{"id":2820,"date":"2016-10-08T06:51:10","date_gmt":"2016-10-08T06:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacknoen.com\/\/?p=2820"},"modified":"2018-08-21T14:02:46","modified_gmt":"2018-08-21T14:02:46","slug":"to-moose-or-not-to-moose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacknoen.com\/be\/to-moose-or-not-to-moose\/","title":{"rendered":"To moose or not to moose?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that really was the question. In Canada we had only seen one young animal on the side of the road, which really isn’t the same as spotting a big female moose, let alone a giant moose bull.\u00a0Our chances to spot one of those were getting slim, because we were starting to head south. So we crossed our fingers and hoped we would get lucky in the USA.<\/p>\n

We crossed the border in North Dakota. Seemed that all the stress of having severe interrogations and car searching had been redundant. The officer asked some basic questions about us and our trip and made sure we didn’t have any fresh vegetables or fruit with us. We got our passports stamped and payed six dollars each to get in the country.<\/p>\n

The first few hours we drove through country land that was very similar to Manitoba, so we could get used to the new road signs, using miles instead of kilometers.<\/p>\n

\"_img5776\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"North <\/a>
North Dakota <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Our first stop was in Grand Forks to do some groceries and get gas. Now getting gas for the first time in a new country always causes a little stress, because of different habits and paying possibilities. Seems that sometimes you can even pay with the European Maestro, and other times you have to get inside the shop to pay with your foreign Visa or Master card, because you have to enter a ZIP code at the pump.<\/p>\n

Our first impression of an American town, wasn’t the best and we were happy to drive on towards Yellowstone, a National Park.<\/p>\n

We drove to a camp spot near a lake, Jan had booked the night before. As we arrived we saw we had the place to ourselves. We cooked a quick meal and watched a movie as we snuggled into our sleeping bags, because autumn was really setting in.<\/p>\n

\"lakeside\" <\/a>
lakeside <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

The next morning the never ending vast fields kept going on for quite a while, as suddenly the landscape changed drastically. We pulled over and found out that we had arrived in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It promised some interesting landscapes, prairie dogs, wild horses and buffalo. We decided to go and take a look, so sooner then planned we bought our Annual Pass, providing access to most of the parks in the USA, which we got from our friends of the photography class at home. Guys, thank you so much again!<\/p>\n

\"drastic <\/a>
drastic landscape change <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Buffalo <\/a>
Buffalo at information center <\/div> <\/div>
\"prairie <\/a>
prairie dogs <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"autumn <\/a>
autumn is coming <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"beautiful <\/a>
beautiful rock formations <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"wild <\/a>
wild horse <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"wild <\/a>
wild horse <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"autumn <\/a>
autumn valley <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Now we really did get what we had came for. We drove the scenic loop road and enjoyed the wildlife. When we were almost back, we saw a traffic jam in the opposite direction, which we found pretty odd on such a small road. Seemed that a herd of buffalo was blocking the road, deciding which meadow to go to for the afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"buffalo <\/a>
buffalo doubting where to go <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"oh <\/a>
oh oh…our direction apparently <\/div> <\/div>
\"huuuge <\/a>
huuuge head! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Being very pleased with this unexpected park, we drove on to a free parking spot Jan had found. He uses the website www.freecampsites.net<\/a> to do so. Handy if you want to limit your expenses while traveling. We were not the only ones using this site and shared the hidden parking with a man from Texas and a woman from Utah. The moon was full, which would have been great for some bear spotting, alas, none showed up.<\/p>\n

\"leaving <\/a>
leaving T. Roosevelt Park <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"leaving <\/a>
leaving T. Roosevelt Park <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Driving over the Beartooth Pass to get to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone, was a good idea. We passed some exciting views and Jan enjoyed driving up the hairpin bends to a height of 3337 meters, the most elevated place we would get to in the States. There were strong wind gusts and some fresh snow covered the highest meadows already. (Today, October 8th, the pass is already closed for public).<\/p>\n

\"getting <\/a>
getting to the top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"getting <\/a>
getting to the top <\/div> <\/div>
\"fresh <\/a>
fresh snow <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Brr! <\/a>
Brr! Shorts on 3337 meters isn’t the best idea! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"wooooooow\" <\/a>
wooooooow <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

When we drove down Beartooth highway we entered Yellowstone. It welcomed us with wide yellow meadows where buffalo herds grazed in the soft morning light and a coyote was trying to catch his breakfast.<\/p>\n

\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone meadow <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone meadow <\/div> <\/div>
\"Coyote <\/a>
Coyote hunting <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Yellowstone is pretty easy to visit. There are some hot spots which you should certainly go to. We started with the Mammoth Hot Springs and visited the town afterwards where an elk family was entertaining the tourists.<\/p>\n

\"Mammoth <\/a>
Mammoth hot springs <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mammoth <\/a>
Mammoth hot springs <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mammoth <\/a>
Mammoth hot springs <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Also <\/a>
Also spot the other elk in the background <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Afterwards we drove to the big Yellowstone Canyon, where we understood where the Park’s name originated from. On the way we spotted a black bear with her two cubs!<\/p>\n

\"Yellowstone\" <\/a>
Yellowstone <\/div> <\/div>
\"Black <\/a>
Black bear with cubs <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone Canyon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone Canyon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone Canyon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone Canyon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

On our way to our campsite, we passed Yellowstone Lake which is a part of the huge crater of the Caldera Volcano.<\/p>\n

\"Caldera <\/a>
Caldera crater <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Buffalo <\/a>
Buffalo Calfs fooling around. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

On our second day in Yellowstone we visited the big geothermal areas with among other things the Old Faithful Geyser.<\/p>\n

\"Yellowstone <\/a>
Yellowstone Lake <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Old Faithful <\/div> <\/div>
\"Geothermal <\/a>
Geothermal area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Geothermal <\/a>
Geothermal area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Geothermal <\/a>
Geothermal area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Geothermal <\/a>
Geothermal man <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"selfie <\/a>
selfie time <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ow <\/a>
Ow yeah! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Nice!\" <\/a>
Nice! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Old <\/a>
Old Faithful <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Old <\/a>
Old Faithful <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Old <\/a>
Old Faithful <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

The weather turned bad in the afternoon and Jan had to be resourceful to stay dry while cooking. He was very fortunate we were in bear country, so he could find shelter in the bear proof locker on our camp spot.<\/p>\n

\"resourceful <\/a>
resourceful Jan <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Buffalo <\/a>
Buffalo bull <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

We continued to drive southbound, so we entered Grand Teton National Park the following morning. It was stunning. First we made some pictures from the side of the road, and early in the afternoon we decided to hike the Hermitage Point Trail, which would take us 5 hours to loop.<\/p>\n

\"Grand <\/a>
Grand Teton <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Grand <\/a>
Grand Teton <\/div> <\/div>
\"beaver <\/a>
beaver house <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jan <\/a>
Jan navigating <\/div> <\/div>
\"hermitage <\/a>
hermitage point <\/div> <\/div>
\"magnificent <\/a>
magnificent view <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"enjoying <\/a>
enjoying the walk in bear country <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"No <\/a>
No moose here? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Or <\/a>
Or here? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Not <\/a>
Not even here? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"And <\/a>
And not even at sunset? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

At sunset we drove to the National Forest nearby to camp at a lower rate than in the Park itself. It was beautiful and we decided to stay for two nights. So we bought some firewood and enjoyed the morning with some hot coco and coffee.<\/p>\n

\"fall <\/a>
fall in Grand Teton <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"sunset\" <\/a>
sunset <\/div> <\/div>
\"sunset\" <\/a>
sunset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"hihi\" <\/a>
hihi <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"mormon <\/a>
mormon barn <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My deer! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cowboys <\/a>
Cowboys in Grand Teton <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"aaaaah <\/a>
aaaaah those colors! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Our last day in the area and so our last chance on spotting a big moose had come. We decided to walk towards Phelps Lake. (The lake where the family lived that donated a big part of their land to the country, which became Grand Teton National Park. They even moved their house to another spot, so nature would stay intact around Phelps Lake.)<\/p>\n

As we arrived at the trail start, we were immediately alert!<\/p>\n

\"Fresh <\/a>
Fresh grizzly poop! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

A huge and fresh grizzly poop obstructed the path. Some of the walks were closed due to bear activity. Notwithstanding, even I enjoyed the hike and was quite relaxed, ringing my bear bell just once in a while.<\/p>\n

\"Phelps <\/a>
Phelps Lake <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"arty <\/a>
arty farty <\/div> <\/div>
\"cool <\/a>
cool rock <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"even <\/a>
even cooler rock <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"beautiful <\/a>
beautiful squirrel <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"bear <\/a>
bear country <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

When we reached the lake, we crossed some people, telling us a woman was scared to death, because a grizzly crossed her path. I asked them where that happened, and of course it occurred on a path where we were heading. We both got really excited and rang our bear bell a little more often and started talking and singing like we had never done before. The bear must have heard, because we didn’t cross paths with him. Fiew!<\/p>\n

We got back to our car, feeling a little relieved and drove to our forest, as suddenly…<\/p>\n