I set out from Gardiner in the dark at 6:15.

It rained overnight, and it has now become ice on the ground and on my car. Then snow fell on top of that so it’s a bit slippery.

The OGR has been cleared and well-sanded, but the road east of Mammoth has not yet been plowed. There are two sets of tracks in the inch or two of snow.

As I descend to the high bridge I notice the wind has created some interesting drifts.

My first stop is at the Nature Trail looking for Rescues. However, I find only scattered bison and elk.

I continue east and by the time I reach Hellroaring the radio calls tell me the Junctions are in view at Slough.

I park and join the small crowd on Bob's Knob, braving a fairly stiff wind. It's amazing what one can endure when there are wolves to see.

They are in the meadow and on the hillsides around the Southern Round Tree, still feeding on their hidden carcass.

I see 1478F being “trailed" by two blacks whenever and wherever she moves. This is normal breeding behavior.

Two youngsters play together, running up and down the low hills. The pack has at least two rallies this morning.

Around 8AM a black arrives from the north and is greeted heartily. I’m pretty sure this is the black I was “missing” yesterday because I now have a full count of 8 blacks and 3 grays.

A smallish, uncollared black emerges from behind the hill with a bone and immediately goes to another black as if daring it to steal his prize.

The ploy works and the two begin to romp about in a delightful way.

The “new” uncollared gray is a very bouncy wolf. He seems to love everybody. I guess he is happy in his new family. Both 1478F and 1484M are stoic in comparison.

For most of the morning, the wind has been blowing at our backs or sometimes from the side, but around 9AM it shifts and starts to blow in our faces, quite fiercely.

At the same time, the overall activity slows down and most of the wolves are now bedded, digesting their meal.

I stick it out another 20 minutes and then call it quits.

I figure I might avoid the worst of the wind by scoping from Canyon West, even though it’s a much longer view. The wind is indeed diminished in this spot but once I get my scope set up, I find the wolves are gone!

Luckily, a guide in the lot has just found them, heading north on their “usual” route. I find them in a long single line trudging through deep snow, just below the mixed forest.

They continue that way, then head uphill past the large "distinctive-looking" rock.

I count again, getting 10 with 8 blacks and 2 grays. Now I’m missing a gray. I keep looking, wondering if perhaps that wolf is ahead of the pack.

Belatedly, I recognize a visitor in the lot. It’s Warren, who sadly lost his wife recently. I give him a hug and we talk fondly of Natalie.

When the wolves go out of sight, Warren and I relocate to Aspen, along with Rick. Rick finds them briefly but we don’t have the same luck.

I go to Boulder to try again, but they elude me.

Eventually we all go to Elk Creek, where at least we get a break from the wind. But after a half hour we have still not found the Junctions.

As far as I know, they are not seen again this morning.

I continue west as far as Nature Trail, where the wind finds me again. I stick it out for a half hour anyway, with only bison and elk and a chapped face to show for it.

Around noon I go back to Gardiner to do my stretches, with the intention of returning later.

At Blacktail Ponds, I see a car has gone off the road. There are two Rangers helping already, so I don’t need to call anyone.

I end up staying in the rest of the day, unwilling to face the wind again.

Today I saw: bison, a coyote, elk, 11 Junction wolves (including 1385F, 1392M, 1478F, 1479F, 1484M, one other collared black adult, two uncollared black adults, an uncollared gray adult, and two black pups – one of which is collared) and the spirits of Allison, Richard, Jeff and Chloe.