Yellowstone wolves: Yellowstone Wolf and Bear Adventure; A Wildlife Tour for Wolves and Grizzlies

Join wildlife biologists Nathan Varley and Linda Thurston as they journey through Yellowstone National Park’s famous wildlife sanctuary observing gray wolves, grizzly bears, moose, and a host of other wildlife species. Enjoy comfortable accommodations in picturesque settings, great outdoor picnic meals, as well as, fine dining in historic locations. Learn from the experts who have spent their lives studying wildlife and teaching about the dramatic ecosystem that Yellowstone Park was created to protect.

“For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

~ Inscription on the Roosevelt Arch

North Entrance, Yellowstone National Park

The timing of this spring trip is ideal. Wolves are out searching for prey for their young pups and grizzlies are visible foraging in the meadows and valleys like no other time of the year. Newborn elk calves are hiding in the grass and sage while young bison calves are kicking and bucking as they follow the herds. This burst of new life is all around!

On a typical trip we see many wolves from several packs and dozens of grizzlies. We have witnessed amazing behavior, too, including both grizzlies and wolves chasing their prey. Being a resident of the Yellowstone area for nearly his entire life, Nathan specializes in the out-of-the-way places that few visitors get to enjoy. Short walks will put us into amazingly scenic spots that abound with wildlife. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch wolves on the move as the sun rises, grizzly bears bird-dogging through the sage hunting for elk calves, vast herds of bison stampeding across open grasslands, and bighorn sheep walking precariously along narrow cliff walls. While we may emphasize the “charismatic megafauna,” we don’t ignore the “enigmatic microfauna” either. We will also look for birds of all sizes and color, and small carnivores like otters, coyotes, foxes, badgers, and weasels.

Following each exhilarating day filled with wildlife viewing, we stay at comfortable accommodations while alternating great outdoor picnics with gourmet catered dining, as well as, Montana's historic Chico Hot Springs dining room. Finally, you will see many of the locations that have made Yellowstone world famous, including the the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Roosevelt Arch, and Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces.

The Adventures in Brief:

June 5-9 & June 17-21, 2010

Outfitters: THE WILD SIDE LLC and A Naturalist's World LTD

Group Size: 6-15

Cost: $1960/person/double occupancy w/ $250 single supplement.

Deposit of $500 per person due at time of booking.

The Lamar Valley by Nathan Varley

	Read testimonial from the 2007 Spring Wolf & Bear
	E-mail Nathan Varley or text/call 406 223 2152 for information and reservations

Yellowstone Spring Wolf and Bear Adventure Schedule:

Day 1: Rendezvous with Nathan and Linda at the Bozeman airport (BZN) between NOON and 1 PM. After a lunch in the Bozeman area we will load our touring vehicle and leave the city behind en route for the wilds of Yellowstone. We will make stops in the picturesque Paradise Valley, just north of the park where park wildlife issues take on a new and controversial appearance. Linda has been involved with efforts to address wolf predation on livestock in the largely private, agricultural lands of the valley. At the north entrance to Yellowstone, we will stop at the famous Roosevelt Arch for a formal arrival to the park. Check in follows at the Absaroka Lodge in Gardiner, where the group stays until the last night. From your room, the views of the Yellowstone River and its rolling green hills and snow-clad mountains astound! An orientation to the area and the week ahead will accompany a special catered dinner by Zac's Montana Kitchen at the Track Education Center in Gardiner.

Day 2: We wake early, as we often will to better our chances of viewing active wildlife. We will search the park’s northern range for wildlife from bison to bears, badgers to bald eagles. Search areas include the Blacktail Plateau, the Slough Creek valley, and the famous wildlife haven, Lamar Valley, for resident wolf packs. Our search will team with rangers, scientists, and the eclectic wolf-watching faithful in a mutual effort to find and observe wildlife. Picnic breakfast each morning will be served in the field to maximize our time searching and observing. Lunch will be served at the home and gallery of our good friends, Dan and Cindy Hartman who are exceptional naturalists and wildlife photographers that share their many insights to wildlife in the area. A presentation at the Track Education Center in Gardiner will feature a special guest expert on wolves in Yellowstone with a gourmet catered dinner.

Day 3: As with each search day, we will leave early for a trip across the Northern Range to Lamar Valley. Lamar is one of the best areas in the park for wolves, bears, and vast herds of bison and elk. The sheer abundance gives this area its well-earned nickname, “The Serengeti of North America.” Our journey continues over Dunraven Pass to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for spectacular views of the rugged and colorful canyon with its enormous 300' waterfalls. A trip around the upper loop of Yellowstone's road system returns the group to Gardiner where dinner with a special guest expert concludes the day at the Track Center in Gardiner.

Day 4: Our third and final early morning will take us back to the Lamar Valley to maximize our opportunities for viewing wolves, bears, and many other wildlife species. We will return to check out of the Absaroka Lodge. Our afternoon consists of a short drive to Chico Hot Springs in the Paradise Valley, known for its rustic elegance, gourmet food, and therapeutic hot springs for relaxation. A gourmet dinner for the group will be served in Chico’s exclusive wine cellar.

Day 5: After three early mornings, the opportunity to sleep in and rest up for a day of travel will be welcomed! After breakfast in the Chico dining room, we will transport to the Bozeman airport (or a nearby destination) for airlines departures no earlier than NOON. Guests will have accumulated hundreds of images of incredible scenery and wildlife, as well as, the memories of a fun group of new friends made while exploring the amazing wonders of Yellowstone!

Cost: $1960/person based on double occupancy. $250 supplement for singles requesting own room.

Price includes all lodging, ground transportation to/from Bozeman, Montana, airport (BZN), park entrance fees, meals, snacks and non-alcohol drinks. We can attempt to accommodate special dietary needs, let us know. A deposit of $500 per person reserves your space!

Local Outfitters: A Naturalist's World LTD, Gardiner, Montana

Small Groups!! Maximum trip participants will be 15.

Read policies.

For reservations, contact Nathan at nathan@wolftracker.com

Or text/phone: 406 223 2152