The town square in Jackson (for what it's worth, the town is Jackson and Jackson Hole is the surrounding region leading up to the Tetons), has entrances adorned with elk antler arches. Every year the Boy Scouts go to the elk refuge and collect antlers. The story of the elk is both interesting and contentious. They should just pass through but growth of the town has blocked migration routes, and a bad winter many years ago trapped them in the valley. So many died it was said you couldn't walk without stepping on them. Originally, a privately funded rescue was created and the elk were fed in the area. Now it is a National Refuge and they are fed there every winter. It is a mixed blessing...and one which has detractors on both sides. An unnatural state of affairs but a great tourist opportunity.
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Not photoshopped or edited. We had great opportunities for colorful photos and skies. This was from a location where Ansel Adams took his iconic photos of the Tetons. Some fellow had a drone there. Didn't bother me, but I know some people hate them. He got great pictures. Technology can improve perspective, too.
As we hiked back from Clear Lake, I spotted this fellow hunting. He caught a few things and ate them. Chipmunks or mice? No idea. Fun to watch him stalk and crawl, then pounce. Don't get to see that often. Eventually I had to make noise so he'd move off the path. He wanted nothing to do with us. Passed a family of 4 with young kids and warned them to be alert and keep an eye out. Not that he's interested in them, but a wandering child, you never know.
At one point in the late 1800s fewer than 1k bison were left. Today there are more than 360k. Most are not wild (there is a farm on Long Island!). I haven't gotten clear numbers of remaining wild bison but 15k seems to be the agreed level. 5k seems to be the amount Yellowstone has. A ranger told me that due to the minerals in the geothermal areas, the bison in Yellowstone have a lifespan 5 years lower than most other US areas (why doesn't the government move them? sorry...my political sarcasm showing). They love Yellowstone due to the geothermal pools, though. Food aplenty, keeps them warm, etc. Bison are not easily domesticated. They also don't like to be contained, they can leap up to 6 feet so fences often don't matter.
One of the smaller pools at the Grand Prismatic Pool. The water all flows out to the Firehole River...lots of steam where it pours in. More when it's really cold. You need to stay on the wooden walkways. The ground may not be stable and some people have broken through the ground and been badly burned. The thing which bothers me most? Candy wrappers, cigarette butts and coins tossed in. Who does that? Coins change the mineral constitution of the springs and several have been damaged badly due to this. One stopped erupting as it became blocked. But trash? I am not at all understanding how or why people do that.
Mrs. Bulldog is a trooper. This is the final trek to Inspiration Point in the Tetons. 7200 feet. The next day we got to 7360, but it was getting late and we had to turn around.
Was following a moose on the Madison River in Yellowstone and suddenly this guy swooped in for a rest...
The view out my plane window as we passed over the fires northeast of Denver. Eerie.
