So imagine our wonderful surprise when we got up this morning to snow in the valleys, on the mountains, trees and bushes, roof tops, etc. all around us.
Here is the view off our back deck. There are a number of mountains missing...in the clouds.
Bob and I waited for the folks in the cabins to leave for their respective courses and we set off on foot to travel up the road to take pictures.
This is the view from the front porch.
Yep, that's me bundled up in front of the Caretaker's cabin. Hey, we do live in Florida and it was 32 with a cool breeze.
More mountains with the clouds hanging around.
Eventually, the clouds broke up some and we even saw some blue sky peek through. When the sun actually came out in short spurts, we unzipped our coats. That is until the wind blew again, ha!
Oh look, I found my Christmas tree for this year. Do you think I could put one of these 30' beauties on the top of our car and get it home?? Hmmm.
Our favorite little shack/cabin with snow on the roof and walkway. I took a plastic bag and gloves up a few weeks ago and 'policed' the area. It appears to be a summer hang out for teens. It is still clean now so we can leave it smiling.
Okay, here's the last one. I've heard they get more beautiful as winter really moves in, but we had fun on our walk breathing in the cool, clean air and reveling in the beauty of the nature around us.
BREAKING NEWS...Yesterday, across the Yellowstone River, right below the cabins, we watched a large bull elk...well let me just say he was playing with the females in his little harem. To the side there was another bull, obviously younger, with a lot less rack of antlers, but he was hanging around. After our walk this morning, I saw a bull elk with a large female and a yearling and calf, probably both hers. They walked down the hill toward the river but the bull disappeared. As I went back to watch the progress of the elk, the female and youngins were walking away from the river to the east but all 3 looked very nervous and antsy and they eventually disappeared from view. Later Barbara Snow and Bob saw a Ranger through our spotting scope walking down the path toward the river and then back up to the parking area, about a 2 mile walk. After a short while I spotted this same Ranger walking back in the same direction and this time I watched him all the way. He was carrying what appeared to be a pair of large clippers and walked to a little stand of trees and there was the large male elk, dead.
Our consensus is the younger male gored the older with his antlers in a fight last night and the older went down to the trees to rest and died. The Ranger actually had a saw and he removed the elks antlers and it looked like he pulled a tooth and took blood samples. For the Rangers to have found this male so quickly, I surmise he must have had a tracking collar on.
Sooo, life ends for one but that aids others to continue on. My bet is we'll see a Grizzly bear on him first. Bob thinks Coyotes. The coolest part is we have a 'front row seat' until we leave in a few days to see the action. More pictures and drama will be reported! By the way, the purpose of removing the antlers is to keep poachers away.
He is the white spot between the two closest little trees.
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