We drove to Gardiner, Montana, and the gateway to Yellowstone: the Roosevelt Arch.
Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world and is composed of the northwest corner of Wyoming and small amounts of Montana and Idaho.
Our first stop in the park was Mammoth Hot Springs, the original headquarters for the National Park. In the 1800s an Army unit was stationed here to protect the park. On the below hillside superheated water flows leaving mineral deposits. The various colors are the algae that grow under extreme temperatures: different colors means different temperatures.
After viewing Mammoth Hot Springs we drove to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Along the way we saw many areas with stands of burned trees from the great Yellowstone fire of 1988.
Below was the view from a roadside parking area.
Before reaching Canyon we found a picnic area where we ate
the last of the pizza from the night before.
At last we arrived at Canyon and followed the trail to the incredible views from the brink of the falls.
Below is a distant view of the Upper Falls.
And here is a brief video that show the water and mist of the Upper Falls.
Here is Tim at the brink of the Lower Falls.
Here is a perpetual rainbow in the mist of the Lower Falls.
Up Close & Personal.
What an amazing view!!!
Wyatt, John, Aaron & Tommy at the Lower Falls.
Below are three videos of the Lower Falls.
You can really feel the power of the water from that close!
After Canyon we headed towards Old Faithful and made a stop at the Continental Divide and Two-Ocean Lake. This lake sits upon the Continential divide and has two outlets: one going to the Pacific Ocean and the other going to the Gulf of Mexico.
Below is the Two-Oceans Lake.
This is one of the outlets going to the ocean.
Not much more than a trickle.
Here's proof that we were there!
Upon our arrival at the Old Faithful complex we went to the historic Old Faithful Inn. I was built with unique timber from the forest of Yellowstone. The architecture is quite amazing as you look upwards from the lobby. The Inn was almost destroyed in 1988 when the great fire came to Old Faithful. Several smaller buildings were burned and embers flew over the Inn, but the Inn was protected by a new sprinkler system on the roof that covered the building in water.
Eli and Aaron enjoy some icecream while touring the Inn.
We left the lodge just in time to see Old Faithful erupt. What a sight!
On our way out of the park we stopped at the Trading Post at Fishing Bridge
and also stopped for a quick photo at Yellowstone Lake.
Just before leaving Yellowstone we saw a lot of cars stopped with people along the road with their cameras, so we stopped too. It turns out they were all watching a grizzly bear that was about 40 yards into the trees. There was a park ranger there to keep the tourists from getting too close to the bear.
Here is a close up view. Notice the hump on the shoulder area that distinguishes it as a grizzly.
Here is another view as it was walking away from us.
And the close up shot.
After leaving Yellowstone it was just a short trip to our campgrounds, where we unloaded, set up camp, had supper, and hit the sack.
Below is Larry's daily update that was actually recorded the next morning.
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