Life on the High Plains

Yellowstone is an amazing place with all the geothermal features, rivers, lakes, critters, etc., etc.  This year nature has outdone itself with the amazing display of wild flowers. Every week there are new flowers blooming in every color you can imagine. My camera does not begin to do justice to the colors in Pelican Valley.  I don't know anything about flowers--I have no idea what their names are, but I love the display that Mother Nature is putting on this year. You'll even find them in the forests that are recovering from fire.  I am in awe of this place. Happy Skywatch Friday from Yellowstone!

I had planned a couple hikes during my two days off this week, but I woke up on Wednesday with a very sore throat and some chest congestion so I decided to take a day off before hitting the trails. On Thursday morning I met Elizabeth and Diane at Fishing Bridge then we carpooled over to the Pelican Valley trail head.  As you can see from the sign above, this is a bear management area.  There is no tent camping allowed in this area and it is recommended that hikers be in a group of four or more.  We hung around the trail head until another group showed up. This other warning was posted at the trail head.  Bears on a carcass 1/3rd mile off the trail somewhere along the way.     I'll always remember this hike as "fields of wildflowers".  It was spectacular and my camera does not begin to do it justice.   The hike started through a field of sagebrush, but we quickly entered a wooded area.  This was in a burnt out area as e...