Epic Yellowstone

 Grizzly cubs stick together while exploring the mountains around Hellroaring Creek. Mom was still groggy from hibernation. 

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T-shirt weather greeted my brother and me on our arrival to the park in late April with highs in the low 70s. And then the temperatures dropped and it snowed eight inches.

Mule deer stay alert for danger while crossing the sagebrush hills outside Gardiner, Montana.

A little knobby-kneed bison gets up to nurse in the snow-covered meadows of the Lamar Valley. Baby bison are called red dogs for their coloration and their playful antics.

A blonde fox patrols her territory around Cooke City, Montana.

I got to photograph foxes in the snow, which is a dream. But I totally screwed up the exposure compensation. I was worried about blowing out the pics because of all the white snow. Instead, the images ended up being muddy and dark. 

I like spending time with bison. Their faces are weirdly humanlike, which probably contributed to the mythological minotaur. 

The sagebrush flats outside Gardiner are full of western meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds.

The steam from a geyser forms ice crystals in the lea of an evergreen bush in the 20-degree chill. It was beautiful.

A blue or dusky grouse was a very cooperative photo subject. I hope I captured his good side.

I saw four moose on my last day. They were pretty scarce along the Lamar Valley.

Most small animals are still hunkered down in their dens in April, but a few ground squirrels ventured out. This one had some strong words to share. Yes, I have a permit to park here!

I was keen to photograph pronghorn antelope. They are a reliable photo subject in the Lamar Valley. These are the fastest animals in North America.

Two bucks spar in the dirt in the Lamar Valley. Their white patches easily get blown out in even diffuse light, making them tricky photo subjects.

The snow came down pretty hard one afternoon, but I was undeterred. I love photographing wildlife in the snow!

I wanted to capture the snow-faced bison of Yellowstone! So much fun.

I like this photo even if the bison is partially obscured by the snowy bushes in the foreground.

Young bison play in a meadow in the Lamar Valley. These two were probably born the same week years ago. Friends now, they will play for keeps as adults.

Wraith Falls features a beautiful cascade of water from melting snow in the spring. Reaching the overlook required a careful scramble over the icy steps! I'm as nimble as a broken stepladder.

We got to see some bighorn ewes on the east side of the Lamar Valley. We glassed the high cliffs hoping to see mountain goats, but they blended in too well with all the snow.

Snow and fog give the mountains a moody aspect in the morning light.

Roosevelt Arch greeted us every day as we left Gardiner to enter the park. What an amazing landmark!

An American black bear grazes along the park road. Another photographer was cramping my style, so I didn't linger. I was using my car as a blind to photograph the bear when he set up in front of me. Not cool, dude.

I had hoped to get my lens on winter wolves during my visit, but the only wolves I saw were 2 miles away through a spotting scope. This busy coyote was more cooperative.

I spent a little time with some pretty cow elk atop the ridges overlooking Gardiner one evening. The bulls look completely ridiculous in their half-grown antlers, so I spared them the indignity of photographing them.

A mama grizzly and her two cubs wander the hills around Hellroaring Creek. This family of bears was the highlight of my visit. I got to see them on four consecutive days.