Summer came late to the Rocky Mountains this year and Yellowstone was no exception. For those who have been following my monthly trips to the park it has been obvious that things are a little behind (4 weeks). I have never seen so many flowers blooming in August. I will not say that this is a bad thing, Lord only knows that had we had a dryer spring with less snow the fire problem that we are having now may only be bigger. There were three fires in the greater Yellowstone area while I was in the park. The Beartooth highway is on fire (the Red Lodge side), between Cody and Sulavin pass there is a fire burning, and the area around LeeHardy Rapids was on fire. These fires left large amounts of smoke hanging in the eastern part of the park and left some parts closed. This forced me to change some of my photographic plans as did the extreme heat (near 90 degrees). I am not a fan of weather that is 80 or warmer. I love the cold that fall and winter bring. Also there are no fires when the ground is covered with snow.

The trip was all about what I could photograph in the AM. Once the sun got up in the sky animals went into "stay cool mode" (as I wanted to do as-well) and "stay cool mode" is not "make great images mode". I am still pleased with many of the images I made during the 4 days (not 4 full days) in the park.

Don't fear that your September trip will be like an August trip. Before sunrise on the first of August a Bull Elk reminded me that fall is in fact coming. His, what sounded to be first bugles of the year (quite shaky voice to start off), resonated that fall would come soon enough and that he would be ready.