Category: National Parks Plus

Autumn is here.  Happy Birthday month to you Libras and Scorpios!  As the leaves turn to gold and red, I have been secretly praying that global warming will save me from rumored harsh Wyoming weather. Luckily I have been relocated from an elevation of 8,400 feet down to 7,300 feet, and have been blessed with a living space that has electricity, running water, and a toilet. Ahhh, being thankful for the small things!

Here are some of my photographed memories of Yellowstone National Park.  I have always wanted to visit Yellowstone and due to its geographic isolation have never taken the opportunity. When the current job situation arose, the proximity to Yellowstone was a deciding factor in my coming to Wyoming. My wish is that many of you will have the opportunity to travel to Yellowstone and experience the awesome natural wonders it protects. I do recommend that if you make those plans try NOT to arrive during the summer months when traffic through the Park equates to gridlocked rush hour traffic. Buffaloes parked on the road (as you can see) are a serious road block! Still it is nice to know that many persons are traveling to experience the glories of  Nature’s bounty.

As this blog tends to “resize” the photos, please click the back and forth arrows for a better view. I hope to hear from some of you with your thoughts and memories of Yellowstone Park.  Happy Autumn!

When surrounded by nature, it has been easy for me to appreciate fully the wonder of our physical BEING. The vistas afforded by the Sierras are awe inspiring indeed. In the following photos I have captured (minimally) some of the grandeur of the granite that rules the Sierra landscape. Please click back and forth for a larger viewing.

As a student of yoga and eastern philosophy, I would aspire to appreciate the wonder of our BEING in the midst of the concrete and steel of a modern metropolis. The gridlock traffic, the impatience fueled by caffeine, the pollution given off by millions of bodies and energy producing modalities…. these are a necessity of modern civilization. Finding the balance??

As I retire to study in India for the coming 6 months I would hope to deepen my appreciation of LIFE, be it natural beauty or man made havoc. Stay tuned for news from southern India. I would love to hear from you all during this sabbatical.  Namaste

Being in the mountains has many wonderful benefits not the least of which is exposure to the wildlife.  Watching the chipmunks grow from tiny to husky little creatures, in preparation for hibernation, has been a treat! The most famous animal in the Sierra’s is the black bear. All visitors are instructed to store food out of cars and in appropriate boxes at the hiking trials and in the cabins. Here are my photos of the bears I have encountered while hiking.  My sense of them is that they are gentle creatures and want to be left alone to forage. However with the enticing smells of potato chips and cookies they can become excited and therefore more aggressive in the search for food.

I have had several other chances to see bears here in Sequoia Park and I consider it a very real blessing. As I have mentioned in previous posts, to have the opportunity to live in the mountain forests is an extraordinary experience. My wish for all of you is that you will also have this opportunity at some future date.

Bear Hugs All Round !!

Photo Captions:  Click back and forth on photos for a larger view.
#1. Black Bear in the Lodgepole Campground
#2. Same bear. It is unusual for it to be out in the open in mid-day.
#3. Now this bear is lying at the log feeding on bees in the log.
#4. Black Bear in the Big Trees area. Look at the bottom edge of the tree.
#5. Same bear with his back to the camera at the edge of the tree.
#6. The most scary bear of all !!