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.