It was sunny but very very cold when I am this morning set off -25 ° C.
I'm always asked what I put everything in such a cold. Actually quite simple. A lot about each other!
's start with the Skiunterhose (Tschibo - yes, it must be the great outdoor brand is not always the coffee company has great long underwear.). Then, a ski pants. Skiunterhemd, turtleneck, fleece pullover. 3 pairs of socks (a few thin "metal socks" that are specifically designed for extreme cold, and two each thicker socks up over it). My parka is from Lands End and has kept me warm even in temperatures of -40 ° C already.
shoes. Here, I've always three pairs of boots. 1 pair of Sorel's, then a few Winterstifel that designed for ice fishing's are that I bought here in Bozeman. The hottest month but keep me on my arctic temperatures Muklus . They are a kind of moccasins, made by and for Eskimos. I bought 20 years ago in Minnesota. Slowly, they fall apart, and it's time for a new pair.
hats I wear is relatively rare, although one with a warm head covering is not too cold. Gloves: Here I have several strengths. I usually come out with a few thin fleece gloves. A thicker pair of greatest need and even mittens to me but are really too impractical, because I set my spotting scope can not be with them. If it all cold - and I had been only 2-3 times, ie below -35 ° - then I use small hand warmer, it is here in the Gift Store. They fit into the palm and hold almost a day warm. They are then thrown away. The things that have to boil again and then can re-use, proven to be unfit for practice.
The cold itself can not stand very well. However bad it gets, even if a decent wind blowing. Then the only cure is jumping into the car.
We saw this morning and late afternoon from Hitching Post from six of the Lamar wolves in their usual way, the Ledge Trail. After the poor deer died on Confluence is finally looking forward to the wolves on a regular time, however, they dare not cross the street and just look longingly down from above. You have no chance, because whenever they make an attempt to keep the car. Then they flit back. So they are to wait, until tonight, no one there, before they venture down. It was a beautiful scene when the 06-Female was standing on their viewpoint and obliquely at her a big horn-frame to saved on a small cliff and had irritated the wolf saw.
A family member was missing: the daughter of Lamar. She's one of those who loiters always running. What is there always are more important things we do not know. Maybe it's just a little dreamer. They have often been left behind because they missed the connection. Now she is looking for 2 days now return to their family and howl miserably in Lamar Valley to Mama and Papa. Whether the elderly, they can cry on purpose (what wolves do sometimes, when a "lesson" to be issued needs) or whether they do not actually hear, I do not know. I just hope that the daughter soon finds home.
We have a winter with a snob once feared the Druids, who cried for a week long after their parents until they finally picked him.
From Hellroaring of wonderfully the 14-Blacktail wolves were seen. They lay in the sun on a snow field, recovering from the hunt. In the morning they had killed a deer. There was not more of them left when we arrived.
noon we were all together in Mammoth Hot Springs and have in the lobby of the historic hotel by the fire made a picnic and eat sandwiches we brought. The clerk has not moved a mine. Just as Thomas then suggested that we could but in the fine map-making room on the couch taking a nap, he glanced over at us confused. While Carol and Mark for tomorrow's dinner or after Gardiner went shopping, I went up at the Hot Springs and took some shots.
Then back to the Park.Stopp at the Blacktail-wolves, on to the Coyote Overlook, where two coyotes were lost in the love game, and then again at hitchingpost. This time the wind was much stronger than the morning. After a quick look at the wolves I've said goodbye.
On the way back, I am yet to meet a number of large bison bulls that could run on the mirror-smooth road no. They were visibly exhausted. Big chunks of ice were hanging in their beards. With difficulty they dragged forward and barely stayed on the cars. It pains me to see that. Since it does not help if I tell myself that this is the cycle of nature and natural selection. The only consolation is still possible that their death will again feed other animals, and that at some point for them again come the spring.
Among the names mentioned here:
Many of the parking bays and places to stay where the wolves have received from us Wolf observers special names, which have long been kept secret. Meanwhile, the names have been passed but so often that it is now even a map to where all these points as Hitching Post, Dorothy, are Little America, etc. located. I will bring some of the cards home with them. Anyone who is interested can order then to me a card. The profit of the cards will go to the Yellowstone Wolf Project. How this works, I give here yet known.
Today
20 wolves
four coyotes
...
