Buffalo and Geysers and Moose...Oh My!

While I would have preferred to relax a while and spend more time in The Grand Tetons, Bob had other plans.  Pushing us on to Yellowstone before sunset was his idea of "more is better".   On our way out of town, I managed to convince him to stop at Jackson Lake Lodge for a very late lunch.  It is a beautiful resort with stunning views.  Thanks to Barb Kimpe for suggesting it!  

They have seasonal employees from all over the world and it was interesting to talk to some of the students spending their summer working In the park. The lodge features a soda shop with the longest continuous running counter in the world.  They also make a mean portabello melt! 

I can't even discuss the shops at the resort...there wasn't enough time or money to do any real damage there but I intend to return! 

Yellowstone is less than an hour and only 40 or so photo stops from Jackson Lake.  Still, the chance to see Old Faithful again was something I couldn't pass up.  Just think of the enormous amount of boiling water under the earth just waiting for the opportunity to break free...  Never mind.  

Once the Geyser show was over it was nearly dusk.  The sun sets very late out here in July and it doesn't get dark until after 10:00 PM.  This was prime animal viewing time!  Bob and I have a list of animals we most want to see which includes a grizzly and a grey wolf.  Imagine how upset I was when we met some guys from Austria who had just taken some photos of a grizzly at Yellowstone Lake right after we had left.  At least they showed me the pictures. Yikes!  Crossing that one off the list. 

Lake Yellowstone

 

Kepler Cascades rushing into Lake Yellowstone. 

Many of you may not know just what Bob will do to get a good shot.  Here is a classic example.

He did get some good ones of this little guy though. 

Down the road a bit we came upon a heard of female moose and their babies.  This caused quite a traffic jam as people were literally jumping out of cars with their cameras. Yes, Bob would be one of those people. 

As darkness fell we had only a couple more hours of driving through the mountains to get to Big Sky, Montana for the evening.  A  very long day but one full of beauty.  There isn't much more I could ask for...except a little more sleep.  

As always, here are a few more of Bob's photos from the day.   Enjoy! 

The VERY Grand Tetons

Thirty plus years ago we took a motorcycle trip out west and drove through the Grand Tetons. Now we remember why they call them Grand!  They are breathtaking! You can see these enormous mountains from quite a distance.

   

The Snake River runs through the National Park (and all the way to the Pacific Ocean actually).  It was there that we were lucky enough to see this large male moose (Bob says it's a Bull but that seems too confusing after visiting the cattle ranch so I will stick with male).  He was hanging out splashing and grazing.  Since they weigh about 1100 lbs, and can be a bit testy, it was a good thing we were a safe distance above him on a bridge. Still, we were close enough to get some wonderful shots. 

As we were walking we heard a loud squeaking noise and looked up to spot a squirrel scolding us for getting too close. I decided to include it for those of you who are old enough to know that "Moose and Squirrel" should go together.  This is for you Craig Behne! 

Jenny Lake is one of the most beautiful places in the Grand Tetons and we spent some time hiking the area.  A lot of folks were enjoying a swim in the lake or a boat ride as the temperature was over 90 while we were there. 

Someone along the way told us not to miss the Chapel Of The Transfiguration which sits just inside Grand Teton National Park.  It was built in 1925 and is still an active church today and a popular place for weddings.  The view of the mountains behind the alter would help enhance even the most boring of sermons! 

I find it difficult to describe the actual beauty of a place and perhaps it's even harder to capture it in a photo.  Bob does a very good job however.  Hope you enjoy! 

The Big Horns

We traveled through the Big Horn National Forest on our way to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.  We went from sunny and very hot temps below the mountain range to chilly rainy weather in a short amount of time.  What a difference an altitude can make! 

Boysen Reservoir and Dam located in Boysen State Park.    

 Game of Throne Fans...please identify the kingdom in which the below photo is located.  Bonus points for who is currently in power there.  

Following a great lightening show we enjoyed a pretty nice sunset as we stopped for the evening.  

Family Fun at the Wilson Ranch

The highlight of our trip thus far has been our stay at Blaine and Susie Wilson's incredible ranch!  This breathtaking property sits outside the city of Gillette, Wyoming.  

Susie's cooking is second to none ( and we have the extra pounds to prove it ) and Blaine provided top notch entertainment including one especially lovely evening around the campfire.  We still aren't sure how he managed to schedule a very rare Aurora Borealis for Friday evening.  We enjoyed a front row seat to the Northern Lights and a sky with more stars than we knew existed.  Throw in the great company and a couple of some-mores and you have heaven on earth!  

We feel so blessed to have enjoyed this visit with Karina and Abe and the Wilsons....especially Gracie and baby Wyatt!  Who doesn't enjoy the company of a sweet and smart former flower girl and cuddling an adorable one week old baby boy?  

Some of the abundant wildlife we saw on the ranch included mule deer, antelope, various birds, and a baby rattlesnake. 

 

Baby Rattler captured by Abe Wilson, snake hunter.

I think Bob did an exceptional job with these photos of their ranch which you will find below.  Enjoy!