Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons

My wife Bonnie and I got in One last trip in 2011, We made our way out to The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park this past fall from late September to early October for some wildlife viewing and Photography.

It was my second time there, last was when I was just a child. So my recollection's were limited. However I did recall things like Ole Faithful and of course the vast amount of wildlife that Inhabits this area. For Bonnie however it was her first time there.

Our journey took us to Salt Lake City Via Southwest Airlines where we made the 5 1/2 hour drive up via a car rental where we then spent a few days in the Grand Tetons.

Our first stop was Mount Moran at the famous Oxbow Bend.They were having some controlled Burns while we were there, so there was a smoke layer at the base of the Mountains, Go figure there timing with it being prime Fall color and all.

Another view from Oxbow Bend

 

From Oxbow Bend we took in other sites and scenic vistas such as the Famous Schawbachers Landing

 We made many stops throughout the Tetons but a favorite was also seeing the Mormons Cabins at Mormons Row.

We Also made time for some Wildlife, I ended up having a close encounter with a Bull Moose, He actually charged a few of us. Another Photog created a disturbance as he was coming down a bank into a ravine causing the Bull to Charge.

From the Tetons we spent our remaining days in Yellowstone, staying in Both West and Northern Yellowstone, taking in all that the park has to offer, We encountered many Elk, Bison,Pronghorn, Coyote. Also seen the Lamar and Hayden wolf packs as well as a Sow Grizzley in our travels.

I had daily encounters with Elk, the most reliable were  at West Yellowstone along the Madison River, where we encountered Bulls daily.

 

Also We had a nice opportunity viewing a Wolf on a fresh Elk kill from the night before.

Throughout the park there were many Pronghorn as well as Bison. At times the Bison would block the roadways stopping traffic.  The Pronghorn were mostly in small herds with a lone Buck managing several Does.

Also seen were Coyotes

A few Landscapes were also had from within Yellowstone while we were there, There is nothing like the Fall color of the Aspens on the Prairie with a herd of Bison in the background.

One of the prettier and More Scenic waterfalls we encountered within the park.

All in all it was a Great trip, One I will always remember, the Fall colors were absolutely stunning in the Tetons, I look forward to making it back in the future, Hopefully in the springtime  when the park is alive with newly born wildlife and wildflowers are pushing up in the lowlands with snow covered mountains as a backdrop. Certainly a Nature and Landscape Photographers paradise.