Return to West Yellowstone.....our favorite winter destination!

After our sleigh ride, we made our way back to West Yellowstone and Kelly Inn.  On our drive down U.S. Highway 287, we kept seeing the signs "Wildlife Crossing - Next 13 miles", or those ones with the jumping deer with large antlers....but we didn't see nary a jumping deer with antlers.  When we happened upon one that had "Big Horn Sheep Crossing - Next 2 Miles" I asked Chuck if that was a threat or a promise.....then, low an behold, I look to the left, and what do I see in front of a large garage, but TWO LARGE RAMS!!!  Chuck stopped the car (as best he could safely on an icy road!), I hopped out of car and got my large lens out of the trunk since I had given up on needing it as we drove from Missoula to West Yellowstone....affixed it to my camera and started shooting!  Little did we know that those two rams would turn in to almost 200 head of big horn sheep!  As we stood there on the side of the highway taking pictures and just being in awe of the magnificent creatures that seemed to want to be subjects of the photos I was taking, the owners of the garage and house drove up, waved to us, shouted "Hi!" as they roared up the hill to the log cabin, and we decided that they seemed friendly enough for us to go see them.


Chuck made his way halfway up the very steep, very icy and snowy driveway, the kids and I bailed and made our way to meet Kathy & Harry Sauter and introduced ourselves.  Kathy in turn told us the story of "their" big horn sheep.  The herd had numbered about 200 when earlier this summer the wildlife folks collared about 52 of them and relocated them around the mountain closer to Ennis, MT.  Unfortunately, most of them have returned to the Sauter's land.  Must be the pellets that the Sauters have put out to feed them.  In addition to the big horn sheep, they also have a black fox that makes an appearance - he tends to knock on the back door as if to say -- "Hey, you have any food for me?". 


It appeared to us that the fox might have been trying to chase the sheep as they all congregated in an area behind the house just as the Sauter's arrived home.  I was able to get quite a number of photos before the herd decided that it was time for them to head back up to their nesting area up on the hill.  They were quite funny about it - one made a specific noise as if to say "Ok, head up" and they all seemed to head up the hill.


As we departed and continued on our way to West Yellowstone, we encountered a single ram on U.S. Highway 287 strolling along - as if he did it every day.  It was quite amazing - we pulled up along side him, he looked straight at me, I aimed my camera, and snapped his photo!  What a guy he was!!


We made it back to Kelly Inn and were pleased to find out that what we started a few years ago (making soup for the guests here at Kelly Inn) has been continued on a nightly basis!  So good to know that they kept that going.  This year it seems that many more folks are here and there are many more businesses open to cater to the guests.  Our "secret" winter vacation location is not so secret any more....


New Year's Eve we spent on snowmobiles - we rode several new trails - Madison Arm, Black Canyon Trail, South Plateau - as well as several old favorites - Two Top Loop and Big Springs.  We even had an unexpected "Mama caught air" episode which resulted in a sled being towed from the woods....no injuries thankfully, but it made for gathering of 15 sleds at an S-curve on the South Plateau trail 11 miles from town!  Thanks ever-so-much to those 23 folks that assisted us with retrieving that sled from the trees....we couldn't have done it without you!


Here are some photos --

I've uploaded more pictures -- https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/1407 - take a peek and see what fun we've had and what sites we've seen....it is truly beautiful country up here!

We're still frolicking!

The Featherston's