Buffalo, bears, and moose, oh my!

Since our last post, we've been exploring the wonderful wilderness of Wyoming! After driving through Jackson, we headed for Grand Teton National Park. We spent 3 days and 2 nights backcountry camping, hiking, and biking around the park. The morning after our first night of camping on the shore of Phelps Lake, we stumbled upon a black bear (which wasn't really black at all), eating a moose calf and then taking a nap under a tree. We also saw moose and a ton of yellow-bellied marmots along the way. When the rain finally stopped and the sun came out, we jumped on a chance to bike to Jenny Lake, and then hike a loop trail to our next campsite, at Bradley Lake. The next morning, we woke up early, hiked back to the car, and headed for Yellowstone National Park. Woohoo!

Yellowstone was full of geysers, buffalo, elk, and more rain, unfortunately. Once we arrived in the park, we got a backcountry permit, and then headed for the Old Faithful Lodge, for some hot chili and a view of the geyser. Then we meandered through the park, checking out the colorful pools and thermal spots lining the roads. The plains in the park were covered with more buffalo than we ever imagined - we had several approach the car, and many of them took their time crossing the street or walking right next to the car. All the while Zach was yelling "Tatonka, Tatanka!", from the movie Dances with Wolves. And speaking of which, as we were leaving the park this morning, we took a walk on a boardwalk that paralleled the Madison River, when we spotted a wolf on the other side making its way toward a group of elk.

Now that the sun is finally out, and the temperature might break 60 degrees (for first time since we left Utah), we are leaving Yellowstone for Montana! We plan to spend a couple days wandering around the big sky state before we head up to Glacier National Park.

~Nicole & Zach

P.s. - No more poison ivy or altitude sickness for either of us! Check out the new photos in the album below!