Bad To the Bone Badlands

Yellowstone National Park is 8,000 feet up the mountain where we had snow and now we are in the Badlands is 3,000 feet and the temp is 82F.

The Badlands are beautiful.

This is the first time I have seen a Bighorn. This female bighorn was sitting on top of this mountain just relaxing and enjoying the view. :-)

As we are touring around the Badlands I spot a Bighorn on top of a mountain.  We stopped and went as close as we could get to get a photo.  I am standing here looking at this masculine Bighorn and so impressed.  Wow-what a sight to see.  I LOOK over and see another one on another cliff just hanging out.  First time ever to see this wildlife.

Time for lunch.  We stopped at an area designated for picnics.  Since there are no trees I loved how they built these wood canopies to protect you from the sun as you enjoyed your lunch. A meadowlark joined us for lunch.

We walked the boardwalk to see fossils in the rocks.  Sorta freaked me out when the first sign I see is Beware of the Rattlesnakes.

As we were traveling around the Badlands a group of Dodge Chargers pulled in and lined their cars up against the mountain.  They were there for pictures.  Check out the shirts they were wearing.

Female Big Horn is much smaller.  This one looks like it has been tagged by the park and has a tracking device on.  One of her horns has been broken off.

More awesome views of the Badlands.

Love the many layers of colors.

Look at those fall colors on the mountains

Robert's Prairie Dog Town.  These dogs just sit up and look at you looking at them.  LOL

A group of BMW motorcycles stopped to pose for a group photo of their adventure out west.

Saw this female and her baby which was hiding.  Can you spot the baby?

This was so interesting to go and hear about the Minuteman Missiles.  If you don't know the history of these missiles then please take time to look it up.

The last stop of the day is WALL DRUGS.  There are so many signs along the road drawing your attention to this place.  It truly is worth the stop.  The little town is charming also.

Marlon is trying to take this bison down.  I'm riding a jackalope.

Grand Teton National Park Wilson Rd. Scenery

The beauty as you enter the park will steal your breath away. We did spot some Pronghorn when we were almost to the preserve.

We are on our way to  Lawrance S Rockefeller Preserve.

I am bird watching and saw a couple of birds. I met a lady who has been coming here for 35 years.  She told me to go back by a river and I MAY  see a bear as there is a bear scat all over.

Marlon and I went back by the lake which was a little off the beaten path.  We enjoyed the peace and quiet but did not see any bears.  Oh well, we will keep looking.

We are out of the preserve and can see the amazing Grand Tetons.  All the clouds behind them make it seem like it is smoke on the mountains. Pull off area so we stopped and looked at the beauty in front of us.

More beauty to see here in the Grand Tetons.

Now it's time to take a scenic drive up the side of Signal Mountain.  When we got there we saw a big cell tower that totally looked out of place. Signal Mountain is an isolated summit standing 7,720 feet above sea level.  Signal Mountain Road is 5 miles of switchbacks for a great view of the Teton Range, Jackson Lake, and Snake River. 

Traveling back down the mountain and being very careful as it's a long way to the bottom. No guard rails so it's scary to me. This is a 10-mile round trip excursion.  Along Signal mountain it looked like the mountain was on fire with all the RED vegetation. 

After the drive up and down Signal Mountian, it's time we stopped for some coffee at Jackson Lake.  We walked down by the lake and found an empty picnic table.   We met a couple from Oregan who were there on vacation.  It was so nice visiting with them.  It's time now to enjoy our coffee, scenery, and peace and quiet.  I love hearing the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.

Back in the car and time to see some more beauty. Just look how beautiful the Grand Teton National Park is.  No, I can't take a picture to show you the true beauty.  If you have not been here then please do.

Another stop at another beautiful area called Jenny Lake.  I could sit here all day enjoying the view and listening to the sounds of the lake.  

Saw a river and then saw the sign saying it was Jackson Lake Dam.  We stopped and took the trail down by the dam/river.  The force of the water was incrediable.

It is getting dusk so we are heading back to Jackson Hole. Hopefully, we will see some wildlife.  There were cars pulled off to the side of the road and we saw a bull elk.  he was wallowing in the mud and using his antlers to dig up grass and throw it up in the air.  As it turns out, the bull elk dig their antlers through bushes and shrubs to show their dominance. 

Another view of the Tetons.