BISON AND HIGHWAY 191 - YELLOWSTONE

THIS BIG FELLOW MADE IT SAFELY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY

BISON GRAZING ALONG HIGHWAY 191 OUTSIDE WEST YELLOWSTONE

LOOKING FOR GREEN GRASS BESIDE THE HIGHWAY

Not much posting on this page.  Just thought you would enjoy seeing a few more pictures of the bison grazing beside Highway 191 outside West Yellowstone. The bison are most likely on their annual migration to the Horse Butte area where the grazing is easier this time of year.

I often, at this time of year, drive out Highway 191 just to see how many bison are roaming around.  I also always hope I get the opportunity to see a new baby bison.

Come on out - we would love to share this experience with you!

BOZEMAN TO WEST YELLOWSTONE

MOOSE IN GALLATIN CANYON

I have told you many, many times in this blog that you just never know what amazing things you may see when you travel the roads here.  The road from West Yellowstone to Bozeman (100 miles away and the closest Wal-Mart) takes you on a beautiful drive through the Gallatin Canyon.

Traveling this road is always an adventure.  You may see the mountain goats in the middle of the road around Big Sky.  You may see a bear foraging for food in the meadow.  On the way home last Wednesday we spotted these two moose in the willows along side the road.

The photo is a little blurry because I did not have my good camera with me.  (That is a mistake that will not happen again anytime soon!)  I took this photo with my iPhone so it is not the best quality but it sure beats not getting a picture at all!

Moose are very elusive and solitary creatures and you do not get the opportunity to see them very often.  However, since the National Park is recovering from the Fires of '88 those who are in the know are saying that they moose are slowly returning to the Park now that their habitat is coming back.

Keep the camera handy.  You sure do not want to miss a photo op!

TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 191 WEST YELLOWSTONE

HIGHWAY 191 OUTSIDE WEST YELLOWSTONE

Coming home from Bozeman last week we were less than 8 miles from home when we encountered this big fellow crossing the highway.  It is extremely important at this time of year to be extra careful if you are traveling this stretch of the highway - especially at night.

This is the time of year when the bison - some loners and some in herds - are migrating from the deep snow of Yellowstone to the Horse Butte area in search of food that is easier to get to.

Some of the meadows in the National Park are still covered in deep, deep snow.  The Horse Butte area and even the shoulder of the highway offer them easy picking as far as being able to find food.

Unfortunately, the bison do not understand that there is traffic on this major highway.  All they know is that they are hungry and they know they have traditionally found food on the Butte and along the road.

Please, when you come here to visit, remember that they are the residents and YOU are the visitor.  If you get frustrated because you have to give them room on the road just try to relax - get the camera out - and enjoy the site you are seeing.  

After all, it is not on every major highway you can be brought to a stop while bison amble across the road in front of you!

YELLOWSTONE BISON ON HORSE BUTTE

THE 2014 BABY BISON ARE ARRIVING ON HORSE BUTTE
(Photo courtesy of Ed and Vicky Millspaugh residents of Horse Butte)

Had a message from Vicky - one of the girls I work with at the Chamber - she and her family live on Horse Butte which is about 6 or 7 miles north of West Yellowstone.

Horse Butte is one of the locations where the Yellowstone Bison migrate to during this time of the year.  Traditionally, many of the baby bison are born at this location.

The residents of Horse Butte are usually among the first ones to see the babies in the spring.  As you can easily see from the picture, the baby bison are orange in color.  That makes them really easy to spot when they are in the herd.

The official arrival of the babies signify that Spring has not forgotten our area of the country.  

You will be amazed at how much these little ones will grow over the summer.  They need to eat all the can and grow as big as they can in order for them to survive next winter.

DOWN COMES THE SKATING RINK

ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE ICE SKATING RINK IN WEST YELLOWSTONE

The photos above show all that remains at this point of the ice skating rink at Pioneer Park in West Yellowstone, Montana.  Fear not - come the winter time it will be put back in place.

For now Pioneer Park is returning to it's summer look.  The park gets a lot of use during all seasons of the year.  This summer it will be the location of the Annual Show and Shine when the Rod Run comes to town.

It will be the site of picnics, baseball games, soccer games and family gatherings all thru the summer months. It will also be the place where Music In The Park will be held.

This was the site of the Kids 'N Snow activities last winter as well as the place where the sledding hill was built.

On the 4th of July it will host Bar-B-Ques after the annual parade and it will be the spot where a lot of folks will congregate to watch the spectacular fireworks display.

Hope you will be in town sometime this summer to enjoy our city park.

YELLOWSTONE MOUNTAIN TOP SNOW

MOUNTAINS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK STILL HAVE PLENTY OF SNOW

Last Sunday, after Easter Sunrise Service, Church, lunch and a nap, we decided to make our first trip of the season in to Old Faithful.

I was a little surprised at how much snow has melted already in the Park.  There are places where you have open meadows that are clear of any snow.  The grass is beginning to green up and the bison in the Park are really enjoying all that young grass.

We had hoped to catch a glimpse of the grizzly that has been hanging out around Seven Mile Bridge but it must have been his/her nap time too!  We did not see hide or hair of him.

However, the trip was still great.  The water in the rivers is beginning to show signs of the snow melt.  They are not as clear as they usually are.  But - as I said - any trip into Yellowstone is amazing.

Come on out this year and see for yourself.

YOU DO THE LOOKIN' WE'LL DO THE COOKIN'

FREE FOOD AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON APRIL 19, 2014

If you plans for the upcoming weekend include a trip into Yellowstone National Park then we have good news for you.

Spend your day enjoying the Park and viewing the animals, geysers and hot pools.  Then, after a long and exciting day in your National Park, come to First Baptist Church for a free meal.

This is the fourth year the Church has had the "YOU DO THE LOOKIN' AND WE'LL DO THE COOKIN'" affair.  The menu this year is hamburgers and cheeseburgers and hot dogs cooked fresh from the grill, baked beans, coleslaw and those famous homemade deserts along with coffee, iced tea, water and lemonade.

This has become a tradition for the Church to sponsor this event on the Saturday after the opening day of the Park in Spring.

We do it to give the locals a good start on the Summer Season, to welcome the returning seasonal workers back to town and to provide a little something special for the Park visitors.

If you are in town - we are serving from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Come on by.

IT IS "SPRINGTER" IN WEST YELLOWSTONE

FINALLY - BARE GROUND!

We have a "new" season here in Yellowstone.  It is the weeks between the time winter gives up and Spring arrives.  It is known by the locals as "Springter".  The weather is really unpredictable during this season.  For instance - yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and today we have a mixture of rain and snow.

Today was the opening day for the Park and signals the beginning of the summer season.

We still have mounds of snow piled around town but the rain we are getting today will help get rid of it quickly.

Finally - and at last - we can walk on bare ground from our back porch to the satellite dish to clean it off.  Springster is definitely here!

YELLOWSTONE IS OPEN FOR THE SUMMER HOORAY!!!!!

HANDING OUT MUFFINS TO THOSE WAITING IN LINE

THE LINE UP ON OPENING DAY AT YELLOWSTONE

At 8:00 a.m. this morning Yellowstone National Park officially opened signaling the beginning of the Summer Season.  To top it off - today and tomorrow are "Free Days".  No fee to get into the Park.

A couple of us "locals" went to the gate at 7:30 a.m. and started down the line welcoming everyone to the opening and offering them fresh baked muffins to enjoy while they waited in line.

This is the second year we have done this.  Hopefully it will become a tradition.  Jan Stoddard, a local resident and amazing marketing person, came up with the idea and allowed me to help her with it.

It was beautiful here yesterday and this morning - it was raining.  That did not stop us.  We just got out the rain gear and the umbrella and down the line of cars we went.

TAXES DONE?????

HOPE I MAKE IT ON TIME!!!

Are your taxes done and ready to be mailed?  Mine are but since I owe the good old U. S. Government more money I will wait until the last minute to mail them!  In that respect, I think I am like the majority of Americans.  If you have a refund coming - you file as soon as you can.  If you owe them money - you put it off until the very last minute!

I have often thought I would look at my budget and see where I can make some cuts.  I did that and discovered that the ONLY place I can cut is my Federal Taxes.

I wonder what the I.RS. would do if I sent them a letter telling them that I am sorry but I am going to have to cut them out of my budget next year!

YELLOWSTONE SPRING

WHERE OH WHERE ARE YOU SPRING?

I am seriously beginning to wonder if Spring has enough courage to show up in West Yellowstone!  The temperature this morning was 2 degrees - that's right - 2 degrees.

The snow is slowly melting.  It is complete gone from the roof of our house but when you drive around town you see massive piles of the white stuff piled up from parking lots having been cleaned.

However - night before last when I looked out the living room window I realized once again just why we stay here and put up with winter and the -50 degree temperatures. 

We had a big bright moon and it was shining off the snow.  It was absolutely beautiful.

Every season of the year has it's own special attraction here.  There is no doubt that the scenery changes with every season and you just never what wonders Mother Nature will provide for your enjoyment.

WEST YELLOWSTONE - A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAMPING EXPERIENCE

PHOTO BORROWED FROM KIRKWOOD RESORT BROCHURE

You can camp in a tent -  you can camp in a motorhome - you can camp in a teepee - you can camp in a cabin - you can camp out under the stars.  If you are looking for a different camping experience - then you need to contact Kirkwood Resort and Marina located on Hebgen Lake about 8 to 10 miles north of West Yellowstone.

They have a Custom Cottage. This unit floats on Hebgen Lake during the open water season and then is placed on skids and moved out onto the lake ice during the winter.

It has 3 bunks plus the dinette bed and can sleep up to five people.  It has a stove top and microwave, toaster, coffeepot and crockpot inside and there is room on the deck for a cooler to store cold food.  It has a dry toilet inside which is serviced by the Kirkwood employees every morning.  There is also an underwater camera and a large flatscreen so you can look through the holes in the floor and take a look around the area where you are fishing.

If you want more information on the Kirkwood Custom Cottage you can check out the Kirkwood Resort and Marina website or you can check out Custom Cottages

website for more information on these unique camping alternatives.

 

THE "NOT SO PRETTY" SIDE OF SNOW

THE SNOW BANK BEHIND THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE

I think we all agree that snow can be amazingly beautiful.  For most of the winter, West Yellowstone is covered in a beautiful blanket of white.

However - with the approach of Spring and the melting snow - you begin to see the "not so pretty" side of the snow.

The ground around here has a lot of obsidian sand in it.  That sand is fine and it is black.  When the crews begin to clear the streets and parking lots - then the black sand shows up.  

Pictured above is the back parking lot at one of the local grocery stores.  As you can see - there is quite a large snow bank which resulted from the snow removal in their parking lot.

As you can also see - it is not the pretty white blanket of snow - 

With the warmer days coming - this will all be melted and gone before you know it.

SPRING MAY FINALLY BE COMING TO WEST YELLOWSTONE

SNOW HANGING FROM THE EAVES

THE LAST OF THE SNOW HANGING ON

A few days ago I posted some pictures of the icicles hanging from the eaves on our back porch.  Well - it looks like Spring may finally decided to pay a visit to West Yellowstone. As you can see by the pictures - the icicles are now long gone.

The photos above show what is left of the snow hanging over the eaves on the back porch.  This is the place where the icicles were just a few days ago.

The weather here has stayed fairly warm - today got up to 52 degrees!  It does not take that long for all the snow to go once it stops dropping below freezing at night.

The berm in front of the house next to the road is still so high that you cannot see the cars when the pass by the house but - in time - that too will be gone.

As much as we welcome the thought of spring and warmer days - it is still a little sad to see the snow leave.

We know that summer will bring lots of visitors to our town on their way to see the beauty and magnificence of Yellowstone National Park.  We sincerely hope you will be among those that we are blessed to welcome to our little piece of paradise.

THE SNOW HANGS IN THERE

This tree is in my front yard.  I happened to look up yesterday and saw the snow hanging precariously in the top of the tree.

Look at that gorgeous blue sky and the beautiful white cloud.  You never know what site may await you just outside your front door when you live in West Yellowstone.

This will hang there for a little longer and then it will be gone along with all the rest of the remaining snow in town.

You certainly do not want to leave your house without your camera.  Just as sure as you do - you will miss the opportunity for an awesome picture.

WHY NOT MORE WIND FARMS?

WINDMILLS OUTSIDE SPRINGVILLE UTAH

This is one sight I am always happy to see when I am making the trip from West Yellowstone to Colorado to see family.  When I see these windmills I know that I am through Salt Lake City and that Moab, Utah will be my next stop.

On the return trip, they signify the fact that the Cracker Barrel is just ahead and you can get fortified for the trip through Salt Lake City!

Someone has been smart enough to realize that a wind farm in this particular location was a really good idea.  I often wonder why there are not more of these wind farms in this country.

The way the wind blows in Wyoming and Colorado I am surprised that those two states are not covered with wind farms.

I do not know why we do not use alternative energy sources like wind farms.

COMING HOME

AMAZING CLOUDS OUTSIDE SPANISH FORK, UTAH

Last week we made a trip to Colorado to see our granddaughter and her family and to spend some time with the great grands.  It is a 12 hour trip from West Yellowstone and it takes you through Salt Lake City.  If only I could figure out how to bypass SLC the trip would be very relaxing.  I just cannot get over the traffic in that city.  So glad I do not have to fight it every day.

At any rate - we were almost back to Spanish Fork and Springville, Utah on our way home when I saw this amazing site.  The cloud was just handing there begging for someone to take this photo - so I obliged it.

Roads were clear and the trip was good - just long.  However, I know that the Cracker Barrel awaits me in  Springville!

ICE AND SNOW

ICICLES HANGING FROM THE ROOF ON THE BACK PORCH

ICICLES HANGING FROM THE FRONT PORCH

Yes we do have icicles.  They can get absolutely huge.  I went out this morning to try and get a better picture of the ones on the back porch but they have all broken off.  A sure indication that things are beginning to thaw out here finally.

We have to remind ourselves to stop whining about the snow and the fact that it is April and winter is still here with us.  We have to take time out to see the beauty that we are presented with.

As I have told you before, each season of the year here in West Yellowstone brings it's own beauty.

Wait until the wild flowers begin to bloom.  And then in the fall we have the golden Aspen trees.

Mixed in among all this you find the native wildlife.  Bison are moving to Horse Butte where many of the baby bison will be born.

                  

CHECK OUT COPPER ROOSTER, BEEVILLE, TEXAS

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR A SPECIAL YOUNG LADY

What you are seeing in this photo above is the gift we gave our granddaughter for her 25th birthday.  It is a photo of her on her first barrel horse running the barrels at the local Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo.

A lady in Beeville, Texas has a business called the Copper Rooster.  She repurposes vintage furniture in a variety of ways.  She is an excellent artist and, as her motto says, "can paint almost anything on almost anything."

What you see above is one of her photo enhanced pieces of furniture.  She found the antique dresser - I sent her the picture which she had enlarged - and she then decoupaged it onto the dresser drawers.  I am only sorry that the picture does not truly do her work justice.  To see this dresser in person is a jaw dropping experience.  

You can go her website and look at lots of her other pieces.  She does fabulous work and - above and beyond that - she is a tremendous person.

Check out her site or find Copper Rooster on Facebook.  Do yourself a favor and check it out.  You will be impressed.

In case you wonder how this started - here is the "Before" picture of the dresser side by side with the amazing "After".

AFTER

BEFORE

HOW DO THEY CLEAR THE SNOW OFF THE ROADS IN YELLOWSTONE?

YELLOWSTONE ROADS IN WINTER

So - the Park is closed until April 18 in order for the road crews to remove the snow from the roads in the Park.  This is in preparation for re-opening the park to wheeled traffic for the summer season.

How, you may well ask, do they do this?  Well if you will click on the link above you can gt a first hand look at how this task is accomplished.

As you can easily tell - if you watched the video - this is not an easy job and is not accomplished in a matter of a few days.

Hats off to those who are willing to take on this task.

WHY ARE THE BISON MOVING OUT OF YELLOWSTONE?

YELLOWSTONE BISON MOVE THROUGH THE SNOW

There have been reports that the fact that the bison are moving out of Yellowstone is yet another indication that the Supervolcano is getting ready to blow.

According to Yellowstone National Park spokesman Al Nash this is not the case.  In fact he has posted  a video on You Tube entitled "Rumor Control" which explains the earthquake and the current animal migration outside the Park.

According to Nash"We do have bison, elk and other animals that have moved outside the park recently, but they're doing that because it's the depth of winter and food is hard to find in places in Yellowstone.  They tend to migrate at this time of the winter outside the park to lower elevations where they think there might be something to eat that is easier to get at."

Those of us who live here year around know that the bison migrate out of the park to Horse Butte which is a few miles north of West Yellowstone.  Horse Butte is probably where the first baby bison or the year will be born.  This is a natural phenomenon - it occurs at this time every spring.

  

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YELLOWSTONE?

The following is a quote from the April 4, 2014 West Yellowstone News regarding the earthquake in Yellowstone last week.

"The largest earthquake to hit Yellowstone National Park in 34 years struck in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 30, near Norris Geyser Basin.  The quake occurred 23 miles northeast of West Yellowstone at around 6:34 a.m., with approximately 90 smaller aftershocks following through Tuesday morning.  Aftershocks ranged from smaller rumbles up to a handful of magnitude 3 quakes. 

Earthquakes are a common force in Yellowstone, as the park experiences thousands of earthquakes each year.  More than 1,900 earthquakes were located in the park in 2013 alone, with additional smaller quakes not being recorded.  Most are too small to feel, and experts say the 4.8 rumble will not precede an eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano."

So - there is an answer for you.  If you are planning a trip to visit Yellowstone in the near future - come on out. 

APRIL FOOL'S - MORE SNOW!!!!!

It may be April but WE GOT MORE SNOW.   April Fool's Day brought us more snow here in West Yellowstone.  No - I am not kidding and - no - this is not an April Fool's joke.  We really got snow.  There is snow in the forecast the rest of this week and most of next week.

I must remind you that - even though we complain this time of year about getting more snow - no one forces me to live here.

I choose to live here because there is no place else on earth like it.  West Yellowstone truly is the Last Best Place.

All seasons of the year bring you sites you can see no where else in the world.  We complain about the snow but we continue to live here.

We keep reminding ourselves that these spring time snows lessen the chance of having another "Fires of'88".  I will take the snow over fire any time.  I can shovel the snow out of my way and know that eventually it will go away.  Fire - on the other hand - cannot be dispensed with so easily and it brings destruction.  The snow just brings a little inconvenience!

BIG SKY WILDLIFE ON THE ROAD

DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A SNACK!

THIS GUY IS PLAYING IT SAFE!

You just never know what you will see when you are driving around out here.  It may be a herd of bison crossing the road and holding up traffic - it may be a moose - an elk or a bear.  

On the way to Bozeman yesterday we were just the other side of Big Sky and these two young mountain goats were in the middle of the road.  

There must be something in the center line that they need.  This time of year you will often encounter them in the center of the road licking the center line.  What they are getting is something I do not know.  I just know that you need to be cautious and slow it down unless you want a mountain goat as a hood ornament on your vehicle!

Just one more benefit of living here!