- Drive from Cooke City through the Lamar Valley to the Madison Hotsprings and Gardener
- Watch wolf packs through a telescope while chasing a bison bull
- Drive back over the Dunraven Pass through the Hayden Valley, along the Yellowstone Lakes to the east exit and on to Cody
- Wings and pizza with a cheese-filled rim at Pizza Hut
After a waking shower we drive off, back to the park. The sky is very cloudy, but unlike at night, it is now mostly dry. We keep seeing herds of bison in the vast Lamar Valley. At one of the pullouts, other visitors spotted a family of bald eagles and river otters. Both can only be seen at a great distance, but at least a first notable sighting. Hoping for more, we keep going.
At Slough Creek, more enthusiasts set up their telescopes and watched a wolf pack shortly before we arrived. We wait a while and it starts to rain harder. But we are rewarded! When a bull bison marches near the lying pack, three young animals get up and pursue the colossus. This seems to care little and leisurely trots away. Even the appearance of the alpha animals does not change anything in his behavior. Despite the telescope and our binoculars, all of this is still very far away and can hardly be photographed even with my zoom.
In the now partly pouring rain we drive through the north of the park to the Madison Hotsprings. In the middle of the houses there is a herd of ruminating elk. Unfortunately, there is no male with impressive antlers. Looking for a shelter, we headed out to Gardiner, where we found it. Here we prepare our lunch.
Then we set off towards Cody. Except for the omnipresent bison and a few mule deer there is nothing to see. No, there is still no bear to be seen in the region around Tower Junction. Where they hang around in autumn, I wonder. The next stop we make in the canyon area of the park with a visit to the Lower Falls. Even in the fog-shrouded Hayden Valley, only bison can be seen. Directly in front of the park exit, a mother elk grazes with her fawn by a stream, on the opposite side of the street are two bighorn sheep. We leave the park through the east entrance and drive the long distance to Cody.
Niki wishes to dine at Pizza Hut. We share a large pizza with a cheese-filled rim, a typical American calorie bomb and especially not tasty. Afterwards, at Nicki's request, a look into the Dollartree store is made, with the realization that nothing can be found here. We do our shopping at Walmart before checking into the Super8 motel.
