We are sitting in a remote mountain coffee shop enjoying great coffee and even greater sweets. A photographer is seated nearby and is soon regaling us with stories of his most exciting wildlife encounters.
One story trumped them all. He was driving down a road right near where we were and saw some wolves. His wife was driving while he was leaning out the window taking photos.
What a thrill that must have been! I’m always happy for other people’s success but that story left me with more than a twinge of envy (and it’s the only story I remember). That experience was so improbable, I was left to wonder and dream … and then one day happened to me.
“… that story left me with more than a twinge of envy.”
Remarkably we found ourselves driving down a road with a wolf in the ditch beside us. The best part was my wife, Dori, was driving so I could focus on the photography. The complicated part was that the wolf was on the driver’s side!
Dori leaned way back while I bobbed and weaved to try to keep the wolf in my lens while trying to avoid taking a photo of her or the steering wheel. All this was happening while I frantically barked instructions to speed up and slow down – sometimes at the same time!
The only calm part of the entire scene was the wolf who kept happily trotting along beside us. It’s entirely possible the wolf was thoroughly bemused by all the activity in the car!
Krahnpix 
envy
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You take such beautiful pictures
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I’m glad you enjoy them. They were fun to take.
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Right place at the right time with a driver included. Great shots Lyle. That had to be an awesome experience.
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It really was. Without the driver and quite a few other factors, I wouldn’t have got it.
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Nice story and great pictures! Must’ve been quite exciting – for all of you.
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One never knows how the pictures or story will unfold and this one was more exciting than most.
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Nice pictures, Lyle. I’m actually leaving this comment to tell you that your last entry: ‘A penny for your thots’ is a post that ‘cannot be found’ (According to the programming)
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Thanks for letting me know. Is that on the WordPress Reader?
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Great captures of the wolf, you lucky dog. I would love to see one someday. You are very lucky to have such an obliging wife too.
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An obliging wife is a great description – and I am thankful.
I hope you get some photography time with a wolf some day!
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Fantastic – so happy for you to have this time with the wolf – and the bears! Beautiful images Lyle – well found, well seen and very well photographed.
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Thanks for stopping by and leaving the kind words. As you well know, the experiences are priceless!
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Great story and brilliant shots (the first is stunning with those piercing eyes checking you out) there is nothing better than getting that encounter you’ve always wished for.
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Thanks. I still have a hard time believing the whole thing happened. And you’re right, it’s pretty special when the encounters you wish for actually happen. Now I wonder how I could make it happen again …
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Seeing a wolf or wolves is high on my list of desired experiences. Great photos!!
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Thanks. I hope it happens for you!
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Awesome photos you were able to get! This is such an amazing experience, I know because it happened to me as well in Banff. Unfortunately that was before I got a decent camera and the photos cannot even start to compare with the ones you got. And I feel I can’t even start hoping it will happen again – I think that is one of those once in a life time experiences:) Again – beautiful captures Lyle. Those yellow eyes looking at you are awesome!
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It’s great you could have the experience. I never thot it would happen once so maybe we’ll both have it happen again when we least expect it! Those beautiful yellow eyes draw me in as well. The wolf is high on my list of animals to photograph.
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Those eyes are eerie. But what an experience. I can picture the mayhem within, and the calm without.
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Those eerie eyes draw me in. Perhaps it is the strange call of the wild. Makes for the occasional mayhem in the car!
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Alright Lyle, congratulations! A wolf is always special. I really like the silver highlights on his shoulders. He looks like he has the same thing I have going on with the advancing grey, but I bet he’s not all vain about it. He actually looks a lot like the wolf I came upon at Yellowstone a few years ago. Hiking we literally almost bumped into each other we were so close. I had my little shih tsu walking beside me, which meant the wolf was much more interested in him than me!
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Thanks. I remember that story of you encountering the wolf. Those really are special and memorable times. Now you make me feel better about my grey – I’ve told the lady to cut out the grey ones first but she seems to think it’s a joke!
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Great shots and a memorable story, Lyle. Your experience serves as a reminder to us all to ignore the voices in our heads that say, “That could never happen to me.”
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That’s so true. You just never know when it might happen. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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I wonder if the wolf is writing about his experience on his blog?
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I should check on that! Now that you mention it, I should have interviewed the wolf and written this from his perspective.
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wow what a story and what a patient wife you have! (and a talented one too if she was able to keep the car on the road during all this!
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You raised a couple of excellent points – she has been very patient with my photography and she did keep the car on the road – even managed to stay out of the photos! Thanks for the comment.
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You’re welcome 🙂 sounds like you appreciate her 🙂
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I most certainly do!
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😀
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Now, he looks just like the scary wolves in the story books. Just look at those eyes!
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The story books had an element of truth with the scary eyes. I’d definitely lose a stare down.
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Oh man this is amazing and outstanding! I have to give you extra credit for capturing these fantastic images because I fully expect your heart was pounding and your hands were shaking. (Mine certainly would be) What an experience for you both! A great memory and great photos to go along with it. Doesn’t get better than that. Good job my friend!
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I was a bit surprised when I found I had wolf pictures in my camera at the end of all that rather than all sorts of interior shots of the car. My heart was certainly pounding and I was probably shaking too. Glad you enjoyed the photos and the story.
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A wolf! Oh, love them I envy You so much!
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They are pretty special animals. I hope you get a chance to see one someday.
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What a sighting! Incredible!
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I remember announcing, “It’s a wolf!” to no one in particular. I couldn’t believe it.
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Nice captures under less that ideal conditions.
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Thanks. It’s funny how the less than ideal situations also tend to make the best stories.
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That is amazing! That is how we felt when we saw the pod of orcas who entertained us for almost an hour yesterday while out on Russell’s boat!
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That sounds like an amazing experience. Wildlife is capable of providing us with such amazing moments.
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What a beauty! I am sure the scene in the car was even more hysterical than you describe with a rare subject like this one. I’ve never seen a wolf in the wild, so I envy you, too!
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It is a beauty and I hope you get the experience some day. I was so excited, it probably would have made a fantastic video – especially adding in the wolf’s dry humour.
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Yes, the antics in the vehicle would have made great footage!
Those are some great photos of your own, Lyle! There is probably a story there, too!
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I probably don’t remember the half of what went on in the vehicle since I was so excited. It was hard to believe it was actually happening.
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That’s precisely what makes these encounters so enjoyable – the sheer impossibility of them!! Like the moose that came swimming TOWARD me while in a tiny row-boat. Impossible. So much fun, though! Glad Dori is so accommodating! 😉
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A moose swimming toward you – wow! I usually wake up after those kind of experiences:)
You are so right about the impossibility of it. I’ve driven that road in Banff so many times and seen nothing. But that night we saw this wolf, a black bear and a grizzly mom with three older cubs.
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There is something about entering into the rarity of it all that makes those sightings raise the blood pressure. In a good way. You’ve been able to capture so many of those moments for those of us who don’t have the time or inclination to wait for them on our own. Your place in our world, perhaps?
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Good blood pressure – I like that! I have been pondering your ‘place in the world’ comment (and probably over thinking it). I would like that to be true and happy when it happens. The half full side of me remembers all the amazing wildlife photos on the internet and makes me wonder how much I add to all that.
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Well, I don’t have a chance to see all of those. I choose to look at yours and be inspired and even see more of God’s character in them through His created critters.. not sure if you can be content with one convert or not. hehe I know there are more out there who enjoy what you do and see. Sometimes we forget that each individual counts. I like to think that my job teaching little ones is made important by each small interaction, accumulating in a life well-served. You’ve got me feeling poetic… 😉
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Wise words from a wise person! The answer was and is most definitely yes – and usually stays that way until I get distracted by the lure of the stats page. Thanks for a timely reminder to focus on the important things. You seem to be never far from the poetic!
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What might have been even more fun would have been a video of the antics in the vehicle…
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I’m sure it would be. The adrenaline was flowing …
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