Fishing on Hebgen Lake

We decided to go fishing on the lake yesterday so we rented a boat from the RV park Marina.  We found out there was a boat available so we hurried and loaded what we needed to fish.  The people that are running the RV park here are wonderful, a nice lady named Tudi took us over to the boat and gave us the safety orientation, wished us good luck and away we went.

The lake was smooth  as a babies butt and we were excited about getting some fresh Rainbow trout.  We put the 6-hp motor on slow and started trolling our lures.  It didn't take long before I had my first fish on the line.  I was so excited to find out that it was a rainbow, all it needed was some butter and garlic  and we would have a wonderful meal.   But first, I had to get the fish in the boat, thats when I realized that I forgot the net.  There is no way to get a trout in the boat with out a net.  I tried to no avail, just to watch the fish jump a final time and get off.  We continued to fish and I caught another  rainbow even larger than the first and again it got off.   We decided to go back to the RV park and get the net and go back out.  We did not get another bite, but we did have fun.

Slough Creek Trail

We went by Slough Creek Campground, because we had heard from the ranger that people left their cooler out and a Bear came into the the camp. This means that there is a chance this bear may be destroyed now that he has learned to raid the campground.

It was about 2:45 pm when we started up the trail with intentions to go two miles into a ranger patrol cabin. We stopped quite a bit to admire the view.

Liz enjoying the view.


On the way in we met some people that told us about a blonde grizzly they had seen at the second meadow. We then found griz prints on the path. Anyway we just made a lot of noise and kept on walking. We got down to the Oxbow and sat down for lunch.




This is the first meadow.







Was quicker going down hill :)

Trout Lake

The Guide said it was 1/2 mile to get to the lake and that it was steep. The guide was right it was steep, but it was worth it.



This is Liz resting by one of the largest trees we have seen in the Park.

After we got to the top we decided to hike around the lake. We saw a sign that said no fishing between sign and brook inlet. Found out that the brook was just full of Cutthroat Trout.

Cooke and Silver Gate City

We went to Cooke City and Silver Gate out by the NE entrance to Yellowstone. This was a real pretty drive and our first time this way as it has just opened in the last week or so.







Lots of wonderful scenery but not much else. We read in our guide that the population is 300 during the summer and 150 during the winter.








This is downtown Cooke City. Blink and you will miss it.







This is downtown Silver Gate.

Wolfs " Druid Peak Pack "

Well we woke up at 3:30 am yesterday morning and set out for Lamar Valley home of the Druid Peak Pack wolves, 16 strong with 11 pups in he den.  As soon as we arrived we started looking for the yellow SUV we were told this was one of the rangers that specialized in wolves.  It was foggy this morning and after driving 89 miles from one side of the park to the other we were hoping it would burn off soon.  

After passing the street sign that announced we were entering Lamar Valley we started looking for anything that looked like a Wolf.  After we rounded a corner we saw at least three cars parked alongside the road including the yellow Xterra that we were told about.  Opposite the parking area on a hill ( Trash Can Hill ) about 20 feet high was a small group of people including Ranger Rick.  All had these high dollar spotting scopes, these were some serious Wolf watchers.  I set up my camera and tripod but my 400 mm lens was dwarfed by the high power spotting scopes.  Excitement was in the early morning air as people were calling out there is two a black and a gray over to the left.

  From that point it was fantastic we watched a black wolf come down from the hill behind us and join the group, after harassing a coyote.  We watched listened to these guys for hours.  While we were there we saw our first grizzly.  What I liked was the fact it was about 3/4 of a mile away.  We left our perch on top of Trash Can Hill after the wolves had moved off to the West end of Lamar valley.