While photographing elk at dawn, I learned of the demise of my 100-400mm lens

I've returned early this afternoon, but overall it seemed like a much better day than yesterday. I woke up at the usual time and headed out toward the east end of the park. In the predawn light, elk could be seen grazing along the cliffs high above Phantom Lake.

After scanning the distant slopes of Little America and the Lamar for bears with little luck, I headed back to the Petrified Tree. The drive up to the tree had just been opened yesterday, and it was as good a time as any to visit Lost Lake. A lot of elk, bison and coyote prints and droppings greeted me, but that was it. It was very quiet, aside from the occasional chittering of a bird or the distant echo of a raven's caw. The lake is still completely frozen.

I was back at the car by 10:30 and drove back toward Little America. A couple of deer were near the small parking lot just down the road from the Picnic Area, so I stopped to snap a few shots. Chipmunks were scurrying about nearby, the sole rodents I've seen during this trip (the rest are presumably still sleeping in).

A gentleman from Utah and his grandson were just returning from a short hike down along the canyon rim above the Yellowstone River (along the trail originating from this lot... the same place Willem and I saw bighorn rams last spring). They mentioned seeing fresh grizz tracks (presumably the same grizz I had barely missed in this spot on Day 1) and said that down by the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar Rivers at the end of the trail, otters are sometimes seen during winter. I had never been down this trail, so this was all the incentive I needed.

I cautiously explored this trail, with good reason

It didn't take long to find the grizz tracks, distinct impressions in fresh mud where snow had recently melted. I'm no expert on judging bear size, but it seemed like the prints may have been from a medium-sized bear. You can see them compared with an adult shoe print (at bottom).

The first batch of tracks were headed up the trail (toward the parking lot), so I relaxed a bit... until I came across another seemingly fresh set going the opposite direction... toward my destination. As an eagle soared overhead, I gingerly picked my way down the rocky hillside where I reached the confluence. It was a bright sunny day, and this would have been a great picnic spot... if I had brought food and if there wasn't a lurking grizzly nearby. No otters, but it was cool to see this spot and know what's there.

Back to the car in one piece, I decided for another quick tour of the Lamar to see if I could find the wolf watchers (whom I had hardly seen today). They were nowhere to be found, and I was debating whether to drive all the way back to Gardiner for my usual lunch break, or to simply continue on to Cooke City. I chose the latter, and it was a good move.

Arriving at Round Prairie, I stopped to chat with some folks who had their scopes out and were gazing up at the mountains. It turns out they were seeking out mountain goats and wolves... we could hear the Druids howling away way up somewhere in the woods, but in the meantime, they had pinpointed a mountain goat. I snuck a peek, watching a big fluffy male lounging around on a snowy cliffside.

As we continued to chat, I turned back to Round Prairie. There was a wolf! Nobody believed me at first... but sure enough, a blackish gray lone wolf was picking its way across the Prairie. I fired off a few quick shots from the roof of my car... too far away really, but you can tell what it is.

I guessed that this was probably a Druid yearling (something backed up later by some late-arriving wolf watchers... Note: technically a "pup" since it wasn't quite a year old). The howling we had heard may have been related to its separation from the pack... That certainly made my day, despite the lack of good pics.

Eventually, I had lunch at Cooke City and returned for one last trek back to Gardiner. I stopped at Soda Butte Creek and wandered along the banks a ways, exploring new territory. No otters here either, btw. I did find the "orangest" lichen-coated rock I've ever seen though. I'll call it the Dutch Rock.

One day to go. Time to relax a bit and refill the tanks for the final push tomorrow!