YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Montana and Wyoming - page 471

• Wake up early. Like most wildlife, wolves are most active at the edges of day. Putting
yourself in the heart of the Lamar Valley before sunrise greatly improves your odds
of seeing the wolves. The same is true at sunset. In this game, patience pays.
• Watch for the wolf watchers. They often have significant advantages, including radio
telemeters that allow them to track collared wolves. These people know so much
about the wolves and can often regale you with dramatic sagas of individual animals
and entire packs. Don't be shy about pulling over when you see them; they are often
willing to let you peer through their scopes. But do be safe and courteous; turn off
your engine and remain quiet.
MM LAMAR VALLEY
One of my favorite corners of the park, the Lamar Valley is stunningly beautiful with wide
valleys carved by rivers and glaciers as well as views to the high rugged peaks around
Cooke City. Generally uncrowded (save for the ever-growing number of bespectacled wolf
watchers), some of the best hiking, fishing, and camping can be had at Slough Creek. And
the wolf watching, particularly in the winter, is unrivaled anywhere else in the world. There
are also grizzlies, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, red foxes, elk, bison, bighorn sheep,
and pronghorn antelope in the area.
Yellowstone Association Institute
An arm of the Yellowstone Association, the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus of the
Yellowstone Association Institute (406/848-2400, www.yellowstoneassociation.org/insti-
tute ) is located away from the large crowds (of two-legged creatures, anyway) in the idyllic
Lamar Valley. The institute offers field seminars at this private and unique campus year-
round. If you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, you can stay at the ranch in one of
their log cabins ($30). There are propane heaters, a communal bathhouse with individual
showers, and a fully equipped kitchen in the common building. It's quite comfortable but
not fancy. The best part is waking up each morning in the Lamar Valley, an opportunity very
few people have. You can also stay in a nearby campsite or hotel while taking a course at
the ranch. Field seminars also take place at hotels throughout the park. The institute holds
rooms in various lodges until 30 days before the course.