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Posted by Dan M. (209.92.85.90) on 13:37:44 05/15/14

In Reply to: Continued posted by Dan M.

May 29

My last day. Tim A.'s watch alarm goes off at the unholy time of 5 something. He and I are getting up early to see if we can't get out to Lamar and see some wolves before I go. I comment that the NPS should've reintroduced a species that slept late and didn't move around much, then I realize that description fits our own species quite nicely. We drive separate vehicles so he can stay longer. The night before, multiple Loons promised to see each other in the valley nice and early. We cruise up and down the valley and don't find anybody. Finally at Slough Creek we run across Geri and Bruce, who are heading for the big pullout before Soda Butte. We follow. Upon arrival, everybody pulls out their optics. Bruce and Geri have matching Leica Televid scopes--very nice. Before long Tim A. spots a griz moving at a fast walk up a bench above the Lamar River a mile away. Then a black bear is spotted on a high slope almost directly above where we first see the grizzly. On a hillside over two miles back down the valley Bruce picks out two grizzlies and shortly after that I see a black bear sow and two cubs--one cinnamon and one dark--on another slope nearby. All the bears we see are moving with purpose, searching, we imagine, for newborn elk calves.

By now John and Carlene, Lew and Deb, Wendy, and Cathy and Mike W. have all arrived, then Cathy and Mike take off again. I am having a wonderful time visiting and watching and teasing Wendy about scaring the animals away, but it's time to go. At least almost everybody is here and I can say goodbye. Hugs and handshakes. I tell Tim A. I'll see him in a couple of months.

At a bear jam I see Cathy W. and tell her goodbye. Tim W. and Co. pass me going the other way before I have time to wave to them. Back at Mammoth I pack up my stuff and check out of the campground. Of course, today the weather is beautiful. I stop by the VC to see if Ballpark is working. At first I don't see him. I am walking out the door when he materializes and calls my name. He looks very official in his uniform. We talk for a bit and then I'm on my way. I bump into Cathy W. again at the Yellowstone Nature Store where I buy one of those grizzly footprint casts (now that I've seen some, I feel justified in purchasing it). I get gas ($1.729/gal. Primm, NV was most expensive of the trip at $1.949) and hit the road. At Obsidian Cliffs I stop and fish the creek on either side of the bridge by the exhibit turnout. I catch a 9" brookie on my first cast into the tea-colored water, but that's it. Before long I'm back on the road.

When I reach Norris Junction, I turn east toward Canyon. From there I head toward Lake. If memory serves, Ashley is supposed to be working at Bridge Bay Marina. Maybe I can find her. Hayden Valley is being raked by strong winds as I pass through. The grass ripples and waves. The surface of the Yellowstone River shows the tracks of the wind as it tears across the water. Hayden's buffalo herds are off in the backcountry somewhere--only a few individuals are to be seen near the road. I reach Lake Junction and bear right. I am tempted to stop at Lake Hotel and loiter in that beautiful old building, but the day is progressing fast. Out on the lake the wind is kicking up white caps and the water is a purplish-blue.

When I reach Bridge Bay, I'm at a loss as to where to go. Driving to the marina, I park and walk down to the Marina store. It is closed--it hasn't even opened for the season yet. I wander around for a few minutes and, somewhat disappointed and still at a loss, I get back in my truck and continue south. It's Memorial Day and no construction is happening, so the trip to West Thumb is quick. I head for the South Entrance. I want to stop and fish at Lewis Falls, but when I get there I see a dozen or so cars in the adjacent pullouts and I keep going. No more fishing for me.

At Schwabacher's Landing near the Grand Teton National Park Headquarters I stop and take some pictures of myself with the Tetons as a backdrop. If they turn out okay, I'll send one to the Demlers to replace my nostril self-portrait on the Loon Photo page. At the park headquarters I buy a Tetons 50th anniversary pin and patch. In Jackson, Teton Mountaineering is having a sale and I pick up a new Thermarest pad. After a quick look in the Images Of Nature gallery, I'm on my way again. An audio book (Killing Floor by Lee Child--it's REALLY long, but good) keeps me company as I cross Teton Pass to Idaho Falls and head south on good ol' I-15. In Ogden I pull off to see the 10:00pm showing of Shanghai Noon at the same theater I stopped at on the way up. It's better than MI2.

By the time I'm on the road again, I'm dangerously tired. I'm so sleepy I pass the next rest stop without even seeing it. I drive for a while before finally deciding I'm going to kill myself and maybe somebody else if I keep going. Somewhere between Payson and Nephi I pull off and sleep for a while. When I wake up I feel better, so I get back on the road, but before long I'm starting to nod again and I stop at the rest stop near Cove Fort to sleep some more. That does it for me and dawn finds me passing Cedar City. I gas up in St George, once more in Primm, NV, and set my sights on home. In Baker, The Biggest Thermometer In The World reads 95 degrees. Not bad at all. When I cross Cajon Summit I see the Seattle drizzle has been replaced with San Bernardino smog. Ahhh, it's good to be back in Southern California meh, not so much.



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