Greetings from Yellowstone

[swalker]

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement and kind comments about my photography. It really makes a difference.

Here are a few selfish shots of geyser gazing from the other day.

Steve

 

[swalker]

Yesterday I got up early and went looking for wildlife. I found a grizzly sow with 3 of this year's cubs. They were very cute. Unfortunately about a half hour after these pictures were taken a male grizzly separated the Cubs from their mother. We are still waiting to hear if he killed them, which commonly happens.

Steve

 

[affected]

Those bear shots are brilliant Steve.
Then to know that maybe already those cubs are gone is very sad. Nature is something that fascinates me. The utter savagery of survival when compared against some of the most delicate and incredible beauty just draws me in and always has from my youngest memories.

Bring on all the photos and stories you can manage to share with us!

 

[ShiftKicker]

Absolutely beautiful shots of the cubs. Particularly the one where the cubs are standing on their hind legs and using mum as a prop. While it's terrible to think the male may have killed them, it is good to remember that there are still places where nature can take its course without human interference.

Terrific photography, Steve. Many thanks for posting these.

 

[Gorby]

Thanks for sharing the photos. My hubby has always wanted to do a road trip to Yellowstone. But, our last trip (Vancouver to Calgary) was a bit of a disaster. Even on vacation it is hard to get him to stop to see the sights. Some kind of testosterone-fueled instinct kicks in when he is behind the wheel that makes him want to get from A to B as quickly as possible. Anyway Yellowstone looks beautiful, but judging from your jacket, still cold this time of year.

 

[swalker]

We spent the day at the Tetons yesterday and I was able to spend some quality time in my wheelchair on the bike path that runs from moose to jenny lake. It was in the 60s, but I still needed my flannel shirt, fleece jacket, down jacket, and gloves.

Here are some pictures.

 

[pittsburghgal]

Thanks so much for the great photos, Steve. You have transported me to another place through your pictures and descriptions and for that I am truly grateful.

Sharon

 

[swalker]

Early in our trip Lori and I took a stroll along 5he Madison river by our campground. I was very interested to see if the x4 wheelchair could handle a steep section of the trail. It barely made it up it, but it did get up it. Pretty exciting

Steve

 

[ShiftKicker]

Steve, I admit to curiosity about the survival of those cubs. Did you hear anything more?

 

[swalker]

No real update on the cubs. There was a sow with 2 cubs spotted 5 to 7 miles north, but that is unlikely to be them. I will post if we hear or see anything.

Steve

 

[avnl]

Thanks for the pictures. What kind of telephoto lens were you using? I cannot imagine you being too close to a mama bear and her cubs. Looks like you are having great weather. Hope your sharing continues.
Anna

 

[swalker]

I use a nikon 600mm f4 vr lens on a nikon d700 camera. I often use a 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter, giving an effective focal length of 840mm and 1020mm, respectively.

I feel very blessed to be able to have and use such magnificent equipment.

Of course, I always dream of getting even better equipment. Nikon has a new version of my lens and their newly-released cameras have me drooling.

Steve

 

[gooseberry]

Steve, you guys didnt rescue the bison calf did you? Couldnt believe the pic of it in the van. So sad they had to euthanize it. Hope you see many more beautiful sights.

 

[ShiftKicker]

It was Canadians. So Embarrassing. There were 3 Canadians who also hopped into a restricted area to get footage of themselves next to some highly sensitive mineral pools as well. Not our finest week.

 

[gooseberry]

The m8neral pools and surrounding wet areas are highly acidic