Yellowstone wildlife

September 13, 2024September 18, 2025 ~ MaryG ~ 18 Comments

I’ve already posted too many times about my recent trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. But what the heck…it’s my blog and I can post what I want, right?

As previously mentioned, spotting wildlife is a major activity in Yellowstone National Park. After your first 500 or so bison (aka buffalo), you start coveting sightings of the more rare animals— like wolves and bears.

Here’s everything we saw:

Two grey wolves (one white and one black) from a long distance, but very clearly seen through a stranger’s scope

We saw mountain goats from a long distance in that cliff face behind us. They are non-native and therefore a bit controversial in Yellowstone.

We also saw sandhill cranes and vultures, but I wasn’t able to get photos.

The wolves were the most exciting to spot, partially because everyone else was so excited! There are people that go around spotting wolves all day long in Yellowstone. They know individual members of each pack. They have special spotting scopes and they sit in certain areas watching for wolves. When you see a clump of those people, you pull over to see what’s going on. Their excitement is infectious and they are very generous with their spotting equipment.

Despite all the warnings about bears and the need to carry bear spray on hikes, we never saw one! I’ve still never ever seen a bear in the wild.

I am pleased to report that with this recent trip to Montana and Wyoming, I have now visited more than half of the fifty United States (26 to be exact). I have 24 left to go!

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PS: Is anyone else disappointed that MyGenXerLife’s blog seems to have disappeared? Did he make an announcement while I was away or something? I really loved that blog! Any info appreciated.

Thankful Thursday

September 12, 2024September 18, 2025 ~ MaryG ~ 7 Comments

Brizzy Mays Books and Bruschetta is a blog I like. She likes to write about fun destinations in Australia and the unsung women of Australian history. She frequently references Aussie expressions and traditions that I’ve never heard of before—like Barbecue BOATS (do those sound fun, or what?)

Anyway, I thought of her when I visited the cabin of Maud Noble in Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. (We went there after Yellowstone National Park.)

Maud’s cabin in Grand Tetons National Park

Born in 1879 into a wealthy family from Philadelphia, Maud Noble moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1915. Noble became a significant landowner and operated a homestead and dude ranch in the area. In 1923, she hosted a meeting at her cabin to discuss preserving the Grand Teton region. This meeting included notable conservationists and local ranchers and is credited with sparking the movement to create the national park.

And oh my…what an amazing national park it is.

Thank you Maud.

Lake Jenny in Grand Tetons National Park

Our first view of the Grand Tetons as we drove down from Yellowstone

The Grand Tetons jut up out of nowhere—there are no foothills—very dramatic!

A view of the shrinking glacial ice in the Tetons

Pristine, beautiful Jenny Lake in Grand Tetons National Park

Maud Noble reading in her Wyoming cabin (photo from National Park Service)

YELLOWSTONE – Part 3

September 8, 2024September 18, 2025 ~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

In addition to amazing wildlife and geothermal wonders, Yellowstone also has spectacular waterfalls and a gorgeous canyon—“Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.”

Yellowstone Upper Falls – view from South Rim Drive

View of Lower Falls and the Yellowstone River flowing through the canyon from “Artist Point” on South Rim Drive

It was here that I could see where the park may have gotten its name. The canyon walls looked quite yellow in the sun.

As you might imagine, Artist Point was packed with tourists taking photos. In situations like this, my policy is that I always say yes whenever anyone asks me to take a photo of them, and I never say no if someone offers to do the same for us. A nice young Japanese tourist offered to take this photo of us. She did a good job! She placed the waterfall between our heads on purpose. (She was all set with a selfie stick and didn’t want me to return the favor.)

Our selfies are not very good. I just can’t figure out how to position my arm AND take the picture. People say to hold the phone up high, but then you end up staring directly into the sun.

A word about bison.

They are a big part of the Yellowstone experience. You see both herds and loners—sometimes very close up.

Traffic frequently stops for bison crossing in Yellowstone.

Bison basically eat all day long. Sometimes they’re sitting down, but they’re usually munching.

They warn you not to get within 25 yards of a bison, if you’re not in a vehicle. They can run fast and have been known to rush (and even gore) people who get too close.

Bison running
“Time to hop in the vehicle”

Bucket list progress: YELLOWSTONE – Part 1

YELLOWSTONE – Part 2

YELLOWSTONE – Part 4 (the Lodges)

Yellowstone Wildlife

Thankful Thursday

YELLOWSTONE – Part 2

September 8, 2024September 18, 2025 ~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

The animals in Yellowstone National Park are magnificent and wild, but the thermal features are insane. I was not fully prepared for the crazy geothermal activity.

Roaring Mountain

Great Fountain Geyser – we got very lucky seeing this one erupt precisely at sunset!

Bubbling “cinnamon spring” at Black Sand Basin (this one really made me long for a hotel hot tub)

Bucket List: YELLOWSTONE – Part 1

Yellowstone – Part 3

Yellowstone – Part 4 (the Lodges)

Yellowstone Wildlife

Thankful Thursday

Bucket List Progress: YELLOWSTONE – Part 1

September 7, 2024September 18, 2025 ~ MaryG ~ 9 Comments

We’re flying home from Jackson, Wyoming later today.

We had an amazing trip—especially Yellowstone National Park. Many people told me how awesome and magical it is—and they were right. America’s first national park is absolutely spectacular.

Our first stop, after a quick visit to Bozeman, Montana, was Mammoth Hot Springs, which is known for its stunning thermal features.

The sound was beautiful too.

We took a half-day wildlife tour out of Mammoth with a National Park Service ranger named Rachael. She was terrific. She took us through the Lamar Valley.