“Beyond the reach of Human art”
- Thomas Moran - a 19th century painter trying to describe the Yellowstone Valley. His paintings were among the first to be seen of the area and they caused a sensation.
We arrived at the gate this morning a little later than yesterday, but not by much. After a friendly chat with the fellow below who wanted some grapes we drove along the Madison River. Mist was rising off its newly sun dappled water. Elk grazed nearby.
We were headed to the Yellowstone “Grand” canyon. Many have visited this deep and unusual crevice in the Earth. We were looking forward to seeing it for ourselves.
Here it is -
The first thing you notice are the unusual colors and shapes of the canyon walls. The canyon is around 20 miles long with parts that plunge to a depth of 1200 feet. At the bottom courses the Yellowstone river after it plunges over two beautiful falls.
The walls are a odd yellow color with generous splashes of cinnamon colored Rhyolite rust that forms from the many active geothermal vents that punctuate the cliff walls.
Water erosion played some role here but not as much as you think. This canyon was blasted out of the primeval earth by a river of lava flowing from the Yellowstone caldera. It happened 500,000 years ago. This powerful geothermal action is still going on, shaping the canyon further.
Trying to grasp geological time is a great way to make yourself seem small and not so important. Consider the fact Homo Sapiens, our species, has only been around 20,000 years. In the scale of the Cosmos and Geology, we are hardly worth a glance.
Oh yeah, the wolf -
So when we finished touring the canyon we headed South to Hayden Valley. This is a large expanse of open grassland where you will often find Bison. We stopped at a pull off to look at the Valley and enjoy our bag lunch.
A Ranger pulled up next to us and got out with a large pair gf binoculars looking across the Valley. The Rangers here are very friendly and approachable so I got out of the truck to speak with him.
He pointed to the ridge-line about 1/4 mile away, “Do you see him?”
“See who?”
“A lone Grey Wolf!” he replied.
For several minutes I tried in vain to spot what is essentially a very large dog moving through sage grasses hundreds of yards away. I couldn’t see it.
Very soon a number of cars pulled up and people with all sorts of elaborate spotting scopes and long range cameras began to scan the ridge.
“There he is!”, one would shout.
One of them had a very sophisticated telescope and asked if I wanted to see. I eagerly nodded my head.
This is what he looked like above. This is not my photo. I shoot my shots with an iPhone and as much as I may want them to be, National Geographic is not interested in my work.
A short time later a van emblazoned with “Wolf Trackers” pulled in. Out of the vehicle spilled very serious young men with very expensive camera gear. They are making a documentary about Wolves to be streamed someday. The men work like Tornado hunters” staying by the radio and rushing to areas of the park where there is a sighting.
Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone several years ago to great success. However, they remain skittish predators and sighting like this one are the norm if you are lucky enough to see one.
As the professionals set up their expensive cameras and microphones I knew at once I might be of service.
"Don't think, act!, Tom Cruise famously said.
I boldly introduced myself to them saying I was a well known and acclaimed Shakespeare director, at least in some parts of Indianapolis, and I offered my services to help stage the scene.
The politely but firmly said no and went back to their work.
I returned to the truck crestfallen. Colleen gave me her banana from her sack lunch as a consolation.
I ate it quietly.
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