SCOPING the LAMAR VALLEY

Only in Yellowstone
Will you see 200 visitors with spotting scopes and tripods. Standing along a wide spot in the road or on slightly elevated hills.

WOLF WATCHERS
Between the single tree and the small group of trees, lies a bison carcass. About 300 yards away from the road.
The crowd hopes to see action at the carcass. What predator could ignore the odor of a fresh kill?

NO CAMERAS NEEDED
I wondered why so many people were satisfied with viewing the wolves and didn't need something tanglible, a picture, to enhance the memory.
I wanted to know what made these Scopers different from me. Their needs so much simpler than mine.

So I started interviewing those next to me and down the line. All I really "got"- strange looks, I don't think I asked the right questions.

Finally, Karen from Pittsburgh set me straight. She travels at least once a year to Yellowstone just to connect with the wolves she knows so well. (There are a number of blogs dedicated to their comings and goings).

She enlightened me:
"I look forward to being near these magnificent animals. Sharing their world, and living in the moment with no thoughts of anything else."
Ah, so there it is-so wonderfully zen. Just the simple moment is all that's needed. Wow.

We never saw the wolves - unless you count one 3 miles away viewed through a scope- coulda been a rock. Maybe next time.