On the final day, Max at last got a grizzly shot

We had agreed to meet at Tower at 10am, giving me about 4 hours to play with. However, instead of doing the usual route through the Lamar (and therefore missing the wolf/coyote excitement), I headed up the Tower Road in order to check out some new territory now that Dunraven was open.

I kept going and going... it was a bright sunny day, and I was seriously tempted to climb Washburn, as the Chittenden Road side of the mountain looked relatively free of snow. However, common sense got the best of me and I kept driving through the pass. Bighorn sheep were glowing in the sunlight high above on Washburn's ridges as I made my way down the south side. Figuring it was my last day, I reasoned that I wouldn't make it to Hayden again if I didn't do it now.

Once in Hayden Valley, I stopped to watch some bison. One in particular looked ready to burst. I thought it was a bit odd that a bison might still be pregnant, but there are always stragglers and I honestly have no idea how long the birthing season lasts. This particular animal had a very large and lopsided belly, and was staggering about with its tail constantly in the air. I'm no expert, but this meant "ready to pop" to me. Alas, it did not pop in the short time I stood there. In the meantime, I had noticed that no cars were coming from the south... something big must've been up!

Sure enough, there was a bear jam. A grizz with cub was high up on the far slope, and a crowd of photographers was waiting for her to come toward them. Two elk stayed near the grizzly and refused to be scared off. Perhaps they had a calf nearby.

I believe this may have actually been the same bear involved in the mauling a few days back. We weren't far from Trout Creek, and otherwise it certainly fit the description.

While I waited for the bear to make up its mind about which way to go, I was surprised by Helene and Rene, who had just arrived from an incredible grizzly morning at the lake, including a run-in with the sow+2 cubs. I was supremely jealous of course, still waiting for my first chance at some adult/cub grizz close-ups.

The bear we were watching eventually disappeared, so we had a decision to make. Apparently I was in charge, as it was my last day in the park, and I decided I wanted a piece of the lake action, despite the fact that it was already after nine o'clock. I began to have second thoughts as we drove down, figuring it was a waste of time and too late in the morning. We traveled out to Mary Bay, which was empty of course, but we stopped nearby so I could photograph some bison nestled along the lake shore with a great mountain background. As I was finishing up, someone drove by and mentioned something about a bear at Fishing Bridge.

And how about a close-up grizzly to boot

We jetted off, and sure enough, there was a nice crowd watching a three year old grizz alongside the road. This is the same bear that's been spotted frequently and for many hours a day near the hotel. She moved parallel to the road, munching frequently, but at one point the rangers did have to clap and make noise to keep her from approaching. They speculated that in a couple years, when she's big and has cubs, some problems could arise with her, given the amount of time she's already spending in crowded areas...

Helene, Rene and I made it back over Dunraven (the Washburn lot was crowded!) and down toward Tower. Before reaching the parking lot, we came across yet another jam. This time, it was a bull moose, presumably the same one seen by Bart the previous day.

Well, I finally got some grizz and moose shots, so the day was already something of a success. Having met Bart and Monique soon thereafter, we told them about the moose and then parted ways... and then promptly ran into another moose! This one was at Petrified Tree on the far hillside.

It was getting close to lunch, and I somehow managed to convince H & R to visit Sheepeater Cliff, which they had never done. We ate first before embarking down the short trail along the river. Marmots were surprisingly few and far between compared to previous years, but Rene did spot a pika early on. I had never seen one here (always on Washburn), and this one was tan color instead of the normal gray I'm used to seeing. Perhaps it was just dirty.

We walked down to the small canyon, where we followed the river to the second waterfall. Plenty of elk and even marmot tracks near the water, but all was quiet aside from the roiling river. This really is a beautiful setting.

Back we went, determined to make it to the Lamar during my final hours in the park. Plans changed when we reached Elk Creek. There was a huge traffic build-up. The moose was down to the left of the road, there was a black bear beyond it in the trees, and then even more cars were lined up on the Petrified Tree drive for another black bear.

We went to check out the latter, and again met Bart and Monique. Our group followed the bear through our lenses, clicking away as it grazed, wandered and drank from the creek (nobody clicked while it pooped). The bear came very close to all of us, but was about 15 feet below us on the embankment and the ranger deemed it safe.

After that, everyone packed up, but I soon spotted the other black bear coming over the hillside by the road. It had picked up a scent and was cantering in the direction of the PT drive. I thought that it might've picked up the other black bear's trail and was hoping this might lead to an encounter. I waited for things to happen from a distance, but the approaching bear couldn't cross the road due to all the traffic. It made a couple of attempts, but was constantly rebuffed. No ranger was present to shepherd people back to their cars, and the proximity of some of these folks was scary.

One last bear completed the trip

Finally the bear made it across, but at that point was further up the road. It continued along behind the ridgeline and never did make it down into the meadow near the PT drive. Who knows what might've been.

Little time was left in my day, so instead of doing some last-minute exploring, we chilled out in the parking lot. Rialena and her group had reappeared, and Moose Tracker had just arrived, so it was one big happy hour. We posed for some pix, shared some snacks and (in some cases) beers, and then it was time for my adventure to end. Saying goodbye to everyone, I headed out the northwest entrance, and managed to make it to Butte. A long drive home tomorrow, and then photo processing and eager anticipation of my return in July.

Thanks to everyone whom I met for the first time on the trip for making it more enjoyable, particularly wguss (2nd time technically), rialena, bryan, bart40, maniuk, shannon, moose tracker and all of your SO's and family members. Thanks also to those who took time to read through these reports while stuck at home. More photos coming in the weeks ahead.

Finally, thanks to Helene and Rene, who unexpectedly ended up being my travel companions (i.e., they put up with me) for much of the trip, and whom I am happy to now call friends.