Sightings

The first sighting that we had was while traveling to Great Falls. It was a herd of around fifty elk just off the road and about twenty miles before we got to Lincoln. It was strange to see them this low, however there was lots of grass for them to eat.

In Great Falls we visiting relatives and went for a walk along the Missouri River with my brother and sister-in-law. I had never seen the river this high at this time of year. There was also lots of water going over the dams and falls. This is Black Eagle Falls and Dam.

Like other places in Montana, the grass was high here also.

We went by Giant Springs on our hike. It is as beautiful as ever with very clear water. It has been decided that the water that comes bubbling out here originated in the Belt Mountains several years before reappearing here.
We drove out to Ryan Dam and falls. We went onto the island and saw this. I was to this island several times while I was in college. Usually this is a quiet and inviting place to visit. The upper end of the island is higher and usually blocks the noise from the falls, but not now. There is too much water in the Missouri for that.
I was shocked when I saw Smelter Hill as it is much different than when I was in college. It closed it's doors, took out all the buildings and homes. The smelter company use to decorate the pine trees at Christmas with colored lights. You could drive a car through them or look at it's beauty reflected in the river when on the opposite bank. Now that is gone along with the pine trees.

From Great Falls we went south to see two other brothers, who live in Livingston, and their wives.

I also took in my class reunion. When we drove up to the building Saturday evening where we were going to eat, I sighted all these old people standing around outside. I guess I must look as old as them as I realized that they were some of my classmates. Once I got over to them though, they looked much younger. It was good to see them and find out how things are going for them.

Our next sightings occurred on our way to and in Yellowstone Park. We took a day trip there with one of my brothers. We saw a couple foxes on the way. The only elk that we saw were in Mammoth.
These two were ready for a nap after an early morning of eating. There use to be lots of herds in the park but the wolves have taken care of that. There are very few calves.

We stopped at Geyser basin and the canyon. There was lots of water going over the falls and downstream. Of course, the Yellowstone River was still up in Livingston but not as high as it had been. Although we have gone floating in it in early July in years past, I would not want to do that now.


We saw lots of bison, especially in the Lamar Valley. There were even pronghorns with them.


This one was at the end of a very full Lake Yellowstone.
We also saw mountain goats using binoculars. They were east of Lamar Valley up on the side of a steep mountain.

The best sighting was probably the last thing that we looked at. We saw it on our way back from looking at the goats. We had seen people stopped when we first went past this area. One of our party members, I won't name names but he has seen more of these, thought it was an elk and that we could look when we came back. It was closer when we first went by. When we got back, it had wondered on down on the other side of the stream so it was further away.

It was the first time that I have seen a live grizzle. There was a stream between us. We didn't have sightings any other bears or wolves.

One of my brothers had a friend who needed to move some cattle up to mountain pasture. So we got up early and helped. B and my brother walked behind and I went in front in the truck to flag as we were on roads all of the way. While waiting at different times for the herd to catch up, I sighted a good old Montana jack rabbit. I also saw three doe deer down in a valley. While I was watching the does a five point white tail came up alongside of the truck and just the other side of the fence, stopped to look at me, and then took off for the trees in the bottom. I didn't have my camera out so I didn't get a picture of him.

I hope that you are having interesting sighting during your summer.