valley.

A young elk buck grazing along the Madison River early one morning.  You can see the ears of young elk in the grass on the left.

Elk grazing along the Madison.  All the elk look very healthy this year.