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| Somewhere around noon on the
19th of July we entered Yellowstone National Park whose western border is
almost synonymous with the Wyoming/Montana border. This trip will be
our sixth trip to Yellowstone so we decided to drive straight through the
park to Cody, Wyoming. |
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| Almost immediately, Ann spotted
several elk grazing. |
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| Not too many miles into the park,
we joined our old friend the Madison river. It travels for many
miles in the park and is spectacular. It winds its way
through some areas where boiling springs flow into it. We understand
that the Madison was once a favorite spot for Native Americans to bathe. |
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| Another view of the beautiful Madison
River. |
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| As we drove toward the East gate
of the park, we began to spot a few bison. Here is one resting in a
spot he/she prepared as a resting place. If no dirt pit exists, the
bison will paw the ground to create one. The pit serves two
purposes: First, both sexes use pits to rub parasites from their
fur; secondly, breeding bulls will spread their scent on a pit to warn
away other bulls. |
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| This is our first view of
Yellowstone River, the longest free-flowing river in the
lower 48 states. It flows 670 miles from Yellowstone Park to the
Missouri River. So majestic. |
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| Ann spotted a few more
bison. The rut begins as early as mid-July but more likely in
August. The animals begin gathering in anticipation of the rut. |
