With school out for two days we took a long weekend and made a trip to the high country. Jennifer had never been to Yellowstone, so that was our original plan. However, the trip came with two bonuses: fall colors were just reaching their peak and the rutting season caused numerous elk herds to be on the move.
Yellowstone was Yellowstone, except the crowds and bugs were mostly gone. Other than that it seems to never change. Geysers were spectacular, as usual. Wildlife was abundant.
A mosaic of colors covered the hillsides and summer meadows in both Island Park and in the Teton Range. The meadows were a blaze of yellow as Cottonwood trees, willows and other bushes and grasses turned a rich gold in color. On the hillsides, Quaking Aspen, maples, and other trees turned bright red, brilliant orange, and burnt yellow. This year was quite amazing. The best fall colors are realized when a dry summer is followed by a cool, dry fall, and this year's weather fit that pattern.
Bull elk compete by assembling and protecting a harem of 16-20 cow elk. During the rutting season bull elk bugle to warn other bull elk away from their territory and to attract cow elk. The bull elk also exhibits aggressive behavior by doing mock battles with trees and bushes. We watched two bull elk contend for a herd of cow elk in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.
Our best activity was a three-mile roundtrip hike to Phelps Lake at the base of the Tetons near Jackson Hole. Jenn’s cousin, Kallee, joined us and it was fun to have her along.
1 comment:
It's always so warm down here that I forget other parts of the country are enjoying fall colors. Beautiful pictures.
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