The week of May 10-14 was particularly busy for the HP and The Dude, and we weren’t able to find time to fully prepare for our departure.  So it was that we did not head out on May 15, 2010, until about 14:00 MST.   Our route would take us north from SLC through northern Utah and through Idaho along I15 to Idaho Falls.  At Idaho Falls, the route continues north along Idaho Highway 20 to West Yellowstone, MT.   The travel distance between SLC and West Yellowstone is about 320 miles, and the route can be covered easily in under five hours, assuming that there are no traffic delays.

Just a few minutes after passing through the west entrance of the park, the West Entrance Road meets the Madison River and tracks along it eastward to Madison Junction.  In the region between the west entrance of the park and Madison junction you are likely to encounter, buffalo, eagles, elk, and mule deer along the river banks, and ducks, osprey, and trumpeter swans in the river itself.

The image above of an eagle about to take flight was recorded at about 19:05 MST on May 15, 2010, using the Nikon D300 and the AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens at 300mm (450mm FX equivalent).  Exposure was f/8 at 1/2500s, ISO 800.  Handheld.  Minimal processing.  This eagle is the mate of the eagle tending the next from the June 19, 2010 entry.  The perch where this eagle is lifting off is about 20 meters west of the nest.  Although both the nest snag and this perch lie about 75 meters from the banks of the Madison River, the road lies in between, making this a compromise nesting spot.

The image above of a buffalo drinking from the Madison River was recorded at about 19:15 MST on May 15, 2010, using the Nikon D300 and the AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens. at 300mm.  Exposure was f/8 at 1/400s, ISO 800.  Handheld.

Through the application of her usual unfailing tenacity, the HP  had managed to book reservations for three nights nights in the Old Faithful Inn at short notice.  No matter what you may have read or heard about the place, you are unprepared for its rustical elegance.    The main lobby is unforgettably open and spacious, with a floor to ceiling distance of about 65 ft.  The original inn was built in 1903-1904, and additional wings were added in 1915 and 1927.  There are currently 327 rooms, with a wide variety to layouts, from premium suites to rooms with no bath (down the hall sort of thing, nope).  We stayed in the east wing, room 3008 – an excellent room and location in the inn.

Copyright 2010 Peter F. Flynn. No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.