Wildlife in the National Parks

I can't finish up with the posts from our visit to the National Parks without posting some wildlife!

While we were waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, the girls and I found a raised walkway that we could sit on, dangle our legs over the edge and still not be touching any of the geothermal area! Yippppeeee! All the benches were crowded and full. While we were sitting there, by the main outflow area of Old Faithful, Blossom said, "LOOK!" I, of course start scanning for anything new and exciting... "NO," she said. "Down there!!"

"An ANT!!!!!!"

I kind of wonder what happened to the many ants that we saw after the hot water from Old Faithful ran through this drainage area... Do they know to get out? Do they swim? Do they hold their breath? Do insects breathe? Are they unaffected by the heat or "wet" from the geyser water? Hmmm... looks like a science lesson we could explore. Does anyone know anything about this topic? I would sure like some help on this one, if you do!

OH! I couldn't pass up this wildlife!

It was hard to get pictures of them all still and together (Blossom and Nephew Baby are being held.) This was a rare moment, waiting for Old Faithful...

As soon as it erupted, these couple of monkeys were off and climbing and exploring these dead and down trees.

We often saw deer near our campsite. These were just across the drive from our tents. This doe was about 20 feet from the "comfort station" (read: toilets!) having her delicious breakfast of greens.

There were two bucks laying down about 20 feet north of that doe. These guys were harder to snap pictures of, hiding in all the branches.

The bison seem so "American" on the plain in front of these "purple mountain majesties"!!

I love the birds hanging out on the backs of the bison. They remind me of Blossom, who is always wanting a piggy back ride on Pops. I'll bet that he doesn't think that a bird is anything similar to our growing Blossom!

Oh, my! These just might be the wildest wildlife, yet!!

One evening, we were treated to seeing this cow moose and her calf. I had pulled our van over and hopped out to take a picture of them in the field on the other side of the road. I wasn't as fast as they were... and they crossed the road in front of my van! I was standing at the front and to the side of my van, and I had my zoom lens on... but they were fairly close! Not so close if mama moose decided I was too close to baby moose and charged, that I couldn't get back inside my van faster than her!! I am a cautious creature. I am not so fond of the idea of being charged, gored or anything of the like!

We later saw a video at one of the visitor centers that mentioned that a cow moose with a calf is the most aggressive and dangerous animal in the park. Even more so than a grizzly bear! Good to know... after the fact!

We saw this beautiful creature (whom I assumed was the most aggressive and dangerous animal in the park) as we were leaving the park. We were two miles from the exit and it was raining. I grabbed my camera and got this photo through the windshield. I was really beginning to think that we would not be getting to see a grizzly bear on this trip. I was happy to be WRONG!

I was brave enough to ONLY send the window down. (Staying inside the van was a good option, I thought. Perhaps I could have been closer with better pictures if I'd stood on the side of the road, but I know enough about the length of those claws to just stay put!!) Pops kept his finger on the button to send the window right back up into place if Mr. Grizzly decided to come and see if Dodge Caravans offer tasty treats of the human variety!

He wasn't terribly interested in us. He was on a mission to get somewhere! Pardon my Monet-inspired photo...

Apparently, he was after something tasty in a hole he needed to dig!

We were very excited to see a bear up close and well, personal! Blossom was thrilled to say the least and continued to say over and over and over and over (you get the picture), "That is my first time ever seeing a bear." She wanted to stop and tell everyone. She told everyone in the lobby of the hotel that we checked into. If you ask her about seeing bears on her trip... I am sure the excitement will keep bubbling right up and out!!!

Island Breakfast Cruise

Our last day in Grand Teton National Park, we took a scenic boat tour on Jackson Lake at 7:30 am that took us around the lake and made a stop on Elk Island for a full breakfast. I SHOULD have taken some photos of the "camp stoves" that the chefs were using!

We were served fried potatoes, sausage links, eggs, trout, french toast, yogurt, fruit, granola, pastries and muffins, campfire coffee, hot cocoa and juice all on picnic tables topped with traditional red and white checked tablecloths! (As a side note, I have to point out nephew #3... he is wearing the light blue Cabela's hooded sweatshirt. Check out his pants! It was quite cool that morning and mom and dad insisted he wear pants. HE had other ideas and wanted shorts. Mom suggested putting on the shorts and then covering them with the pants so that if it got warmer, the pants could easily drop and he'd be in shorts. Apparently, Moms know NOTHING, because he needed the shorts on the outside. Obviously not a fight worth fighting while camping, but I will one day rib him good when he has some cute girl around for some holiday thing!!! I'll make sure to enlarge a few photos of him in his "interesting" outfit!)

The big treat that morning was a pile of supplies for s'more making!! After some sausage and eggs were consumed, the kids cozied up to the fire and roasted some golden "meshellows" (as coined by Blossom). Then they put them on the graham crackers and chocolate pieces... yum! But, maybe a bit early for that sugar sweet treat?!?!

Maybe not toooooo early, if it will get you a smile like THIS! This gal loves her some "meshellows." And the chocolate? Yep, she likes that a whole lot, too!

We enjoyed cruising around the lake and learning about the Teton Range and Jackson Lake.

I think it would be fun to take a boat there one summer and tool around a bit. However, there is a fifteen (yes, one-five, 15) year waiting list for getting yourself a dock to rent at Colter Bay. That puts us at... hmmmm, maybe we need to get on that waiting list! Blossom will be 19 or 20, our littlest will by then be 15 - THAT might be a whole lot of fun! Camping and boating without worrying about a squirmy kid falling over the edge, wonder what that would be like!!!!

Every 90 Minutes, plus or minus 10

That is how often Old Faithful Geyser erupts!

One day of our visit we all headed to Yellowstone to see good ol' Old Faithful spout off a few times.

Blossom was telling me how HIGH the water reached! She stretched and stretched and then said it went even higher!!

We all walked around the walkway surrounding Old Faithful and found this cute little ground squirrel that had found a little nut. It was  quick little guy and when he was finished being photographed, he jetted off like a flash.

After that walk, Branch, Blossom and I went into the lodge and had a little treat and played cards while watching and waiting for Old Faithful to spout again! The rest of the troop went on a much longer walking tour, hoping to wear out all those BOYS!!! It seemed to work, as they slept all the way back to Grand Teton National Park and our supper!

It was a fun little day trip and good for the kids to see again! A long time back, people used the geyser as a laundry... and would drop their clothing into the geyser and it would be in there with all that hot water churning around and when the geyser erupted, their clothing would fly out clean as could be. I guess I should have brought the last week's worth of clothes along... Bummer, I guess I will have to find the guest laundry here at the hotel.

Must See List

Grand Teton National Park is stunning. Have you visited? 

Oh, my... I'm sure it is a far drive for everyone (since I don't think that anyone I know lives within an hour or two of Jackson), but it is worth it. THis park is definitely on my "Must See" list.

There is something so surreal about these majestic mountain peaks towering over the valley without any foothills in the way. Some low lying clouds were interesting, though!

We stayed and camped at Signal Mountain Campground for two nights with Pops' Brother, Sister-In-Law and 4 crazy nephews! We had a great campsite within a short walk down to the edge of Jackson Lake.

Here is the youngest nephew... he'll turn one year old next month. He is such a happy, easy going little guy. Even though he IS so happy, I think that mom and dad are very brave to go camping so far from their home in Western Nebraska with a baby!! I am not certain that I would be so brave!

We had a great fun time camping... more pictures soon!