Around here mid-May 2020

Time for a quick around here post…

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Yellowstone is opening up again. The phased opening plan released on Wednesday lets us expect only gas at the pumps and pit toilets. Enough for me. Some people agree that it’s time, others don’t. I am ready to see it open and plan to head in on Monday. Follow me on Instagram as I’ll share there as much as I’m able to, though documenting thermal areas comes first. I’ll also share links to any blog posts on Facebook.

We’re starting to see tourists from the US arrive – mainly in motorhomes. Businesses are opening up again, and restaurants will open up today for indoor dining again in Cody. We can’t hunker down forever, and it just makes sense to let Cody lead the way to open the park. We are careful but not fearful – and we’re the less crowded entrance to the park.

Spring migrants have arrived. We have Lazuli buntings and Bullock’s orioles that showed up this week, and yesterday we saw our first hummingbird – but we were unable to identify it.

Aspen leaves and fruit tree blossoms are opening up here in town. Lilacs are not far behind. Aspen leaves are starting to unfold as high up as Cross Sabers Ranch as of the 9th.

The bison bulls that winter on the North Fork may be gathering to start their trek back into the park. On May 9, I spotted eight of them fairly close together down quite low. I had expected them to be working their way up already. A part of me wonders if one of their triggers to migrate has become the increase in vehicle traffic.

I’ve put up a new large print in my section of Open Range Images. It’s this one printed as a 30×40 metal print and looks gorgeous. If you happen to be in Cody this summer, stop in and take a look. We are open again.

Be Outside • Take Notes