just 'round the bend

1,443 words (but lots of photos too!)

 

I've written before about Yellowstone in the winter, if you read it, you know how much I like Yellowstone anytime that isn't the summer, and if you didn't read it then piss off (or just read it, yeah, that's probably better for both of us). Last Friday was no exception. You see, last Friday was the  VERY FIRST DAY YELLOWSTONE WAS OPEN FOR THE 2011 SEASON!!! That translates to not many people on the roads, which is quite nice In fact, there were ZERO cars at the West Yellowstone entrance, I've never seen this before. My friend and I went on a 48 hour 300 mile road trip from our town to Yellowstone town and back again. We stopped at many a place for photo ops and since we had no need to rush it was just that much more enjoyable.

 

Harrison, MT

We first set off heading west young man, which put us in Harrison, MT. If you've ever driven through Harrison, MT you probably noticed this old car with a tree growing out of it. In the summer it's got lots of leaves on it and it's really quite a pretty site, very juxtaposed indeed. But if you blinked then you missed the entire town, much like most small towns in Montana. I love that about this state.

 

Pony, MT

From Harrison, we continued south to the smaller still town of Pony, MT. It's a one way in and turn around sort of town. On the way in we saw a field of black cows with their assortment of different colored baby cows. Now, if you know me, you know I LOVE BABY COWS.

At the end of the road in Pony is the "Elling-Morris Mill". But, they probably just call it "the old mill". It was built in 1883 to pulverize quartz that had gold in it. Now all that stands are the walls, but it's a gorgeous old structure that will continue to stand until it just falls down. And when that happens, they will probably let it rest in peace. It's just one of those things in Montana that you really can't quantify, but seeing the old buildings throughout the state in various stages of collapse really helps me to appreciate all that the settlers dealt with and built. They had balls of steel and hearts of gold, or at least hearts that sought out gold in quartz that needed a good pulverizing. Thanks adventurers!

 

Not much to say about this, but I liked the old building and the "REX IS KING" just seemed cool to me.

 

Just past the "REX IS KING" building across the street and on a hill is this awesome steel horse. It overlooks the town and just has an awe about it. Awe, isn't it cool.

 

Norris, MT

Ok, it's not in Norris, but it's between Harrison and Norris. We pulled over so I could snap this landscape. I think I'll be getting a print made up of this one, it's just beautiful with the cows grazing in front of those snow capped mountains. It just spoke to me. "Take a picture Jeremy." So what the hell was I supposed to do, ignore nature speaking to me? Usually when nature calls it's to run to the bathroom, so this was a pleasant change.

 

Ennis, MT

This is the Madison Valley, just outside of Ennis, MT. One of more beautiful valleys I've seen. Those little chocolate sprinkles in the center is a herd of elk. This one of the bigger herds we saw. There were thousands in total, but if I zoomed out any further I'd be describing gnats from 100 yards out, not the easiest thing to see. The elk migrate through here into the higher elevations, it's good to see such strong numbers, they've been decimated by wolves in recent years. There is also a huge antelope population here, but I didn't get any pics of them. Sorry, they were just off to far, jeez, calm down man. Guess what, I also didn't take any stills of the antique shop we stopped at either, so there.

Just past the elk is a fort, I'm not kidding, this guy has built a fort with 20 foot walls. It comes with a butt load of keepsakes, like 50-80 snow mobiles and ATV's, plus, the kicker is the yellow truck on its side that reads "DANGER STAY OUT. NO TRES PASS". I'm not about to jump out to put another "S" on that thing man, he was building another structure, probably a place for him to keep the skulls of misspelling correctors. We're a dying breed, at least at this guys house. My friend and I joked that his fort is to keep the elk out of his garden, which could be very possible out there.

 

Earthquake Lake, MT

  Back on August 17th, 1959 a massive earthquake rocked this area. Luckily for us we weren't there, because there were a bunch of folks that were there and now they can never leave. The story is incredible, I highly recommend a quick history lesson on it. There's a very nice memorial that goes over what happened and you can buy junk too.

 
There's also a herd of big horn sheep that feel safe in the area and hang out pretty much year 'round.

 

West Yellowstone, MT

We decided to take the long way to West Yellowstone via Idaho. Man, they have so much snow out there still, it's incredible that anyone ever settled there. This guy parked his car at the beginning of winter in West Yellowstone and probably couldn't find it after a couple weeks and just left it.

This is the parking lot at one of the two local shops in town. The snow will continue to melt until it's gone. I know, it's science, give Bill Nye a call if you don't believe me.

 

THE PARK!!!

After we entered the park we came upon this single bull bison cruising across the river. This was new to me on two levels, I've never been this close to a bison in the water and I've never seen a bison with such a unique set of horns. My friend named him "Little Big Horn", which is perfect. The only impatient person in Yellowstone that day passed us quickly. Oh well, you'll just have to read about it now mr red truck.

Little Big Horn was just walking along the bottom of the very slow river (which never freezes because it's fed by geysers and such, again, ask Bill Nye about it when you talk to him and tell him I said hi).

I noticed him looking at the bank for a place to exit. He was looking just to my right, so I looked to my right and saw what he was aiming for. I moved over slightly and got him coming out of the water. He rose up and out with zero effort. He didn't shake off, he just came out and right towards me, like the close talker on Seinfeld. Exit stage left. This was one my favorite moments I've had in Yellowstone ever, I will have these hanging on my walls for sure.

 

   
We stopped for about an hour at Old Faithful for a timelapse (which is in this video I put together). I met a family from Tennessee and we talked for most of that hour. He setup right next to me for some photos. I showed him how to use his camera a little more efficiently too. I love talking to nice people that have a genuineness about them. Their 3 kids were very well behaved considering they were also on a monster road trip and had really stopped for food and a stretch. Their middle kid (in the red jacket) was playing with stick and rocks for most of the time we talked. He only stopped so I could snap a photo of them as a family in front of old faithful. When they were ready to leave I asked little red jacket if he even saw Old Faithful. He looked at his dad and said "what's that?" Good times.

This is part of the world's youngest petrified forest. Add this to this list of things to talk to Bill Nye about.

 

 

Paradise Valley, MT

The name is very fitting for this valley, but if they want a really accurate name for it, they should call it "The pretty place where the wind rarely stops and don't hit that deer on the highway valley".

 

I hope you enjoyed my trip, because I sure did! Here's the video I did for our trip too.

 

 

Comments

[Mel]

As everyone has already clearly stated, these photos are wonderful! I'm really glad Wil shared, too, 'cause your stuff is awesome! =D So you use a Nikon, then? What model? *curious* I have a D300S, my first Nikon (I had a Minolta previously, and a Sony p&s), definitely glad I went that route. =)

[Jpbagley]

This was great. I worked in the park during the Summer of 1998 and this brought back some great memories.

[Jeremy Wheaton]

Thanks for the awesome comments peoples of the world.

I didn't make it to Butte, it was way to the west, but I do enjoy that big ol' pit they have there. The graveyard is pretty neat too.

For those cow pics I used a Nikkor 18-200, zoomed in pretty much all the way. I was about 30-40' from them. Baby cows go "moo".

Big thanks to my big brother for the shoutout. I'm glad you all enjoyed this.

[Brian]

No pictures of Butte?!?! You missed its majestic beauty!

I grew up in Montana and one year while out gathering firewood, my dad and I stumbled upon someone's property way up in the mountains near Missoula. It had a lot of warning signs on its gate but the scariest one was one that read, "No entry!!! Trespassers will be violated!!"

Needless to say, we quickly put some distance between us and them.

[Michael Fey]

Great photos Jeremy! What lens and settings did you use to capture the baby cows? About how far away were you?

[Rabbitupnorth]

We followed a roughly similar route a few years back, but before the snow set in. Your perspective is fascinating. It shares the wonder at the brilliance of the natural beauty out there in Open Sky country. - Rabbitupnorth

[Jann M.]

Great post. Yellowstone is my favorite place on Earth and this brought it all back. Ty.

[KCKellyP]

Beautiful photos. Loved the backstory & video, too!

[KCKellyP]

Beautiful photos. Loved the backstory & video, too!

[Mika]

I'll bite -- what outstanding questions do you have about petrified forests? I'm not Bill Nye, but I am a geoscientist with an irrepressible need to answer any relevant science queries that pass nearby.

[karohemd]

Wonderful report but that photo of the bison coming out of the water is stunning (and scary).

[Wil]

I love this post! It's like talking to you on the phone.

And thanks for introducing me to Telekinesis!

I miss you, little brother.

[Jeremyshane]

Great photos man.
My family is planning a vac to Yellowstone next year - I hope I can get some shots this cool.