I last reported from Rock Springs in southern Wyoming. From there I traveled to Lander, checking out the Seedskadee National Wildlife Reserve, a wild portion of the upper Green River providing nesting spots for many birds including Trumpeter Swans. I got a fairly decent photo of a mating pair of Swainson’s Hawks, for me an unusual sight.  In Lander, a town with no laundromat, the only washing machine in my motel broke-down with all my travel clothing locked inside. After multiple tries, finally we got the machine open, but leaving all my clothes a soapy wet mess. The handyman tried to talk me into using the machine again to rinse and spin dry the clothing (he later tried the machine and it locked permanently); when I refused he loaded my clothing into a large black plastic bag to await my finding the next washing machine to rinse and spin them. Not a great experience, and a first for me in my travels.

My next reserved stop was in Sheridan on the East side of the wild Big Horn Mountains.  As I approached the Big Horns from the West, the weather changed to pouring rain and freezing. At noon in Worland I had lunch and checked the State Highway road conditions for crossing the mountains. The Wyoming site stated that as of 11:30 am the highway was open as long as one had all-wheel drive. I headed into the mountains. After entering the 10-Sleep Canyon I encountered a flashing red light and closed highway gate, requiring turn-back. The drive around the mountains, either North or South, would have required an extra 5 hours. I returned to Worland where I was able to get a room for the night; the hotel in Sheridan, being used to visitors being trapped on the other side of the Bighorns, graciously cancelled my first night without charge. The next day I crossed the mountains on Hwy 16 enjoying a beautiful snow-covered landscape. From Sheridan I traveled several times into the Bighorns on both Hwys 16 and 14 looking for moose, but the forest service roads, off the paved highway, all were closed for the snow.

From Sheridan I traveled back West across the Bighorns to Cody where I spent a week in a large suite in the old historic down-town area. My first day the annual horse auction was taking place outside Buffalo Bill’s historic Hotel Irma, right in the center of town a block from my room. Don’t expect the streets to be clean of horse droppings for a day or two.

A week ago I finally entered Yellowstone, and spent the first 6 days in a rented room in Gardiner on the original Northern Park entrance. I spent most days motoring around the northern loop road and through the Lamar River Valley area. Along with some snowy scenes, I made the usual initial photos of the larger wildlife in the area, including Elk, Pronghorn, Moose, Coyote, Black Bear, Grizzly and several thousand Bison – half of the female bison had newly dropped calves called “Red Dogs” due to their bright orange coloration.  During the many bison jams, when herds decide to travel down the road, I took some photos out the window with no telephoto – you can see how close by the view. All of the above mentioned animals are represented in the photos below, along with a bratty raven seeking human snacks at an overlook. The Black Bear had a newborn hiding below the bush.

I have traveled now to the West Yellowstone entrance and am in a room about 50 yards from the Park boundary. I could walk across the road and be inside the thick pine forest, but it is not recommended due to bears. My next report should have many more grizzly pics. Later. Dave