I hadn't been in camp long before a band of mule deer bucks wandered down the hill for a long visit. In fact, they remained in camp for the rest of the time that I was there. Perhaps they've learned that hanging out close to humans offers a measure of protection against predators, at least inside Yellowstone. They ranged in size from a small spike, with perhaps an 8 inch rack still partly covered in velvet, to a couple of massive bucks with huge trophy racks. They seemed oblivious to my presence, with one browsing close enough for me to touch if I'd wished to do so while I sat against a log writing in my journal. I shot over a hundred photos of the mulies. Each time I thought I had enough, one would strike a great pose and I'd start firing away again.

From my journal last night, while spending a 'recovery' night at Lewis Lake before heading back into the backcountry:
"Now I'm back in my tent at Lewis Lake, and tomorrow I'll get back on the horse. I'm heading to Heart Lake for two nights. I'll be making plenty of noise and carrying TWO cans of UDAP on this trip.
Had a great dinner at the Lakeside restaurant in Grant Village - I owe the rangers at the backcountry office for this one too. After getting off the trail from the Shoshone Lake trip, I was famished for something that didn't get cooked by pouring boiling water on it. I went first to the spiffy Lodge restaurant and some snotty kid that probably works the window at Micky Ds in the off-season sniffed that he didn't think a table would be available without a long, long wait. OK, my old OR hat is sorta sweat-stained, my hiking pants are newly-cleaned but pretty ragged, and I haven't shaved in days, but hell, I just got out of the shower over at the campground. The 4-day stink from Shoshone has been washed away. Before walking out of the Lodge, I took a moment to inspect the menu - lots of stuff on the menu with impressive names and what seemed to be pretty meager portions for a backpacker. I decided to give the kid a break and left. On the sidewalk outside, I ran into the rangers from the backcountry office and they suggested the buffet down at the Lakeside. Whoopeee! Dang, that was some fine vittles! All the pasta and salad fixings that I could manage to put away for $10 - can't touch that.
Elk are bugling all around - gotta turn in now."Tan