Trip Report ~ by Bill Hamblin

23 - 25 July 2010

~ July 2010 ~

Friday - 23 July

Lots of traffic and people, but the traffic was keeping up and no road construction (except Madison-Norris brief delay). I left work at noon and was watching the grizzly sow with two cubs of the year (coy's) from the new bathroom pullout just south of Dunraven Pass by 4:00 p.m. She was about 250 to 300 yards above the road eating the tops of flowers. I headed to Lamar and around 6:00 p.m. I spotted a large grizzly south of Dorothy's Knoll and this side of the river was grazing on grass. The Silver Wolf pack has gone up high now - Mirror Plateau, but the Lamar Canyon Pack has been visible from Slough Creek. They have been seen consistently in the rocks just west of the diagonal forest (which is just east of the den area). Tonight the 06 female visited a bison carcass in the Slough Creek (good viewing) while the two dark males were up in the rocks. I spent both nights near Silver Gate, it cooled off enough both nights for good sleeping.

Saturday - 24 July

High 30's just before daylight. I headed for Slough Creek sure to find a grizzly on the carcass in the Creek. But nothing, even the two dark males were not in the area. I got some good looks at the 06 female and all four pups in the rocks near the diagonal forest. I soon headed back into Lamar and found last evening's grizzly south of Mid Point heading east. Yep, it revisited the July 3rd bison carcass at the Old Lamar Picnic Area. Around 7:00 a.m. I found a grizzly low below A-Z meadow. Then found a grizzly with at least two coy's in the big meadow west and south of the Institute. Boy is the grass getting high, it took me 10 minutes to spot the two coy's, and I may have missed one. Had a little delay on my way to the Tower Area. A black bear decided to cross the Yellowstone River Bridge from east to west, only took it a few minutes, but it wasn't in a hurry and didn't run to get across. Two black bears at the exit to the Gut Road above Tower. At 9:30 a.m. I found the grizzly sow with three coy's in Elk Antler in Hayden Valley. At 10:00 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly just south of the Grizzly Overlook. I then headed towards Tower and re-crossed Dunraven Pass around 2:00 p.m. the grizzly with two coy's was in the heavy timber just below the hiking trail to Mount Washburn. She eventually came out, tried to cross the road three times, but too many people, and was 10 yards from the new bathroom pullout when I left. At 8:00 p.m. I found the light cinnamon black bear at Lamar Canyon East again (saw it last weekend in the same area). The 06 female came out again and we lost her - I think she crossed the road at Slough Creek and headed up towards Secret Passage (probably following the two males still missing since this morning).

Sunday - 25 July

I could not find anything in Lamar, so stopped at Slough Creek. Found the two dark males and three of four pups in the rocky area west of the Diagonal Forest. At 6:30 a.m. there was a black bear at Calcite. At 6:45 a.m. I spotted a nice sized cinnamon black bear right off the road south of Dunraven Pass. The grizzly sow with two coy's wasn't out (but Doug Mc. came across about one hour later and she was just off the road near the Mount Washburn trail head). Only found one grizzly this a.m., probably the same grizzly I saw yesterday just south of the grizzly overlook.

Other News

The osprey chicks are getting bigger. Had three blue herons in Hayden and one flying in Slough Creek. A muskrat in Trout Creek. The big wolf news is that the Agate Pack has four puppies. Still on the backside of Specimen, viewed only from the plane so far. Lots and Lots of bison, and lots of jams mainly in Lamar Valley.

by John William Uhler

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