A two day drive from Incline to Yellowstone with
a stop off in Twin Falls, Idaho
Here we are at the Snake River overlook (up on the bridge)
where Evil Knievel jumped over the canyon.
And, the bridge from below.
Then stopped at Shoshone Falls, which is referred to as the Niagara of the West.
And, we could see why it is called that...
in the Spring...the water is just a flowin' over those rocks.
And, got a pix with us and the Falls.
Onto Yellowstone...
So much to see and with 400 pictures taken...here is just a sampling of what we saw.
THE THERMAL FEATURES
Arrived in the Park and so many thermal features to view on our way to Old Faithful.
Took us several hours to go only 20 miles...just kept stopping along the way.
Here we are at Silex Springs
Then in the Lower Geyer Basin at the Fountain Paint Pots.
At the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's largest hot spring...
at 370 feet in diameter, can be accessed by boardwalks in the
Midway Geyser Basin to get up close for viewing.
Was a little chilly that day.
The colors were magnificent...deep blue color of the pool
and rings of yellow- and orange-colored thermophiles
produce the prism effect.
Sapphire Pool...one of many thermal pools...
just makes you want to jump in.
Cliff Geyser @ Black Sand Basin...
just happened to be passing when it erupted.
At Dragon's Mouth Spring...
the noise and movement of the water sounds
like fire coming from a dragon.
At Norris Geyser Basin, which has the largest display of geysers.
OLD FAITHFUL
With over 10,000 hydro-thermal features in the park...
Old Faithful is the best known.
It erupts on the average of every 92 minutes...so you can't miss seeing it.
We arrived...and there it was...spouting off.
And, everyone just sits and waits to view the show.
Couldn't pass up a pix with Old Faithful in the background.
Heading over to dinner at the Old Faithful Inn.
And later that evening as the sun was setting,
Old Faithful was erupting again.
The Old Faithful Inn was built of local logs and stone in the early 1900's
And, Christmas was being celebrated (on August 25th)....the lobby was magnificent.
...and featured a handcrafted clock above the stone fireplace.
Just enjoying the fire.
OUR CABINS
Old Faithful Lodge Cabin...
could see Old Faithful from the window.
Roughing it (somewhat)...sink inside, community bathroom.
Lake Lodge Cabin with private bath.
...and our own resident bison.
Allan didn't want to get too close (bison in background).
Mammoth Hot Springs Cabin...my favorite.
Sink inside, but community bath.
Roosevelt Lodge Cabin...most rustic. Oh no!
Allan has to stoke the fire to keep us warm.
Last night...at the Canyon Lodge Cabins
THE WATERFALLS OF YELLOWSTONE
(just some of them)
Firehole Falls Kepler Cascades
Gibbon Falls
Undine Falls Hanging Valley Falls
We hiked down to the....
Lower Falls
Lower Falls... lots of steps down to get there.
Artist Point.
At Yellowstone Lake...
the largest high elevation lake in North America...
Black Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin at Yellowstone Lake.
Fishing Cone, one of many lakeshore geysers,
gets its name from the fact that visitors used to catch trout from the lake
and then promptly drop them into its boiling water to cook.
This is not allowed now!
...the lake is 141 miles long and the surface area is 132 square miles.
SOME SCENERY AROUND THE PARK
Soda Butte
Barronette Peak out in the Lamar Valley (northeast entrance)
Looking for sheep.
Calcite Springs
At Artist's Point
The Petrified redwood...west of Tower Junction.
Volcanic eruptions petrified them in the process.
THE ANIMALS OF YELLOWSTONE
Bison, bison...where are the bison? Everywhere!
Just couldn't wait to see them....
...and then there were more.
Crossing the road in Hayden Valley
(glad that wasn't our Corvette)
....they're fearless...even came right up to the car.
...and more bison out in Lamar Valley
Out at Soda Butte...we had just sat down on the rock...
and here strolling through came this bison. We got up quickly.
As we were leaving the park, the fog set in over the Yellowstone River
and as we looked to the left...there was a herd.
...and another walked right in front of us.
ELK
Our first sighting at Mammoth Hot Springs
Little did we know that we'd see so many more...
was rut (mating season)...so the bull elk were trying to attract the females.
...but the females seemed to care less.
....just wandering the streets in the evening.
It seemed like every time we turned a corner...there was an elk.
Some deer.
Prong horn (antelope)
Got this shot trompin' through a meadow when I
spotted the Prong horn feeding on the other side of the stream.
Cranes...
Saw no moose or bears...maybe next trip.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Orange Spring Mound
At the Lower Terraces...
which continue to be formed by the thousands of gallons of water
that well up and deposit large amounts of travertine daily.
Allan holding up Liberty Cap.
Looking down onto the town of Mammoth Hot Springs
Historic Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Onto the
Roosevelt Area
One of my favorite areas of the Park...sittin' & sippin' on the front porch.
We enjoyed a stagecoach ride...
And, a chuck wagon ride to Yancy's Hole for an Old West Dinner.
Checkin' out the horses. I wanted to ride out on a horse, but
Allan decided that we'd take the wagon.
There were cowboys singin'.... ....and cowboys telling tall tales
....and plenty of food ...a fabulous dinner, and sitting by the campfire.
An end to a perfect evening
and a great week in Yellowstone
Onto the
GRAND TETONS
The Tetons reflecting in Jackson Lake.
At Jenny Lake....spectacular scenery.
In Jackson Hole, WY
What d'ya say there cowboy?
Welcome arch to Jackson Hole....
stopped here for lunch on the way home.
WHAT A GREAT TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE!
