The Faithful....

 

The sun was out and the sky was blue, perfect day to go visit Old Faithful!

We pulled out and headed for Yellowstone, along with everyone else. The campgrounds were full in both parks, thankfully Yellowstone consisted of over 2 million acres! We had mapped out our route over breakfast, with Gabe requesting a stop at the Old Faithful Inn.

As we pull through Yellowstone’s entrance and pick up their newsletter and map we find the closest Visitor Center to pick up Gabe's Jr. Ranger packet. We still had to finish the one from Grand Teton and head back down there to turn it in, but that would be for tomorrow morning on our way out.

 

 

                                                                    

 

Fire place at the Visitor Center

 

Waiting for the Ranger.......

 

The Rangers at each of the parks are very thorough and enjoy their jobs way to much. They are enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. We were directed to a couple of different areas we didn’t know about, but specifically the Hayden Valley. The epi center of the Bison! They said you can see thousands through out this area!! And we were excited about the few we saw in Grand Tetons!

We were told that Old Faithful would be going off soon, schedule averages every 92 minutes and last for just a few minutes. Pretty impressive! Also in the daily newspaper there were Ranger Led programs that we might be interested in.

Time is close, we only had a few minutes to park once we pulled into the Old Faithful Geyser parking lot and found a spot. We park and start running across the parking lot towards the Geyser, hoping we didn’t miss it! There was a schedule and if we missed it we would have to wait another hour and half! As we came around the corner we run smack into a crowd of people LEAVING the where Old Faithful was. She had erupted and we missed itL

That’s ok, we could still see Old Faithful Inn and walk the perimeter of the Geyser. And there was a Ranger Led program starting fairly soon that we could sit in on, learn about why Old Faithful is the way she is and how the other geysers came about.

Old Faithful is really nothing to look at when she isn’t erupting. The area looks like the moon, white and with different craters through out.

We head over to the Old Faithful Inn, a National Historic Landmark.  Out front was an old 1930s bus that the National Parks dept. refurbished to take people around the park, for a small fee.
　

 

                                                           

 

 Various stairways wrapped around the inside of the lodge leading you up to a walk around balcony on each floor.  Built out of thick wood logs and beams, there were massive iron candelabras hanging from the high ceilings.



 The center piece of the lodge was the massive stone fire place and handcrafted clock.

The hallways split off to where the guest stayed, so of course we took a peak.

The rooms were filled with period furniture. Wrought iron beds covered in quilts, wash basin on top of an old bureau, wooden chair in the corner next to a small night stand, dark wood floors covered with hand weaved area rugs for those cold nights. What they didn’t have? Bathrooms in the room.

In the center of each hallway was a set of doors marked, Mens and Womens. There were 3 bathroom stalls and 3 separate shower stalls, all beautifully tiled and with baskets filled with body wash and hair products. Very pretty and well kept. I would hope so for the amount of money they charge to stay a night in their rooms!

　
We headed out on to the wooden pathways surrounding Old Faithful….
　

　

 

 

　   along the way we found……
                                                      




　

The most beautiful colors and the most god awful smell! Rotten Eggs! From all the sulfur. Some of the springs where hissing and bubbling from the high heat. Hard to really get the feel of the heat from the pictures.





　

　











There were signs up warning the dangers of children stepping off and touching these Hot Springs…. 　

　

　

Half way through our walk, Old Faithful started to spew, slowly at first but then just shooting straight into the air! We were on the opposite side from where everyone else was seated along the many benches, which was perfect, we had an unobstructed view. Good thing because within a few minutes she was done.

　

　

　

　
                                                                                          

　

The Ranger led program was really cool. She talked about what the colors stood for in the springs, based on temperature and even about the “Scat” that was surrounding some of the springs. Apparently the moose and bison can’t read the signs to stay off of certain areas and due their “duty” where ever they please! The Rangers even found Moose bones in the bottom of one of the springs, apparently the Moose decided to wander a little to close to the hot springs!

　




Back to the car and onto the next stop! The Black Sand Basin. The names of each spot are pretty self explanatory. In the parking lot was a black bird just sitting on top of a car, apparently fed often by visitors, for he could care less about everyone walking around him.

There were little hot springs and baby geysers through out the area, with Black volcanic sand surrounding it. These hot springs were beautiful in color and you could see the steam just hovering over the tops of them.

　

　

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                               

 

 

Next stop……Fire hole Falls. Aptly named. It was a driving loop, one way around. We drove through and weren’t to impressed until we saw this….

                                                                              

　 　

That explains the name Fire hole Falls!
　

On to Artist paint pot. We find the last parking spot, get out and walk the mile to the area. Again with no water bottles. We just don’t learn! We walk a short ways up and everyone is feeling pretty good so we continue. It didn’t seem that far. But from these shots below you can see the elevation! We didn’t understand the name of the area, Artist Paint Pots, until we got to the top. Now you can see why…..

　 　                                                                 

Tina needed a minute to catch her breath, while I was enjoying the crisp mountain air.....

 

These “Pots” where bubbling like a cauldron! Amazing that we were able to stand so close to them and even more amazing? The walk way we were standing on was WOOD and went RIGHT OVER THE TOP of one! That just tells you that when they built these walk ways the bubbling hole of heat was not where it is now. 

 

 

Joe really wanted to see the water falls. The Yellowstone River travels 20 miles through the “Grand Canyon” of Yellowstone Park, roaring and foaming along the way. There are two water falls, Upper at 109 feet and Lower at 308 feet. We were able to see the Lower Falls, which were pretty spectacular!

　

                                                                                 

 

                                                                           

 

 

　




　


　 On the way out of seeing the falls we passed a bunch of cars parked along the side of the road above the falls. Below there were people swimming in the water! Brrrrrr!

We stopped for a picnic lunch along the way. There were various spots all along the loop that you could stop at, this one seemed not as crowded as most and had restrooms. Ok, it was a porto potty. But we needed one and at that point you can’t be picky!

　
 
　



Back on the road. It was exciting like a treasure hunt! Looking all around us for geysers and bison! And then we saw him. Minding his own business, just taking the shortest route to where he wanted to be……..

　

　

I was happy we were on the opposite side of the road from him!
I wouldn’t want to drive by the side of him, just in case!

They say in the booklets and when we have talked to the Rangers individually, that wild animals are still wild animals. That even though you are in a state park, you are in their world. To be smart and pay attention. They will attack if they feel threatened. We drove by to fast for me to get a picture, but at one of the pull off picnic/view areas there were a massive amount of people standing around a few cars. We didn’t understand why until we were almost by it. Standing grand and regal in front of one of the parked cars was a giant Bison. He was only feet away from these idiots gawking at him taking his picture. A Bison averages 900 to 2200 lbs. and stands over 6 ft tall. Would you be standing with your family a few feet away from him?

On to Hayden Valley. So excited! This is where the Bison “hung out”. As we drove by the fields of yellow there were hundreds of them! Some by the edge of the road, others far out as the eye could see. No we didn’t stop close to any of them, go back to last paragraph if confused as to why we didn’t and remember who is typing this blog! But we were able to get some great pictures!

                                                                    

                                                                     

On our way back towards the entrance of Yellowstone we drove along side “Yellowstone Lake”, encompassing 132 square miles. It looked like we were driving along the ocean! The story goes that a portion of Yellowstone Lake is a crater formed by a volcano and then filled by glaciers over 14000 years ago.




Last stop before we leave was the visitor center for Gabe to turn in his Jr. Ranger booklet!

　

This Park Ranger was a little to happy for me.......she even had Gabe blushing!
　

At our campground tonight was a Ranger lead talk over the campfire! We didn’t want to miss that. So we drove the short ride back to the campground and prepared dinner, burgers on the grill!

　
The campfire talk was at the other end of our campground, just a short walk past the cabins. It was led by an awesome Ranger who was very knowledgeable about the area, answering questions from everyone rather than just talk. The night was perfect, crisp and a clear sky. We ended up getting there with only 10 minutes left unfortunately, we were given the wrong time, but it was still really cool. We walked back to start a campfire and roast some marshmallows! That and start some laundry.

Speaking of laundry. I know I have said that it is something we didn’t expect to spend so much money or time on. With 5 outfits times 4 people plus sheets and towels it has added up. We have been lucky when there is laundry available at the campgrounds rather than driving into town to try and find a local one. This campground did have one, open 24 hours, but you had to pay at the main lodge (which as it turns out isn’t really a lodge but a facade with a restaurant in it) for the dryers. That made no sense.

So we go and start our laundry around 10pm. All dryers are full, but only half are running. There was a gentleman sitting in the room, he said he was waiting on the people to come get their clothes out of the dryer so he could put his in it! How annoying. I wouldn’t be so kind.

So we go up to the Main lodge to pay for dryer, person at front desk said it was on the honor system!! REALLY? So we do the right thing and pay, head back to the laundry room, thankfully there were plenty of open dryers, switched clothes and went back to sitting around the fire. The mosquitoes were there to enjoy the fire with usJ

The campground was quiet and peaceful. It was really nice to look around us and see everyone sitting out enjoying their campfires at night. The stars were out in full force in a clear sky. Just one of those moments were you let your breath out and say ahhhh. This is what it is all about. Just being together........

Until it is time for showers and Gabe is yelling he just took one 2 days ago, as he smells his underarm saying he doesn’t smell, Joe heads to the bathhouse which is full with people lined up along the sink shaving and all showers are full meanwhile Tina is on her 2^nd glass of wine with not a care in the world. 

Ok, not really,  Tina doesn’t drink and I think by now everyone knows I am the one who needs the wine on this trip, she is just her naturally calm self. Come to think of it, how is that possible? I know how uptight her brother can be and a bit annoying her nephew can be…….I need to watch her more closely.

Back to get the laundry and bed. Tomorrow we are headed to another Harvest Host, Raspberry Delight Farm in Wyoming!

First thing the next morning Tina, Gabe and I race down to Grand Teton National Park to find a Park Ranger to sign off on his Jr. Ranger booklet............

 

Another one down:)