Continuing counter-clockwise around the Grand Loop we come across a group of three River Otters frolicking in the Yellowstone River. A lady who was watching with us said she had been coming to the park for sixty years and never seen otters. We were as thrilled as she was to watch their antics as they wrestled with and tumbled over each other. After about a half an hour they retired to their den and we continued on our circuit.

Our next stop is the Mud Volcano area. Here I steel a kiss from my bride and capture our shadows in the rising sulfur mist. Credit to Jeanine for the idea for this photo.

Our success at locating wildlife in the Hayden Valley was limited to this lone coyote who was howling to his mate(s). Jeanine was speaking on the phone with Maya at the time and she was able to hear the call of the coyote clear back in Concord.

This morning we break camp before dawn and start driving towards the Hayden Valley, from my prior visit, a great location for wildlife observation. We witness a delightful sunrise over Yellowstone Lake as we approach Bridge Bay.

As the sun sets we spot a very nice bull elk on our way back to Grant Village. Our campsite is located near a large concentration of elk and we listen to their distinctive mating calls well into the early hours of the morning. Temperatures at night are in the low 30s making for perfect sleeping weather and we don’t bother to put the fly on the tent so we can enjoy the magnificent star field.

Our final destination for the day is the Grand Prismatic Spring. The colors are extraordinary but I am unsatisfied with the point of view. I locate a vantage point in the distant hills and make a mental note of the optimal shooting location. The perfect photo will have to wait for another day.

After returning to our car we drive from the GTNP to Yellowstone where we make camp at the Grant Village campground before continuing on to the Upper Geyser Basin. There we enjoy Old Faithful and a one hour walk before settling down to diner at the Old Faithful Inn.

Our return hike takes only 4 1/2 hours with a lunch break at this beautiful meadow. As we approach Jenny Lake we are delighted to learn that the boat shuttle people have decided to operate for an additional day since the weather is so nice. Although we were mentally prepared for that last 2 miles around the lake the boat ride was a very welcomed short cut.

As we begin our descent, our packs are a little lighter (less water and food) but our hike will be 2 miles longer because we will not have the benefit of the Lake Jenny boat shuttle. We are on the trail by 8AM and the weather once again is perfect.

Jeanine woke me up this morning insisting she heard a bear outside of our tent. After warming the bear repellent to ensure proper operation, I venture outside only to discover this bull moose, his mate, and their baby having breakfast next to the creek by which we are camped. As I approached for a better closeup, I made eye contact with the bull and decided that further advancement was ill-advised. The family continued to dine as Jeanine and I broke camp and had our own breakfast.

When we reached Lake Solitude at 5 PM we had it to ourselves and Jeanine now adopts its proper name. Without a tripod, we had to settle for pictures of each other but the evening light could not have been more beautiful. The day’s considerable efforts have all been worth the beauty and serenity of this destination. We sat back, had a light snack and just took it all in.

By 5:30 PM it was time to head back to our campsite to ensure that we did not run out of daylight. We made it back with 30 minutes to spare and were sound asleep by 7 PM.

When we reached the North Fork we made camp in one of the established campsites, took on a little food, and rested for a few moments before continuing on to Solitude Lake. To this point, Jeanine has alternatively referred to our planned destination as Sacrifice Lake or Suicide Lake, clearly reflecting a perspective distorted by her fear of bears and/or the weight of her pack. We set out at 4 PM to complete the last 4 miles of the day’s hiking with little more than our water and a camera making the final ascent to Lake Solitude much more agreeable.

It is not long before we spot this cute little Pika, actually a member of the rabbit family. Pika’s gather as much as 50 pounds of plants which they dry in the sun and store to last them through the winter months. Along the way we encounter several moose and have come to recognize their preferred habitats.

Along the trail we enjoy breathtaking views of Teewinot Mountain, Mount Owen, and snow capped Grand Teton through the fall foliage in peak color. During the summer months this trail is fairly crowded with day hikers but at this time of year when snow has usually set in we find very little traffic.