In the waning days of 2013 we have come to post number eight in my series “Twelve months in thirteen days.” I have always wanted to do this – post a remembrance once each day at the end of the year, for each month of this year, remembering people, places, and rocks I have gotten to know better in 2013.
Among the many trails in Yellowstone, Pelican Valley has a reputation as major grizzly bear territory.
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| Pelican Valley trail head and its many postings |
So after learning how and when to use it you loop your bear spray canister onto your belt, grab a buddy or two, and head out down the trail, always aware of what’s going on around you.
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| High, wide, and lonesome of Pelican Valley |
I came out to Pelican Valley with hiking buddy Brian one late August morning towards the end of our respective 2013 summer rangering season. I knew that several of his ranger talks focus on the history of Yellowstone, and this valley played a major role in that history. Brian needed to channel his hero Felix Burgess and the bison of an earlier Yellowstone one more time before leaving. I was along for the scenery.
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| Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum) |
Except for a smallish wooded area at the beginning of the trail, this part of Yellowstone is high, wide and lonesome and open to the big blue sky.
The trail crossed a grassy stream that drained into a small pool. Mudstone cobbles hung like knickknack shelves in its gritty walls.
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| Brian ponders the mud and rocks in an unnamed pool |
Even this late in the high country summer, wildflowers thrived in the damper ground.
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| Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) |
My favorite part of the Pelican Valley is this abandoned meander of Pelican Creek. There were hundreds of ducks bobbing about and I wanted to run down the hill and jump in the water and join them.
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| Abandoned meander of Pelican Creek |
Our goal was Astringent Creek where the epic of Felix Burgess unfolded in the early days of the Park. We would first have to cross Pelican Creek without benefit of a bridge which was washed out in a flood and not replaced.
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| The water of Pelican Creek was actually refreshing! |
We continued on across the wide expanse, skirting any behemoth bison we found grazing along the trail…
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| The 50-million year old Absaroka Range is a constant reference in Pelican Valley |
…and found our way to Astringent Creek, about a mile further on from the remnant bridge.
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| Taking in the view at Astringent Creek |
On our return we forded the cold water of Pelican Creek once more…
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| Fording Pelican Creek without falling in was pretty easy! |
…and soon said our farewell to the spirit of Felix Burgess, the bison of Yellowstone, and the high lonesome sky of Pelican Valley.
We never did see any grizzly bears.
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