[jcruse64]

One of the top 10 rules to remember, whether in GNP, the Tetons, or Yellowstone, is to obey park speed limits and driving rules, especially the one about the animals having right-of-way. Wrecks, with hurt people and killed animals every season, many times because someone's time is more important than everyone else in the world, so it's OK for then to run through traffic standstills, break the speed limits, and not give the wildlife enough room. Watched a guy "bump" a buffalo one night, because he was going too fast coming down off a blind hill, and could not see the buffalo in time to slow up. Traffic jams are inevitable every day, mostly from buffalo walking up and down the roads in the park; nothing you can do about it except be patient, and watch out both sides of the road while you wait! Beat being in a traffic jam in LA, for sure. I can only imagine the days when buffalo would intersect a rail line, and a train could be held up for over 2 days. Your first few times getting held up by buffalo will be very cool, but after several of these, you can get kind of blase' about it; don't. Sometimes, the jams are because there's a bear, cat, or moose very close, and you might get to see it if you're patient.

Tough to see a lot in 3 days at either place anyway, so try to stay in Yellowstone if you can, or in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Cooke. Lots of hikes in both parks, and if you take even one, you're seeing more of the park than 90+% of all the other visitors. One good Yellowstone hike, with potential to see bear, is the Mt. Washburn hike. It can be a long one; my brother and I turned back about 2/3 up, because we did not grasp the length involved, and we had family waiting for us in the vehicle. Hikes around the already mentioned geyser formations is good. Ya GOTTA see Old Faithful if you go. The trail down the falls mentioned earlier is tough, but really great. Anywhere you hike, pay attention to the rules posted on the trails, especially near geothermal stuff, where bear sightings have been very recent, and near any high places. An 18 year old russian girl who had just completed her first work day with Yellowstone concessionaire, Xanterra, went on a hike in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area, and they went off-trail to a ledge to get a good view. She was seated on the edge, with another girl behind her, when the ledge collapsed, and she died after a 400' fall. Very sad and completely preventable. Driving around, Hayden and Lamar Valleys will give you opportunity to see wolves and elk.

Also agree with bringing plenty of binoculars. Don't forget to try Huckleberry ice cream!!!! Very good stuff. The ice cream shop in Gardiner will make a huckleberry shake. Huckleberry pie is also the bomb. I can understand why bears like them so much.

Hope you enjoy your trip. We have been to Glacier once for a very short trip, the Tetons once, and Yellowstone twice for at least a week. I love all of it, and would move out there in an instant (well, maybe a summer home, if we had the $$$). Still contemplating a September visit, or else this time next year. Both earlier trips were late August/early September, and it was hopping with people. Supposedly calms down a little after Labor Day. We generally stay in Yellowstone, at Fishing Bridge campground.