Homestead Happenings: MOMMA AND THE BEARS

Monday, July 28, 2008

MOMMA AND THE BEARS

August 4, 1926 (postmark)
We’re at Old Faithful Camp and are just packing to leave. The geysers are wonderful and we’ll see a few more today. The bears didn’t eat dad – contrary to all expectations. We expect to camp at West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and go on to the Tetons tomorrow. I hope the fences are standing up. Vance

August 5 (Thursday)
At Fishing Bridge Camp on Yellowstone Lake. Left Jackson Lake Camp after lunch yesterday and made this camp among the trees. Saw a bear in camp standing up being fed. Mother bear and cub in camp this a.m. The next move is to back track 5 miles to see Natural Bridge and knotted pines. Then on to Grand Canyon [of the Yellowstone], I think. We are getting awful dirty. Bernice says the nighties will get up and walk off with a blanket on each arm and your first sight of us will be Irl’s pajamas coming in with a blanket on each arm. Getting hungry for home cooking. Love to all. Kiss Shirley Jean for me. Momma

August 6 (Friday)
Dear Girls:
We are camped on the Yellowstone about 9 miles above the falls and Grand Canyon. The men have gone fishing crazy, but we’ll have to begin to hurry home. Each has caught a fine trout except Vance. They went off about 5:00 this a.m. in Lynn’s car to fish. Yesterday they tried it in Yellowstone Lake and River at Fishing Bridge Camp but no luck so we went on to Grand Canyon. We use only superlatives here – Upper and Lower Falls – Upper Falls 109 feet and Lower Falls 308. Then we drove back about 9 miles so they could fish. Lovely camp – only two other parties here. A bear came into camp this a.m. about 4:30 and got the men up. He was turning over pots and pans. Did I tell you that a mother bear and cub were in the big camp yesterday a.m.? The girls were still sleeping but I find it hard to do in more ways than one so got up and built a fire. The bears left. [!????] Love, Momma [who lived to tell the tale]