Contemplating the flow of life and change through living things, we make new discoveries about ourselves.
~Ansel Adams
I just returned from another wonderful trip to Yellowstone National Park. It is still beautiful, still magical, still a place you must reckon with and not take lightly. It is as it should be, wild.
Wolf watchers at Slough Creek (click photos to enlarge)
At times, it may not seem that way, especially in the some of the more popular spots like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Even my favorite part of the park that includes Little America and Lamar Valley, can be crowded with wildlife seekers, especially where there are wolves, as is the case this year at Slough Creek.
Shoreline of Yellowstone Lake at sunset
But, if you try, you can find a peaceful spot to just watch and listen as the natural world goes on about its business, seemingly uninterested by our comings and goings.
Sunset sky along Soda Butte Creek
You can pause and look at the sky, listen to water flowing by, and think about your place in this world.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Or marvel at the life and beauty in extreme environments, and ponder whether these conditions may exist elsewhere in our universe.
Bison cow and calf
You can spend time enjoying peaceful scenes like herds of bison with their newborn calves.
Coyote with playful pups at den site
Or watch the family life of predators like these coyote pups tugging at their parent’s tail or a group of nine wolf pups tussling in a grassy meadow. Scenes of predator and prey, sky and water, life and death, scenes of beauty, moments of peace, time to reflect…that is some of what an experience in a place like Yellowstone provides. It is something we need in times like these, what we all need, to help us see the good in the world, and in ourselves.
More peaceful scenes from Yellowstone, June, 2016…
Grand Geyser in eruption
Grizzly in Round Prairie
Black wolf of the Lamar Canyon pack near bison carcass
Mud pot bubble
Pronghorn doe in Little America
Reflections at Grand Prismatic Spring
Moose in Soda Butte Creek
Sugar Bowl, a type of clematis
Mule deer doe feeding in muddy spot in Lamar Valley
A group of baby Uinta Ground Squirrels
Bison along the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley
Trout Lake
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
And I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be
I go and lie down where the wood drake
Rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
Who do not tax their lives with forethought
Of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
Waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
~Wendell Berry
Roads End Naturalist 
This was so beautiful. Thank you for taking me from a stressful morning to the peace and tranquility of nature. I was at Old Faithful hotel a few years ago when a bison came right up to the geyser, with all those people around, and birthed a baby. It was so special. I felt so privileged.
Thank you, Marie. And thanks for sharing that story…what an amazing thing to witness!
Oh my!!!
When you’ve recovered and are ready for a beer, let’s meet in town and talk numbers? I met with Cotton yesterday. He shared that he’s particularly excited about offering consistent, smaller trips as well as a bi-annual yellowstone trip. I’ve explored student interest for a 2018 trip. It is high. With enough notice, they should be able to make it happen. I hope this still sounds worthwhile to you. The kids are so great, you’ll really enjoy them. I would manage the human needs, you would guide. I’ve been taking students on overnight trips for over 20 years, I’m good for it!
Congratulations on another season of Yellowstone!
Sonja
On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 7:32 AM, Roads End Naturalist wrote:
> roadsendnaturalist posted: “Contemplating the flow of life and change > through living things, we make new discoveries about ourselves. ~Ansel > Adams I just returned from another wonderful trip to Yellowstone National > Park. It is still beautiful, still magical, still a place you must” >
Thanks. Sent you an email so we can set a time to discuss.
Mike,
Thanks for the great memories! It has be 28 years – time to go back to Yellowstone.
Tad Einloth
Thanks, Tad. Anytime is the time to go back to Yellowstone:)