Top: An aspen grove graces the slopes of Specimen Ridge in Yellowstone National Park. Aspens have benefitted greatly from the huge fires of 1988, which gave them the chance to compete with the other vegetation in the Park. Fire is essential to the survival of the groves, encouraging new growth. The re-introduction of the wolves has also benefitted the aspen, as they tend to keep the elk spread out and prevent them from totally annihilating the stands by eating all of the new growth. A large grove of aspen can grow from a single root system, which is why you may see one stand all turning color at the same time in autumn, while an adjoining stand might still be green.

Bottom: An avalanche chute rips down the mountainside on the side of Specimen Ridge. These open areas are often the first to green up in springtime, providing a welcome banquet of rich green grass to the animals in the Valley. I had one of my closest encounters ever with a Grizzly near the bottom of this chute years ago while I was taking a break near the edge of the meadow. I had been sitting on a log for several minutes, enjoying the cool of the dark woods. When I stood to leave, a large Griz popped up from behind a log only 12 feet or so from me. It had been laying in a scooped-out springhead, and I'll never forget the sound of water dripping from its long claws as it stood there watching me. Finally, it dropped back to all fours, back up a couple of steps, and then turned and raced off into the forest. I was lucky enough to catch most of the encounter on video, as I happened to be holding my camcorder in my hand when it occurred. I had been making a lot of noise while I descended the ridge, since bear sign was evident everywhere I looked. I still wonder what would have happened if I'd chosen the log to sit on that the bear was resting behind instead of the one 12 feet away. The Griz probably planned to lay low and let me pass by peacefully, as they usually do, but after me sitting there for so long, it got spooked when I stood up. The funny thing is that despite the closeness of the encounter and the size of the Griz, I never felt threatened in any way. If anything, the bear seemed to exhibit an intense curiousity about my presence.