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Statistics: Posted by pugman170 — Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:35 pm

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I use a canon 5D3 and had done so far many years, good camera. I only use original Canon batteries in my stuff, Yes they are expensive but I never have a problem and they always last all day and have for many years... That is all I can say, shop around get the best price....

Statistics: Posted by pugman170 — Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:16 pm

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I use a canon 5D3 and had done so far many years, good camera. I only use original Canon batteries in my stuff, Yes they are expensive but I never have a problem and they always last all day and have for many years... That is all I can say, shop around get the best price....

Statistics: Posted by pugman170 — Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:16 pm

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I ran into the same problem on the NF campgrounds along the Beartooth as you will. They are not open that early. Great camping but just too early. That's how I ran across Big Moose Resort.

Statistics: Posted by rzrpirate — Mon Apr 23, 2018 4:18 pm

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I heard someone saying something about not being able to get from West Yellowstone to Mammoth right now. Is the Norris-Mammoth road closed? I thought it just had construction going on.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:23 am

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I don't know they're any more closely related than they would be to other types of waders. Stilts are pretty widespread, and I've photographed different species both in Latin America and Africa, and they're found in the far eastern hemisphere too. Plovers come in different shapes and sizes. These plovers are rather small (noticeably smaller than stilts), but there are some species previously classified as lapwings that are now called plovers, which are larger in body size (e.g., the Blacksmith plover in Africa).

I would guess that stilts are more closely related to avocets than they are to plovers, but I could be wrong and that could simply be a case of parallel evolution.

Max

Statistics: Posted by Max — Mon Apr 23, 2018 12:05 am

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Some spots to camp just north of Gardiner- Carbela's Fishing Access (free on BLM land right next to the Yellowstone River). Jardine Forest Service Campground. Yankee Jim Canyon Forest Service Campground ($7). And closer to Livingston is Mallard's Rest fishing access with camping allowed.

Going up the Beartooth highway (if it's open ) a nice campground is Island Lake CG. If this is full go past the entrance and take your first right and camp wherever you like. Beartooth Lake CG is also not bad but not my first choice.

Check this link for live campground fill times.
https://www.nps.gov/maps/embed.html?map ... 0d3ede9650

Statistics: Posted by bridger1215 — Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:16 pm

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Beautiful warm and sunny weekend in the Park. I ran Lamar both days looking for bears but got skunked. Mammoth campground was full so I had to backtrack to Yankee Jim Canyon to park the trailer. It's probably about time to open up the rest of the campground as there were RV's parked overnight in the pullouts both in and out of the Park. No side roads are open as of yet and it sounds like there is an abundance of snow heading south but I did hear the Wapiti's were spotted along with some bears.

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YNP1-9509 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9554 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9627 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9660 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-093859 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9596 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9747 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9653 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-9685 by john morris, on Flickr

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YNP1-061713 by john morris, on Flickr

Statistics: Posted by bridger1215 — Sun Apr 22, 2018 9:53 pm

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Like you, I have camped in Yellowstone quite a few times and have never had reservations except our first trip at Fishing Bridge. We have always just arrived early and always gotten a site. Only once I was tent camping, which gives you the best chance, otherwise I was in a small motorhome Of course reservations are a sure shot but there are a lot of first come first serve. I know with me the more forums I read the more I panic about reservations. I have a month trip planned this fall and have everything reserved for the first trip ever. One place in Cooke City that I am using as a base for the Northern part of the park is Big Moose Resort. They have a few cabins and only a few campsites. The lady is really nice so you might work something out there. I actually had this trip planned in June but had to move to Sept. Now I have to wait even longer. Good luck!

Statistics: Posted by rzrpirate — Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:31 pm

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Rod, I love 'em all but I especially like Karen's pic of the Lazuli Bunting. What a great shot! Looks to me like you've got some competition....that's good, dontcha think? Keeps ya humble around us girlies.

Statistics: Posted by yellvet — Sun Apr 22, 2018 12:01 am

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It's usually pretty tough finding a site at any campground over Memorial Day, either in or outside the Parks. And, historically, the weather can also be a bit uncooperative over Memorial Day weekend. That being the case, I would highly recommend staying at a large campground for your first couple of nights. That way you can spend some time checking on site availability at the different campgrounds early each morning without having to worry about not having a place to stay at night. In Grand Teton, check out the Gros Ventre Campground. And in Yellowstone, I think that Mammoth, Norris or the Madison Campground might be your best bet. All of them have a substantial number of camp sites and have plenty of attractions and wildlife to keep you busy. Most if not all of the campgrounds east of Cooke City don't open until mid-June or July and some don't allow tents because of the high level of bear activity. So if you're tenting, those options, most likely, won't be available to you. The Beartooth Highway on Hwy 212 usually opens around Memorial Day and there are a number of campgrounds south of Red Lodge: Basin Campground, Wild Bill Campground, Limber Pine, Paradise CG and Cascade CG. But, in most cases, you'll need to make an advance reservation and they're usually booked solid over Memorial Day weekend. If you don't mind driving a bit, you might want to check out the MT state fishing accesses and state campgrounds. They usually have a few camp sites available at the fishing accesses and they're FREE but your stay will be limited.

Here are a few other campgrounds worth considering: The Rock Canyon campground is about 17 miles north of Gardiner, MT. It's a quick drive to Gardiner for food and supplies and the north entrance gate of Yellowstone. Yankee Jim Campground is a few miles north of Gardiner in Yankee Jim Canyon. The Baker's Hole Campground is about 6 miles north of West Yellowstone on Hwy 191. It's right along the Madison River and has over 50 sites (very good separation between the sites, good walking access to the Madison River and it's fairly close to the west entrance of Yellowstone. Further north on Hwy 191 is the Red Cliffs Campground, about 5 miles south of Big Sky. It's a very nice campground and it borders the Gallatin River. You might need to make an advance reservation because it gets a lot of use from Bozeman residents.

In the Absarokee/Fishtail, Nye, MT area (along the north slope of the Beartooth Mtns, just NE of Yellowstone), there are a number of NFS and MT state campgrounds. It's about a 3-1/2 - 4 hour drive to Yellowstone's north entrance in Gardiner. Most of the campgrounds in this area border the Stillwater River: The Woodbine Campground, the Initial Creek Campground (free), the Moraine Fishing Access (free camping), Castle Rock CG, the Buffalo Jump Fishing Access in Nye on Cty Rd. 419 (free sites), the Cliff Swallows Fishing Access & Campground about 10 miles south of Absarokee on Cty Rd. 420 (free sites, and the Grand Isle Campground just outside of Fishtail, MT (free sites). This area of MT is one of Montana's best kept secrets. I camped at Woodbine in Sept. 1978 and have lived in this area ever since. It's the closest thing to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons that you'll ever find...but without the hub bub and people. The State of MT has a listing online of all the state campgrounds and fishing accesses w/campsites. If you want to save money and have a wonderful leisurely camping experience, you'll find MT a super location for your next primitive camping/photography/hiking adventure. Got a question? Make a post or send me a PM.

Statistics: Posted by yellvet — Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:19 pm

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What a wonderful shot, Linda! Here's a Sept. 2005 pic of "Boo Boo", one of Rosie's cubs that year. Looks like Rosie's genes were pretty dominant in all her cubs. She was such a prolific mom... nurturing, teaching life skills and survival lessons to her cubs, and protecting and fighting for them, until the day she died. Those of us who knew her, will never forget her. She was a pretty special Yellowstone bear.
BOO BOO IN THE BUSHES
[/url]oc03 - Bear Cub in the Bushes by Paula L. Jensen, on Flickr

Statistics: Posted by yellvet — Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:47 pm

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Thanks Mike!

Statistics: Posted by luvthenps — Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:03 pm

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Max, below is a link that shows some Google images of the Black-necked Stilts in MT. Thought this approach would be much faster than trying to go through all my bird images that I've taken over the years. The birds look very similar. What do ya think? Do you think that they're related? Just read that the Black-neck Stilts winter in South America. So it might even be the same bird?

https://www.google.com/search?q=black+n ... fox-b-1-ab

Statistics: Posted by yellvet — Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:44 pm

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Max, your images are stunning! The Pied Lapwing looks almost identical to the Black-necked Stilts that occasionally pass through MT. I've only seen them twice...once along the Stillwater River near Nye and once at Swan Lake Flat in the Park. Sightings have been on the decline in MT in recent years and they're now considered by the State to be a species of concern. Not sure why. Perhaps they're on a different migratory route. I'll see if I can dig out and post a pic of the Black-necked Stilts. I'd be interested to know what you think.

Statistics: Posted by yellvet — Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:08 pm

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