Celebrating 100 years of the National Park Service with a visit to Yellowstone

Our party of Happy Wanderers headed to Yellowstone Park to spend the night. We were able to stay and dine at the Old Faithful Inn properties. Yellowstone is always a treat but this time we had a few surprises like an American Badger sighting, A beautiful Great Grey Owl, a real prize and a few of our old favorites. We were able to enjoy 5 displays by Old Faithful and a lovely evening in the Inn over drinks and after dinner music. Carl and I even attempted our hand at Astro-photography and got a few reasonable shots of the Milky Way. Here's some highlights from our two days.

Old Faithful Geyser 

Julie, Shannan and Carl at the Mammoth Springs Entrance to the Park

Great Grey Owl on the hunt - America's Largest Owl

The Yellowstone Wildlife Poperazzi

Thermal Pools in the Yellowstone Caldera

Big Horned Sheep

Great Blue Heron with a Cut-throat Trout

The American Badger - A world class digger!

Sunrise at the Old Faithful Inn

The Milky Way over Yellowstone

Yellowstone Falls in the "Grand Canyon"

A Visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Today Julie and I decided to make the three hour drive to the Little Big Horn National Battlefield. We had a beautiful day and the opportunity to see the eastern prairie of Montana. The National Park Service has done a good job of explaining the context and history of the battle from both the Lakota and United States Army perspective. The battle can be characterized as a clash of cultures. Regardless of your perspective you can't help be overwhelmed with the drama and tragedy that occurred on those two days of June 1876. Some pictures from today.

Prairie Blanket Flowers

Site of Custer's "Last Stand" of the 7th Cavalry 

The Little Bighorn Creek

Lakota and Cheyenne grave markers added years later reminds us today that Americans on both sides lost their lives.

Grave markers of the 7th Cavalry

Western Colors of Fall

The Happy Wanderers were off again today, taking to the mountains around Livingston. The glorious colors of translucent golden aspens juxtaposed against green spruces fills the soul, Enjoy.

Autumn in Montana

Julie and I are visiting Park County Montana for an Autumn visit with Carl and Shannan. On our first full day I managed to achieve a first...a day of photography from sunrise to sunset. The day included a morning drive through Paradise Valley, an afternoon in the Shields Valley,  through the Crazy Mountains and a visit to a "secret" Ghost Town mining village. Here are some pictures to share from the day.

Western Meadowlarks at Sunrise - Montana State Bird

Sandhill Cranes on the Yellowstone

Sandhill Cranes

Golden Eagle

Yellowstone Valley at Sunset

Safe return to our Brewery Flat in downtown Livingston