I REALLY THINK THIS SAYS IT ALL!

I am pretty sure that this photo - which I got off of Facebook - really does say it all.

We all need to find a little time to put ourselves out front and do what our heart tells us is best for us.

THEY ARE HERE!!!

As you can easily see from the photos above - a motorcycle group was in town one day last week. They were either on their way for a ride in the Park - or they had just finished their ride in the Park.   I was not able to find a way to get them all in the photo at one time so I settled for taking more than one picture for you.

I do not know where they were from or what group they were but many of them were wearing bright orange t-shirts with logo on the back (which I was unsuccessful at being able to read!)

It is a pretty common to have motorcycle groups here in town especially around the time that the Sturgis rally is going on.

There are some pretty snazzy bikes that come thru here.

If a motorcycle ride thru Yellowstone is on your "bucket list" then come on out.  The weather is beautiful.

ANIMALS OF THE GALLATIN CANYON

GRIZZLY BEAR AT MILE MARKER 26 IN THE GALLATIN CANYON

MOOSE IN THE GALLATIN CANYON AROUND MILE MARKER 26

If you have occasion to travel the Gallatin Canyon (referred to as "The Canyon" by the locals) keep your eyes peeled beginning about mile marker 24.  For some reason this seems to be the place in the Canyon that the animal life favors.

I know the moose love the willows but moose are pretty solitary creatures and are not often seen. I have seen this one and one other one around the 26 mile marker.

The grizzly in the top photo was across the river and I did not have my good camera with me.  I took the picture with my phone and it did a pretty good job.  I guess a "not too good picture of a grizzly"  beats not having any picture!

At any rate - when you travel the Canyon - stay alert and watch for the local residents to come out of the woods and provide you a photo op.

LIFE IN WEST YELLOWSTONE'S MADISON ADDITION

You just never know what you are going to see when you spend your days living in West Yellowstone. 

As I approached my house yesterday after work, I looked up the street and there was a mother doe and her fawn just casually strolling across Electric Street.

I carefully and quietly crept up on them and managed to get a couple of pictures of them for you.

We do also have a resident red fox that lives in the "Mad Add" (as the Madison Addition is referred to).  We see him more often in the winter time.

BEAR AND OTHER JAMS

WHY DID THE BEAR CROSS THE ROAD?

The most logical answer to that question is "to get away from the tourists".  This photo appeared in Backpacker Magazine and then made its way to Facebook. 

Several of the comments left on Facebook seemed to indicate that bear jams, buffalo jams, elk jams, wolf jams, etc. were all good reasons to stay away from Yellowstone National Park.

I take exception to those comments.  The bear, bison, elk, wolf and many other of God's creatures are the original and permanent residents of this amazing and wonderful Park.  They were here long before man arrived on the scene to invade their homes.  We humans tend to forget that WE are the visitors and we need to respect the rights of the original and permanent residents.

So - for those of you who do not wish to put up with the various "jams" and who are inconvenienced by tourists - perhaps you would be better off to avoid Yellowstone.  Never mind that you will deprive yourself (and probably your family) of the amazing creation that God has so generously provided for your pleasure.

If you are going to come with a bad attitude then the rest of us would just as soon you stay home.

ARE YELLOWSTONE ROADS MELTING????

FIREHOLE LAKE DRIVE

While it is true that Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone National Park was temporarily closed early in the month - I am pleased to let you know that the National Park Service has re-opened that road.


We lived in Arkansas for many years and I noticed that during the summer the asphalt roads and streets in our town would often appear to be melting.  The continued high summer temperatures would cause the asphalt roads to  "bleed" oil.  This is the same thing that happened to Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone.  The only difference is that the ground temperature is much hotter than it ever got in Arkansas.  I dare say that had Arkansas had the kind of ground temperature that is found under Firehole Lake Drive those Arkansas roads would have "melted" too.

I know that, if you do not live here year around, it is easy to become apprehensive and concerned when the news media reports that a road in the park is "melting". However, for those of us who are "locals" such announcements are pretty commonplace.

Several years ago a section of Norris Geyser Basin was closed due to extremely high ground temperatures.  That closing lasted a week or so - the temperature went back down to an acceptable level - and Norris was re-opened to the public.

When the National Park Service closes an area to driving or hiking or camping it is for the protection of our visitors who are not familiar with the conditions that can sometimes exist in Yellowstone.  It is not because the Park is melting or getting ready for an imminent eruption of the so called Super Volcano.

If you have questions I would highly recommend that you contact the National Park Service in Yellowstone rather than rely on the news media reports.  Get the straight story from the source.

I AM BACK

Between summertime business and family issues - I have been off this page for way too long.  I am back now and hope not to have too many interruptions from this point on.

We have been having typical summer weather.  Beautiful mornings and some late afternoon thunder storms that do not last long but do provide some needed moisture.

The town and the park seem to be pretty busy right now in spite of the fact that one of the news agencies on t.v. put out the word that Yellowstone was closed because all of the roads were all melting!!!!!  ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.  I will do a post shortly that might help clear up that misconception.

Come on out.  Yellowstone is open - West Yellowstone is open and thriving.  You are missing out on a great adventure if you do not come see us.