Day 4 - Out to Cody

We woke up early in order to drive from West Yellowstone to Fishing Bridge. We were hoping to spot the herd of elk we saw the night before.

Our trip started with "heavy" traffic.

We found the elk that we spotted the night before. The herd had about 30 elk in it, but they were spread throughout the field.

The Boss

After listening to a couple bugles we continued to our original destination for the day, the Pelican Valley Trail. This was the first trail I picked out and I am very excited to get started on this hike. The trail is 7 miles, long enough to feel like time was spent in the woods, but not long enough to be daunting. Little elevation change, and it's in a Bear Management area of the park! 

This sign wasn't in Yellowstone, it was at a boat ramp in Montana but it fit well here, and it's brighter than the ones that were in Yellowstone.

We were certainly going to see a bear today!

Or not...

While we were locking up the car the ranger came back from the trail to inform us of some bad news, she had to close the trail. There was a carcass near the trail which will attract predators and "we don't want anyone getting mauled," she explained in her Fargo accent. 

I really felt that I would prefer to take my chances. But we thanked her for her help and got back in the car. We decided we would drive east and just hike the next trail we came across....after the construction that we sat in for 30 minutes.....after the fire-scorched hillside...after the curvey-canyon roads...after the exit of the park...wait! We are out of the park and we didn't pass any other hikes? 

damnit!

So onward to Cody, Wyoming on the "Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway." We did see beautiful countryside. 

 

See the tiny blue dot in this next picture? That is Shawn. Just to give you an idea of how bits of the mountain range just pop up. It's so different than Washington, how we have gradual inclines, or trees to hide the formations. In Wyoming, you're on a flat plain and then suddenly, a wall of mountain jutting 1000's of feet towards the sky.

I was shocked at how desolate the area is. When Shawn pointed out that there was a cactus at this viewpoint I didn't believe him until I saw it with my own eyes.

We didn't do much in Cody. The Cowboy Inn was very very comfortable and friendly. 

A bunny was living under the porch!