Wolf and Grizzly tracks

To start our hike we took an hour long boat ride across Yellowstone Lake. The minute we stepped onto the trail we saw that it was full of Grizzly and Wolf tracks.
Just for scale, if you were to make a fist, it would fit easily into the wolf track.
You can see the claw marks of the Grizzly about two inches in front of the toe prints on the front paw track (lower print) and about an inch ahead of the toes for the rear paw (top print).

Needless to say, I was sort of freaked! We followed tracks like these for miles and even once came across semi-warm girzzly dung.
All in all, we never saw a wolf and saw five grizzlies, two as close as 100 yards (which they could have covered in 30 seconds).

Nice! Talk about a photo telling a story!

These two were about 200 yards away, turning over rocks, eating moth larva. We were down wind of them and after watching them for a few minutes they both started running towards us! We freaked but could do nothing except start yelling. They came up over a hill, just stopped running and started turning over rocks looking for grubs again. I was taking photos the whole time. After a while they noticed us, stood up and then dropped down and booked out of there at high speed.

Very cool photo Mark!

While waiting for weather to change at Mt. St. Helens a few years back, I bought a book on Grizzly attacks at the gift shop on the east side. I shouldn't have done that... I can see why you were freaked!!!!

Wow, what a collection of prints. I know how you felt. While photographing in Glacier last year I came across fresh bear sign along the trail while hiking alone. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Needless-to-say, I was singing and yelling all along the trail. Sure made me wish I had some more people with me.

"Wow, what a collection of prints. I know how you felt. While photographing in Glacier last year I came across fresh bear sign along the trail while hiking alone. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Needless-to-say, I was singing and yelling all along the trail. Sure made me wish I had some more people with me."

Hans,
Just make sure you can run faster than the people you're with!!!

Wow, that is quite an experience Mark. It could almost make you feel as though you were following the footsteps of Lewis & Clark! I haven't hiked this area but used to backpack in the Mission Mtns in Montana where grizzly frequented. Although I never saw any, their signs (fresh) were everywhere. It is a bit unnverving for sure! Bear bells on the backpack help (or at least give you the impression that they help)...

Mark,------ Bears love coffee!
JG

Not cool....I DO not want to see a bear on my trip......for some reason they are the only animal I am scared off....I think it's their sheer size and strength that worry me.....I mean I can hold my own with my St. Bernard but a BEAR.........no way!

cool shots though Mark!

Thanks for sharing your info from your recent outing Mark. Sounds like quite an experience.