Once we entered the park, we couldn't believe how narrow the roads are, and there is barely anywhere to pull over. As a result if there is an elk, bison or any wildlife at all traffic stops.
How does this place function in the height of the summer tourist season? Our first stop was Mammoth Hot Springs. The visitor centre was really cool for the boys with all the stuffed wildlife inside. The Mammoth Terraces were a little disappointing, they seemed to be lacking water. Maybe drought affects the springs and reduces the flow. As a result the only really good spring was the Canary Spring, but once we did see it it was pretty spectacular.
The bacteria and minerals in the water made some pretty designs to entertain.
Once we left Mammoth we headed for Norris Geyser Basin. A few buffalo on the way to keep the boys on their toes looking for animals. When we got there it was blowing something spectacular, cold and raining. We all dressed in our winter clothes, hats, mitts and down jackets and went out to check it all out. Again the boys were pretty tolerant, we had one ergo to help us out and a kid on Trev's shoulders but we got to walk both basins and see it all, even in freezing cold terrible weather. We were happy to hop back in the car and warm up.
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| Porcelain Basin |
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| Opal spring |
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| Steamboat Geyser, blows 3 times the height of Old Faithful but hasn't blown since May 2005 |
Our next stop south was Old Faithful, we figured you just have to if you are there. I wanted to stop at Middle Geyser Basin but at that moment it was pouring rain. We did see a herd of buffalo right before and I got to snap the iconic Yellowstone photo of the buffalo and steam rising up behind them from geysers.
Old Faithful was an intersting stop for us. We never really like to do the touristy thing, but when in Rome. We arrived just after Old faithful had blown, and people were pouring out of the viewing area, so we knew we had time. Old Faithful faithfully blows every 91 minutes +/- 10 minutes. We went for a bite, got ourselves dressed properly for the weather amd went and sat front row waiting for 20 minutes for it to go. Again the boys amazed me with their tolerance and patience, and even their interest in everything we were doing and looking at. Old Faithful blew, it was pretty great and we all left.
We still had another 2.5 hour drive to Jackson, Wyoming. The boys had a nap and we enjoyed the silence and scenery. We were driving dow the continental divide which we crossed so many times i have no idea which side we are on now, After Yellowstone you cross into Grand Teton National Park which is so spectacular. Super high triangle mountains that seem to stand all alone rather than in a chain. Very spectacular stuff. Could live and play in the shadows of those mountains! Jackson was a great town with a very vibrant feel, great shop and restaurants, kind of like Old West/New Whistler. We emt up with Kari, Derek and Odessa for dinner at a super yummy restaurant, that was a taxidermy turned restaurant. Teh kids loved it and all the animals. We ate elk, bison, deer and steak that was delicious, ran around the restaurant checking out the stuffed animals and then crashed hard after a long day.
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| Cole picks the rattesnake as the winner of this one |
