A First State in Yellowstone

Today, I had a private family Yellowstone National Park Tour. It was super fun! I really love big families from the east coast, especially this one! This family was from Ohio and Pittsburgh. However, one of the daughters is a fellow Blue Hen! How small of a world is that! I was just so happy to meet another person that went to Delaware...and well knew where Delaware was! haha. Not only did I have a family that was from close to home, but we saw another DE plate in the park! That never happens! The day was great full of great views of the hydrothermal features, waterfalls, and of course, yet again, another grizzly siting! Actually we saw two separate sitings: one lone bear and one with two cubs! Score! The family was super awesome! I wish I had gotten a photo of them! But their fantastic experience will definitely stay in my memory! 

TheChristyBel

Water Run Off into the Firehole at Midway Geyser Basin

Grand Prismatic on Such a Beautiful Day!

Hello, Fellow Delaware Car!

Nice Hooter (Owl)

Sleepy Owl

This week the temperatures have dropped to a normal heat during the day with cooler mornings and evenings. With this change in the weather, the Great Grey Owl has been seen hanging out in the trees near the Moose Pond Overlook on Moose Wilson Road before the Moose Entrance Gate. It has been great seeing this Great Grey! This bird is just so beautiful and incredibly true to its name: Great! Check out the greatness from my past few tours!

TheChristyBel

A Stank Faced Owl
I guess it was not ready for its close-up this early in the morning!

Badger, Badger, Badger!

This morning during a private Grand Teton National Park Sunrise Tour, I took my guests to Mormon Row. Instead of focusing on the Mormon Row homesteads, this is what we focused on: a Badger digging out a burrow! Super cool.

Badger, Badger, Badger!

However, the only thing I could think of when I saw it was:

Hahaha! 

TheChristyBel

Grizzlies and Double Rainbows

Today's Yellowstone Tour was brought to you by a few things: thunderstorms, torrential downpours, and lots of clouds. However, nature always has a way of making it up to you. After attempting to view a grizzly sow with her two cubs near a bison carcass in Hayden Valley in a torrential downpour, the skies cleared up and we were given a double rainbow view! Incredibly beautiful! It was well deserved since I was outside of the van in a raincoat squeegee-ing the windows as my guests were trying to view a grizzly from inside the van! After the bears went out of site, we were about to leave when of course it stopped raining and a rainbow appeared! What a great way to end the tour day!

TheChristyBel

The Attempted Viewing of the Grizzly and Two Cubs

Double Rainbow All The Way in Hayden Valley

Grizzlies and Blacks

Today's tour with a family from Arkansas was filled with bears! Saw a grizzly and a black bear during our traveling up and through the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. 

What is the difference you say?! Well. There are a few differences!

Grizzlies have that huge shoulder hump, the dish-shaped nose profile, and smaller teddy-bear like round ears. Black bears have no shoulder hump, a straight nose profile, and prominent pointed ears. Today, my guests were able to see both and distinguish the different characteristics.

Grizzly Movement Time-Lapse

Shoulder Hump, Rounded Ears, and Dish-Shaped Nose
Definitely Grizzly

No Shoulder Hump, Straight-Nose Profile, and Pointed Ears
Black Bear

Traffic Jams in Jellystone

Bison in the Road

Just a snapshot of my day (today) and mostly everyday I am in Yellowstone. The bison in these places really do rule and own the parks. They can be in the fields, in parking lots, on boardwalks, off the road, and in the road. No matter where they are, everyone stops for them.

They literally cause huge traffic jams. In this case, Bison Jams.

And everyone stops and captures the moment. Literally. Oh tourists.

TheChristyBel

Two Day Tours - GTNP & YNP

Wildlife Moments from some of my tours this week!

My Beautiful Early Morning Sky as I Prep my Van!

Momma Moose and Calf on Moose--Wilson Road

Four Great Blue Heron Fledglings

Grand Teton Wildlife of the Day

Today's Sunrise Tour Theme was brought to you by the Birds in the Grand Teton National Park. On top of seeing the standard bison, elk, and pronghorn, the guests and I today was a lot of birds including:

1) The BroadWinged Hummingbird at the Willow Flats Deck at Jackson Lake Lodge

2) American White Pelicans & Cormorants at the Oxbow Bend

3) Common Mergansers at Cattleman's Bridge

Swarmed by Swallows

Cliff Swallows & Feeding Time

Before Marc, his family, and I headed up to Colter Bay for some kayaking, we stopped at Mormon Row to continue their tour of the Tetons. While Marc and his dad geeked out on photographing the gloriousness and beauty of the Moulton Barns and the Teton Range, I admired all the Cliff Swallows that were constructed with lots of mud along the frames of the infamous Pink House. I did get a little closer than usual to the nests. And when that happened, the swallows started to swarm around me. Marc's mom tried to get a photo of them flying all around me, but it just didn't come out. However, I did get some photos to visually capture how many nests were on this house. There were so many nests with little birds peeking out practically screaming, 'Feed me!' as the adults were flittering in and giving them little snacks of insects. Gross (I know). But it was super cool to get pretty close and observe their feeding session.

TheChristyBel

All Under the Rim of The Pink House

A Sweet Jellystone Trip

Bison and Bison Babes

This week, Marc's parents came to visit him here in the Tetons. To give them a Teton welcoming, Marc asked me to give a tour up in Jellystone for his parents. I mean, if i get to be in Yellowstone, how could I say no!? I mean, also, it would be a good first impression to provide a little private tour to the parents of the person you're dating right?! Haha. But anyways, back to the tour, the day was really good, in fact it was great! I practically did the same tour that I give my guests - a view of the Lower Loop. But it was filled with so much fun. We saw a bunch of wildlife, a bunch of hydrothermal features, the Falls at the Yellowstone, and of course, Old Faithful! In between little tidbits of Yellowstone information and facts, of course there were a lot of questions and getting to know me, telling of stories about Marc from the parents, us telling them stories we had experienced together, and just a lot of catching up. Overall, the trip was super awesome. We saw bison super close to the road and practically on the boardwalk at Mud Volcano Area, some fantastic views of the falls and Old Faithful, and we even had a viewing of a grizzly bear! Success! How awesome is that?!?! Marc's parents had 1) never been to Jellystone and 2) to see a grizzly on their first trip is pretty lucky! Below are some photos from our pretty awesome Jellystone Day! Enjoy!

TheChristyBel 

Being a Bear at the Grant Village Gift Shop
(A Little Hoping We See a Bear Later in Yellowstone)

Gibbon Falls

Yogi Bear, Himself, Out in Hayden Valley
(Sure Enough We Did See a Grizzly!)

Marc, His Parents, and I at the Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Some Highlights from a Full Day in GTNP

Today I had a Full Day in Grand Teton National Park with two couples from Malvern, Long Island, New York. They were such a great group of people spend the day with! Not only were they great company, but we were able to see some really awesome animals!

Check It Out!

TheChristyBel

Grizzly 610 (and Her Hidden Cubs)
Pilgrim Creek, GTNP

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Jackson Lake Lodge, GTNP

A Fat Coyote
Lupine Meadows, GTNP

Say Cheese, Mr. Bison!

Today, I led my first Yellowstone National Park tour! It went super well. The guests I had said I was incredibly engaging, provided beyond professional service, and took them to some wonderful places in the park. Below is one of my favorite moments of the entire day: we stumbled on some bison laying in Hayden Valley and I was able to capture the bison licking its chops! But I'd like to think he was sticking his tongue out when I was saying, 'Cheese!'

Super adorable!

TheChristyBel

Off Days Still Mean GTNP Days

For work, I get to spend mostly everyday in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Even on my off days, I spend my time in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. It is the best! This morning, Marc and I drove around checking out some of the places that I take my guests on my tours in Grand Teton. Here are some pictures from our exploration Teton adventure!

TheChristyBel

Muskrat Swimming to Its Mound
Oxbow Lake, Grand Teton National Park

Trumpeter Swan
Grand Teton & National Elk Refuge Visitor Center, National Elk Refuge

Yellow-Headed Blackbird in the Marsh Grass
Grand Teton & National Elk Refuge Visitor Center, National Elk Refuge

Summer Selfie with Marc
Jackson Point Overlook, Signal Mountain, Grand Teton National Park

Momma Coyote & Kill

Let me tell you, I am absolutely loving my wildlife safaris guiding job with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. Today, I was asked to lead my first private tour. Super fun: it was a large group (about 50-people) and so I was one of 5-guides that was helping with this tour. We had heard that the coyote den on Mormon Row had pups and the pups were playing outside of their burrow. So before heading to Signal Mountain for lunch, a few of the guides and I went to go check out the scene. Unfortunately we did not get a lot of viewing time for the little pups, however, one of the guests turned around and called out 'Coyote!' So we all turned around towards the Gros Ventre Range and in the sage was Momma Coyote. She was a beauty! As we watched her, we noticed that her attention was caught by some lunch, a chizzler (or a Uinta Ground Squirrel)! We got to watch her stalk and capture her lunch! It was pretty cool! I even got a bunch of pictures from the moment! The guests were all really impressed that I got these pictures by using my Nikon Monarch 8 x 42 Binoculars and my iPhone! They even asked if I would send them the photos! Of course, I shared!

Enjoy!
TheChristyBel

Step 1:
Making Her Appearance

Step 2:
Crouching Down for the Lunge

Step 3:
Bringing Home the Bacon (I Mean Chizzler)
to Her Pups

Art Through a Binocular Lens

Male Moose On the Snake River
Hey Handsome, You Growing a Nice Looking Rack!

Through wildlife guiding, I have discovered that 1) I can still make art while on the job; 2) I can take pretty cool photos (at least I think so); and 3) I am getting mega skilled in taking photos through my binoculars! It has taken some time to gain a steady hand, focus my binoculars and iPhone, and hold the two while trying to take the photo.

But...after you go back and sift through the blurry photos, you can find some gems! I think I have a new artistic medium I like: Binocular Photography! Haha! It's been great taking photos alongside my guests and it's also really cool showing them how to take their own photos through their binoculars or the scope!

Below are some photos taken from my Nikon Monarch 8 x 42 pair of binoculars. You can also do a Search on my blog for 'Binocular Photography' and it will show you all the entires in the blog that have images taken with my binocs or scope (neat huh?!) It has been really cool mastering this (and I still am), but I think I am going to have to admit that I may be searching for a decent 'Point and Shoot' camera. So, all you talented photographers out there, if you know or can recommend a beginner, not so complicated, camera that might suit my needs, suggestions are welcome! Until then, enjoy some nature bino-photography!

TheChristyBel

Male (Red-Shafted) Northern Flicker
Near the Entrance of Moose-Wilson Road (Teton Village Side)

Mountain BlueBird Paid on a Snag
On the Inner Loop Toward RKO Road Junction

Silvery Lupine with the Cathedral in the Background
Near Jenny Lake Loop

In Yellow-Bellied Marmot Nation
Not to be Confused with Meerkat Nation (only cuter)
Near Pilgrim Creek

Barrow's Goldeneye
Such a Sharp Looking Stud!
Found at Moose Overlook on Moose-Wilson Road

Great Blue Heron Having Dinner with a Tiger Salamander
(with the Salamander as the Main Course)
Found at the Moose Overlook on Moose-Wilson Road

Last Day Training in GTNP

Osprey on Moose-Wilson Road, near Teton Village

As of yesterday, I had my walkthrough with my Laramie landlord, packed up the last of my things in Little Blue, and travelled back on the five and half hour drive back to the Tetons. I'll be camping or staying with friends until Marc comes back with the van to live out of for the summer, but I'll be busy with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. I am beyond pumped for this job this summer season!

Today I finished up my training to lead tours in the Grand Teton National Park with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. It feels incredibly awesome that your co-workers have the confidence in you to take the lead and lead tours on your own. After my training session in the morning shadowing one of the leading senior guides, he told me that he feels I am ready to go solo! How awesome is that!

Training has been great to learn from experienced guides about the hidden gems and places to find things or to go for a good story. I feel really informed about the park. But I am incredibly thankful to have had Teton Science Schools under my belt, because they helped teach me the knowledge of this place. With that, I only needed three training days before I was given the check off to go SOLO!

Its great to feel this high level of confidence in knowledge of this place and support and faith from your co-workers. I am beyond pumped to get these tours up and rolling this summer! So, if you're in the area and want a tour of Grand Teton National Park...you know who to call!

Wish me luck, I have my first tour tomorrow!

TheChristyBel

Reflective Photos From Schwabacher's Landing

Female Barrow's Goldeneye

Peek-A-Boo, I See You, 610!
Near Oxbow Bend!

My First Sighting of a Great Grey Owl!
Moose-Wilson Road

A Colorado Vacation

Summit Pose in Rocky Mountain National Park

For three days, my parents invited me to spend some time at their resort condo in Granby, Colorado before moving out of my Laramie Apartment and starting work with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. Granby is only about two and a half hours away south of Laramie, WY. It was a pretty decent scenic drive down, although I got caught in huge fog clouds and some rain. But when I got to Granby, I was greeted by my parents, a relaxing condo unit, a hot tub in the condo, and some opportunities to visit Rocky Mountain National Park and some hot springs! What a great mini-vacation! It was super nice to spend some more time with my parents before they travelled back to Delaware. They had only spent a few days with me in Laramie so having a few extra days with them was really nice before we had to split again. Here are some pictures from my trip south!

TheChristyBel

The Resort Condo Unit - Top Floor

Enjoying the Hot Springs in Sulphur Hot Springs

Moose in the Riparian Area of RMNP

Mom Saw Her First Moose Ever on This Trip!

Mom & Dad in One of the 19-Hot Spring Pools Open
Sulphur Hot Springs, CO