The Black Bear

On our drive back from Mammoth Springs, a black bear sprinted across the road in front of the lead car, then bounded across the field, hoped into the river and swam across it. As soon as he/she made it across the river, the Scouts cheered!

Here are two shots that we were able to take...

Yellowstone Diary (August 2, 2011)

In contrast to the sun, heat and dust of the Tetons base camp the rain, hail and cold moved in after we pitched tents and tarps at Yellowstone's Grant Village on 4unday. But while most of the troop made the pilgimage to Old Faithful (20 miles away), Surja cooked up an delicious chicken curry and rice supper and Chris McCormick scooped up Dominic and me from the Jackson Hole Airport.

Monday's forecast of thunderstorms, hail and winds gusting to 70 MPH forced us to postpone our back-country backpacking excursions. Spirits undampened, we piled into the cars and headed out for a circuit trip starting with a hot lunch at the Old Faithful Inn and another on-time spouting of the tirless geyser. Fifty miles north through the steaming heart of the Yellowstone caldera we landed at Mamouth Hot Springs where the thermal sulfuric waters burst through limestone layers to create staicase deposits of tricalate stone in oranges, yellows, blue, greens, and browns. The colors are produced by microbes unique to this delicate ecosystem and studied by NASA for hints of what primative life may be like on other planets,

Our next stop was the Towers Falls where the Yellowstone River plunges several hundred feet at the. North end of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The vistas are amazing.

Yellowstone then more than lived up to its reputation as the Serangeti of North America. We spotted a lone adult grizzly ambling across a canyon, a black bear run across the highway and swim across the river, dozens of majestic buffalo, and a handful of elk.

Got to run (hike) now as we just reached the trailhead for our overnight backpacking trip. Fourteen guys will be on the trail tonight while the other push through a series of day hike adventures.

 

Mr. Campion

Jenny Lake Hike

As we reached the top of the lake, and headed north to cross over the river, a horse and mule pack train come up the trail. They were carrying equipment for the National Park Service for various jobs along the trail. Sorry I only caught the end of it.

Jenny Lake Hike

On Day Three of our stay in Grand Teton, we decided to hike around Jenny Lake. Here are a couple of photos.

The Gros Ventre Campsite

What a view from the campsite

Arriving at Gros Ventre

When we arrived at Gros Ventre, we were greeted by a herd of buffalo. For some of our Scouts, this was the first time they had ever seen one.

On the Way to Grand Teton

On the Way to Grand Teton

Photos Courtesy of Chris B.

Heading Out to Grand Teton

The drive from Bear Lake to Grand Teton takes a few hours. The next few postings give you an idea of the places we saw. Enjoy.

Bear Lake State Park

After picking up vehicles and traveling almost 3 hours, we reached our first landmark: Bear Lake State Park. There we were met by our gear truck and the drivers, who had prepared dinner for us.