September 4, 2014
Surf and turf!
The day started out clear and cold. I
had to scrape the frost from the truck windshield before I could
leave camp. I got out to the Soda Butte area just in time to see the
wolves bedding down. OK, that wasn't my main purpose, anyway.
So I went back to camp and got ready to
go fishing. I changed into lighter clothes, made a sandwich and
mixed up some gatorade. Then it was off to the Specimen Ridge
trailhead for the hike into the Sulfur beds on the Yellowstone River.
The hike in is pretty easy, but the hike out is tough. 400 foot
climb in about 1/3 of a mile. It averages a 25% grade.
Once in, I moved downstream to the
treas and, in the shade rigged up. I got lots of bites and looks,
but couldn't catch anything for a long time. I kept moving
downstream where there are lots of big boulders and pools ans still
the same thing – lots of strikes, but couldn't catch anything.
Finally, after about an hour, I started to catch some. I got 6
total, 2 were 18 inches, 2 were 12 and 2 were 10 inches long. I also
had 2 that broke my line.
After finishing in that area, I packed
up and headed upstream towards the logjam area about ½ mile away.
Right where the trail comes down to the river was a family fishing
with a guide. I talked to the guide and he said he wasn't planning
to go up, so I kept going.
About halfway, though, I changed my
mind. The first part of the hike is across an old thermal area with
nothing growing. Then there is a short stretch of thin forest that
gives way to a grassy flat area that goes all the way to the logjam.
Soon after I came out of the forest, I looked up and saw a dead bison
on the trail. There wasn't any animal around it, but I wasn't going
to get any closer. So, I turned around and went back, climbed up the
hill an went back to the trailhead. My fishing day was done.
Back in camp after a shower and early
microwaved dinner, I decided to see about getting a photo of the
Lamar Canyon wolf pack. They are the only regularly seen wolves that
are any where near close enough for a reasonable photo. Once there,
I met Josh, a fellow I had met here back in June. He is also doing
photography and had the same idea. So, we sat and talked and the
wolves never showed up where we were. They were seen briefly about a
mile further down the valley, but by then, the light was gone and it
was too far, anyway.
The only adventure of that part of the
day was a group of bison decided to cross the road right where we
were parked and come right between the cars:
We were all moving behind cars or
getting in them as they were in front of us, behind us, and in the
road. They moved on, though and quiet returned.
Hey Dennis, sounds like you are seeing lots of wolves. One and a half miles seems a long way off, even for your equipment. Tell me about the scope you are interested in purchasing from Doug. What is the brand, and how does it compare to your current equipment? What will Doug buy to replace it?
ReplyDeleteMay your remaining viewing days be sunny, with a carcass around every bend!
It's a Swarovski ATX-95. Doug is a dealer, so he's not replacing it. It's sharper image than mine, it's about 45% brighter, so it works in low light better, it's more contrasty, so it appears sharper, it'll zoom to 70 power - mine only goes to 60, it'll focus well at 70 power, mine only focuses well out to 45 or so. And it has a camera adapter. That's important - Doug takes all the photos they use for the wolf charts and he does it with a point and shoot through this model scope. They really work well, but a DSLR will work better.
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