YELLOWSTONE, Wyoming 

TO CUSTER, South Dakota

Tazz and I hike up the hill to Mammoth from the campground

and we see ..... more wildlife

Magpie

Quick little critters

A true American Bison

Ground Squirrel (aka Prairie Dog)

GLOSSY IBIS

In good light, the stunning colours of this ibis are revealed:  deep maroon, emerald, bronze & violet.   This is a breeding adult.    They are nomadic birds, dispersing widely after nesting season.  

The glossy ibis is usually found along the east coast of the U.S. from Maine to Texas.  During winer they live in the Carolinas south to Florida.    Feeling fortunate to see one in this area.

Common Raven

Extremely smart birds:    They will work in pairs to raid seabird colonies, with one bird distracting an incubating adult and the other waiting to grab an egg or chick as soon as it's uncovered.  They have been witnessed during hunting season in Wyoming during a study, to investigate carcasses after hearing the sounds of gunfire.  They can mimic the calls of other bird species.  

FROM YELLOWSTONE TO CODY, WYOMING

We leave Yellowstone May 11 and head off to our destination - Custer (to see Mount Rushmore)

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***DISASTER UPDATE ON YELLOWSTONE PARK: 

 (JUNE 15TH

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Yellowstone is full of signs that volcanic activity is still very much alive below ground.    Bubbling, steaming and churning is this caldera (a Spanish word for large cooking pot).    

This mud pond is literally bubbling!

Billions of thermoacidophiles (microorganisms) thrive in the sulphur caldron.   They convert the hydrogen sulphide gas into sulfuric acid.   The sulphuric acid breaks soil and rock into mud, making this spring a very muddy pool. (the smell is strong of sulphur).

Yellowstone Lake is still frozen over.  

Understandable as the past few weeks have freezing temperatures at night (Highs of 45-60).   

This lake is the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park and at an elevation of 7,732 feet.    (19.88 miles long by 14.91 wide)

The largest wildfire recorded in history of Yellowstone National Park was in 1988.    Starting as many smaller fires, flames quickly spread out of control due to drought conditions and increasing winds.

September 8, 1988 the entire park was closed to all non-emergency personnel for the first time in history.  

Photo courtesy of wikipedia

More than 9,000 firefighters were assigned to the park and more than 4,000 U.S. Military personnel were brought in to assist.

North Fork Highway (Hwy 20)

Three hours and we arrive at Buffalo Bill State Park Campground, Cody, Wyoming

A beautiful and very quiet area along the Shoshone River.    Although it is reservation only, we had no difficulty getting a site.   There are various areas with separate campgrounds (some with full hook-up, we went with no hook-up as we stay only one night).    Only about four campers while we visit here.   An unusually quiet time for them this spring due to opening later and it has been colder than normal.

A boat launch just north of the campground (Buffalo Bill Reservoir) and popular fishing spots in and around the Buffalo State Park.

Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir

This Dam is named after the famous Wild West William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who founded the nearby town of Cody and owned much of the land now covered by the reservoir.

Built between 1905 and 1910.   At that time, it was the tallest dam in the world at 325 feet.

This large wood & concrete ball plug was one of two used to halt the flow of water through the 42" diameter power outlet works conduits at the base of the dam.   These balls facilitated the repair and maintenance of downstream works.   These balls were lowered into position where water pressure forced the balls against the openings, sealing off the flow of water during construction.

North of Buffalo State Park towards Powder Peak Pass

Miles and miles and miles of nothingness!   

We see this herd - assume they're wild horses

Then we head up the pass (this is a three hour trip from Buffalo State Campground to our next stop)

Kinda assessing as we go along .... starts hailing.   By this time, we are committed and thinking we may end up pulling off on a pull out for the night.

Wind fences - seeing these all along the grasslands (they keep the snow drifts from accumulating snow on the roadways)

Arrive at Lake De Smit, Wyoming for the night.   SUPER windy!!!!   This photo was taken the next morning when we pack up and leave towards Custer, Wyoming.

As we leave the campground, I snap a quick photo out of the truck window ---- all the pronghorns are lined up - waiting for us to leave as they make their way down the field to the lake.