I went to Yellowstone on Saturday and hit the north end of the park. This was an area I explored a lot when I lived in Livingston. The area I hit was one that I've always wanted to explore but never took the time to hike in. On the map were a lot of little lakes and ponds and I thought it would be a great place to visit, but I would have to do it off trail.
The hike was very steep in the beginning, but once to the top it was very open and easy going. I hit the first lake to find nice fall colors. As soon as I reached the shore a group of wolves began to howl. They were very close, in fact I thought maybe they were on the ridge right above me. So I went to find them. I have learned that wolves during the day will group under a tree near or almost at the top of hills. I moved around the ridge and kept an eye out for anything along the base of trees. After a half mile I figured they were maybe moving through and just gave a howl to regroup and kept moving. I said I would go to the next ridge and just have a look into that meadow. Of course I let my guard down because I didn't think they were in the area and just before I reached the ridge, the base of tree not more then 20 yards away exploded with wolves. I counted 7 but I think it was maybe 9 or 10. They didn't really see me so they didn't scatter to far. They slowly moved back to the tree but one came up from behind me and gave a yelp and that sent them running. 
Returning to Jackson just as the sun was going down. It was on of the best sunsets I've seen in awhile.
I also shot a lot of pictures of a bald-faced hornets nest with fall colors in the background and some fall colors abstracts using camera motion.

It was a great week. Last Wednesday hiked up Table Mountain for some of the best views in the Tetons. Spent all day Saturday with the owl. Sunday had a great hike and found some moose. Monday morning followed a pack of wolves and this morning had a bugling bull elk almost walk right up to me.
Fall colors in the trees are just about a week shy of being at the peak. The temps have been in the low 30's upper 20's in the morning. A couple of low areas the leaves are now brown. The elk are very vocal at sunrise and sunset. Once the moon comes back they should stay active all night.
The valley has a thick cover of smoke from the fires so I've been doing non-Teton landscapes in the morning. On Monday I hiked back to a big old tree. While shooting it wolves began to howl and they were close. I circled around and found two of them, one black and one gray. I could hear five different howls. But the others were maybe a half mile away. I stay with them for a couple of hours before they hit a thick tree line and disappeared.
The owl I saw in a tree as I was hiking into an area off trail. Over the next couple of hours without approaching it became use to me being around it. Then I slowly worked in closer, maybe 3 feet then wait 15-20 minutes and then another 3 feet and so on until I was almost at the base of the tree. It liked to sit on low branches so I was able to get some nice close and clear shots. I was also happy I could move around and work in the fall colors for a background.