It’s cold at 9,500 feet on a late September morning in the Gravelly Mountains – I’m glad for my down coat and warm coffee. We’re sitting on a little ridge overlooking the pond we camped near last night, waiting for the sun to warm us up. Yesterday evening a Bald Eagle stopped by for a drink, along with a young hawk who checked us out but was too spooked by our fire to actually come in for a landing.
Evening fire.
So far this morning, though, no one’s come to visit.
Squinting into the rising sun starts hurting my eyes, so I turn my back on the pond and check out the meadows and mountains to the west of us. It occurs to me that I’ve left my camera in the camper, but I’m too lazy to go get it.
I’m lost in a daydream when I become aware of an odd grunting noise behind me – from the direction of the pond. I turn and squint into the sun. A moose! Having a morning drink at the pond!
He knows I’m there, but lets me go back to the camper and get my camera before he calmly heads out.
I was in such a rush to get my first photos that I failed to notice how perfectly he was reflected in the water. Oh well – I do like that you can see his breath.
He circled our camp, crossed into the big meadow and headed off into the forest. Not a bad way to start the morning!
Off the Beaten Path: Hikes, Backpacks, and Travels 
How precious views you have there Cindy. I wish I was there! 🙂
Montana sure does have more than its share of great views. You need to visit!
Wonderful captures of both birds and moose….that reflection looks so crystal clear 🙂
I’m so glad he waited for you to get your camera!
Me too. How frustrated I would have been if he’d galloped out of there as soon as I moved!
Magic!
🙂
I love the last photo with the moose against the mountains in the background, heading back to who knows where. Thought of you this summer when we traveled to Michigan and the Arkansas Ozarks instead of going to Wyoming and Montana (husband’s choice). It just wasn’t the same, not heading out west to my “other home!”
SO good to hear from you!!! And we’re heading to the southwest today…your other “other home”!
Hopefully the desert? Very jealous. Have a wonderful trip!
Yes – Grand Gulch, the Escalante, and Zion. Looking forward to it!
Ok, that does it I’m gonna head over to NE Washington and photograph some moose… Oh, and I have been enjoying your History Blog too. Very interesting! I still think we might have been identical twins, separated at birth 🙂
Ha! Perhaps so…. I need to start paying attention to that history stuff again; I’m thinking it’s a good cold weather project.
Such a powerful animal, the King of the Woods!
He is! That’s why he didn’t care that we were there.
That’s an amazing morning. I really like the idea of wild animals knowing you’re there and still letting you photograph. Of course when you’re that big …
Yes, I guess he has good reason to not be scared. Although hunting season is coming…
What good luck, the moose visit!
I agree! Dandy luck.
I am always in awe of the trips and photos you take.
Yours aren’t too shabby either! Just returned from the southwest, which is why I’ve been out of touch for a while.
Am envious –I have yet to see a moose. Plus white hair mountain goat, northern lights in our area..
Moose are fun to see, that’s for sure. Thanks for the visit.