Yellowstone and A Bear Story

This is my third and final post about Yellowstone National Park but today's story has a close encounter with bears.

On our final day trip to Yellowstone, we entered at West Yellowstone and headed to the northern area of Mammoth. (I didn't take this picture but it is gorgeous). Bet it makes you want to visit Mammoth!

Mammoth is the headquarters of the park and has some of the oldest buildings.

Mammoth Hot Springs are the main attraction of the area. These features are very different than the thermal areas elsewhere in the park. The hot water rises through the limestone, large quantities of rock are dissolved by the hot water and a white chalky mineral is deposited on the surface. 


Now, let me back up and tell you what happened on the way to Mammoth. You know in Yellowstone, anytime cars stop on the road, that usually means that a wild animal is somewhere in viewing distance. So everyone stops and gets out of their cars to see what's going on.

We come around a curve and there are two cars stopped ahead of us. So of course, my husband and our friend Jim jump out of the car and start moving forward for a look. As they were walking up, all of a sudden here comes a mamma bear out from the trees on the opposite side of the road. 


Wow, how exciting! My husband said he looked around and she was walking straight for him and Jim) and hubby was in the front. He said they starting backing up plus there were two cubs with mamma. No one wants to mess with a mamma and her cubs, RIGHT? 

Well, the guys were safe and mamma and two cubs walked on across the road. The two cubs climbed up a tree and mamma just meandered around the tree. We did get a few good pictures!!


The story of the bear ended on a bad note for Jim. He tripped and fell off the side of the road, although it was only a short drop off  his foot rolled and fractured a bone in his foot. (It really made for a good story to share with his family and friends in Kentucky.)
We put ice on his foot but he was tough and wouldn't go for an x-ray. Luckily it was our last day and he went to the ER when he returned home. Poor Jim, and their daughter's wedding was only a few weeks away (more on the wedding in another post).

I'll share another scenic photo from northern Yellowstone to leave you with positive thoughts about Yellowstone.



Thanks for stopping by for Yellowstone and A Bear Story - Judy.

Linking to:
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Metamorphosis Monday@ Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox

Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom

Oh the PLACES I've Been at The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday at Sunny Simple Life

20 comments:

  1. wow how cool is that to visit and see bears and even climbing up trees...I've got to see Yellowstone again someday

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a wonderful trip! Here in GA we see bears a lot coming down from the Appalachian Mountains, but it's still a thrill everytime I spot a little one...so cute!
    Cheers!
    Lori in Atlanta

    ReplyDelete
  3. Judy, these photos are gorgeous! Sounds like a wonderful place to visit. The bear story is one for the books!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the bear story. Sorry for the foot mishaps though :( I have a friend that would "die" to see a bear. We have been there on the motorcycles, and she kept her fingers crossed the whole trip, but no bear sitings. Thanks for sharing such a great trip with us.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks like you had a memorable trip to Yellowstone. Too bad about Jim's foot, but the bear pics are great. We visited Yellowstone in the 70s, but didn't see one bear. Thanks for sharing your visit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my goodness, what a story! Beautiful photos, but never worth a trip to the ER! I posted on Yellowstone this week as well. Isn't it just an amazing place?!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great story! I hope Jim's foot healed okay.

    I used to live in Banff, and had a bear encounter outside the condo I lived in. The bear was too interested in the dumpster to bother much with me, but it did get the adrenaline going!

    Thanks for posting Travel Photo Thursday.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fantastic story, Judy, until the part about the fall. I took a fall earlier this year, not fun. Jim sounds like a real sport though.
    Yellowstone is such a special place, one of these days....Thanks for sharing.

    http://insidejourneys.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! What an experience and an incredible story. You photos look fantastic!..Christine

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yellowstone looks beautiful! We were able to stop and watch some bears while driving though the Smoky Mountain National Park. It was quite a sight!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8:19 AM

    What beautiful shots! An unlucky way to end a vacation, but so glad that it was nothing worse.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I enjoyed the Yellowstone posts...I so love it there...and so sorry to hear about Jim's foot!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, that shot of the bear climbing the tree is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love Yellowstone, but we haven't been in years. That's quite a bear story. Thanks for the memories. Cherry Kay

    ReplyDelete
  15. seeing a baby bear means mom is not far behind, found that out when on a trip in marquette mi..
    Loved reading about your adventure and seeing the bears. Sorry to hear that Jim had to be hurt on the trip. Some great pictures you have posted.
    betsy

    ReplyDelete
  16. That is so pretty! I have never been to Yellowstone. The bear is a bit scary but what great photos you took!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great bear photos! Part of me would really hope for a close encounter but another part is scared that it'd be a little too close. I hope your husband gave everyone a good story for his injury.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great photos and story! I love Yellowstone! I grew up very close to Yellowstone and even worked up there one Summer! I love it!! What a glorious trip you have had!
    Jemma

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love how you saw the cub on the tree! They're so cute, even if you wouldn't want to run into one away from your car.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, that would have been scary -- tripping and falling as you are trying to make a "calm" get-away from Mamma Bear!

    ReplyDelete