(Yellowstone Trip - June 9 to June 24, 2000 - Part 5 )
Wednesday, June 14, 2000

Morning people we are not!  We rose at 5 a.m., and moving at our fastest pace we didn't reach the Lamar valley until around 6:00. By that time, the sun was out and the day had begun! We squeezed into a spot off the road and joined the throng of wolf-watchers.  We saw #21 at the same kill as Monday night, then #105 arrived, with the "saddleback" yearling in the neighborhood. When #21 left (what a big dog – clearly the alpha!), everyone expected him to be heading for the den, so most folks (and we) headed back down the valley and waited to see him cross the road. Standing around chatting, we met more loons (John D and Jennifer) and shared news and other sightings. While waiting and waiting, we saw a coyote in the distance with three puppies. We were so glad to have our spotting scopes!
We gave up on the Druids and decided to drive the Beartooth highway, after a stop for breakfast. We saw nothing inviting in Silver Gate. So we went on to Cooke City, deciding on the Soda Butte Lodge & Prospector Restaurant – where we find Charles, and his friends Gillian, and Marty! Long time no see! We join them in a long and lively conversation over pancakes and eggs about lots people (loons) we haven't actually met!
Bidding farewell to our fellow loons, 
we headed east, past a pretty waterfall…
… and past a road sign reading "Open Range – Expect Cows on the Road" – mighty strange sights for city slicker John. (There was something about this sign we found really funny at the time - could have had something to do with having gotten up at 5:00 in the morning!).
As we passed "Top of the World" we saw lots of snow and frozen lakes. Along the road we saw marmots and more marmots and a couple of "ravenburgers" (road kills). Yesterday we saw our first marmot and now we've seen a gazillion!  Carol drives all the switch backs to the crest – well above the tree line, for some spectacular views.
After we started losing elevation, but well before Red Lodge, we stopped at Rocky Point Vista for more great views. We greeted the local marmot, then spied 4 bighorn ewes in the distance with two lambs on a promontory. Well, trust us; those white specks near the top of that point are bighorns! They were a lot bigger in the spotting scope!  Then we spied some more activity on another promontory further away, so we returned to parking area for a better view.  After hunting and squinting through both scopes and binoculars, we found two adult mountain goats and a kid. (A fourth white spot never moved, and with increased magnification had begun to resemble a "goat" rock.) 
On the way back to Yellowstone, we watched some spring skiers taking advantage of the last remaining snows - elevation 10,000 + ft.  The weather started to look a little ominous, so we didn't watch for long.
After a great drive with beautiful scenery (as expected) and more wildlife (not expected) we headed home happy, stopping at Cooke City for milkshakes, and Yellowstone River Picnic Area to see the same black bear as yesterday. After an early dinner at Roosevelt, we returned to the Lamar valley, and saw Charles and company again. But no business tonight – no wolves, no coyotes, no bears.
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