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04 January, 2012

We bought snow shoes but there's not snow in Fishtail

What do you do when you purchase snow shoes for your trip to Montana and when you arrive there isn't enough snow to really use them. You can say, Oh shucks, or you look for snow. We found it. Red Lodge has had over 100 inches and the snow pack is over 40 inches. But we wanted to go to Chico Hot Springs and Red Lodge is in the wrong direction if we're going to Chico. Is there any snow in Yellowstone National Park. If there is, maybe we could take our snow shoes with us and use them there. There was snow in Yellowstone. We waited until we got to the Lamar Valley. Marty and Crissy decide to go for a hike. As you can see they were all smiles as they turned for a picture. Susan, Patrick and Clint were on the road near the car. Didn't think they would go very far.
When John realized there was a packed trail, close to where the ladys were hiking, he decided to follow. As you can see, John has joined the girls and we expected them to turn around any time.But they didn't, and all of a sudden, I remembered where they were. Were they going up the hill in the wooded area. We had been there without the snow when it was easier walking. What was up the hill was a wolf den used shortly after the wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. Wolf number 9 had a litter of pups in the den in the trees. So we watched and then we didn't see them anymore, they were up the hill.
We were waiting for their return, and sure enough, here they came. It is safe where they went as there have been no wolves near the den in years. Now they are on their way back. I'll bet Crissy and John will have a story to tell about the den.The last time Marty and I went there was with a Yellowstone Association guide, it was in the spring and the round trip took over an hour. When they get back, I'll bet they are tired.
They're getting closer.
and now they are back. What an experience and the snow shoes worked. It was after noon, we were at least an hour away from Cooke City and everyone was hungry. You'll have to come back again soon to view the "wild critters" we saw in Yellowstone. Oh yes, we had dinner at Chico last night and will return for another great dinner later in the day.

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