heading out for higher ground

every spring the elk leave
the national elk refuge in jackson, wy.

they spend late fall and all of winter
on the refuge where they are fed and protected.

since there was an early spring this year,
most of the thousands of elk had already left
the refuge and migrated north by the time we got here.

all last week, we were so very lucky to have been able to see the last of the herds as they left the refuge and migrated north to their summer feeding grounds.

after work while it was still light,
we could see them hiding back in the trees as we
drove down the road to get to the campground.




mornings were the best. 

sometimes, they would be walking one behind the other

and other times, they would be in large groups grazing.

i remember last year when the winter had been the worst in years,

most of the elk had to wait longer than usual to start their annual trek.

we came into our "neighborhood" and between our road and the river

there was a large herd of elk back in the treeline

quietly walking in one long line.

i wish i had been able to take a picture of that scene.

it is hard to describe the feeling of seeing something

so peaceful and beautiful

that has been going on for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years.

to see these beautiful animals probably walking the same path

their ancestors have walked.

to wonder how they know exactly when to leave

and head north,

and when to start the long walk south

back to the refuge.

we did not see any elk this morning,

so i assume they are all pretty much past us by now.

now we just have to wait for fall,

when we will again be so very lucky to see them

slowly walking one behind the other back home.

we wish them safe travels.







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