Fishy Otters

Good afternoon from Gardiner, MT once again! The van's alternator has ceased charging it's batteries so we had one ordered and it will be here by tomorrow but until then we aren't wondering far for fear of being stranded with dead batteries. Yesterday though we had some great encounters with wildlife near a small lake off of the northeast enterance road in Yellowstone at a place called Trout Lake.

Lamar Valley

         Even along the way toward the lake we saw more bison in one valley than we've ever seen at once time, just hundreds of them! The lake holds Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout, the Cutthroats were spawning and swimming up a little stream off the lake and man, it was incredible to see such a cool fish so close!

Cutthroats

                                                                             

        After a hour of fishing or so I met up with another fly fisherman, Ludwig, a international fly fisherman from France who has been traveling around the world fly fishing! I thought my trip was long, that guys been traveling for 7 months with 2 to go! We swapped stories of our adventures for almost an hour or so before we made our way to the other side of the lake to watch these otters that Adam had been photographing for most of the time we were at this lake. Afterwards we made are way back to the van, got refreshed and hit the road to find some National Forest Land near the northeast entrance since we were closer to it than are usual campsite outside of the northern entrance. We did manage to find some camping that required payment, but the restrictions for this part of the Montana were so strict about bears that soft canvas pop-tops were not allowed as they have had trouble with bears in the past tearing into tents apparently! So we went a half mile down the road and found some free camping. Got the van all set up pretty early in the day for bed.

Camp

        We all assumed our typical nightly responsibilities for getting settled it. Adam cooked us a dinner of chicken alfredo pasta, i jumped out and moved everything from out back to up front making space for cooking and sleeping and Andrew collected fire wood and began to start a fire. We had a very leisurely evening last night compared to most were we get in late and make something for dinner that is quick and and filling and leave the dishes for the morning, but we were all being very proactive for today's plan for a long hike into the Snake River down near the southern entrance. As i mentioned, the van had other plans for our travels today so we get to make the most of it in town hanging out at the cafes' on the internet and perhaps going down to the Yellowstone River for a swim here in a bit! That is all for now!

Spawning Cutthroats