Memories and Lessons from Yellowstone
A dear friend invited me to go with her on a two-week adventure to Yellowstone National Park. I jumped at the chance. Like most children of the 50’s, I first knew of Yellowstone (“Jellystone”) from Yogi the Bear cartoons and later as I learned about “Wonderland” from paintings, books, and media. The chance to immerse in nature and spend time with my friend was too tempting to pass up.
To get ready, we had lengthy phone calls and shared website links. I made excel spreadsheets with itinerary options that we ultimately used as a guide and partially ignored because life just doesn’t always go according to the spreadsheet. With such a short window for planning, we spent hours on lodging (many Yellowstone facilities were full); it was much like playing the game of Tetris trying to figure out when we could go here based on what we could get there …
Flying into Bozeman, Montana, was our best option for many reasons including cost. We chose to stay there our first and final nights at Howler’s Inn Bed and Breakfast and Wolf Sanctuary. Spending time with the wolves in this well-appointed and friendly place was a perfect way to start and end the vacation. They currently have seven resident wolves that you can get quite close to.
From Bozeman, we traveled south through Big Sky, Montana, to the West Yellowstone entrance. Because we were going to Grand Teton National Park for two nights, our first view of Yellowstone was a quick one, stopping to see a few of the many geysers between Madison and West Thumb before entering Grand Teton.
We crossed the Continental Divide three times that day. It is not a straight line!
Because it rained hard for most of our two days there, our Grand Teton experience was limited. However, every day brought some amazing experience. The day was saved when we saw a mother and baby black bear crossing the road in front of us and were mesmerized as they climbed a hill into the woods.
We drove to the top of Signal Mountain (elevation about 7,000 feet) and saw nothing but clouds and mist instead of the reported "sweeping" views.
At the visitor center at the Elk Preserve in Jackson Hole, we learned about the 7,000 elk that migrate down in late fall. While we were there, a rainbow appeared and we saw a lone elk who either didn't migrate or arrived early. The sun finally came out and we drove back north and enjoyed the stellar view of the Tetons and planned for our early departure the next morning for Yellowstone.
We spent 10 days and eight nights in Yellowstone National Park. Every day was packed with new experiences, priceless views and discussions about the importance of our National Park system and protecting all its residents.
Our accommodations were at Canyon Lodge, Lake Lodge Cabins, and the Old Faithful Inn. My favorite was Lake Lodge Cabins because we were tucked in the woods, near a beautiful lake and spent four very comfortable nights there.
You’ve heard of Old Faithful? It was an impressive show, but I had no idea it was but one of 500-700 geysers in the park. There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park, featuring hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers. See this National Park Service link for more information.
We didn't want to be those check-it-off-the-list people, but we did keep a list of our wildlife encounters:
Pronghorns
Bison (several hundred of them)
Wolf
Big Horn Sheep (5)
Black Bears (3)
Elk
Mule deer
Lesser Chipmunks
Bald Eagles (4)
Mountain Goat
Trumpeter Swans
Clarks Nutcracker
Small black snake
Ruffed Grouse
We had hoped to see a moose and some beavers. The closest we got to beavers was an abandoned lodge, which was still exciting. We never saw a moose, but had a picnic where there sometimes are moose!
People are extraordinarily friendly in Yellowstone. Perhaps because they are nature lovers and excited about being there, or because, like us, they were intoxicated by the beauty and peacefulness.
We learned to pull over when we saw groups of photographers because that meant something had been spotted. At this spot, we saw a wolf eating the carcass of a young elk that other wolves had killed earlier that day. A kind photographer allowed us to look through his scope to get a good view. We also saw two bald eagles waiting for a chance to get a bite. Most people don't get to see wolves and we felt very fortunate.
When we hiked, returning hikers would tell us about the sites they had enjoyed, warn us about bear sightings or bison in the area, or give us tips. We were warned about this bison bull who was napping in our path as we returned from a hike on the very scenic Storm Point Trail. We detoured from the path and kept a large distance between us.
In the lodges, ranger stations and gift shops, we heard stories about where employees were from, their plans after the closings for winter, and even their upcoming interviews for new positions. We learned there is a whole subculture of seasonal employees who work in various parks around the country, some living in campers during the summer season or working on college degrees or research while employed full and part time in the parks. But most of all we learned that people love our National Parks and never spoke of their experiences without smiles on their faces and stories of animal encounters.
We also found the ranger stations and visitor centers to be welcoming and filled with information from taxidermied animals we would never see up close to details about rock formations and hydrothermal features. We also saw a film about the Clarks Nutcracker and the birds' importance in the regeneration of whitebark pine.
One young employee had been working at the Lake Lodge for a few seasons before going to college. Her parents met while working at Yellowstone and other siblings were also employed in the park. It was a family love affair that showed in her face as she told us how much she loved her job and her plans for returning next summer.
As a Florida resident, it was daunting to pull out cashmere and other warm clothing in September. But I appreciated them on those mornings when it was in the 30’s. The days often began foggy and were sunny by the afternoon. The high temperature rarely exceeded 60. My down vest was my constant companion.
Lessons Learned
I have a new respect for wolves. Maybe because I am a dog person, or because I saw them up close at the rescue and was enchanted by their howling, I respect them and want them to survive. The last ones were extirpated from Yellowstone in the early 1900’s and it wasn’t until more than 20 years after the implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 that they were reintroduced in the park. At the end of 2025, there were 84 wolves in Yellowstone. See this Yellowstone Wolf, Cougar, and Elk Project Annual Report from the National Park Service for details and all the many ways that reintroducing wolves has benefitted the ecosystem.
I want to know more. I’ve been reading Drawn to Yellowstone by Peter H. Hassrick. an historical account of Yellowstone illustrated by artists’ works from the 1800’s to present day. Additionally, I’m listening to the first of a series of books on the wolves of Yellowstone by Rick Mcintyre, The Rise of Wolf 8, learning more about the reintroduction of the wolves.
I appreciate what the National Park Service (NPS) and Yellowstone Forever (their nonprofit partner) have done to present and preserve this beautiful place. This is a monumental and expensive task. The rangers we spoke to are dedicated to making the visitor experience a positive one and keeping it that way for generations to come. From the information booths to the frequent turnouts on the roads to the signage and friendly faces, the NPS made this a safe and amazing experience.
Having significantly reduced cellular service made me more self-reliant and less concerned about being in touch with others, the news, and distractions. I believe it helped me pay closer attention to nature and retaining the mental pictures that are with me still.
Enjoy being in the moment, not behind a camera. My beloved digital camera needed repair and could not be fixed in time. It was a blessing not to be burdened with a camera, multiple lenses, batteries that needed to be charged, and the pressure to take the perfect photo. My iPhone was adequate for picture taking and I spent more time absorbing images in my brain and being in the moment rather than fiddling with a camera. The goal was not to take the best photo, but to simply have a few photos and take in as much with my naked eyes as I possibly could.
It's always good to practice flexibility. While it's never been one of my best attributes, this relaxed trip was a good way to practice it. It rained for two days but we made the most of it and we saw a black bear and her cub on the worst of those days. We had a day-by-day spreadsheet of ideas and altered that willingly to accommodate weather and convenience. We did not have a list of "must see" items and were amazed and thrilled every time we saw something fantastic, which was every day.
I’m determined to see more of our country. Rather than traveling to places around the globe on vacations, I’m now more interested in seeing our beautiful country, especially our national parks.
When we left the park after 12 days, through the Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance, it was jarring and a little bit sad. Time to go home, but it was a harsh return to commercialization, traffic, and airport headaches. The vacation was over, but the memories live on and I know I have a greater appreciation for our wildlife, our National Park Service, and the preservation of our national treasures.
Oh, this brought back so many wonderful memories!! I felt pure joy yet again. Your pictures are truly great. Really, just your phone?
I enjoyed reading about your Yellowstone adventure. What a wonderful trip, and the pictures are beautiful.
I need to put it on my bucket list. Lee Ann