Top: Looking east at sunset from near the confluence of Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River, towards the high peaks of the Absaroka Mountains.

Bottom: Looking east over Lamar Valley in late evening towards the Absarokas. The small cluster of buildings on the left side of the photo is the Yellowstone Institute, aka the Buffalo Ranch, so called because it was once the location of a paddock where bison were held captive during much of the year. At the time, Park officials were worried that the bison might fade from the Yellowstone scene. As their numbers increased, pressure mounted to let them roam free again, and finally, they were set free. Today, the Montana Department of Livestock wants to once again limit the presence of wild bison in Yellowstone, and have slaughtered thousands that have wandered out of the Park.