This morning I am greeted by both stars and the moon. It’s 34 at 5:25AM.

Celia and I park roadside at Slough and climb up Dave’s hill in the still-dark with flashlights. We scan all the usual areas but find no wolves.

Hmmm.

Around 7:15 Michael (Wolftracker) radios from Lamar Canyon West. He has just spotted a group of four Junctions moving north of the mixed forest, their usual route to Junction Pass.

He sees three blacks and a gray.

They are in thick, deep sage and many people don’t find them in time. I manage to see three blacks just as they start to disappear behind the distinctive rock outcropping.

We pack up quickly and head back down to our cars, driving west to Boulder.

The hill becomes packed with hopeful wolf fans but we do not find them. Rick radios from his pullout, where he catches a glimpse of them heading towards the trough.

Agghhh!

We spread out in hopes of finding them again. Celia and I end up at Lower Hellroaring. She finds a coyote. Otherwise, we see only bison.

Today we could have used some telemetry help. If the Junctions are indeed in the dreaded trough, we just won’t see them until they come out again.

It’s still early so I suggest we try scoping for Rescues. Celia is game for it so we head there. We enjoy the pleasant morning, scoping the golden hills and green forests, but we don’t find any wolves.

Celia joins Kristina for a hike along the Blacktail road while I head back east to prep for a hike to the Rose Creek pen. On the drive I see a mule deer doe with two fawns at Tower Junction.

As I cross Yellowstone Bridge, I note that the crew is starting to build the support of the span itself. It’s so high up I wonder if one might be able to see into the trough!

At the Ranch I join Kathie L, Maureen & Rick, John C and a few others for a hike up to the Rose Creek pen. Two of the women are European wolf researchers that I invited when I met them with Rick at Nature Trail.

When you have no wolves to wolves to watch, hiking is a perfect way to enjoy a beautiful day. This particular hike offers the chance to absorb a bit of YNP wolf history.

We have a nice breeze, temps in the upper 50’s, gorgeous fall color to admire, and excellent company.

And, for once, there are no bison blocking the trail!

It’s been six years since I trekked up here with friends V and K.

In truth, when I developed arthritis in my lower back a year and a half ago, I thought my day hiking days were over. But I have no problem doing this hike today, for which I credit my daily exercise and my new less carbs diet.

We rest inside the pen and share stories and a bit of lunch. Crossing Rose creek is a bit tricky but with a bit of fellow-hiker help we all manage.

At the end of our hike, my feet feel hot, so I remove my boots and soak my toes in Rose Creek. Ahhhh!

I have a short break in Silver Gate, then head out again at 5.

We start as usual at Canyon West but find nothing.

We move to Boulder where we find two bull elk and six cows, various pronghorn and ducks on the pond.

I also meet a young woman who works with John W. another wolf watcher. She says he told her to look for people with scopes and to ask where the wolves are. I tell her I wish I could show them to her!

We head back to Canyon West, but do not find wolves in view like we did last night.

We head back around 7PM, enjoying the beautiful golden light on Mt. Norris and its eastern peaks as we cruise by. We also see the usual mule deer near the entrance gate.

Today I saw: bison, coyotes, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, 3 Junction wolves (all blacks) and the spirits of Allison, Richard, Jeff and Chloe.