first few weeks in GTNP

One week ago a snowstorm blew into Wyoming, cold temperatures from the north and moisture from the northwest combined for a chilly week.  Grand Tetons received 3 to 4 inches,  Yellowstone (at a higher elevation) had enough snow to close down most of their roads for Wednesday (17th), and Casper (in central WY) was buried in a foot of snow, enough to close Interstate 80 for quite some time.
     Plants continued moving toward flowering despite the storm.  Dandelions, Yellowbells, and Spring Beauty were the first to bloom.  A week later I found Larkspur, and Buckwheat joining in the Sage prairie's color.  Today I saw Arnica, Lupine, and Phacelia along the trail.  Oregon Grape is an amazing plant;  its leaves survived the winter intact (whether green or red) and yellow flowers have started to open. Above photo is Cinquefoil, edged with frost on a cold morning.
     Birds are returning as well.  Chipping Sparrows are singing, Cassin's Finches and Kinglets arrived before I did.  Yellow Warblers are singing in the marshy places, Yellow-rumpeds are often heard along the trails, and Dusky Flycatchers have found open perches to announce their arrival.  I found a MacGillivray's Warbler in the same place along Jenny Lake trail as in previous years. My surprise photo above.
     Another  "surprised this photo came out so well"   is my Red-naped Sapsucker.  I had walked down to the Registration building to watch sunset, and was hearing a soft  "bird"  noise.  There was not much light remaining for photography.
     A  "large mammal"  event.  I had heard that the well-known Grizzly Bear female called 399 had emerged from her den with 2 little cubs.  Her territory is to the north of Signal Mountain Lodge.  Last night after dinner I drove north looking for bears, and the consequence of them feeding close to the road,  a bear jam.  North of Colter Bay I found the long line of cars parked on both sides of the road, and 2 groups of people on the west edge of the Hwy.  Mama Grizzly and 2 little black cubs were feeding a distance from the road, still in sunlight.  This was Bear 793, I was told, a much younger female.  Pretty exciting !!!

Above is Mama Grizzly and one cub,  photo to the right is the other cub running to catch up.  (used maximum zoom on my camera)



Below a large bull Elk with velvet on  his antlers walks across Teton Park Road leading his harem thru the Sagebrush fields.

a New Motto

"When Life gives you Mountains, put your boots on and start hiking."  That's the way to be.  I will do that soon, once the snow melts off the trails.  The ice has melted off the lakes, and I been out in my kayak twice.
     It has taken us a week to set up the Gift Shop with the help of 2 women from the corporate office who are Head Buyers and  set-up people.  New floor plans have been created, and its all looking very good now.
    Photos from the first week of living in Paradise.

Bison at Elk Flats.

Mountain Bluebird

Sunset sunbeams behind the Tetons

Black bear, my first bear of the season

Yellowbells,  Fritllaria pudica

late afternoon light on snowy peaks

Another Teton summer

Admist the preparations for Mom's memorial service, I was invited to come back to Signal Mt Lodge in Grand Tetons Park.  It was an offer I could not refuse.  I spent 12 days on the road, visiting siblings, friends, and relatives along the way.  NH to MA to CT to NY.  This photo was taken at my friend's rented house in Cooperstown, NY.  A pastel sunset colors the pond behind her house.
     I drove across NY, touched into PA, and into Ohio.  Spring migration for birds had started, and I wanted to see a few eastern migrants before I drove further west.  I tried to stop each morning, weather permitting, to find some local birds. 

Spring was happening in Ohio.  Flowering Dogwood trees were abundant.  Below photo of Violets, and Spring Beauty, taken between the morning rainstorm and the afternoon rainstorm.  Strong winds created a headwind into Indiana. and continued to blow against me as I headed north into Wisconsin.

     I spent 2 nights visiting my relatives and we enjoyed a lovely walk along Pheasant Creek.

Bird reports for this area were very good, however, we saw mostly resident species.
     I continued west across Iowa, and spent a night with pleasant company.  A stronger wind and rainstorm blew across the plains that afternoon as I left Iowa and entered Nebraska. 
    

Below is a photo of Wisconsin River, where I stopped for a short morning walk.  Trees were beginning to "pop" their buds and grow new Spring leaves.

Such a place I would like to paddle my kayak.

To be out of the wind and rainstorm, I stopped at the Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center in Nebraska City.  It is a wonderful museum.  These 2 photos show a replica of the boat they paddled upstream on the Missouri River, as they began their exploration in May 1804.
    Photos show a few raindrops on the camera lens.

I stayed overnight in eastern Nebraska.  Several inches of snow fell in central Nebraska that night.  A sudden Spring blizzard covered the fields and trees that had started new growth of leaves.
    

and on into Wyoming.  Many Pioneers crossed the open plains of Wyoming heading for one of several destinations.