I started my day before 5 am so I could shoot the dawn in Wind Cave National Park (http://www.nps.gov/wica/index.htm).  The sunrise was beautiful and everywhere I went I was greeted by mule deer, bighorn sheep and bison. I returned to camp long enough to make breakfast and then I went to explore the actual Wind … More Last day in South Dakota

I decided there was just too much to see to continue on home right away, so this morning I backtracked a bit.  First thing was to get back to Rapid City, South Dakota where I found Black Hills Bagels and got my fill of bagels, coffee and wifi. Then it was on to Mount Rushmore.  … More Backtracking…

I made it to Gillette, Wyoming last night and grabbed a hotel room because I was just too darn tired to go any further.  In the morning I hit the road, refreshed and excited to see more.  I visited Devil’s Tower which was a lot of fun.  Devil’s Tower itself is gorgeous. Watching people actually climbing it … More Back in South Dakota

So after meandering my way out of Yellowstone, I did a bit (a LOT) of exploring: I stopped at a restaurant/gift store/horse stable near Shoshone National Forest for a cup of coffee and chatted with a kid there who comes up yearly to work in the stables.  Sweet kid and even sweeter horses. I visited Buffalo Bill … More So much exploring, so little time…

Hitting the road and heading East.  Wow, its hard to leave this place!

I spent the early morning hours photographing a Grizzly bear and her four cubs.  Just when I think what comes next can’t top what I just experienced, something like this comes along. It was the perfect way to end my stay in Yellowstone.

Today I spent some time watching an hour-old bison find its frolick.  Its amazing how quickly they get up and go- kicking their little feet and springing about, circling their mothers and tripping over themselves.

A very happy birthday to my beautiful, wonderful sister, Heidi!  I love you! (UPDATE: I sent her a birthday card signed by myself, random campers and rangers and campground hosts, complete with funny little messages.  Many thanks to the helpful folk who signed!)

I just watched about fifty people cause a traffic jam so they could all stop and snap photos of a coyote defecating.  Really?  But, I did learn that coyotes CAN look embarrassed and self conscious.

A pair of coyote Tips from some locals on where more wildlife has been spotted A loan wolf hunting elk A black bear with cubs Two grizzlies (sow and yearling cub bigger than her) eating a bison carcass