June 30th: Up at 5:30 - hit the road by 6:15 to go see the wolves with pups come out and play. Late, but not bad. Then we had to turn around and go back to get Charles day pack which he left behind. So really, on the road by 6:30. Still, we had the park to ourselves. We seldom passed another car, and made good time despite the late start. Our first sighting was a wolf passing through the field on the left. This started the large coyote vs wolf controversy as Mrs. F was inclined to believe it was really a coyote and not a wolf and we were convinced it was a wolf. Not that there was anything WRONG with seeing coyote. It's just that a wolf sighting seemed much more exciting. - I was driving since this was my big day - I wanted to see wolves. As I reached the top of the pass into northern Yellowstone I was shocked to see a large grizzly bear standing on the side of the road. I mean huge. And a cub. I stopped the car. I didn't know what else to do! Emily had my camera in the back seat so I yelled TAKE A PICTURE. She rolled down the window and did (Yikes...hindsight is merciless. What was I thinking?) Suddenly I saw a group of photographers a polite distance away and realized I shouldn't had stopped. We drove forward and parked.
The photographers took us to task about stopping. There was a $750 fine for stopping - and we were lucky the park rangers weren't there. I felt horrible - and a bit shaken. Emily reported she had a granola bar in her pocket making me feel even more like the worst mother of the year!
We finally arrived at the wolf area and found that, according to the group of photographers camped there, they hadn't come out to play yet this am. We had a hike planned in the area, so we decided to go ahead with it. Our hike was to take us through Slough Creek into a "world class" Cutthroat Trout fishing area. It was strictly catch and release, but fun anyway.
As we headed up the trail head, we glanced behind and realized that there were two buffalo bearing down on us. Remembering that "more people are injured by buffalo in Yellowstone every year than bear" we ran clear of the trail. After giving "Barney and Billy" (as the kids dubbed them) room to get ahead we followed. This was a 4 mile hike, but with only a 360 foot elevation over the course of 2 miles. Much easier - though we still felt it. At the 1.5 mile mark, we passed a horse drawn wagon with ranch hands aboard. They were a crusty bunch, and their comment was " keep them kid close- there's a coupla buffalo and a little brown bear about 100 yards up". A flurry of discussion ensued. Should we turn back? Surely the buffalo were fine - heck - we were old friends. But a bear. They said "little." Maybe it was cute too. Onward.
"Little?" It was large. And 50ft away from the trail. We kept our eyes on it (sent Charles first) and passed it without incident. It was gorgeous, grazing under a tree, unperterbed by our presence.
As we went forward, I glanced backwards periodically to make sure our new bear friend wasn't following. Still glancing, I suddenly spotted a HUGE black bear across the stream from our trail. I yelled for Charles to stop. Red light. STOP!!! We gathered the kids, and watched as the bear hopped in the stream and swam to our side. We again briefly discussed turning back, but the idea of being sandwiched between two bears was not appealing. It was time for noise. All the kids used their bear whistles and we sang loudly until we noticed that the bear turned tail and ran into the wilderness. Whew!
Now on level ground, clear of trees and other bear hiding spots, we coiuld fish. Charles stood guard on bear duty (he spotted one more bear in a field far away and kept an eye on it). Emily prompty pulled in a Cutthroat. I spent most of the time wrapped in fishing line again. I was watching Mrs. F fly fish when Charles yelled "Buffalo!!" There were Barney and Billy stomping through the bushes, at quiet a fast clip, straight for the stream - and us. We grabbed our gear and ran out of their path. Their single-minded pursuit of water kept then from regarding us with anything but disgust.
Our departure from Slough Creek was blissfully uneventful. Upon returning to the wolf area, we found we had missed pup playtime. So we headed to the general store for picnic supplies, passing a beautiful Elk and fawn on the way. After lunch, Jacob was feeling ill, and his rash had spread. He refused to eat or drink - not at all like him, especially after a 4 mile hike. In fact it was kinda alarming. We left Em and Sam with Mrs. F and headed to the park clinic.
We spent 2 1/2 hours in the clinic and left with a rehydrated child in posession of rash medicine. The others arrived shortly thereafter replete with stories of another bear sighting, mountain goats, and elk. After an early evening of cheese and crackers on the lodge porch, sleep came early.
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