Back to the Lamar Valley before sunrise for more wolf watching.   In the morning we saw 6 wolves, mostly juveniles, and got some better pictures.  There was a perfect wolf-print in the mud along the trail.  We went back at night and someone had put a ring of rocks around that print to preserve it.   While watching and waiting for the wolves, 2 coyotes started prowling along the river behind us.  The light was much better for photographing them.

We headed out of the park and crossed the ‘Beartooth Highway’ over to Red Lodge, MT.  This is an amazing road through the mountains that tops out over 11,000’.  There is a fire tower near ‘Clay Butte’ that we drove up to.  While enjoying the 360 degree views, a mother grizzly and cub ran across a field way below us.  Sue was happy about seeing a bear so far away!  One of the photos (the one with mountains & clouds) has a spike towards the middle of the horizon.  That’s the beartooth the highway is named after.  Lunch was at ‘Red Lodge Ales’ in Red Lodge, then back over the mountain range again. 

We had a quick bite and drove back into Yellowstone for evening wolf watching.   There was a bison-jam on the way in – a frequent Lamar Valley problem.  There were 7 wolves this time, including the alpha male (755M) with his radio collar on.

http://matthewmperry.zenfolio.com/yellowstone08/slideshow