YELLOWSTONE NP - GEYSERS AND BISONS OH MY!

July 13, 2013

Up at 6 a.m. and out the door.  Time to explore Yellowstone.  Our strategy was to get to Old Faithful before the crowds and then enjoy other parts of the park.  We decided to the the Grand Loop - Madison, Old Faithful, Grant Village, Fishing Bridge, Canyon Village, Madison and then home.

7 a.m. - WELCOME TO YELLOWSTONE

Family tradition - have pic taken at entrance sign.  Last time we were here was 1991.










7:30 a.m. - FIRST VIEW OF GEYSERS

It is amazing to drive up on this site.  Since we arrived early and it was cool, the geysers' steam were bright and billowing.  We were surprised how many there are.  I can see why trappers and explorers were a nervous about this area when they arrived here.

7:45 a.m. - FOUNTAIN PAINT POTS

Celestine Pools

Fountain Paint Pot

Geyser Watchers waiting for Morning Fountain to blow... had been there all morning waiting.  Some come everyday to watch the geysers.


Fountain Geyser

Me?  I'm not waiting for Morning Geyser - off to Old Faithful.  Scheduled to blow at 9 a.m. by my estimation.  We have 30 minutes to get there.

9 a.m.  OLD FAITHFUL

Morning crowd

9:10 a.m. - there she goes

9:15 a.m.  GEYSER LOOP - 1.8 miles   We didn't remember this walk the last time we were here with two kids and a dog and a 1000 other visitors.  It was enjoyable.  We liked all the geysers and other features.  My favorite was the Grotto.  The Geyser Watchers showed up to watch the Grand Geyser (I think that is the name) blow at 10:15 a.m. or 12:30...we sat around at 10:00 because it is the largest geyser in the area.  By 10:35 we left to see other geysers and see Old Faithful again.

11:30 a.m. OLD FAITHFUL LODGE - There was a tour being conducted by a retired teacher.  She had a lot of information and she was giving everyone an earful.  Hope there was not a test at end of the tour.  It was interesting how the lodge expanded.  First people were transported into park by stage coach, then railroad, then cars.  Each change caused expansion of lodging.

12 noon OLD FAITHFUL 
    Look at the change in the crowd

1 p.m. CONTINENTAL DIVIDE & LUNCH

On our way to Grant Village and Fishing Bridge in the long line of cars.  Thank you to whoever decided there needed to be lots of pullouts.

2:30 p.m. - FISHING BRIDGE & YELLOWSTONE RIVER

2:45  p.m. HAYDEN VALLEY AND BISON

 Ray had just said: "I hope we see some Bison." And there he was.  A red car passed the bison and it was not happy about it.  We stayed still and hope we didn't need to visit Dave at the body shop on Monday with another ding.

 Elk grazing in a meadow across the river.

4 p.m. FINISHED THE LOOP AND HEADING HOME

Had a fun long day.  Got to see everything we could by car.  It was a good day!

Sunday will be a shopping day, laundry, cleaning up and then Monday heading to Cody Wyoming.  We will explore Wyoming for a week or so and the off to South Dakota.