Yellowstone Bear World

Above, a resident of Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My previous post on bears vs. recreational vehicles jogged a memory of ten years ago this month.

It was then that my daughter Amber and I took an RV trip to Yellowstone National Park. It was the first real trip in the RV (although we did go to Las Vegas in it a few weeks before). 

Above, here, visitors can feed bear cubs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along the way to Yellowstone National Park, we stopped at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. It is a wildlife park in which visitors can drive in areas set aside for different species of animals including, of course, bears.

Above, outside of the gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From Yellowstone Bear World's website:

About Us

No vacation to the Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park region is complete without an adventure into the wild at Yellowstone Bear World, a drive-thru wildlife park. During your visit you will be surrounded by the free-roaming wildlife of North America as you drive your personal vehicle through the park.

Wildlife you will see includes Rocky Mountain Elk, Bison, White-tail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Goats, and of course American Black Bear and Grizzly Bear. Remember to visit our petting zoo, enjoy the amusement rides, dine at the Hungry Bear Cafe, and explore the animatronic dinosaurs in Jurassic Creek! Located 5 miles south of Rexburg, Idaho on US HWY 20 we are easily accessible from both Jackson Hole, Wyoming and West Yellowstone, Montana. (see map) When you visit this beautiful region don’t miss Idaho’s #1 wildlife attraction, Yellowstone Bear World.

Above, a moose relaxing in his section. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 It was a fun park to visit. to access their website, go here. 

Experiencing Totality By Sky & Telescope

Above, the eclipse in totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The big event of last summer (and, perhaps, the year) was the Great American Eclipse that took place on August 21. 

As readers of this blog know, I headed up to Idaho to see the eclipse for myself and it was a very worthwhile trip. I was originally going to go to Rexburg, Idaho to view it, but elected instead to go a few miles north of Roberts, Idaho.

Above, the frontage road along Interstate 15 to the viewing area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting to the viewing area was not difficult. Getting back to camp in Lava Hot Springs was a different story. The traffic was so heavy, it took me four and a half hours to get to camp.

Sky & Telescope has posted some stories of people's experiences in viewing the eclipse from across the country.

They begin with:

With Sky & Telescope's editors and writers scattered across the eclipse path, we have dozens of stories to share. Here are a few.

To experience a total solar eclipse is to experience the sublime. It is to encounter something so awe-inspiring, so earth-shattering, that you lose all capacity for reason. Even if you understand the celestial alignment above, you often react in ways that you never expected. 

At least that's what accounts of the celestial spectacle often say. At Sky & Telescope, we have been poring over these accounts for years — wondering what our personal reactions might be to the Great American Eclipse. Now that August 21, 2017, has come and gone, we no longer have to wonder. In fact, we can now add our own stories to the pool of others. 

Of course, it might still be impossible to speak lucidly about the event. Jay Pasachoff — an astronomer at Williams College who has seen 34 total solar eclipses — notes that no one has ever described a total solar eclipse adequately. But we wouldn’t be writers if we didn’t try.

To read more, go here. 

AWESOME!

Above, the sun's corona during the total eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trip back to Lava Hot Springs took me four and a half hours. It seemed like half (or more) the population of Utah was in Idaho for the eclipse.

By the time I reached the KOA, I was tired and hungry. It was bumper-to-bumper traffic from a few miles north of Idaho Falls to Pocatello. We crawled at about 15-20  m.p.h. most of the way.

But was it worth it? Yep, you betcha!

I got up earlier than planned and headed out of Lava Hot Springs by around 4:30 AM. The traffic heading up Interstate 15 was busier than usual, but not too bad.

I found an area that is next to Interstate 15 that was to the west of Rexburg (I was actually on the outskirts of Roberts, Idaho). Eclipse watchers occupied areas next to the Interstate from both sides. I joined the bunch on the western (or southbound) side.

After getting parked, I made a pot of coffee and waited for the time of the eclipse. It was to begin with the partial eclipse at 10:15. A little over an hour later, the total eclipse would occur.

The word awesome is bandied about a lot these days, but it perfectly described the display I saw this morning!

Here's some photographs of the event:

Above, The Beast at the viewing area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, other people at our viewing area near I-15. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an early phase of the eclipse before totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, eclipse watchers across Interstate 15. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the area in the moon's shadow during totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Beast during totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the total eclipse of the sun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, this is called "the diamond ring effect" as the sun emerges from totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More eclipse photos here.

Great American Eclipse Day

Above, the Portneuf River and the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Okay, it is almost 4:00 AM on the day of the Great American Eclipse. I was planning on waking up at 4:30 in order to drive 70 miles to the Idaho Falls/Rexburg area to view it. But I woke up at around 1:30 (I went to bed at 9:00).

Above, Sierra enjoying the view. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was wondering why I woke up and then I glanced at my phone. It indicated that a voice mail message came in at around 1:30 (12:30 Pacific Time) from Asya in St. Petersburg, Russia. That explains it.

Above, the commemorative t-shirt I picked up in town. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I tried going back to sleep, but that was a fruitless endeavor so I stayed up to put things away for the drive. I will be heading out in about an hour or so.

It will be interesting to see how the traffic will be. Luckily, the area of Idaho is pretty spread out where the eclipse path takes and that should help with possible traffic congestion.

Fingers crossed!

Lava Hot Springs Base Camp

Above, The Beast at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA The river is at left in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The base camp destination has been reached.

I am currently at the Lava Hot Springs (Idaho) City Center KOA Kampground. I got here a bit early, so I spent some time wandering around the down's main street.

I have a nice riverside campsite and I am next door to a family from Santa Clarita, California (we're practically neighbors). The daughters went gaga over the black onyx/sterling silver ring I bought in town and they invited me to float down the river with them. They are here for the eclipse as well.

I had to decline (reluctantly) as I had too much wine and was a bit buzzed.

Above, some people floating by on the river past my camp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, since I have a riverside campsite, I have been relaxing and enjoying the show of people floating down the river (particularly the bikini-clad ladies).

I will be getting up early tomorrow morning so I can avoid the traffic (I hope) to secure a "beachhead" to experience the eclipse.  I will be going to somewhere near Idaho Falls and Rexburg.

The Wi-Fi here is weak, so I will end this now.

Yosemite National Park Bear Facts

Above, a bear cub at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, I saw a sad sight: a dead bear cub in the road on Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. It appeared to have been hit not too long before I saw it.

Unfortunately, bears are being killed by vehicles in the park.

According to the Sierra Sun Times:

2017 Total Bear Incidents: 12 

2017 Total Property Damage: $945 

June 16, 2017 - Compared to this same week 2016 (the lowest year on record for bear incidents), bear incidents in 2017 are up by 100% and damages are up by 34%. Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents in 2017 are down by 96%, and damages are down by 99%.

It isn't too much to ask for people to drive in any national park to drive carefully. As the Sierra Sun Times wrote:

Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.

To read more, go here.

How To See The Solar Eclipse

Above, the eclipse umbra shadow will pass over Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the eclipse occurs this coming August, not everyone can head out to areas where the eclipse's umbra shadow can be seen. I will be heading to Idaho for the event.

However, there's a solution for people anywhere to see the eclipse. Travel + Leisure has an article on what they can do.

They reported:

On August 21, the new moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun in the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental U.S. in almost four decades. 

But for those who won’t be able to view the eclipse this summer, NASA has a solution: The organization, along with online video platform Stream, will livestream coverage of the total solar eclipse from 57 high-altitude balloons across the country. 

The balloons will be set up at dozens of points throughout the eclipse’s “path of totality” (where the moon casts its umbral shadow) as it crosses the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S.

To read more, go here. 

An Old Bear Joke

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's an old bear joke:

Two guys were out camping in the woods. A bear starts tearing at their tent.  

One guys says, "We got to get out of here quick!"  

The other guy starts putting on his shoes. 

First guy says, "What are you doing? You can't outrun a bear!" 

The other guy says, "I don't have to! All I need to do is to outrun you!"