20151005
Waking up at 04:00 AM after going
to sleep at 11:30 PM from the night before was a challenge. Trying to stay
awake on a two-hour drive to try and see the wolves of Yellowstone. Arriving,
and awakening in Lamar Valley I got out of the van looking for any signs of
wildlife. Only after being waved down that something was to be seen did I
believe we would see any wolf today. Seeing a mass of something run down from
the hills with great speed across the plains. I believed it was a huge pack of
timber wolves. Under closer inspection I realized that their was no wolves, but
a heard of bison.
Something
had to have spooked them, or was chasing them as a few of the bison were
looking behind them. While this excitement came quick, it left me just the
same. Crawling back into the van and driving away from the parking lot I
thought to myself, “Nice try. Maybe next time you will see some wolves here at
Yellowstone.” Miles down the road it appeared to have a traffic jam of great
numbers. Getting out, again the adrenaline racing threw my mind. Communicating
with those who have spotting scopes that they have been watching a lone timber
wolf.
Going from
cluster to cluster I finally find a sweet woman who let me view through her spotting
scope. Wow, I was stunned. Looking directly at this huge black wolf. This was
an image that would be ingrained into my mind until I could not remember
anything anymore. Hours later ECOEE 2015 hiked the Grand Canyon. Now we are not
in Arizona hiking the real Grand Canyon, but in the Grand Canyon of
Yellowstone. First hiking the 300+ stairs down (and up) Uncle Tom’s Trail that
took us almost to the waters edge. This was another challenge that most of us
had, especially myself with a hip replacement.
After
seeing the wolf (plus two more later in the day), the falls in the Grand
Canyon, I know that this course is worth it. I know I choose to be here. I
choose to be challenged.
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