Crimson Red Sports

As 2 explained on the Daily Thread, I drove 120 miles to Cheyenne, Wyoming the first day.  Really a simple, long drive.  Only thing of note was an overturned tractor-trailer just north of Memphis and a Black Bear in someone's yard along I-29 in Iowa (along Missouri River).

Day 2 started at daybreak.  I drove across Wyoming to Grand Tetons National Park (GTNP).

(https://i.imgur.com/ZfhWd7k.jpg)
Sunrise over high desert.

(https://i.imgur.com/4CpvBjb.jpg)
Thunderstorms in Nebraska

(https://i.imgur.com/PtOQULs.jpg)

Just south of GTNP I drove up the mountains to the Continental Divide.  It was still winter there.

(https://i.imgur.com/XGleJP5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/HCJdVYG.jpg)

Really a beautiful day in GTNP.  The Tetons are breathtaking, HUGE, and towering overhead.

(https://i.imgur.com/uFHsyoi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2YYrNpi.jpg)

Great start to your annual summer (theoretically) trip out west.  I'm looking forward to seeing all of the pics you have to share.

Spent the first day at GTNP looking for bears.  One had been at this outhouse just before I got there, leaving his print on the door.

(https://i.imgur.com/X9QayTd.jpg)

Last good look at Tetons before clouds moved in:

(https://i.imgur.com/bZJUOX7.jpg)

An hour before dark I found a Mama Grizzly Bear and her 2 cubs.  Photos are through a telescope.

(https://i.imgur.com/OxmaLqV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zxgnOO4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G5XVh0A.jpg)

This morning (Saturday) I got up early and headed to Yellowstone National Park (YNP).
SURPRISE, at 7AM a wolf with a tracking collar crossed the road in front of me.  He didn't stay for good photos.

(https://i.imgur.com/kwsWH5S.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dqFK39t.jpg)

Later, after catching a nice Brown Trout (no pic) I watched 2 Coyotes catching mice in a field.

(https://i.imgur.com/m9YYWW6.jpg)

Then I moved into the motel and took a nap.   :yawn:

Great pics, Chech. Glad you are off to such a good start. Keep 'em coming!  #+

Thanks, buddy.  I'm off to the lake first thing tomorrow.  Then it's supposed to rain.  I'll try for some fish pics.

Sat and watched a herd of Bison this afternoon.  Lots of babies.  And this morning's Coyotes spent the afternoon stalking the baby Bison.

(https://i.imgur.com/DOgHhen.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0copYrD.jpg)
That dark sky is an approaching thunderstorm.

No worries. The roadrunner will show up any time now and get the best of the coyotes.  :lol2:

Beautiful pics and those mountains are really eye opening. RTR!

Here's a tip:  don't google "teton" with the kids around.  :-[

Just kidding, it turned out to be safe... this time.  :lol2:

13,770′ for those of you that are curious.  That's over double the elevation of Clingmans Dome in the Smokies.

On a serious note, don't do a google image search for "door stopper" though.  I did that a month or two ago and apparently some knucklehead thought it would be funny to make a sculpture of a certain part of the male anatomy to use as a door stopper.

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well I know they are mountains. RTR!

Okay, jolly friends, here are today's pics.  I'm pretty worn out, so I'll make it brief.
It was windy, so I went looking for critters instead of fishing.  I spent most of the day watching wolves at a den. 

First I saw a bunch of bighorn sheep.  The rams were far up the mountain, but the ewes were .......
(https://i.imgur.com/Lj1QWqH.jpg)

... or lying in the shade:
(https://i.imgur.com/pxskAgv.jpg)

Saw a couple of coyotes (and geese):
(https://i.imgur.com/MzOg0DU.jpg)

Saw 2 bull moose.  BUT, the antlers are shed late in winter, so they have nubs.  There's a bison at right.
(https://i.imgur.com/h8lHrv4.jpg)

The wolves!  There were 4 adult wolves tending the young at the den, and 8 pups.  The photos are from 1.5 miles away (thru a telescope), so forgive the fuzzy images.

Here's a black female wolf at left (den opening is at right):
(https://i.imgur.com/093egeI.jpg)

Here's a gray female wolf panting like a dog.  You can see her tracking collar.
(https://i.imgur.com/HXxvJUz.jpg)

Those are great pics through a telescope, Chech. I can see why you're not too disappointed in not being able to fish.

Those are great pics Chech.  Oh, and the fuzzy part? I just figured you had too much to drink when you took the pics...   ;)  Hopefully you will be able to get back to fishing today...

Really great job Chechem. Pics are so great reminding Mrs Dottie and I of God's nature. Thanks. RTR!

Another day of critter watching.  Maybe fishing tomorrow.

Bull elk.  They've shed their antlers, and only nubs are there for now:
(https://i.imgur.com/AndWCvp.jpg)

Big grizzly walking on the snow (thru telescope a mile away):
(https://i.imgur.com/GYcdLPg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/n5X9P6J.jpg)

Harlequin duck (sitting on a log in the Yellowstone River):
(https://i.imgur.com/XOBjMey.jpg)

A mother grizzly bear and 2 cubs were trying to cross the Gibbon River today.  As I watched, the mother searched for a pacle to cross, tested the water, then finally waded in.  But the cubs wouldn't follow, so she growled loudly at them.  Still they wouldn't follow.  The river is at flood stage due to snow melt.  Finally they moved back into the woods.

(https://i.imgur.com/j29YKtO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PKtUSwb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xmBAmvt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XT5Dv3m.jpg)

Good stuff!!! Nature at it's best.  :worship:

That is so beautiful Chechem. You are so Blessed to see this up front. Thanks for such good work for us. RTR!

For a minute there I thought Chech was slipping in stills out of the Zapruder film on us.

Those are some pretty good sized bear!

:lol2:

I see a wolf on the grassy knoll.

Crazy stormy day, but I caught 7 fish before it hit.  Wifi still screwy, but I'll try to post fast:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZmKdfqz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7lGFlMS.jpg)
Storm over the lake.

(https://i.imgur.com/ueyltov.jpg)
Hail on my car hood and covering the road.

(https://i.imgur.com/FhoIfLz.jpg)
One of the better Rainbow Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/JbVoNZ2.jpg)
Another.

Looks like you had a heck of a day, Chech. You are certainly getting your money’s worth.  :lol2:

Great pics!

Thanks.  Same forecast today; fishing for a couple of hours, then thunderstorms.  But better tomorrow and Saturday.

Great day today, but I just got home and am worn out.
Caught 5 trout this morning, and had a hook straighten out on a huge one that got away.
Spent the afternoon and evening in the park watching bears, pronghorn, etc.  Pics to follow after some sleep.

 :yawn:

(https://i.imgur.com/Em6KaQJ.jpg)

I took this especially for the forum.  FOOTBALL??

Here we go.

(https://i.imgur.com/jDhR0RZ.jpg)
Uinta Ground Squirrel

(https://i.imgur.com/JgP45WO.jpg)
Pronghorn

(https://i.imgur.com/A86nCrZ.jpg)
Another angle (he posed)

Black bear and adorable cub:

(https://i.imgur.com/YUQzBBV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rbixLoN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PPPqXME.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rsICl0c.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uPowGlC.jpg)

I'll post the eagle pics and more bears in the morning.  And fish.

Whew!

You’re sure getting some great pics, Chech. Thoroughly enjoying them.

Thanks, buddy.  Here are some more from yesterday:

(https://i.imgur.com/JXrgqlI.jpg)
Beautiful start to the day at Hebgen Lake

(https://i.imgur.com/qS1Xzvp.jpg)
Golden Eagle on its nest (sorry for quality; thru telescope)

(https://i.imgur.com/mglOA5s.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dfdt0Am.jpg)
Just before sunset and rain (it sleeted)

(https://i.imgur.com/Cn3tvzN.jpg)
Thru telescope; a mile away; grizzly and elk.  I watched him for an hour (much better view than the pic).  The elk didn't seem to mind him being close.

Wow those are breath taking. I know you have to love mother nature to be at peace watching these for an hour or so. Hey Chechem take a deep breath for us of mother nature, lol. RTR!

Will do, Preacher.  Here are some flowers I photographed this morning before the SNOW started!

(https://i.imgur.com/WzhiOv1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/z40IkiV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/r0HnH8D.jpg)
Yellow Trout Lilies

More Friday Photographs:

I spent a good bit of the morning looking for wolves (none) and bears (PLENTY).  Here are photographs of "Raspberry" and "Snow".  Snow is a 3rd-year grizzly cub.  Raspberry is the Mom.  Hint: Snow is the lighter-colored one.

(https://i.imgur.com/4kyGrzJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I6qMCTV.jpg)
Snow at left.

(https://i.imgur.com/Cu8VY0m.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aTIMjop.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7jUaPaH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7jUaPaH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eoF98ru.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dja4Rtt.jpg)
Kind of a WalMart look, eh?

BTW, these pics were taken with my cell phone (from behind my car).  I've learned to take photos through my binoculars with my cell phone.  Better quality than with my old Panasonic.

I'm jealous to the point of not being able to enjoy the pics anymore.  I hope it storms the rest of your trip!

Here are Thursday's best fish pics:

(https://i.imgur.com/hBZicUe.jpg)
Rainbow Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/J6d1sVy.jpg)
Brown Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/R6MC4Zb.jpg)
Brown Trout

I'll send Raspberry to visit you.   :unsure: :unsure:

 thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures #+

Thanks for the pics Chechem those flowers were awesome. RTR!

I, on the other hand, are living vicariously through you and your pics.  :worship:

It's okay, 2.  Hard to take HL serious when he's wearing an upside-down goalie mask.
 :lol2: :lol2:

(http://www.crimsonredsports.com/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=163;type=avatar)

You're lucky I'm all out of fava beans.

Usually I remove the hook before dismissal.  But in your case...

(https://i.imgur.com/Et3ukOB.jpg)

Great pics Chech...I'd love to be able to do what you are doing some day... #+

Thanks, NALT.  Do it.

Absolutely beautiful day at Hebgen Lake.  It was 27 degrees when I got there, but no wind.  Great for fishing.

I caught 11 trout and some whitefish.  Fun day.  Here are some of the best:

(https://i.imgur.com/xLO5Yki.jpg)
This one's for NALT (reverse side!).

(https://i.imgur.com/ucWGqka.jpg)
Brown Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/GmuzU0y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pgSlBNl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cfoPogG.jpg)
Big Brown Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/opMRl0T.jpg)
As pretty as you'll see a Rainbow Trout

(https://i.imgur.com/vWzzUde.jpg)
Note to self: check the lens on a cold morning.  :lol2: :lol2:

Chech, they all have that "Please save me, the water's coooooold!!!" look on their faces.  :lol2:

Seriously though, good looking fish. You're right, the rainbow trout is beautiful.

I really love these pics. RTR!

Another beautiful day at the lake, and not as cold.  Low today 35; high 75.  Blue sky.  I caught 8 trout, but lost that many more.  Also caught some whitefish.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZrqFgj6.jpg)
This one ran all over the lake before deciding that being netted was okay.

(https://i.imgur.com/8oiZIWT.jpg)
Beautiful, big Brown Trout.

(https://i.imgur.com/qaV42b0.jpg)
Look how clear and clean the water is.

(https://i.imgur.com/kJhduPc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zX5hcM2.jpg)

Great pics Chech. Sounds like a real adventure today. The best I could do was spend 45 minutes at the driving range with my grandson in 95 degree heat. He took it a lot better than I did.

 :lol:

I was out viewing critters yesterday (Monday) from before sunup to dark.  Lots to see.  Here are a few of the highlights.

It was a big day for seeing bears and coyotes.  Wolves, not so much.

(https://i.imgur.com/66EJTSa.jpg)
Black bear.  Again, sorry for the lack of quality; far away through my telescope.

(https://i.imgur.com/4IPQfoK.jpg)
Cinnamon Bear.  Too far to see in pic, but wanted to include one of these pretty bears.

(https://i.imgur.com/3hQP0Ai.jpg)
Black bear Mom.  She had 3 cubs, but it was 10pm and almost completely dark.

(https://i.imgur.com/QUpGUVx.jpg)
Yellow-headed Blackbird

(https://i.imgur.com/p9FRscV.jpg)
Lupines

MORE ON NEXT POST

Monday continues:

(https://i.imgur.com/lOvXjO4.jpg)
Right behind where this bison is standing is where a pack of 7 wolves killed an elk the day before.

(https://i.imgur.com/QW65FAz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Wceq4fl.jpg)
One of 6 coyotes I watched.  This one was at sunup; hence the washout of the pic.

(https://i.imgur.com/ph0Zg41.jpg)
3 bull elk.  Their antlers are growing fast daily.

(https://i.imgur.com/HOfxWp1.jpg)
Sandhill Crane

(https://i.imgur.com/FusjBTe.jpg)
Marmot among the rocks

MORE BELOW

Monday continued again:

(https://i.imgur.com/fFQRst5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fFQRst5.jpg)
White Mule's Ears (cool wildflowers)

(https://i.imgur.com/8nODbpi.jpg)
Shooting Stars and other wildflowers along the Yellowstone River

(https://i.imgur.com/rzJvtEK.jpg)
BIG OLE GRIZZLY - Yikes!!   :o

MORE BELOW

MORE MONDAY:

(https://i.imgur.com/qbtATbC.jpg)
Mountain Bluebird among the dandelions

(https://i.imgur.com/izQfpRr.jpg)
Coyote passing among the bison (behind the brownish baby bison).  Weird, because I'd seen them attack baby bison.

(https://i.imgur.com/bOIGMTy.jpg)
A second Coyote approached, and this one gave a SNARL.  Yikes again!

(https://i.imgur.com/L7E20Zj.jpg)
Pronghorn.  You can see where the wildfires denuded that distant mountain 2 years ago.

(https://i.imgur.com/abL6ZST.jpg)
Red Fox climbing rocks to its den.

(https://i.imgur.com/v030CNb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tsfoUbG.jpg)
The end.

Wow!!!  :o

Banner day for pics, Chech. Those were phenomenal! I need to catch you up on some e-creds.  #+

 #+ #+, those pics were gorgeous and thanks so much Chechem. Have to surely give an ecred as 2 stated. RTR!

Beautiful pictures thanks for sharing

Tuesday June 5th pics.
I slept in until 4:30.   :lol2:  
Too windy for fishing the lake again, so I went looking for critters.

(https://i.imgur.com/mSqulIs.jpg)
Saw two elk bulls with growing antlers.  They refused to be photographed together.   :dunno:

(https://i.imgur.com/8vyzF7Q.jpg)
I got to the Yellowstone River by 8:00, where the Waipiti Pack hangs out.  As I set up my telescope I heard coyotes howling.  Within 30 minutes a single, black wolf appeared.  He was a mile away, but when he crossed the snow bank he was visible enough for a photo.

(https://i.imgur.com/q676PJ3.jpg)
He seemed to like the snow, and stayed on it for 5 minutes.  It was just 55 degrees.

(https://i.imgur.com/s9Qxy3O.jpg)
Soon after I spotted something moving left to right.  It was a grizzly bear and her 3 (THREE) cubs.  #3 was out of the photo.  Terrible pic; too far away.  But I wanted to document it.  Use your squinty eyes and imagination.

(https://i.imgur.com/huYM7MF.jpg)
Know how sometimes you see the traffic completely backed up going the opposite way, but you have a freely moving lane?  It happened to me today.

Tuesday afternoon:

I sat near Madison Campground and visited (mostly) with a couple from Greece.  We were on a hilltop watching a large herd of bison near the Gibbon River.  Numerous kids came by, and I let them look through my telescope.  It's amazing to effectively be among the bison with the telescope.  Fun afternoon.  I also watched a pair of Osprey at a nest and some birds along the Gibbon River.

(https://i.imgur.com/2g8K0dm.jpg)
Relaxing in the afternoon sunshine (it was 55-60 degrees).

(https://i.imgur.com/5Tl1TkT.jpg)
Lactation time.

(https://i.imgur.com/Qr74GI2.jpg)
American Merganzers

(https://i.imgur.com/exbGwha.jpg)
Spotted Sandpiper

(https://i.imgur.com/GenvTw9.jpg)
The Osprey snapping (on left) was incubating the eggs, and seems to have driven the other (flying) from the nest by squawking and striking.  Family dispute no doubt.

(https://i.imgur.com/Nkhk3Gu.jpg)
The other Osprey returned, and was driven away again. 
"GO FIND ME A FISH, OR DON'T COME BACK!!"

Again, excellent pics!!!  #+

Absolutely grand. RTR!

Thanks, guys.  It was a nice, calm day; FISHING ON THE LAKE.  Best day yet.  I netted 15 trout, and one was the biggest Rainbow Trout this trip.

I know you guys tire of the same ole fish poses, so I hammed it up a bit.  Hey, I was the only one within 2 miles on the lake!!

(https://i.imgur.com/mNrjXCe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bljlHOR.jpg)
The biggie!!

(https://i.imgur.com/GtU9hqH.jpg)
Prettiest one today.

(https://i.imgur.com/AYk2J3N.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QI85jHi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NPCpaXs.jpg)

 :clap: :clap: gosh those are great pics. RTR!

That big one is huge. Did he give you a good fight?

Oh yeah.  The water is cold, so the fish never seem to tire.  They jump a dozen times, run all around the boat (sometimes under it), and do whatever they want for the first moments.

Yesterday I lost 3 rigs.  The first one broke off the line (maybe the line had been nicked by their teeth; it happens).  The next 2 ran under sunken logs and tangled.  No way to stop that or know where the logs are.  It's like fishing for grouper near oil rigs; they run for obstructions and break off. 
 :dunno:

Late Wednesday afternoon I drove along "Firehole Canyon".  Impressive power of the water.

(https://i.imgur.com/13gW7o8.jpg)

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5791/30015553155_295bab8d75_z.jpg)

Beautiful!

 the most of the fisherman you meet practice catch and release and do you ever eat any of the trout

Wow those water pics are extremely beautiful. RTR!

The last trout I ate was when my son was 9 years old.  We camped and ate the fish we caught.  That was about 1996.
HTH
 :-*

Thursday fishing:

Left the room at 5am after reading the forecast. Ironically I was just bragging to LF that the weather folks here predict the wind/rain very well.  NOT.

The forecast was for 0% chance of rain, then 20% starting at 10am.  Wind was expected to be ~2-3 mph until noon.  WRONG.

I arrived at the lake by 5:15, and this is what was approaching (pic):  Hail, rain, wind.

Never say die, I waited it out, then went fishing for a short while.  Caught 5 trout and a huge whitefish.

(https://i.imgur.com/TDC0qkB.jpg)

Thursday continued:

The sun did come out, but as you see in one pic, the storms returned.

(https://i.imgur.com/KC0KsOo.jpg)
Pretty impressive Brown, except he was hooked in the side.   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/mcTrnZX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XbpeZNw.jpg)
"Give back my hook!!"

Hey Chechem with those clouds if you would wait the storm would blow the fish out of the water in your hands. RTR!

Maybe they did!!   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/TDC0qkB.jpg)

I hope you had good cover.  :unsure:

People being stupid out your way, Chech.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/07/bison-gores-california-woman-at-yellowstone-national-park-officials-say.html

Yep, not surprised, but I hadn't heard of the woman being gored.  Getting within 15' of a bison is, well, STUPID!

Thursday afternoon:

I drove to Hayden Valley late yesterday afternoon.  Soon as I set up my telescope I spotted a pair of grizzlies about a mile away.  Unfortunately (for photos) they never got closer.

(https://i.imgur.com/Kvpjto1.jpg)

Then I moved to another pacle as a thunderstorm approached.  A herd of elk was nervous, and the swam to an island, as they often do if threatened by wolves.  No wolf, just a coyote, but seeing 100 elk crammed into a small area was impressive.  And they began fighting; guess it was too crowded for them.   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZkoPLvN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qBzDcQ2.jpg)

After a heavy rain I spotted another grizzly near the Yellowstone River.

(https://i.imgur.com/nGFnzAE.jpg)

The rain returned, wind blew, and then it HAILED FOR 15 MINUTES.  I parked under a gas-station awning.  Hard to tell in the photos, but the hail was half a foot deep.  I talked with a guy on a motorcycle.  He was stranded; no way to safely ride a bike in that stuff.  The temperature had dropped to 40 degrees.  Wow.  I managed to drive home through the icy roads.

(https://i.imgur.com/7E0KGJM.jpg)

Holy cow at the hail!!!  :o

Another set of impressive pics. You need to freelance for NatGeo.  :worship:

 was there a reason why in 96 you stopped eating trout

Man Chechem a lot o hail. One thing I saw that was child hood memory was the Sinclair gas station. I didn't know they made them anymore. They use to give out dinosaurs when I was kid. RTR!

I found out I couldn't cook.   :lol2:

They're the highest-priced gas in the western states.
Hope you kept the dinosaur.  They're valuable now.   :dunno:

So is picking up a random monkey.  https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article212762539.html

Great photos by the way.

Great pics and narration Chech.  I wish you were here with me so you could help me enjoy mowing grass. I bet you could photograph and narrate that to make it sound exciting too...   ;)

NALT, I'd certainly rather being there mowing grass with you.  But I am retired, which means training LF to be independent.  So I'm out here making the most of it.
 :eyeroll:

Friday June 8th:

As said in the Daily thread, I caught 10 keeper-sized trout (released because it's post-1996).  But I forgot to take my camera, so you'll have to trust me; they were beauties.  :lol2:  Also watched a mule-deer buck walk the shoreline near my car (I was out in my boat).  Cool.

Then yesterday afternoon I drove to Hayden Valley in hopes of seeing a wolf.  First I stopped at a site along the Yellowstone River where herons nest.  I walked down through the lodgepole pines to the river's edge, set up my telescope, and found 11 nests on an island about 100m away.

(https://i.imgur.com/IwSrWlE.jpg)

But I wanted to see wolves.  They most active just before dark, which come gradually here.  It's not really dark until about 10pm.  So at 7pm I found a parking spot neat Elk Antler Creek, and I walked out about half a mile onto a hilltop for viewing the rolling hills of an extensive plain.  It's where I saw the 2 grizzlies the day before.  I panned with the telescope, and after a while saw a black wolf walking along a tree line (a mile away).  It soon joined a pack of 7 others.  WOW!  As I watched they tumbled in the grass and played, then ran (in a line) across the prairie and were gone.  I took video, which is easier to see.  But here's the best I could do with a hand-held cell phone against the telescope eyepiece.

(https://i.imgur.com/riWaQFY.jpg)
Here you can see most of them spread in a line.  About half of them are gray; the others black.  Some appear bicolored, but that's the sunshine only illuminating part of the wolf.  Some of the gray ones appear dark here, because the sun is behind them (silhouettes).

Here they are running left across the prairie.  A black one is leading (far left).  Just like dogs, they were playing and rolling on the grass.
(https://i.imgur.com/Qgs3Pa7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1iqR6nc.jpg)

Very cool!  #+

Hey those are great pics. Man anybody who ever has the chance to see this type of stuff has to love nature. RTR!

Right you are, Preacher!

Saturday June 9th:

Fishing today was EXCELLENT.  Saw 2 elk while driving the dirt road to the lake. 
Caught 14 trout this morning; some were fine and dandy ones!  Even caught 2 at once!

(https://i.imgur.com/SkjiM3J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UJWpTvj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jjRUyTh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dMj3KWN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tSoJtLx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aFRXfMN.jpg)

Forgot the photos on my other camera.  Here are elk along the Yellowstone.  The herd started panicking when a coyote showed up to their party.   :lol2:
They all went to this island and waited.  One big bull crossed right in front of me (silhouette).

(https://i.imgur.com/DMdoglQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4SLg0O4.jpg)

Wow so beautiful. RTR!

(https://i.imgur.com/dMj3KWN.jpg)

This one looks happy. You must have just told him you were letting him go.

He's also skinny.  By summer's end he'll be 2-3 pounds heavier.

Saturday afternoon June 9th:

After fishing yesterday I drove to Hayden Valley in hopes of seeing some wolves.  They were much closer this time (half a mile instead of a mile).  As I watched they chased an elk (which got away), then played along the Yellowstone River.

(https://i.imgur.com/tEieInQ.jpg)
This is my telescope (it's old).  The wolves were at the base of that distant hill the night before; near the Yellowstone River in these pics (just east of where I am here).

(https://i.imgur.com/rVRRLNP.jpg)
Here they are chasing an elk, which crossed a shallow embayment to get away.  That closest wolf charged into the water after it.

(https://i.imgur.com/K4NYrls.jpg)
There were 10 of them (5 gray; 5 black).  Same pack I'd seen the night before.

(https://i.imgur.com/dsWHJK6.jpg)
Sorry it's so blurry, but at that distance in the wind it's lucky I got anything.

Sunday June 10th:

A cold front came through during the night, so it was FAR too windy for fishing today.  In fact it snowed this afternoon, and was party cloudy and cold much of the day.

(https://i.imgur.com/JGU67aa.jpg)
The day started at 4am.  Here I'm driving the Dunraven Pass (no guard rails - YIKES).  This was taken about 5am through my windshield.

(https://i.imgur.com/TMHIoVs.jpg)
Saw this big ole Black Bear near Roosevelt Lodge.

(https://i.imgur.com/OpJgkL0.jpg)
I hiked up a steep hill to a plateau in Lamar Valley to look across a plain at herds of bison and (hopefully wolves or bears).  Just a beautiful location with lots of wildflowers.  These are Balsamroot.

(https://i.imgur.com/PziEQhs.jpg)
Found this elk antler on the plateau.  Squint and you can see bison in the distance.

(https://i.imgur.com/1oF9cmR.jpg)
Heartleaf Arnica

(https://i.imgur.com/vC0gq6O.jpg)
Heaven knows; not in my book.  It's a vine that looks like passion flower.

(https://i.imgur.com/MoWlpFp.jpg)
These guys posed on my trail, so I waited until they moved.

(https://i.imgur.com/jyJJXAP.jpg)
Their friends decided to cross Soda Butte Creek and climb the hill beyond.

(https://i.imgur.com/SIq4fDv.jpg)
Shooting Star

(https://i.imgur.com/Pp3OiLc.jpg)
Near Pebble Creek I saw this Mountain Goat (mama and baby).  Talk about far away!  They were on a mountain, far up there.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ybj7Owb.jpg)
While photographing the goats this little guy (Ground Squirrel) came begging for food.  Sorry buddy, against the rules.   :dunno:

Beautiful pictures

Mystery solved.  No wonder it's so pretty; it's a Clematis.  The pretty blue flower's name is:

Western Blue Virginsbower Flower
Clematis occidentalis

(https://i.imgur.com/vC0gq6O.jpg)

Looks just like one.  :lol2:

Fantastic pics, Chech! Really enjoying them very much.

Just wish I could post the videos of the wolves chasing the elk and playing.  I managed to transfer videos to my laptop (too large to email), but the only way to post them seems to be YouTube.  I started opening an account with them, but found I'd have to use a new email account.  I already have 2, and that's enough!
 :dunno:

Those pics are just breathtaking and Chechem I have to say your very Blessed. The sky pic was so awesome it makes me know there is a lot special items in our world today. Thanks my friend. RTR!

Monday June 11th:

Out early this morning in the snow flurries and COLD.  Hope you appreciate these pics; I suffered to get them.   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/orTE5Lf.jpg)
Bison family on morning stroll

(https://i.imgur.com/GcMpb7A.jpg)
Dad scratches his neck while Fred dusts off a few bugs.

(https://i.imgur.com/gLuQdzO.jpg)
Laughing elk

(https://i.imgur.com/QPpCmID.jpg)
Mama Mallard and the 10 dwarfs

(https://i.imgur.com/xYmnUbj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/P03Rx2w.jpg)
Far away and blurry, but I knew Ricky would appreciate it.

I saw movement in a marshy area, then realized it was Sandhill Cranes.  On closer view there were 2 downy babies among their legs.  The yellow babies are difficult to see (bottom 2 photos), so I added an arrow to one pic.
(https://i.imgur.com/N218U97.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6JhHkHq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/10ANp18.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NOGfHsP.jpg)

I'm gonna have to re-stock my supply of e-creds for you.  #+

Golly Chechem that pic of the eagle was fascinating. I wonder if the Bison have snow on their back from nightfall snow? RTR!

Certainly bison sometimes have snow on their backs.  But this snowfall was very light; more like heavy flurries.  I doubt there was any accumulation on the bison.  What you see in the pics is dust and mud on them.  Bison roll in wallows to cover themselves in dust and mud to deter insect bites.  They're really cool, unusual animals.

Did you collect that elk antler for a souvenir or is that even allowed?

Not allowed.  But what a temptation!

Monday June 12:

Fishing was cut short Monday by high winds.  But I managed to catch 7 trout and 2 whitefish before being blown off the lake.  Then we went into the park for a while.  My buddy's camera setup worked great.  Here are a few of his pics:

(https://i.imgur.com/wYLYaVc.jpg)
This bald eagle landed on the ground neat Yellowstone River.  Cool view (from ~300 yards).

(https://i.imgur.com/WbDJhF0.jpg)
Coyote on a distant hill.

(https://i.imgur.com/8A3TYuW.jpg)
A raven.  No quotes, please!   :lol2:

(https://i.imgur.com/UEHVXIz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YF0ItRw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/k2FIL5N.jpg)

High quality pics there, Chech. Great coloring on the fish.

Man great pics. The Eagle and Raven was especially great. Those trout look to be good size. RTR!

Too weak and weary for quotes.

 ???

Wednesday June 13th:

We fished for a few hours this morning (my friends from South Carolina and California are here).  I caught 7 trout and a whitefish.  This afternoon we relaxed in town, and went to eat at a nice sports bar.  There we encountered a gathering of folks from Fairhope, AL who posed for pics with us.  We had fun laughing with them.  One of them was a fanatical Alabama fan.  Of course, she was the most fun and prettiest!!

My new favorite flower is this simple White Phlox.  It forms a ground cover among the pines, and is wonderfully fragrant.  The air is sweet with its distinct fragrance.  There are acres of it all around the park right now. 
 :worship:
(https://i.imgur.com/2nbWVYV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/feJ1Q7i.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EUpaO4y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ofyDYAV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CGvR3fV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8VWxZzM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/f07z6xL.jpg)

It's in the first line.

No pics of the Fairhope girl?  :dunno:

 8)

(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQN9iN54j3p87-4teRMkeb16s1YcmwvVOGW4vaUjn8C45-Pj5kp)

Here, I found a pic on the web. 
Which one?  Let's just keep that to ourselves, my friend.   :lol2:

The fish are great. Hey Chechem how tight are the laws or even the people in that about the safety of the Eagles you get pics of? RTR!

These pics are from Yellowstone NP, so they're more protected than your neighbor's dog.  But generally people of Montana protect their hunting rights, and eagles outside the park are prolly more threatened by hunters than elsewhere in the US.

Thursday June 14th:

Good day today in the park.  We were supposed to leave the motel at 5am, but certain members of our group overslept.  They won't be going again.  We left by 5:30.

We saw 2 grizzlies, 3 black bears, golden eagles, ospreys, and much more.  No wolves, but we got to our favorite viewing spot to be told we were "half an hour late to see them".
 >:(

First thing we saw was a Black Bear and her Cub.  Baby nursing in 3rd pic::
(https://i.imgur.com/3cJ0fJC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EkrJGLr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/47LM6k7.jpg)

Wild Geranium
(https://i.imgur.com/3PhM1AP.jpg)

Found an elk-antler shed:
(https://i.imgur.com/YuyVhvC.jpg)

Yellow-headed Blackbird
(https://i.imgur.com/N3aOJJZ.jpg)

Mountain Goats with a baby one:
(https://i.imgur.com/kHW00TH.jpg)

Raven (needs a quote):
(https://i.imgur.com/7a7RnMz.jpg)

Mama Pronghorn and her 2 babies:
(https://i.imgur.com/tqElItH.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BeuVx4M.jpg)

Two big Grizzlies far up on a hill:
(https://i.imgur.com/5FvwIIT.jpg)

Elk crossed the road right in front of us:
(https://i.imgur.com/MMgoKGb.jpg)

Osprey at its nest:
(https://i.imgur.com/BXi3GMb.jpg)

Excellent pics!!!  #+

Holy smokes at the size of those elk antlers!  Nice job putting in an inanimate object for scale.

I agree with HL those antlers were big! The pics are so fantastic it is like being right there with you all. Anybody who overslept and missed these views I pity them. Chechem you just bring the great America to us through those pics. RTR!

Thanks, Ricky.
HL, I chortled.

Friday June 15th:

We went fishing early despite the forecast of "light rain".  By 9am it was pouring down.  We were out in our little boats catching fish, but it was damp and cold (32 when we arrived at 6am; high of 46).  I caught 9 trout and 2 whitefish.  Didn't take pics, because everything was tough in the rain.  I did snap one photo of my buddy in his boat:

(https://i.imgur.com/v9oEfQE.jpg)

Y'all are some hearty souls, Chech.  :worship:

Man this true sportsmen. Curt Gowdy would be honored. RTR!

Saturday June 16th:

Long day critter watching.  But we saw 9 bears and plenty more:

Mama Black Bear and her independent cub:
(https://i.imgur.com/gQDnYTG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Rgrzh4T.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LShHqtg.jpg)

Cinnamon Bear up a tree near the Petrified Tree in Yellowstone:
(https://i.imgur.com/bmlgqbM.jpg)

Bear crossed the road and a truck wrecked watching it.  We decided to U-turn and head elsewhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/sZ0KDCg.jpg)

Black Bear with 3 children; THREE!!
(https://i.imgur.com/mc7kC0x.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/olIHccH.jpg)

Big Grizzly male FAR up the mountain (in the rain and fog):
(https://i.imgur.com/AAzcXZ1.jpg)

Bison-Camper standoff:
(https://i.imgur.com/LJphTHy.jpg)

Two Bison looking for a camper to smash:
(https://i.imgur.com/EqMgBV7.jpg)

Pronghorn in molt:
(https://i.imgur.com/D3bKnKT.jpg)

Great stuff Chech. How did the guy wreck his truck?

 #+ this stuff is great. RTR!

A bear crossed the road and he watched it.  True.   :lol2:

Here's the Golden Eagle and baby I forgot to post today:

(https://i.imgur.com/sxBPNWR.jpg)

Hey Chech, about how far away were those grizzlies when you photographed them?  Also, how long would it have taken one of them to close that distance between it and you?  Just curious and I'll hang up and listen...   :popcorn2:

That fuzzy grizzly pic was taken from a mile away.  The ones I posted a week or so ago were taken from across the street.  The grizzlies could have closed the gap in a few seconds.  But I was standing next to a fat old lady.  HTH
 :lol2:

 :lol: :lol:

Sunday June 17th:

RAIN all day.  But the US Open was on TV all day, so we watched in our rooms, then went to a sports bar for $3 wings and the Koepka win.

Check out these nasty skies.  We're under a flood warning.

(https://i.imgur.com/99ZjfFW.jpg)

Those are indeed some nasty skies.  :unsure:

Man you must be some altitude because those things look like they are right at the top of your head. RTR!

Monday June 18th:

I went into the park, despite the heavy rain.  It was okay; few other cars except at this "bison jam".  Not too bad, maybe 15-min delay.  That's my car hood in the foreground.
(https://i.imgur.com/zvluBiB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/J7Jiu10.jpg)

Elk antlers are still growing.
(https://i.imgur.com/4rBfHKz.jpg)

This Mallard was eating earthworms (by the dozen).
(https://i.imgur.com/HUGu2up.jpg)

Yeah, it's 6600 feet here at the motel.  The bison pics were in Hayden Valley; 7700'.

Nice.  The "valley" is 1016' higher than anything east of the Mississippi.

Wow those Elk antlers, are some big ones. I love those Bison pics because they seem to know that they are the owners of the road and just take their precious time. lol, RTR!

Indeed.  We spent an hour behind a herd of them yesterday.

(https://i.imgur.com/JQ5gSk5.jpg)

Tuesday June 19th:

We went fishing, and the weather was perfect.  I haven't downloaded the pics yet, but my buddy and I each caught 8 trout, plus I caught 2 chubs.

Along the shore we saw a flock of Western Tanagers (beautiful):
(https://i.imgur.com/8np4ZZe.jpg)

Late in the afternoon we saw an elk cow and its calf near the Yellowstone River.  Sorry, but it was foggy and raining.
(https://i.imgur.com/5mSbjba.jpg)

For Ricky.  This was taken out the car window.  He's a big boy!!
(https://i.imgur.com/qe4tFOH.jpg)

Reminds me of CNS when he gets upset on the sideline,  :lol: :lol:. RTR!

I still think those beefalos would appreciate a good hair brushing.

You go first.   :lol2:

Wednesday June 20th:

I've included pics from yesterday's best fish.  Today was slow, despite the weather being BEAUTIFUL.  No rain, high of 67, and no wind.  I caught 18 fish, but most of them were chubs and whitefish.  I knew you'd be curious, so I took a pic of a chub.  Can you find the chub??

(https://imgur.com/sBupc6I)

(https://i.imgur.com/kfacUew.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TwqtZEo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2RN8Z2e.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qEKQsob.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/GVYM4Js.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/o4zA1hI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7EckoRi.jpg)

Thursday June 21st:

Excellent day at the lake.  I caught a pile of fish, mostly whitefish and chubs.  But I also caught the biggest Brown Trout yet:

(https://i.imgur.com/9XNueZG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jXGVyRl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sXOlyUK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QQ5crht.jpg)

 :o some nice trout. RTR!

More Thursday pics (with Ricky in mind):

(https://i.imgur.com/d2SuFEr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cSDirus.jpg)
Midway Geyser Basin

(https://i.imgur.com/rR1jyBD.jpg)
Firehole River (great fishing in this stretch)

Those are Ansel Adams-ish.  #+

Golly, 2.  You sober?   :lol2:

You don't take compliments well, do you?  :lol2:

 :lol: that is sho' nuff language whatever it is.  :clap:, RTR!

More humble pics from ... Friday.  We saw 8 bears today.  Here are some of the pics.  Sorry, but some are close to duplicates.  Ricky, the cinnamon and black bears were as close as just 40' away (I was hiding behind my car).  The baby bears were 50 yards away.

Friday June 22nd:

(https://i.imgur.com/sPa2pPM.jpg)
Mama was asleep while the 3 bears played.  The one at left was kicking its feet in the air!

(https://i.imgur.com/nErgjaz.jpg)
This Mama bear (not same Mama as above) is a cinnamon bear; baby is 3 years old and a black bear.

(https://i.imgur.com/tE1kroh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vLT5Kbx.jpg)
40'

(https://i.imgur.com/QyOVsk1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PmT5YdE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/obdGVhY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uqRBRDa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DgX0zBr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5aHoaC3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gIHhrhf.jpg)
Grizzly a mile away.  It was about to rain, and was foggy.  There were 2 waaaaay up there.

(https://i.imgur.com/zPsXuNo.jpg)
Our state bird is the Yellow Hammer (Yellow-shafted Flicker).  This is a Red-shafted Flicker.

Those cinnamon bear sure have a beautiful color coat. Very cool that you were able to get that close without pulling a John Candy in "The Great Outdoors".  :lol2:

Usually my bear spray is on my belt.  This time it was in my front pocket; readily available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuw3mbUQHAw

Stupid bison can't read.  You should have told them that grazing isn't allowed.  Only fly fishing...

Thanks Chechem. The pics are really great. When I see your pics of nature so really grand it reminds me of how great God really is with all the different colors and magnificent animals. Be safe my friend and keep the CRS spray handy too. lol, RTR!

Saturday

No pics. Went fishing and caught 4 trout and 2 whitefish. Rained early morning so we went late. Lightning sent us home early. Didn’t take the camera because it rained.

 :-*

We'll let you slide this one time.

 :sleep:

:-[

 #-  You have been so faithful now you have us hooked.  :D, we just expect them but please be careful around that lightning. It got pitch black here yesterday but no rain it was amazing. Mrs Dottie is hurting really bad this morning so I'll be going to worship service alone this morning. RTR!

Sunday June 24th:

Absolutely beautiful day today at the lake.  We stayed until 3pm, but couldn't fish that long.  The wind came up at midday.  There were bald eagles chasing an osprey to steal its fish.  White Pelicans paddled around us, hoping for a free fish.  Lots of wading birds (Avocets) were in the shallows.  I listened to coyotes echo across the lake at sunrise.  Sandhill Cranes flew over calling.  Just great.

I caught 12 trout and 1 chub.  All but 2 of the trout were biggies.  Fun, fun.

(https://i.imgur.com/K4hCcq4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nvfA7HW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QJzPgjS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/otaPSrI.jpg)

Beauties!

 :o :o Chechem you must have some fancy lures. You always catch some nice ones.  :clap:, RTR!

They're just tiny flies, Preacher.  Most of them are about an inch long.

(https://www.slideinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/galloups-callibaetis-nymph.jpg)

Monday June 25th:

The wind came up at 11:30 this morning, and it ruined a great day of fishing/catching.  I had caught 9 fish by then. 

Hey, Ricky, you can see how tiny the flies are in these pics.  That's the fly in the tongue of that fish in the first pic.  Here are some of the best ones I caught:

(https://i.imgur.com/N04HD53.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bY9vTAG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9vp95KZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fwBL5MF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/d47tQdA.jpg)

Wow that is amazing. Thanks for the pics those fish are so beautiful. RTR!

Monday pm and Tuesday am:

I went to the park late Monday.  Saw 2 wolves far out into the Hayden Valley.  A gathering of 15 people watched them too, including 3 young women from Connecticut.  Their father told me, "This was on my bucket list."  I let him view them through my spotting scope.  Saw lots of other goodies too.

Fishing was excellent, but after just 2 hours the winds came.  We were off the lake by 8:30am.  I'd caught 4 trout and a whitefish by then (no pics of them).

Three bull elk that posed for me.
(https://i.imgur.com/InOHfg4.jpg)

The biggest of them.  His rack is almost completely grown, but still in velvet.
(https://i.imgur.com/ITzevta.jpg)

Trumpeter Swans relaxing next to Yellowstone River.
(https://i.imgur.com/Kat1Fhy.jpg)

No pics of the wolves (far, far away from us), but this coyote walked alongside my car, then crossed in front of me when I slowed for road repairs.
(https://i.imgur.com/ikZkSxv.jpg)

Those antlers are getting bigger and bigger. Nice pics.

That's what happens when the young ladies start fooling around with your viewing scope.

Some Pinocchio fantasy??   :lol2:

Tuesday pm June 26th:


Went to simply see Old Faithful and get some ice cream.  BUT, 4 bears interrupted the trip: a Cinnamon Bear and its tiny cub (no pics), and a big Grizzly and her 3-year-old cub.  Plus other stuff.

Mama Grizzly and her big baby (from 100m)
(https://i.imgur.com/1Fj8AoS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cd24cg8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UqpD0w9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ArnOUNF.jpg)

Trumpeter Swan on the Firehole River
(https://i.imgur.com/ihj5vOE.jpg)

Old Faithful
(https://i.imgur.com/S7OnvQn.jpg)

Mountain Bluebird sitting on Old Faithful Inn
(https://i.imgur.com/swu1Ooh.jpg)

Wildflowers along the Firehole River
(https://i.imgur.com/mifM0Lw.jpg)

Pics of bears, birds and geysers; you can’t beat that.  :clap:

beautiful pictures #+

 #+ :clap: is all I can say. RTR!

Wednesday morning June 27th:

Beautiful morning at the lake.  I lost the first 4 trout I hooked (one broken line; one jumped and threw the hook; two pulled off), then I caught 7 straight.  But somehow the camera didn't work right; prolly wrong setting.  I'll fix it.  Got pics of one of them anyhow.

(https://i.imgur.com/hny8g10.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xTrDfd7.jpg)

Man they sure do look beautiful. You must be a very special fly caster. RTR!

Fish just like to bite (sometimes).  :lol2:

Thursday June 28th:

Fish were biting this morning, even though the sky was overcast and the breeze kept us moving to find fish.  I caught 12 (9 brown trout) and a big whitefish.  

Beautiful sunrise today:
(https://i.imgur.com/GZVAAXO.jpg)

Here are a few of the fish:

(https://i.imgur.com/pixNy6I.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Rf0oRB1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/D5CYSoc.jpg)

Beautiful sunset. Is that in the Big Sky country? RTR!

Chech, doesn't living the dream get old?  :lol2:

Nice fish. Beautiful sunrise. Glad you're having fun.

All's good.   :-*

Friday June 29th:

Rainy and nasty day in West Yellowstone, so I drove 70 miles to the Lamar Valley to enjoy a few hours of sunshine and see a few critters.  Ended up seeing several wolves and 7-8 bears.  No fishing all day.
 :'(

Here are the highlights:

I watched 3 black wolves from the Slough Creek Pack as they circled and worked a herd of bison.  Sometimes they manage to separate a calf, but not today.  Pics through my scope:
(https://i.imgur.com/neAtzNU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7xQXrlC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dHs0zrb.jpg)

Saw a Mama Grizzly and her 2 cubs.  She's obvious in this first pic, but her cubs are hidden in the sage.  Next pic shows them better (400 yards away):
(https://i.imgur.com/r4IBzPs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lPXr0Wg.jpg)

Visited the Golden Eagle nest again.  There are 2 chicks, but we only saw one last visit.  Here is one of the chicks, with its tail facing the camera and its head turned to the left.  It's now got primary (wing) feathers:
(https://i.imgur.com/wWvo73B.jpg)

Saw a big Black Bear up in an evergreen tree.  This was a BIG bear.  First pic shows it looking around.  Second pic shows it sticking out its tongue at 2.
(https://i.imgur.com/lHFiXT2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ncSuPsT.jpg)

Saturday June 30th:

Nice day on the lake.  The wind didn't really blow until about 1:30.  I caught 19 trout; best day this trip.  Woot.

(https://i.imgur.com/hj0BleB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ram8i8O.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jXbfRfg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/e9Iqptr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/O9JyRxz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CwCZiQT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/npzzc9P.jpg)

Well, I'm glad somebody caught some fish.  :clap:

It took us 30 days to figure them out.  :lol2:

Monday July 2nd:

On the way home I stopped at daybreak to take photos of the Tetons, and again to photograph these wildflowers along a Wyoming highway.

(https://i.imgur.com/ciPD69I.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Pl8pfSC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/b6C0Zi7.jpg)

All great pics.  Thanks Chech for sharing your trip with us.

Absolutely stunning, Chech. Sure gonna miss these pics, but glad you're home. BTW, only 59 days left til kickoff.  :dance:

WAIT!  Really?  That is less than 2 months.  I have so much to do before the season gets under way.  I mean, I haven't even picked out my game-day shirt or anything yet... (https://bullgatorslounge.com/images/smilies/panic.gif)

These are really great. I thank you so much for sharing your vacation with us. It made us feel almost as if we were there with you. RTR!

(https://bullgatorslounge.com/images/smilies/panic.gif)

 :lol: :lol: :lol: NALT, where did you find this emoji?

Lol, I stole it from a Florida Gator message board that I go too...  8)

Excellent! I e-creded you for that one.  :clap:

Chechem, do you have a bucket list?

Yes, of course.
Don't you?   :dunno:

 :o :o I thought we all had a bucket list. Honey do-this or Honey-do that. RTR!

yes, but, right now it is sidelined, literally!that is why I enjoy your pics so much

Very nice of you to say so.

I just enjoy fishing and exploring.  The pics are poor representations of what it's like.  You know what I mean; colors are more vivid, animals more wild; fragrances surround you.  The open range of the west is special.

You know when I think of the open range I think of the Indians riding side saddle firing arrows at the buffalo and sitting on top of the hills looking across the valley with pride. RTR!

Me too.  Those old western movies are still in my brain.  When on the prairie looking at wolves and seeing them disappear over a rise it reminded me that Indians used to hide like that.  "Dances with Wolves" has scenes like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aNqU4hrqfA

RENO, NEVADA:

LF and I flew out to Reno, Nevada to visit friends for a week.  Of course there was fishing, eating, and play.  We took side trips to the old Bonanza (TV show) region, including Virginia City, Carson City, and Gold Hill.  Also went to Lake Tahoe and Lake Almanor (California).  Great fun.  Enjoy the pics.

Reno is a beautiful old city, built along the Truckee River.  The Truckee originates at Lake Tahoe (~ 20 miles to the south).  Reno provides walking trails and parks along the river for recreation and pleasure.  Very nice.
(https://i.imgur.com/rDrPqTX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/j1H1Mwx.jpg)

Mountains surround Reno, with spectacular views of the area.  This is looking over Reno from the south.
(https://i.imgur.com/pU6z3Cf.jpg)

Virginia City is a few miles south of Reno.  It's history is extensive, mainly as a silver-mining region.  The silver died out, and the city died, long ago.  So the city is still there with wooden sidewalks and old buildings.  Its old opera house, old school, churches, restaurants, and jail are cool places to visit.
(http://thisisreno.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Virginia-City.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lg7nsgu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jy8l3fT.jpg)

(https://blog.nationallife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Bucket-of-Blood-Saloon-credit-Sydney-Martinez-Travel-Nevada-300x300.jpg)

Next day we were off to Lake Tahoe, just across the California line to the west of Reno.  WOW.  Huge pines surround it, and the water is beautifully blue.
(https://i.imgur.com/rIXXLdX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WJetckV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5AuD4bl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zcS9Pn9.jpg)

On the way to Tahoe we stopped for breakfast at Squaw Valley, where the USA hosted the Winter Olympics years ago.  Wow.  Here's a bronze statue dedicated to an early skiing mailman:
(https://i.imgur.com/zt3acMu.jpg)

(http://squawalpine.com/sites/default/files/media_village-exterior-summer.jpg)

(http://squawalpine.com/sites/default/files/media_pool-hot-tub-overview.jpg)

Reno (continued):

We stayed with old friends.  As mentioned in the Daily Thread, I'd sit each morning on his deck and watch the jackrabbits and California Quail in the yard.  Here's a pic of the deck area.  My buddy used to race cars, among other hobbies.  Here are some of his cars.
(https://i.imgur.com/pxoRb1A.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/q4OK6NQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jhBAuSM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3Qpc8CE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tDQTAJ5.jpg)

Sunrises and sunsets were spectacular around Reno, as were meals! 
(https://i.imgur.com/fOd3yNI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gIvT0jb.jpg)

One of our side trips was to Carson City (south of Reno).  That was the location of the Carson City Mint, where some of the most collectible silver dollars were minted during the 1800s.
(https://i.imgur.com/ts5qgF2.jpg)

We spent last weekend at Lake Almanor, where our friends have a camp.  Wow, beautiful lake, full of Western Grebes (pic).  We fished one day, but the smallmouth bass didn't cooperate much.  We caught a few, but not as many as I'd wished!  :lol2:
(http://www.visitcalifornia.com/sites/default/files/styles/welcome_image/public/VC_HiddenGems_LakeAlmanor_VCA_STILLS_ALMANOR_01_1280x640.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BNnONT6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FYns9L4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xtSiyZG.jpg?1)

(https://i.imgur.com/qw1qPOf.jpg)

We spent the remaining days driving the mountain roads around Reno and enjoying the history.  One cool pacle was the First Saloon in Genoa, Nevada.  There was a pony-express station and stagecoach station there too during the 1800s.  The bar has been well known to celebrities for decades, having been visited by Willie Nelson, Lauren Bacall, Cliff Robertson, Ron Howard, etc.  The walls are covered by wildlife mounts and collectibles.  My favorite story was that Raquel Welch visited and left her leopard-skin bra hanging on the antlers of a mule deer.  It's still there, covered in dust now (pic; at left).
(https://i.imgur.com/nv5LRS7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tUd0B0J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3H2LmMP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZB8pfp8.jpg)

Mostly we just drove the back roads, enjoyed the scenes, and stopped for occasional refreshments.  Great location for a visit.  And did I say the sunsets were spectacular?
(https://i.imgur.com/wvRSTwU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4ofiKuC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JIsteUu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G8zKUbq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/y0UBIPM.jpg)

Gosh oh so beautiful. Those historic places are always precious to me. RTR!

Fantastic pics, Chech! I e-credded ya!  #+

Just got a chance to look back at all your pics, AWESOME!!!!!!

 #+

August 24th:

Imgur kept putting me in a loop, and I'd end up with a wall of animated trophy animals with eyes moving back and forth.  I kept trying options, and finally got it to work.

Here are some Rainbow Trout from Hebgen Lake that I caught yesterday.  Notice the smoke in the background.

(https://i.imgur.com/End40I3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/j19GO2Q.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3EUc3uj.jpg)

Two big Brown Trout caught this week (for comparison):

(https://i.imgur.com/hdRFLGK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ySDe0mG.jpg)

 beautiful pictures thanks for sharing

Thanks 57.

My phone screen is crushed, but I hooked up a cable and downloaded the photos I took before it was crushed.  Here are some:

Wolves.  There were 9 of them total (6 black; 3 gray), and 3/4 mile away.  These pics aren't good, but best I could get from that far.  They were just playing like dogs.  Was in Lamar Valley of YNP:

(https://i.imgur.com/7urIt8N.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fXV7Qvy.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fVsRqnM.jpg)

Bison surrounded me for a while:

(https://i.imgur.com/Hu3N1eI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PGJY7Id.jpg)

Great stuff, Chech!  #+

How far away are the fires?

1. Have you considered getting a zoom lens for your cell phone?  I just got one for Bamarae (she hasn't tried it yet).

2. On Jeopardy yesterday, one question was what type of fish does one usually catch on the Yellowstone River using a fly rod.  One contestant said, "salmon."  (Why aren't you posting photos of all the salmon you've been catching?)   :lol2:

Wow these are great as always. RTR!

1.  The wolves were 3/4 mile from me.  The pics were through a spotting scope.  AND, below is a pic of my cell phone.
(https://i.imgur.com/L1XneUm.jpg)

2.   :lol2: :lol2:  My salmon all look like Yellowstone Cutthroats.

Caught 8 trout today, mostly Rainbows.  It was 33 degrees when I got to the lake at daybreak.

Here is the best one of the Rainbows.  That's HORSE BUTTE in the background.

(https://i.imgur.com/IM7pBKC.jpg)

Great pics Chech...Thanks for sharing again...

Nice catch but the beauty of the trout are fantastic. RTR!

Thanks for the pics, Chech. Man, your cell phone looks like it was run over by a steam roller.

Or stepped on by a moose...

 :lol2:

Went looking for wolves this morning.  Found some MUCH closer (1/4 mile).  We watched 2 of them (Junction Pack) for 3 hours.

(https://i.imgur.com/7qY0tNz.jpg)
Howling!

(https://i.imgur.com/NEeeGqS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jFIt2Wn.jpg)

More pics from today:

(https://i.imgur.com/vBxE435.jpg)
Steller's Jay

(https://i.imgur.com/xbEbca9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qtjGmcH.jpg)
Pronghorns

Beautiful!  :clap:

Nice photos.   #+

Man that is beautiful. RTR!

Thanks, keep them coming #+

Windy and rainy today (Monday), so I went to watch wolves again.  It was snowing when I reached high elevation at Dunraven Pass, and covered the road.  It snowed so hard I used low beams in the darkness, and I drove 25mph.  Got to Lamar Valley before daylight anyhow.  It rained, so I sat in the car with my spotting scope mounted on my car window.

Saw a total of 8 wolves in a pack.  They were just relaxing, milling around, and visiting with a bit of play.  I took pics, but they're still in the camera (long-distance shots; not exciting).

On the return I saw an elk bull.  Got his pic:

(https://i.imgur.com/mpKccqb.jpg)

Nice! Hard to believe you ran into snow in August. Pretty cool (no pun intended).

Here are the wolves seen yesterday morning in Lamar Valley (1/2 mile away).  Only one is gray (far left); others are mottled black.  

The previous day they attacked some bison, but were unable to kill any (the bison protect each other).  This day they just sat around and waited.  Six of the 8 adults are in this pic (right-most one is lying down).

(https://i.imgur.com/OvWfwXO.jpg)

Looks like the pacle is full of wolves.

Are there a lot of coyotes around with all the wolves there Chechem? RTR!

Did Chech decide to move permanently while I was away?  I hope he's got a good spot to watch some elephants on Saturday.

He bought Yellowstone.

LOL.
Yes, there are coyotes.  One of the fallacies is that coyotes and wolves can't co-exist.  I watched a coyote walk within 100 yards of 2 wolves last week.  Not that wolves tolerate coyotes, and they'd kill them when they can, but the 2 species live within the same habitats.  They eat different foods in general (coyotes eat mostly small critters; wolves biggies).  Both scavenge.

Fishing was excellent today.  I caught 13 trout (3 browns and 10 rainbows), plus 2 whitefish.  It was cold and breezy, but that's okay for trout.  At least the rain extinguished the wildfires.

(https://i.imgur.com/jFah8WS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wo54vKD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YC85fml.jpg)

Man your western visit has been a learning experience for me Chechem, thanks. Those fish are really nice I bet it's a dream come true when they fight on a good rod and you land them. Thanks for the pics. RTR!

 :worship:

 did you take any pictures of the snow #+

No, but here is one someone else took this week:

(https://www.sott.net/image/s24/485538/full/wildflower_122.jpg)

Fishing today (Wednesday) wasn't as good as yesterday, but I still caught a few biggies.  Here are some.  Check out the fog!!  It was 29 degrees.

(https://i.imgur.com/xLqVdJK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/B31IViV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fymowXN.jpg)

 beautiful pictures ain't that something so muggy and hot here snow on the mountains out west

Pretty awesome pic of the snow. Even up there, I would think snow is not very common in August. Also glad to see you still have your fishing touch.

My fishing touch is fine.  My phone no longer recognizes me ("DISABLED").  Now I have something to encourage and entice me home besides LF.
 :unsure:

Fog on the water in the early morning is awesome.  I used to canoe Lake Nicole and Lake Harris in Tuscaloosa very early in the morning before the sun came up.  There usually was fog in the fall and winter months that early.

 #+ e-cred to you my brother. Lord, that snow is beautiful being somewhere else. Great job as always Chechem. RTR!

I wish I could break mine like that.  :lol2:

:lol:

Thursday fishing at Hebgen Lake.

Much better today than yesterday.  The trout were at the surface gulping insects, so I caught a bunch.

(https://i.imgur.com/x7X3zpb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cvpJNXx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/H1RYWb1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LmfO90p.jpg)

Nice haul, Chech. Now if we can round up Cardinals like that on Saturday night..........  :clap:

Beautiful pictures! Does a  game warden ever check y'alls license?

Not yet.  But I've only been fishing there 8 years.
 :dunno:

They don't wanna mess with anyone who can catch that much fish.  :unsure:

They probably think he is doing some scientific research so they leave him alone...

Great pics Chech...

Another good day (Friday).  I caught 14 trout, mostly big Rainbows (3 Browns).  Overcast all day and cold.  Brrr!

(https://i.imgur.com/zhutPfO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iyLa6ox.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Nq6PS51.jpg)
Male (see the big jaw?).

Hey Chechem what is that bottom pic fish trying to say? I can't hardly read his lips. RTR!

He's saying, "Tua, Tua, Tua.....!"

Not as good today (Saturday), plus I wanted to get home early.  Caught 3 Rainbows and a big Whitefish.

(https://i.imgur.com/p4Mvq0h.jpg)

Not a lost cause, Chech. You're fixing to cash in on a Bama win!  8)

TUA, TUA, TUA?  :lol: :lol: :lol:, RTR!

Sunday Sept 2 fishing:

Was another beautiful day, so of course the trout weren't cooperating.  But it was a great day to be on the water, and I watched Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, and an Osprey.  Plus the usual White Pelicans were there.  Caught just 5 trout, 4 rainbows and a brown:

(https://i.imgur.com/9TJhRDL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EhIBPYK.jpg)

Well those are beautiful. I have to believe the art of fishing is a lot of fun. RTR!

Well, your streak of catching fish every day is still intact.  :worship:

Better fishing today at the lake (Monday), despite several idiotic water skiiers.   >:(

I caught 7 trout, all over a pound and several much bigger.  One was very spotted, a leopard-rainbow trout (called Eagle Lake Trout).

(https://i.imgur.com/UBfMUua.jpg)
leopard rainbow

(https://i.imgur.com/MeEoRuR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lWse6ke.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/na2MEvz.jpg)

Well done Chechem. Thanks also for sharing that is a lot of fun too. RTR!

Good job, Chech. Safe travels back home, buddy.

I've got 3 more days of fishing first.   :-*

Well catch them alll and hurry back safely. RTR!

Tuesday Sept 4th was a very good day for both fishing and catching.  The mayflies hatched just before noon, and the trout went nuts.  I caught 8 in 45 minutes, almost all biggies.  And the weather was gorgeous; cool and blue skies.  Here are some of the best trout, including one happy, smiling rainbow.

(https://i.imgur.com/JGkNn3P.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tiUy9vY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jvJ9MHF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RkGArMq.jpg)

Wow, those are some beautiful fish Chech.  Makes me want to have fish for dinner...

Absolutely stunning Chechem. Thanks so much for sharing. RTR!

I'm fairly certain Chech took 500 pictures of 3 fish he caught his first day there and has been back in Mississippi for 2 months.

 :lol:

Well, indeed.  You caught me; just caught 3 total fish, and I've been photoshopping them ever since.

Today I caught photoshopped 15 trout, all big.  13 of them were Rainbows and 2 Browns.  Just a great day of snapping fish.

(https://i.imgur.com/nzed1mI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0Mj9DAu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kbqKhXR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5z80EnE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/60entMr.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FtESIOT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5IKNAPm.jpg)

Congrats Chech. Another nice haul. You heading back today?

Friday

Going to catch a Cornhusker game?

Beautiful fish thanks for sharing the pictures

Catching cornhuskers is a little bit early. corn not ready yet. Lordy my back is killing me this morning. RTR!

Those are some beauts, Chech.

No.  In fact, they wanted to charge me $350 for a night in Lincoln where I stayed last month for $89 (Holiday Inn).

I'm driving through Denver and I-70 instead.  Bastids.

Went into the park this morning.  Caught some great images.

(https://i.imgur.com/4nSGVvl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YPjF5d8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kcCfveE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/38DRqXm.jpg)

Man those Elk are beautiful. God really made some great animals. RTR!

Fantastic pics, Chech. Just beautiful.

I went fishing this afternoon (Thursday 9-6), and caught a few more big trout.  I said 'goodbye' to them until next summer.  Was great fun.

Travel tomorrow.  Thanks for the kind words, guys.   :wave:

Really great pics Chech.  Once again, thanks for sharing your fishing trip with us.  Safe traveling going home...

(https://i.gifer.com/1EPr.gif)

Not that they're happy you're leaving or anything.

Safe traveling!

Great pics as always Chech, hopefully there will be some plans for Mrs. J and myself to go out west in our future plans, we have talked about it some. By the way Chech, we are coming to the Ole Miss game and hopefully we can hook up with you while we are there. We are staying in Tupelo that night due to the time of the game and Charles and Shirley are coming along as well.

Glad I can't make it. I was bad luck last time I was there.  :lol2:

Here are some more pics that I took the last day in the park.  Enjoy!

(https://i.imgur.com/eLAa2eD.jpg)
That's my car at right.  This bull elk wanted to go see Mississippi!

(https://i.imgur.com/QCZ7VeD.jpg)
Posing.

(https://i.imgur.com/vjC4rnR.jpg)
Hey, girls, come on; I was just kidding.  My Hawaiian name is Tua!!

(https://i.imgur.com/HC7KT8S.jpg)
Bison bulls getting the last of the summer grass.

(https://i.imgur.com/Q1vbXPE.jpg)
Old Faithful erupting at sunrise.

(https://i.imgur.com/i2PPLT7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/o0H7L9V.jpg)
White-dome Geyser

Wow! The geysers are really beautiful. Thanks Chechem. RTR!

Again, awesome pics, Chech! Didn't know you went to see Old Faithful.

I was looking for bears/elk/wolves, and the geysers got in the way.   :dunno:

Found another pic of that Bull Elk in the Madison River (taken the last day):

(https://i.imgur.com/JqVNSi0.jpg)

Wow, if you ever get tired of fishing you may want to take up being a nature photographer...

Thanks, NALT.  I tried that; didn't sell.

Here is the final one.  It's a rainbow over a Kansas corn field, taken yesterday along I-70 near Salina.

(https://i.imgur.com/Lt8rUo0.jpg)

I agree with NALT. The one of the bull elk and this one with the rainbow is really good photography.

When I went to Yellowstone, we visited the upper and lower geyser basins but skipped the midway basin (ran out of time).  Folks later told me that was the one to see.   :unsure:

#+

Man that is a beautiful rainbow. I have always had a feeling what was at the end of the rainbow and I know it's not gold because I am not that lucky. RTR!

There's only one special feature at Midway: "Grand Prismatic".  It's beautiful, but better if you're a bird.  From ground level it's cool, but the best view is from above.

(https://www.yellowstonepark.com/.image/t_share/MTQ3MzIwMDY4ODAzOTI5NTUw/ys-grand-prismatic-boardwalk_ordelheide_680.jpg)

Wow!

Still pretty awesome.  Thanks!   :clap:

That is so beautiful. God's wonders are amazing. RTR!