As you may have noticed, Annie is entranced by the numerous new species of wildflowers we've encountered on this trip. I finally found a field guide to plants of the Rocky Mountains in a Yellowstone Park bookstore and she's been a happy camper all day.We left Gardiner, Montana early this morning (at least early for us. We checked out at 9am.) The entrance to Yellowstone is only a few hundred yards outside of town. There's a huge stone arch, designed by Teddy Roosevelt, at the entrance. The park actually pre-dates Roosevelt by decades, becoming the nations first national park in 1867. (There will be a quiz.) The first part of our drive today climbed from around 5,000 feet to over 8,000 feet through beautiful canyons, valleys and finally over a snow covered pass. Every day, we see amazing geology and every day we're awed again by the size of this country and the vast area with no roads, no houses, no human presence to speak of. Even in the park, you can look for miles and miles and know that save for a hiker or two, there's nobody there. 
The traffic was much lighter than I had feared, but almost every parking lot at various points of interest was full, or nearly so. We made a few side trips off the main road to see lovely rushing streams and waterfalls and mountain valleys that were lush and green following the spring rains. By early afternoon, we were inside the caldera (remnant of an ancient volcanic eruption) and saw a few of the many thermal features. We saw dozens of bubbling springs of boiling water, mineral rich pools 
with turquoise water, and acres of steaming geysers. There were fly fishermen standing in rivers and casting just yards away from small streams coming from boiling hot pools. The wildlife in the park seems to be adapted to the crowds on the roads. This cow elk, sporting a chic transmitting device, grazed along the verge of the main road, with cars on one side and a parking lot on the other. 
At the Old Faithful Visitor Center, a whole herd of buffalo was grazing all around the parking lot and between the building, just a few feet from the camera toting hoards. We had seen numerous large bulls in fields and valleys all along the road, mostly singly or in small groups. This bunch seemed to be mostly cows with calves or yearlings. Most were still patchy with winter coats falling off in patches, exposing areas of sleek, smooth, summerwear.
I took this picture a cute little calf and didn't notice the nursing calf in the background until I uploaded it onto the computer. No, that's not an extra long tail on the cow! Be careful where you step if you enter the Old Faithful Parking Lot.Our final few hours in the park were dampened by a torrential downpour that pretty much obscured the veiw. South of the Park, we did catch some impressive vistas of the Tetons as we entered Jackson, and then it cleared up somewhat as we drove south to Pinedale. Jackson has really grown since the early '70s, and I hardly recognized it. Pinedale has grown as well, with huge chain motels and suburban sprawl extending onto the sagebrush flats for miles in every direction. We're staying in the Half Moon Motel, an old and funky structure dating from my days in the area. We'll be here for a couple of days while we explore my old stomping grounds, then head 100 miles south to Rock Springs to meet up with another old friend, Bruce Bloy. Bruce and I taught together in Gary, Indiana in 1970, and then took a cross-country trip together.
The traffic was much lighter than I had feared, but almost every parking lot at various points of interest was full, or nearly so. We made a few side trips off the main road to see lovely rushing streams and waterfalls and mountain valleys that were lush and green following the spring rains. By early afternoon, we were inside the caldera (remnant of an ancient volcanic eruption) and saw a few of the many thermal features. We saw dozens of bubbling springs of boiling water, mineral rich pools 
with turquoise water, and acres of steaming geysers. There were fly fishermen standing in rivers and casting just yards away from small streams coming from boiling hot pools. The wildlife in the park seems to be adapted to the crowds on the roads. This cow elk, sporting a chic transmitting device, grazed along the verge of the main road, with cars on one side and a parking lot on the other. 
At the Old Faithful Visitor Center, a whole herd of buffalo was grazing all around the parking lot and between the building, just a few feet from the camera toting hoards. We had seen numerous large bulls in fields and valleys all along the road, mostly singly or in small groups. This bunch seemed to be mostly cows with calves or yearlings. Most were still patchy with winter coats falling off in patches, exposing areas of sleek, smooth, summerwear.
I took this picture a cute little calf and didn't notice the nursing calf in the background until I uploaded it onto the computer. No, that's not an extra long tail on the cow! Be careful where you step if you enter the Old Faithful Parking Lot.Our final few hours in the park were dampened by a torrential downpour that pretty much obscured the veiw. South of the Park, we did catch some impressive vistas of the Tetons as we entered Jackson, and then it cleared up somewhat as we drove south to Pinedale. Jackson has really grown since the early '70s, and I hardly recognized it. Pinedale has grown as well, with huge chain motels and suburban sprawl extending onto the sagebrush flats for miles in every direction. We're staying in the Half Moon Motel, an old and funky structure dating from my days in the area. We'll be here for a couple of days while we explore my old stomping grounds, then head 100 miles south to Rock Springs to meet up with another old friend, Bruce Bloy. Bruce and I taught together in Gary, Indiana in 1970, and then took a cross-country trip together. 
Along the boardwalk of the "Artists Paintpots" I took this photo of the turquoise blue water in a hot pot and the grey, yellow and red "sand" that surrounded it. 
As you walk through this amazing array of baby geysers and steam vents, you realized how close the center of the earth is here--huge vents from deep below the ground open up here and superheat the ground water. Because of the pressure of the the land the water cannot turn to steam but stays in liquid form. When the water hits the surface , the water is over 200 degrees and boils and bubbles like crazy and turns to steam right away. It's very weird and very wonderful.
As you walk through this amazing array of baby geysers and steam vents, you realized how close the center of the earth is here--huge vents from deep below the ground open up here and superheat the ground water. Because of the pressure of the the land the water cannot turn to steam but stays in liquid form. When the water hits the surface , the water is over 200 degrees and boils and bubbles like crazy and turns to steam right away. It's very weird and very wonderful.All day I've been thinking about my dear friend, Lindy, whose Celebration of Life was today at her home. Bill put together a wonderful party for her, I know, which would be just as she would have wanted it. I feel badly that I wasn't there to be part of it but every time I've seen a butterfly or a new wildflower today I think about her, so I know she's around. I wonder if Bill put Woodstock (Lindy's ferret) in one of his costumes, maybe the tuxedo??? I'll have to ask someone!
Was feeling ssoooo good last night that David and I had a wonderful ice cream cone at one of the little tourista shops in Gardiner. I haven't eaten ice cream in months. Oh, what a big mistake. Between the white sugar and all that dairy plus the change in the barometric pressure, my little joints ached like mad all day. C'est la vie. I know better...
The scenery was so magnificent that we travelled most of the day with no music, but later we listened to Abbey Road and then Jabula (African music). "And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make..." Lennon & McCartney
3 comments:
Happy Father's Day Dad!!
Brooke and I are checking out the latest and greatest. A wonderful way to spend Father's Day morning.
Brooke saw the picture of you and Bea on the horse and liked it!
Brooke says "Hello" and "I love you."
Talk to you later - have a great Father's Day.
Lucas and Brooke
Did you go to the Silver Dollar Bar in Jackson? We stopped there when we got into Jackson on our way to Alaska once. One of the bartenders let us stay at his house because the campgrounds weren't open yet. We slept on the floor of his living room. There wasn't any furniture/
Dear Lucas Webster - Came across your blog. I'm searching for anyone who may have captured footage of the youth barrel race at Gardiner. I could not attend and missed my daughters performance (she won!). If you have footage, would you please upload at YouTube? Thank you for your time. "Ty's Mom"
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