Unlucky you didn’t see wolves and maybe ”lucky” the bears didn’t see you.
After seeing many signs of wolves along the trails, today my wife and I saw a very health black one bounding through the snow in a field near Route 12 while driving from the Bitterroot Valley to ski at Lolo Pass. Quite stunning really. Now to see one or more in the wild; that will make my day!
Luckeee (Napolean voice) That's really neat. When I lived in Msla I talked to a logger who said he KNEW bears and he saw a Grizz near the Como Lakes. Last I heard they were not uncommon in the Rattlesnakes.
You're right about the wolves. If you MUST see them, you have to follow the wolf watchers and do the roadside/spotting scope thing. For all of the time I have spent hiking that park, I have never had an visual wolf encounter in the backcountry, though I have heard howling many times--in all 4 corners of the park in fact!
McBride Lake holds a special memory for me. During a family fishing trip when I was maybe 12 years old, I convinced my dad to go explore McBride Lake with me and see if the fishing was any good. We didn't have nearly the trouble you did finding it--we approached from upstream in hot weather so it felt good to get in that water. The fishing was terrible. We only maybe made a couple casts--tough confines for fly casting. Somehow we ended up high on a cliff 60' above the lake eating lunch. I was messing around with a family video camera (this was in my I-wanna-be-an-adventure-documenter days). I had just put the camera back in my pack, when my dad points out over the lake and says "Jake, get the camera!!" I fumble with zippers and look up at the same time. A bald eagle was heading right towards us, eye level. I realized I had no time to get a shot of it so I just stared, part of the moment. The eagle gently banked its wings, aware but not startled by our presence, and majestically passed not more than 25' from us. It's a part of that Yellowstone magic.
By the way, I lost a pair of sandals at McBride Lake. Did you find them?
I found your Sandals and wore them in the beartooths. I had never seen a pair of sandals with crampon welts before. I forgot to include them in my gear guide. HAHA Thanks again.
Sounds like an awesome trip. I live near the North Dakota badlands and totally agree with you about the uncommon beauty and unique geology. I am planning a page on the North Dakota badlands and hopefully will have it up by next summer. Cheers!
I was in Yellowstone this September. I spent a couple of hours at a turn out in Lamar Valley with some wolf watchers but the wolves didn't show while I was there. The road to Mt Washburn was closed by snow the day I planned to hike it - so maybe next time. The pictures are beautiful and the honest gear ratings are really great.
On Sept 12 2001, I saw my first Wolf at a turn out in the Lamar, but it was 4-5 miles away and I could just tell that it was something black with 4 legs. Maybe I'll have to buy a spotting scope.
to go to Yellowstone. It is now tied for #1 with Kili, Pacific Northwest, Buckskin Gulch, and Mt. Sneffels.
"I imagine that in the plain sight of hudreds, the wolves and Grizz teamed up and took down a Bull Moose as a rainbow touched down over them in perfect light and a Mt. Lion wandered by." --- Ha! Ain't that the truth!
I know alot of folks on here are more climbers, but if you are a wildlife fan yellowstone is hard to beat. I would love to go in the true dead of winter and see if I could make it. We only saw temps down to 2 but now I see W. Yellowstone in the news at -37. I'm sure that would be interesting.
T Sharp - Dec 3, 2006 4:59 am - Voted 10/10
Fun ReadingNice trip report! Great pictures! Better luck next time on the wolves and bears....
Cheers;
Tim
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 3, 2006 5:04 am - Hasn't voted
Thanx alot!I lived in MSLA for a spell and my wife is from St. Ignatiaus. And I can't spell.
T Sharp - Dec 3, 2006 6:22 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Thanx alot!I think it is "St.Ignatius". She should be used to the cold coming from there!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 3, 2006 11:40 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Concerning the Bear Track.....Thanx. It would have been really late in the season for a black bear too.
jacquel - Dec 3, 2006 8:08 pm - Voted 9/10
Very NiceYour trip seems like it was a great experience for you and the pictures reflect that. Thanx for the post.
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 3, 2006 11:02 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: SweetYou live in Msla? LUCKEEEE (Napolean voice) I lived there when Reserve St was mostly open fields of deer. But you guys need 5 Walmarts anyway.
Michael Hoyt - Dec 4, 2006 1:04 am - Voted 10/10
A Great ReadUnlucky you didn’t see wolves and maybe ”lucky” the bears didn’t see you.
After seeing many signs of wolves along the trails, today my wife and I saw a very health black one bounding through the snow in a field near Route 12 while driving from the Bitterroot Valley to ski at Lolo Pass. Quite stunning really. Now to see one or more in the wild; that will make my day!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 4, 2006 1:10 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A Great ReadLuckeee (Napolean voice) That's really neat. When I lived in Msla I talked to a logger who said he KNEW bears and he saw a Grizz near the Como Lakes. Last I heard they were not uncommon in the Rattlesnakes.
Dan Leonhard - Dec 4, 2006 9:00 pm - Voted 10/10
fun read!I like the notes by numbers!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 4, 2006 10:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Thanx!!.
jakefrisbee - Dec 4, 2006 10:41 pm - Voted 9/10
ExcellentI love Yellowstone and the Beartooths!
You're right about the wolves. If you MUST see them, you have to follow the wolf watchers and do the roadside/spotting scope thing. For all of the time I have spent hiking that park, I have never had an visual wolf encounter in the backcountry, though I have heard howling many times--in all 4 corners of the park in fact!
McBride Lake holds a special memory for me. During a family fishing trip when I was maybe 12 years old, I convinced my dad to go explore McBride Lake with me and see if the fishing was any good. We didn't have nearly the trouble you did finding it--we approached from upstream in hot weather so it felt good to get in that water. The fishing was terrible. We only maybe made a couple casts--tough confines for fly casting. Somehow we ended up high on a cliff 60' above the lake eating lunch. I was messing around with a family video camera (this was in my I-wanna-be-an-adventure-documenter days). I had just put the camera back in my pack, when my dad points out over the lake and says "Jake, get the camera!!" I fumble with zippers and look up at the same time. A bald eagle was heading right towards us, eye level. I realized I had no time to get a shot of it so I just stared, part of the moment. The eagle gently banked its wings, aware but not startled by our presence, and majestically passed not more than 25' from us. It's a part of that Yellowstone magic.
By the way, I lost a pair of sandals at McBride Lake. Did you find them?
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 4, 2006 10:55 pm - Hasn't voted
Thanx!I found your Sandals and wore them in the beartooths. I had never seen a pair of sandals with crampon welts before. I forgot to include them in my gear guide. HAHA Thanks again.
rpc - Dec 5, 2006 12:58 am - Voted 10/10
Fun read& love the photos!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 5, 2006 3:08 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Fun readThanx!
aemter - Dec 5, 2006 6:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Thank you!Sounds like an awesome trip. I live near the North Dakota badlands and totally agree with you about the uncommon beauty and unique geology. I am planning a page on the North Dakota badlands and hopefully will have it up by next summer. Cheers!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 6, 2006 4:47 am - Hasn't voted
ThanxI would think one could find some solitude in the ND badlands area. A page would be cool.
Calaveras - Dec 6, 2006 12:16 am - Voted 10/10
Yellowstone FallI was in Yellowstone this September. I spent a couple of hours at a turn out in Lamar Valley with some wolf watchers but the wolves didn't show while I was there. The road to Mt Washburn was closed by snow the day I planned to hike it - so maybe next time. The pictures are beautiful and the honest gear ratings are really great.
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 6, 2006 4:50 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Yellowstone FallOn Sept 12 2001, I saw my first Wolf at a turn out in the Lamar, but it was 4-5 miles away and I could just tell that it was something black with 4 legs. Maybe I'll have to buy a spotting scope.
WalksWithBlackflies - Dec 20, 2006 1:31 pm - Voted 10/10
Now I'm jonesin'to go to Yellowstone. It is now tied for #1 with Kili, Pacific Northwest, Buckskin Gulch, and Mt. Sneffels.
"I imagine that in the plain sight of hudreds, the wolves and Grizz teamed up and took down a Bull Moose as a rainbow touched down over them in perfect light and a Mt. Lion wandered by." --- Ha! Ain't that the truth!
Dottie Little Tent - Dec 22, 2006 3:55 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Now I'm jonesin'I know alot of folks on here are more climbers, but if you are a wildlife fan yellowstone is hard to beat. I would love to go in the true dead of winter and see if I could make it. We only saw temps down to 2 but now I see W. Yellowstone in the news at -37. I'm sure that would be interesting.