6 Days ago . . . . .

In the last 6 days we have had winds that approached 50 mph, day and nite. Marty and I have spent the nights in the bedroom in the basement to avoid the loud winds and get a good nite sleep. Yesterday, the weatherman said the winds would slow down and that an artic cold front would be arriving soon. By 9:00 PM there was enough of this stuff covering the pastures that we took hay into the paddocks for the horses to eat. This is what we saw as we looked out toward the Beartooth Mountains. Yes, this is the southern view, it's still snowing with another 2 to 4 inches due today.

With the cold wet snow and a temperature of 25 degrees, the animals would prefer the 50 mph wind. This picture is an example of what our trees look like. The birds are all huddled above the ground and I'm sure they're hoping for some warmer temperatures today. The expected high is 38. The horses are in the barn until 10:00 AM, the dogs are in the house with us, and Ruthie and Martha, the cats, are in the tack room.

and you asked, how much snow did you get. I took the yardstick into the yard and you can see for yourself (14 inches so far) This is with an expected additional 2 to 4 inches today. The ground is not frozen, so there as been some melting, when I shoveled off the walk it was sloshy underneath but it will not get warm enough to show much of a melt until Saturday. The slow melt means moisture in the ground and all we need after that is some warm weather. None is predicted for the next week.

It wasn't spring in Yellowstone

We headed for Chico Hot Springs and Yellowstone National Park on March 30th. Had a heavy snow in Chico the evening of the 30th, a lot of snow was still on the ground when we got to the park on the 31st. After bragging about spring was on it's way a few days ago, I should have realized that April Fools day was coming up soon and that winter wasn't over yet. Well, as we entered the park, we saw this big elk, it looked funny. Yes, it was missing it's antlers, this was probably one of the guys that we had seen on our last trip, but he sure looked different. Notice where the antlers are normally affixed to the skull. The antlers will start growing at the rate of 1 1/2 inches per day, and it will not be long before this guy looks like an impressive male again.
Before we left, guess what we saw. Not one but two guys still sporting their finest. I'm sure it will not be long before these are gone as well, but for now, he's got bragging rights.

If you have been reading about the wolves in Lamar Valley, you will not be surprised that Rick McIntyre and and wolf watchers were within a couple miles of Mammoth Hot Springs, not in the valley that once sported 37 wolves. Competition destroyed part of the numbers and now the mange was about to eliminate them completely. I'm sure, as fertile a hunting ground as Lamar has been, it will not be long before some new blood enters to establish a name for themselves. But in the meanwhile, guess who has taken over. As we drove thru Lamar, we saw no wolves but we did see several coyotes and then we saw a fox.

Yes, in their favorite spot on top of a rise near the Soda Butte was a group of Big Horn sheep. They are still in the lower parts of the park until spring returns the lush pastures to the higher elevations. If you look back on the blog, you will see a picture of only the horns of a Big Horn. This time I got the whole thing.

The best was saved for last. The male elk are losing their pride and joy. The females are waiting for spring and the birth of their calves. This one happened to find a new friend who it appeared was ahead of the rest, getting the winter house cleaning done early. The magpie had comfortably rested on the neck and head of this female elk and while I was taking this photograph I noticed the magpie had found something in the fur of the elk that it was enjoying. Those bugs probably wished they had left earlier, as the magpie was having a feast.

Instead of going back to Yellowstone on April Fool's day, we headed home early, as winter was for sure taking over. Snow, windy, and cold. Not a good day for prospecting or enjoying the park.

We did see a bear who was out of hibernation and plenty of bison.