Trip Report ~ by Bill Hamblin

16 - 18 July 2010

~ July 2010 ~

Friday - 16 July

I left work just after noon and all the road construction was complete so made good time. Its really getting crowded now and hot. Fortunately a strong breeze most of the weekend kept the mosquitoes and biting flies off us. It's really getting slow for bears. I arrived in Lamar Valley around 5:00 p.m. and by 9:00 p.m. found one black bear for a few minutes low on Ski Slope. A little warm Friday night, but a storm came in just at dark Saturday that made good sleeping.

Saturday - 17 July

My success in finding bears continued this morning in Lamar Valley. After about an hour, I headed from Canyon Valley. I found a black near south of the Tower store on the road. Then the grizzly sow with two cubs of the year (coy's) just south of Dunraven Pass (5 feet off the road). I stopped at Grizzly Overlook in Hayden Valley and they had the adult wolves in and out of sight. Soon the three puppies arrived with separate adults - good viewing for over an hour. I heard rumors that there was a grizzly sow with three coy's farther south, arriving between Elk Antler and Trout Creek I found them high near the skyline. I spent the evening back in Lamar Valley. There was a small grizzly in the river corridor south of Trash can who actually came back to the carcass in the river near the Old Picnic area just before dark. Then crossed the road going north near dusk. Meanwhile someone found a grizzly in the wolf den area.

Sunday - 18 July

I spotted a small grizzly in the big clearing south and west of the Institute. Next I found a smaller grizzly (same as last evening, I think), 200 yards off the road between the Institute and Dorothy's Knoll. That was it in Lamar, so I headed for Hayden Valley. Coming up Antelope Creek I saw three cars pulled off the road near Mae West. I stopped down below at Curve Pullout, and it was a large grizzly about to cross going uphill. I headed that way. It was just above the road when I arrived, and was good to see a old friend - it was scarface (the first time I have seen him this year). He looks older, has a little limp but except for the face was is good shape. The grizzly sow with two coy's was in the same area this morning on my way thru, 20 feet off the road this time. Arriving in Hayden it was fogged in until 8:00 a.m. I couldn't find the sow with three coy's but we had the alpha male (black) and three pups from Grizzly Overlook.

Other News

They have the new bridge in operation near Norris now, still road construction delays 5-30 minutes, but they are getting closer. I had 12 mountain goats on Barronette Peak Friday night just before dusk. Three blue herons in Hayden Valley. The Silver Pack adults have been gone for a few days, and sightings down to 1-4 puppies, Saturday night 0 puppies. They think they might be ready to go out of sight to a high rendezvous area. The Lamar Canyon pack has been re-seen right back near the den area, so their rendezvous site is close to the old den area. The crowds are bigger than ever. I swear bumper to bumper from the West Entrance to Madison on my way out this morning.

by John William Uhler

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