We decided to take an impromptu trip to Island Park this weekend, our last of the year. The boys LOVE Yellowstone Park and we have been told this is the best time of the year to see animals and maybe even hear the elk bugle. Hmmm.
The day started out beautiful, a few clouds, not hot, the perfect fall day. We headed towards Mammoth and were excitedly looking for animals. We saw a few bison off in the distance, way off in the distance, and finally about half way there we come upon a big ol' bison in the road. He was right in our path. It passed within just a couple feet of the van. The boys were excited (Sam was a little terrified) and we continued on our way.
We finally arrived in Mammoth (with no further animal encounters) and just as we pull into a parking spot so we could go explore along the boardwalk...it starts to sprinkle. It looks like it may pass so we pull out our lunch and eat in the van. We finish up lunch just as the rain stops and Alex decides he has to go to the bathroom now. After searching out a restroom we are finally ready to explore. About 200 feet up the boardwalk we stop for this picture and it starts to sprinkle again.
But we are not to be deterred anymore. We continue on. The rain gets harder. We keep going. The rain gets harder. Soon we are sprinting for the van as the thunder and lighting are crashing around us, the rain is coming in torrents and then turns to hail just as we reach cover. That pretty much ended our day. On the way out we passed a few more distant bison and one more right in our path. (This one passed three feet from my window but I had it safely rolled up and didn't get a better picture. It was a little intimidating when he was close enough I could have reached out to touch him and he turns to look us in the eye!)
We saw a couple of cow elk and that was it. Not our best Yellowstone trip ever, but we still had fun. Sam was hilarious. He was so concerned the whole time about whether we were safe. He was terrified that if he got out of the van the animals (which were no where in sight) might charge us and then he was scared of being struck by lightning. Maybe we will have better luck next time!
3 comments:
Sorry to hear about the rain...and it isn't like az where you are warm in the rain!
I love those pics of the bison! Very funny!
you have such a cute family!
Yeah, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with whomever told you now was the best time. Mid-May ROCKS. Every time we have gone (the week before Memorial Day), the entire park is loaded with hundreds and HUNDREDS of animals, mostly bison and mule deer. But we have also seen coyote, one bear, swans, and a fox. And the best part is all the little baby animals everywhere! In fact, by the time we leave, we're bored of all the bison :) Wouldn't it be fun to go together sometime???
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