a Visit

Last week Tuesday my sister came to visit with my brother-in-law, Jorge, and their friends from Spain.  The smoke blew away and the vistas were beautiful.  We rented enough canoes and kayaks for everyone to be on the water.  Paddling in Colter Bay is so pretty. We saw an Osprey, a Western Tanager, and Spotted Sandpipers.
      Wednesday I recommended we go hiking in Cascade Canyon, one of my favorite places.  We rode the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake and started hiking up to Inspiration Point.  This is the only serious climb on the trail, and rewards hikers with a view of Jenny Lake and the mountains to the east.  Clark's Nutcrackers, Moose, and mountain valleys were well photographed. Scenery in this canyon is magnificent. Sue and I found Cordilleran and Olive-sided Flycatchers !!
     After dinner we drove up Signal Mt and found Dusky Grouse.  That was exciting too.  A brilliant sunset was a great way to end the day.
Thursday and Friday we spent exploring Yellowstone Park.  Hydrothermal features are only part of Yellowstone's offerings.  Hayden Valley was beautiful.  Smoke from a nearby wildfire had nearly blotted out the sun by the time we arrived at Canyon.  The orange sunlight made an unforgettable scene in the canyon.  At Mammoth we saw a group of Elk with their harem leader, a large bull with an impressive set of antlers.
       Jorge took most of the photos so I can post only a few of mine.    Some of these are from this morning's paddling trip on Yellowstone Lake.  Elk are bugling, beginning the rutting season.  The Avocets were a wonderful surprise.