Did you know that at the beginning of June, it was Black Bear Day? Yep, June 3rd was National Black Bear Day. And today is National Photograph Nature Day. So I thought why not tie the two together?
I suppose we could have done a second post for June 3rd that was just about black bears. We did see one on a recent trip. I just couldn’t have black bears be the theme of the day since June 3rd was also the final Ember Days of Pentecost (Summer). You know me by now, faith comes first.
I’ve actually been waiting for National Photograph Nature Day to tell you all about our recent adventures. We have heard for years that the best time to view the animals in Yellowstone is in the spring. That makes sense, the bison calves are young, the bears are emerging with their cubs, and the animals in general are out and about. The crowds that you would encounter in the summer aren’t there yet. It’s not to say you have the park to yourselves. And you will run into crowds at the more popular spots such as Canyon Village and Old Faithful. However; walking the trails is less crowded.
There are drawbacks to a spring visit. Not all the roads are open. This can create longer driving trips to get from point A to point B, if you can get there at all. Some places are snowbound with no access. It’s harder to find services that are open, so eating in the park requires standing in line and hunting for open tables. You’ll also need to dress in lots and lots of layers. The winds are cold, while the thermal features are hot and humid.
A spring experience is one we are glad we made. It’s not one we are likely to repeat. We plan to make our next Yellowstone encounter sometime the fall. And that’s way off into the future. For now, I hope you enjoy these snap shots.
Day 1: Madison Junction Area to the East Gate
Day 2: Hayden Valley, Fountain Paint Pots, Gibson River, Midway and Upper Basin
Day 3: Wild Life outside the East Gate and West Thumb Thermal Features
Day 4: Exploring Lamar Valley and outside Mammoth
Day 5: More Wild Life at the East Gate, Sylvan Pass, Norris Basin and Mud Volcano
Day 6: One last look at the Madison Junction Bison Herd
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. – Mark 10:45
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