Settling in at Wilson - May 4th to 8th

We took another drive into the Grand Teton National Park on Sunday, May 4th. Saw this beautiful red tailed hawk on our way there. It looked like this raptor took a page out of the coyote's hunting book. He walked along the ground and pounced periodically to find it's prey. Not your typical red tail hawk style.

Back in the Park!

The Jackson Lake Dam, in the distance, sits below the Teton Mountain Range next to Jackson Lake.

Mount Moran

I'll photograph just about anything that moves.

Happy locals!

When I got out of the car back at Moose Point Lodge, I turned to look through the trees, across the valley. Even before I had closed the car door, I spotted a moose!

We drove down to our Park and went for a quick walk to see if we could find it.

Voila! (It wasn't very difficult.)

She spotted us, too.

"Seriously, haven't you EVER seen a moose eat?!"

This is what a ticked off moose looks like. Ears back - look out. But, this wasn't our first rodeo. We recognized this body language quickly and left this hungry cow alone to feed on the willows. (Before she charged us!)

"Well, what did you expect? You came into MY house uninvited, while I was having dinner. How would you like it?"

On our way back to the truck, we spotted a pair of mergansers swimming in a spring creek. Apparently, they don't like interruptions, either.

May 5th - Cinco de Mayo. We hiked down to the Park behind the house and guess who we spotted immediately? Our new "friend" the cow moose, still in the general vicinity where we had spotted her the day before. She was too close to the trail for us to continue, so after a few photos, we turned around and went the other way.

The only other foot traffic we saw on that hike were these guys.

Spring is coming!!! The aspens are starting to leaf out!

But, not so fast . . . that evening, it started to snow.

It snowed all night, but not much stuck to the ground. By morning on the 6th, it was gone and we had this beautiful sunrise.

Turn about IS fair play. It was our turn for an uninvited intruder. A moose made it's way through the brush at the front of our property and came on in to OUR yard.

Her first stop, the greenery starting to grow in the flower bed by some of the daffodils.

Don spoke harshly to her and told her she couldn't eat the new plant growth. She stopped munching and pondered the insults he directed at her.

If looks could kill!!!

Defeated, she wandered down to the driveway . . . but paused, and looked at us again.

Then she remembered this was HER yard before we arrived on April 26th and as far as she was concerned, this guy had no jurisdiction over the plants. She pivoted and headed back to the flower bed. It's called Moose Point Lodge for a reason. A lodge. Lodging and dining, right?

Back to her flower bed. "Now, where was I?"

She started grazing again.

After Don hurled a few more insults her way, she meandered back over to the driveway and left, down over the bank towards Geoff's house to see what was growing in his yard. He's not here this time of year.

Later, we hiked down to the Park again and spotted a white tailed deer.

That evening, a moose (the moose?) came back and got her revenge. (Actually they all look pretty much alike. We're not sure this is the same gal, but it could very well be.)

She didn't stop to eat anything, but she did manage to trample some of the new plant growth. "Ha! Serves him right." I'm sure she thought to herself!

On the wall behind our bedroom deck, the camera picked up a fox that night, too.

Early in the morning on May 7th, we heard a boisterous bald eagle in a pine tree behind the house. It was a perfect shot from our bedroom deck, so I set up my camera & tripod and started shooting.

Don decided to head down behind the house for a little fishing. I stayed home, catching up and looking for wildlife here. That's all it takes. Me and my camera at the house & he caught a nice cutthroat trout!

Look at the mouth on this guy!

And a second whopper! Good thing he is so proficient with his cell phone. Nice selfies! Nice fish!

Later, the view behind our house. We're putting in some time soaking in the hot tub. It's cool outside and the water is great. So is the view!

May 8th, we decided to take a drive. Turned left out of our driveway and left again onto Fall Creek Road. A couple of miles down the road, Don spotted a sandhill crane.

Later that day, we packed sandwiches for lunch and headed to hike part of the Old Pass Road, which is a short dive from our house. Until the current highway, Wyoming 22, was built in 1969, the Old Pass Road connected Wilson to Victor, Idaho. Construction on OPR began in 1913, as a wagon road. It opened to traffic in 1918 and was widened in 1928. In 1969, the current highway was completed and OPR was decommissioned. Today it is a multi-use paved route for non-motorized vehicles, including bike riders, dog walkers and hikers.

We parked in the Trail Creek Lot located at elevation 6,497 and started up the road. Destination: Crater Lake - elevation 7,167. A little over a mile away . . . but, straight up!

Equipped with a camera & bottle of water

Transporting water and the most precious cargo . . . peanut butter & jelly sandwiches!

It was a great day! Cool & sunny. And very few people on the trail.

Then, patches of snow began to take over the road.

Pretty little snow-melt water fall along the way.

Finally! Crater Lake!!!

Looks like a bear print in the snow along the lake.

Maybe?

It was a little too cold to eat lunch there, so we decided after a couple of photos, to hike back down and we'd have lunch in our Park. Picnic tables and less chance of a bear encounter!

We returned to our Park and hiked to the picnic tables, another mile long round trip, but no elevation change. We enjoyed our sandwiches and saw a beautiful bald eagle on our way back to the truck.

We had a very busy evening that night, planning and packing for our overnight trip to Yellowstone on the 9th. Two full days in the Park and one night in Gardiner. We were really looking forward to it. Wonder what exciting things we'd see. Stay tuned to find out.

Until then, take good care and have a wonderful week.

Love, Barbara & Don