2011 Yellowstone Photography Trip: Days 3-5, Wolves and Bears Oh My!

Been without a broadband signal the last few days. No signal at all at Mammoth. Barely one here at Canyon. I'll try and summarize a few very busy days here and get some pictures up.

I drove from Old Faithful clockwise along the loop road, towards Madison. I took a brief side trip along the west entrance road. Was hoping the eagles would still be nesting but they're done, the nest is empty.

I saw my first bear between Norris and Mammoth. A cinnomen colored black bear was eating grass on the opposite bank of a river. When I got there the bear jam was just starting, so I was able to get off the road and set up the 500mm.

Black Bear

Mammoth was nice but very congested. I'd guess there were more people than at Old Faithful. The cabins were adorable though... many were singles, unlike most of the other areas where cabins are duplexes. Each cabin had a small porch and two chairs.


Mammoth Hot Springs Cabin

It turned out to be a good few days for bears. I saw a grizzly sow and two cubs twice at Swan Lake Flats. In Lamar Valley, I actually got to see two courting (and mating) grizzlies and a wolf. At Floating Lake there's a Sandhill Crane nesting, some folks had seen her mate a few times but no luck for me.

This morning I got up at 5am and headed to Artist Point to shoot the lower falls. I managed to get a nice set of shots in very good light.

Anyway, a picture rundown of the last few days: