October 4

Gardiner to Lake Butte via Canyon and Fishing Bridge, back over Dunraven. The upper loop and Lamar Valley with Staci..

Started off pretty much like yesterday, just a half hour later. Filled up at the Conoco and headed into the park.

It was still dark going through Mammoth. My headlights picked up a herd of elk, and a huge bull was bedded down right on the side of the road, not bothered by me at all.

I took the same route as yesterday, but today I had a goal: get out to Lake Butte and see if there were any bears. The drive out was less foggy than yesterday. Quick pit stop at Canyon, then down toward Fishing Bridge, where the fog came back. It was 25 degrees. I took a few pictures of the sun trying to get through it.

At Fishing Bridge I realized my camera battery was back at the hotel, sitting in the charger. Dang. So it's all iPhone this morning.

From there I drove out to Lake Butte Overlook. One of my best friends was waiting for me there. A raven greets me every time I come to Yellowstone, and this one sat on a dead snag over the lake and practically asked for his picture.

Just past the overlook I found what I came for. A grizzly was working through the deadfall below Lake Butte. He was a ways off, but he looked up long enough for me to get a picture.

Then I started back. Same as yesterday, over Dunraven Pass to Tower Falls, then to Mammoth and down to Gardiner. Not much animal action on the way. Still a very pleasant fall drive.

After a break at the hotel we went back out and drove the upper loop again. Not much wildlife this afternoon. We ended the day in Lamar Valley, where I went after the fall color instead. The cottonwoods out there are about as yellow as they get right now, lined up across the valley floor against the dark hillsides.