28 June 2002 - Friday

My friend Dave and I headed towards Mount Washburn at about 8:15 am. It was a beautiful clear day and we were excited to be in the park. I have not been up to the fire lookout station on Washburn since last fall. It was great to be making a spring trip back. I knew the wildflowers would be blooming and looking great.

The main purpose of this trip was to take some photos of pikas. I had seen them last June for the first time in my life. They were fun to watch and listen to as they talked to each other and scurried around the rocks just below the fire lookout station on Washburn.


As we were driving down the hill towards Elk Creek, we noticed a traffic jam. We slowed down and saw a large black bear. As we looked closer we saw a small cub of the year up in a tree and out on a limb. We pulled over and joined in the fun as we watched the cub and sow. The sow was slowly walking around the small meadow. Every so often she would walk over to the tree and it seemed like she was trying to get the cub to come down so they could move on. The cub would tumble down out of the tree and walk maybe about ten yards away from the tree and they scurry back to the tree and climb back up.

We watched for a while and took some pictures and chatted with fellow wildlife watchers. It was fun to watch the interaction and put words in the bears mouth. Come on baby it is time to go. Aw mom, can't I play in the tree for just a little while more? No! Mom, just a little while, please! Okay, just for another minute.

We left the bears, the cub in the tree and the sow in the meadow. We headed to Roosevelt where I took some photos of spring wildflowers.

We made our way up the road to Mount Washburn. The road from Tower to Washburn has really gone downhill and is in need of some real road repair and maintainence. It was a "nice" bumpy ride and we hit and dodged pot holes that would swallow a Sherman tank. We made our way up to the fire lookout station. We met and talked to some very nice folks on the way up. I had a few vegies for lunch and to munch on as I waited for the pikas to come out.

I slowly walked to the area I had seen them last year and sat down and quietly watched and listened for them to make their appearance. It was a slow process as just as they came out someone would walk up the trail and the pikas would head for rock cover. Then we would start all over waiting for them to walk by and for all to become quiet so they would come out and play.


They would make a cute little "eek" sound as they talked to each other. I spent about 30 to 35 minutes waiting, watching, listening and taking photos. They are fast little critters and very shy. I guess that is how they manage to stay alive in the wilds of Yellowstone. It is just hard to believe that they live on top of Washburn. It has to be the coldest area in the park and it doesn't seem to have a lot to offer as far as food. But hey they like it and they seem to be doing just great.

We had a great time watching the pikas. Folks must of thought I was crazy as I was either sitting or kneeling by the trail with my camera at the ready. Some visitors would stop and look and see nothing and continue on, others would stop and ask what I was doing. I would tell them about the pikas. I received some looks of interest and looks of disbelief. Such is life. Some knew what pikas were and some did not and were interested to learn, and some did not care. One fellow said that he had heard them calling when he was walking up to the lookout.

After about an hour, Dave was ready to head down as he had other things he had to do. I was not nearly ready to leave, I had just barely gotten started. I will just have to plan another trip and maybe get a bigger and better telephoto lens.

Wildlife Seen on This Trip

Bison, black bear sow and cub, elk, magpies, pikas, ravens and yellow-bellied marmots.

Take care my friends until next time!

Pika - Ochotona princeps - Rock Rabbit