In May of this year, I went on a trip to the western part of the country with my parents and husband to explore several national parks and other enjoyable destinations. On our initial day, we arrived at Yellowstone National Park and were delighted to encounter Bison within just 15 minutes of entering the park, especially since there were adorable babies among the herd!
Rest assured, you will encounter Bison everywhere! They even cause traffic jams. This was my first time in nearly a decade using a super telephoto lens, and although I was a bit overzealous with the shutter, the experience was incredibly enjoyable!
We managed to spot some bull Elk, although the poor lighting meant I couldn't capture any images worth sharing. Suddenly, we found ourselves in a major traffic jam, and the cause of it sent a thrill through me - BEARS! To be precise, Baryl Springs and her two cubs. Baryl Springs is a bear that's been tagged within the park. Seeing bears was an unexpected delight, and I must have taken over 300 photos before deciding on the best one to keep.
We visited several typical attractions, but the Grand Prismatic Springs was by far the most stunning. The internet mentioned a 1-mile hike to the overlook for the photo, but omitted that it's another mile just to reach the trailhead.
I am not in the best shape. I convinced myself that a mile was doable, but after 3/4 of a mile and still far from the trail or overlook, I had to quit. Kudos to my incredible husband who insisted on continuing and was resolute in getting that photo for me!
The Firehole River offered one of my favorite vistas in the park. It's an ideal spot, complete with picnic tables and vault toilets. The river is visible right from the parking area, and just a brief two-minute stroll through the grass. On our inaugural day in Montana, this place truly captured the essence of the state for me. It's the image that will forever come to mind when I reminisce about Montana's beauty.
We concluded the day with more Bison sightings, including one large, lazy individual resting just about three feet from the road. I believe the ruggedness of these animals is truly captured in close-up images.
Our next stop was The Grand Tetons National Park, just south of Yellowstone, but I'll save those photos for another post! You can also see all images on my website galleries!
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