Gentle snow and wolves

Our first trip  into Yellowstone this winter!

We were very lucky yesterday.  We had a few errands to do in Gardner, and just a little spare time.  So we decided to mosey just a little ways into the park.  As you can imagine, once we moseyed a little way, we decided, well, we could mosey a little further, and further.  We saw a crowd of wolf watchers, but were a little put off by the size of the group, and noted they weren't actively looking- more waiting to see if there was a sighting, so we drove on.  After we had driven in to HellRoaring Creek, and turned around, we kept an eye out at that same spot.  There were two large groups of wolf watchers about a quarter mile apart, all set up with spotting scopes and trying to get views.  We stayed on the road to drive past, when Betsy said "there they are!" Right from the car, we were able to see these two, members of the Canyon Pack.  Hauled out the long lens and Betsy took the picture out the car window.  We just stopped for a second- no other cars on the road or anywhere behind us.  Two shots, one above, and one below- may be the best wolf shots we'll ever get. Anyway, you never know.  If you don't get out, you don't see these things.  Even if 99% of the time you don't see something like this.  That is why I am considering getting a RI vanity licence plate that states "GET OUT".
Anyway, we did luck out yesterday.  Also saw bison crossing the river up near Gardner, and elk, antelope, and bald eagles.  Loki is very keenly aware of what is outside our car, whereas Dory never noticed what was outside the car.  So when we had to stop to let a large elk herd cross the road in front of us, Loki was, shall we say, quite excited about the whole thing!
Wind warnings up in the Tom Miner today- gusts up into the 60's.
We saw Hannibal and Julie's daughter, Malou, and her husband, Dre, yesterday afternoon.  They are living in the one room studio cabin up on the other ranch, where the schoolhouse is.  They have added horses to the herd up there.  They also have two calves, two colts, and chickens, and are planning or considering getting ten baby goats.  They are repositioning some fences to manage this livestock, and will be using two corrals that Betsy and I, along with Ken, built during our sabbatical year.
Malou, Dre, and Ginny will come over for dinner tomorrow night.
Another shot of the Canyon pack wolves: