Last evening we heard from Laurie & Dan that their plane took off late causing them to miss their connection in Salt Lake. There was no other flight available so they stayed over in Salt Lake and will fly in later today.

They have a lot of shopping to do first to winterize the house, so we might not see them until dark tonight. Since tomorrow is my last day, this leaves me in a pickle about finding a way to spend time with them.

My morning starts as usual with 34 degrees, mule deer near the road and a stop at Trash Can to listen (in vain) for howling.

Next I stop at Canyon West but yet again find nothing in view.

Rick chats with the wolf project folks (J & M) but only learns what we already know – the Junctions are north in Little America (i.e. the trough).

Various other watcher are already looking from Boulder when I drive by so I continue to Elk Creek.

I find nothing here and there are no reports from Boulder.

A large crowd of visitors is watching the black bear at the big lot near Petrified Tree – the same one that Gary saw yesterday.

Rick joins me and we chat a bit, then I follow him to Nature Trail. I am surprised (and delighted) to find a substantial crowd here clearly watching wolves.

People did call in the sighting but unfortunately, only Doug Mac’s radio is strong enough to be heard at Hellroaring or east of there.

Rick and I set up, and with some help from Clare, I see my first wolf in 48 hours!

I recognize that this single black adult may be my only wolf of the day, so I am grateful to have it.

But a few moments later, a gray appears below the black. Then I see a second gray to the right. More and more wolves start to emerge, some from a gully and others from behind a line of trees to the right.

Eventually I see fourteen wolves! These are members of the Rescue pack. The spot is far way, about the same distance as their rendezvous area is, but well east of that spot.

I have many more blacks than grays and I see several smaller ones, which would be pups.

NOTE: I learn today that the Rescues have seven black pups this year

The wolves are roaming about, not focused on anything specific. They go out of sight, then reappear several times. Overall, they look chipper and healthy and happy.

Most of them gather for a rally, after which several of them bed down while others continue west.

Several blacks bed in golden grass, against a backdrop of flaming orange aspens. It’s quite a picture!

The pack now reverses course and begins to move east towards the Triangle Forest. They dip down into a ravine and I start to lose them.

I am planning to join another day hike today, so at 9:15 I pack up, despite having a few wolves still in view.

Thank you Rescues!

I meet my hiking buds at the Crystal lot. We are visiting the beaver ponds and then Crystal Rock and the area behind it, which is part of wolf reintroduction history.

I check in with Maureen and Rick and Kathie and relay my Rescue Pack sighting. They saw wolves today, too, catching two brief glimpses of a pair of Junction wolves from Dave’s Hill.

It’s a perfect day for this hike, with the fall color at its spectacular best. We follow a trail for some of the way but bushwhack the rest.

The group includes Maureen & Rick, Kathy, John, Paul, Emma & Stephanie and me.

I am sorry to say the beaver ponds are nearly dried up. In fact, Crystal Creek is a mere trickle itself.

The day is warm, at 78 but there is a delightful, steady breeze.

At the end of the hike I am grateful to remove my boots and switch into Tevas, but have no other complaints.

After a break in Silver Gate, I head out for my last evening in a while.

Celia and I spend time searching for Junctions at Canyon West and Boulder. We find no wolves but enjoy each other’s company.

Dan and Laurie finally arrive at 8:30 and we have a happy reunion. I am glad they are finally here and wish I could extend my trip to share the Park with them. Alas, this time, I cannot.

I know they will sleep in tomorrow, so I’ve decided to skip early wolf-watching to spend an easy morning with them.

Today I saw: bison, coyotes, pronghorn, 14 Rescue Creek wolves (10 black and 4 gray) and the spirits of Allison, Richard, Jeff and Chloe