Dunraven Pass

So we're back, by popular demand (??) and ready to hike and work our way through August and September. This year we have a new roommate until September 1...Phyllis...from Alabama. She's another great person to have with us, hard worker, pleasant and shares her books on Yellowstone!



Field of Goldeneye

Our first outing wasn't a hike but a drive to search for the wildflowers we saw our first year in the park but after that they've been burned out by the time we arrive. This involved a 45 minute drive past Mount Washburn (yeah, we'll hike it later) to an area called Dunraven Pass.

We weren't disappointed. It was a colder winter that lasted longer this year than in the last few years and cooler temps over all so there are wildflowers in areas we've never seen before. And the Pass was loaded.

Goldeye

I borrowed Phyllis' Flora of the Yellowstone book by Whitney Tilt and will attempt to name what we've seen.












White Mulesears

Canada Goldenrod

Gairdner's Yampah



Narrowleaf Fireweed

Moose

We had a bonus on the drive back in. We have tried to see moose (yes, single or plural, still moose) for 5 years. We came to an unlikely area on the drive back with people stopped in the middle of the street, on the sides, anywhere they could. We said must be bear or bison. When Bob got closer we saw this Mama Moose with 2 calves. They were about 75 yards off the road and looked very healthy.





Mama and Meeses (heh heh)

The crowds were good and didn't attempt to get too close. Mom and babies walked back into the woods after about 10 minutes but not before Bob got about 50 pictures, which he culled down to maybe 15 and here are the few I can post.

We're outta here!

View of Yellowstone - Shows the smoke infiltration

Flowers or not, the moose made the whole drive worth while!