Yellowstone National Park
Flying the Edge of America
Saturday, July 12, 2008: Yellowstone National Park
On the way to Yellowstone
We left Glacier International airport bright and early to ensure we caught the cold morning air and bright blue skies for our flight to West Yellowstone airport. I was a little worried about this flight as it was over high terrain all the way, but we had perfect weather for it, and the flight went exactly to plan.
Julia posing next to an artistically decorated bison which was distributed all around town
To avoid the high ground, I tracked a course via all the valleys I could find. The scenery between Glacier and Yellowstone is truly fantastic and more than I imagined we would see on this trip. The USA has to have the most beautiful countryside in the whole world. I do not say this lightly as I have seen a lot of beautiful countryside in other countries. Every country has something to offer, but the USA has it all - from deserts to snow-capped mountains and almost everything in between; it is really hard to compete with the natural beauty of the USA.
Our motel room was very nice and made us feel like we were in a home instead of a motel, as it had a kitchen. We were able to buy groceries and cook our own food. Not since our camping in California and Oregon have we been able to treat ourselves to home cooking.
Flight to Yellowstone
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The view as you enter the park
We arose with the sun this morning. We were very excited about seeing and hiking Yellowstone Park. After breakfast, we were on the road about 9:00 a.m., and as our motel is just outside the west park entrance, we soon found ourselves surrounded by Yellowstone's natural beauty.
The chick being attended to by mom
It was going to be a hot day, so we decided to do our nine-mile hike in the morning while the air was still cool. We headed out on the Mallard Creek trail, which is in the Old Faithful park area. About ten minutes into our hike, we came across a Bald Eagle nest resting atop a tall dead pine tree. We first sighted the chick only, but on our return, we got to see both parents too; a truly wonderful experience.
Good Old Faithful.
The hike took us through some of the burnt-out pine forest, now regenerating. We walked on crushed volcanic pumice-stone, which had the consistency of dead coral, and black volcanic glass scattered all along our path. These were all reminders that Yellowstone Park is the top of the world's largest subterranean and active super volcano.
From our hike, it was a quick trip to visit Old Faithful, which went off right on time as predicted by the park rangers. Much water was squirted into the air to the pleasure and gasps of the gathered crowds.
First day in Yellowstone Park
Monday, July 14, 2008
Our humble abode
We got really hot on our hike yesterday, so we decided to hike later in the afternoon; this would give us cooler air to hike in and a better chance to see the wildlife as they tend to be more visible at dawn and dusk. Julia also was ravaged by mosquitoes on our hike yesterday.
Yellowstone River cascade
Their bites did not make themselves felt until the next day, but Julia had been bitten all over her ears and scalp; very nasty. So the first order of business after breakfast was to find a sporting shop and buy personal mosquito nets, which we did. After eating a lunch of buffalo burgers, we were back on the road in the park headed for the Canyon region.
Colorful palette of the canyon
After speaking with a ranger yesterday, the Canyon region sounded like a real wonderland, and it was. We hiked for about ten miles. The walk took us down into the canyon and along both banks. This exposed us to many waterfalls and spectacular scenery. On the final part of the hike, we left the river and hiked into the backcountry, where the scenery changed dramatically back to a more volcanic one with bubbling mud pools and smoking sulfurous gas vents.
Julia looking at bison
Plus, we were mobbed by mosquitoes again. There were hundreds of hungry biters, all drawn to us by their infrared and, Julia tells me, carbon dioxide detectors - but this time completely thwarted by our netting and insecticides. The scenery changed again to open green and lush pastures filled with herds of roaming bison.
We were now bathed in the gorgeous late afternoon light and treated to the scent of wildflowers, which covered the pastures and surrounded us with color.
Canyon Hike Video
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Julia on the Beaver Ponds hike
It had to happen - we were grounded by the weather; our cruel mistress. Our plan was to leave Yellowstone on Thursday, but our mistress had other plans. However, if you were to be stuck somewhere, I could not think of a better place than Yellowstone National Park.
Julia with a beaver dam in the background
Today we drove to Mammoth in the northern part of the park. While at Mammoth, we hiked the Beaver Ponds trail. It is surprising to me that every time we walk in Yellowstone, we encounter very different terrain and scenery. It also seems that each walk we do just gets better and more beautiful; how can this be? The Beaver Ponds hike climbed slowly up wooded hills and surrounded us by magnificent wildflowers. The views in this area of the park were reminiscent of Northern California, our home - brown rolling hills but covered with thick sage bushes and every color of wildflower. We finally reached the beaver ponds, which other hikers we met assured us they had seen beavers swimming in.
These other hikers also assured us they had spotted a bear, just in front of where Julia and I were walking. As for us, we did not see anything but a baby rattlesnake, which Julia almost stood on.
Beaver Ponds Video
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Today we had a day of rest. We hung around the town of West Yellowstone, went to the IMAX Theater, ate lunch, and kept our eye on the weather forecast. It looks like the weather will give us a window to leave on Saturday; let's hope.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
More wildflowers
We hiked up 2,000 feet to the top of Mt. Washburn, which is in the Tower-Roosevelt section of the park. It was a very pleasant hike up a steep switchback fire access road that led to the fire observation tower at the top of the mountain.
At the top of the park
Along the way, we were treated to the fragrant smells of wildflowers as the wind blew up the side of the steep hills, which were covered with them. At the top, we had a great view of most of the park. As we started back down the trail, we came across a red-tailed hawk perched on a rock. After the hike, we drove the northeast section of the park on our way back to the motel.
This area of the park is noted for its wolves, so we stopped regularly to scan the open terrain in hopes of spotting the elusive animal - but alas, we did not see one. It rained heavily on the way back with much thunder and lightning.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Julia surrounded once more by wildflowers
Our hike today was our last hike in the wonderful Yellowstone National Park for this trip. We drove to the southeastern section of the park, which is where Yellowstone Lake is. This lake is huge and is the power source behind the Yellowstone River, which carved out the Yellowstone Canyon. Our hike followed the river for three miles to the Hardy Rapids, the first of many whitewater sections in the river.
We were advised by a ranger to watch out for bears, as there had been many sightings. It was an extremely divine walk. We saw many bear droppings on the trail, a herd of elk, three bison, but no bears. They must have been close, but they did not reveal themselves to us.
Once back at the motel, we checked the weather, and it looks like we will be leaving tomorrow morning to continue our trip around the USA. Next stop is Billings, Montana, for one night, then on to Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore.
Wayward Bison Video
Trip stats
Obama: 11
McCain: 1
Miles Hiked: 83
Miles Flown: 1,736
States Visited: 5