Upward I Look: Yellowstone Part 2 - Hot Springs, Grizzlies and "Unmentionables"

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Yellowstone Part 2 - Hot Springs, Grizzlies and "Unmentionables"

I forgot to mention that Lochlan got his first 2 teeth (bottom middle) and that we saw this little fox we saw the day before. Ashley took these pics of him running around getting the little prairie dogs he had hidden earlier in the day...

The next morning we got up EARLY (like 4:15, which is really 3:15 our time) to see if we could watch the wolves hunting for their morning catch of Bison or Elk. This was recommended by ranger Gabe. We went and had hot chocolate and waited and watched and waited... but we never saw anything like that. :( But we did see a coyote and of course a lot more buffalo.

So we were driving back and saw this young fella playin' around at the edge of the woods.

Later in the morning (no let me go back). Earlier that morning I had my lowlight of the whole trip... I had remembered to pack everything for everyone... except underwear and socks for myself!! This was disastrous. All I had for 12 day was this one pair of underwear. So when everyone said they wanted to go hiking back up by the entrance of the park I was excited. There was a town right on the other side! Surely they would have underwear!

So first we did this hike... (Mammoth Hot Springs)

Then Cliff and I cryptically left to find the unmentionables (except I have mentioned them) and drove back out of the park. I searched in 5 stores and only found mens fitted boxers with moose and bears on them for $15 a piece. The locals said they drive a hour each way to the next town to buy their underwear (I found out a lot of personal info about the fine people of Gardiner). Then one gal gave me a tip and sent me to a buffalo hide store. Wouldn't you know, right when I was beginning to lose hope... they had a small rack of women's underwear for 1/2 price! And they did not have moose or bears on them. But they did say "cowgirl" something or other. I also purchased some socks... Talk about luck! Let's just not think about what would have happened if I had not found these... Then on the way back into the park I'm pretty sure I ran over a bird. And here is what my supportive and sympathetic husband said, "Great! You killed a bird in a national park all for an underwear run!!" And of course, the kids were in the back seat cracking up because in our house "Underwear" is an absolutely hilarious word.

That afternoon we hiked 1/2 way up Mt. Washburn, but the kids kinda tuckered out, so we had to turn around. But we did see some cool views and got some family shots.

On the way back we saw a grizzly bear right on the bluff overlooking the highway!! It looked right at us. It was rooting around for something in the tree stumps. Ashley got the best shots of that guy 'cause my camera was fogged up from the hail storm we got stuck in on the way down the mountain.