YNP - Last Morning in the park.

We enjoyed our last morning at the Old Faithful Inn in YNP, had a nice breakfast in the big dining room, walked the geyser basin (always go early to beat the crowds), and headed south to the Tetons.
I have a better internet connection this evening so I will add all the photos I couldn't while we were at OFI.

First a few pics from yesterday afternoon and this morning:

Main Hall - Old Faithful Inn.  It was built in 1904.  The part we stayed (the new wing) was building in 1914.

What most people do while they are at OFI - sit in the main hall

Main Dining Room - OFI

Cool details like this all over the inn.

3rd floor of the main hall.  The Crow's Nest is above, but it's now closed off to visitors 

clock on the fireplace in the main hall

OFI staircase

Old Faithful Inn at the main entrance this morning.

We walked the Old Faithful Geyser Basin this morning.  It was about 29 degrees when we started, and warmed up to about 35 by the end.  We heard all about the how it was the largest geyser basin in the world.  Kimmie had already hiked it once the night before, in the rain, by herself while the kids and I were happily playing cards in the main hall of the OFI.

A common sign along the trail

Grotto Geyser - one of my favorites

Morning Glory Spring.  This was the main destination for the walk this morning.  Zoe was adamant that  we see this one.  It didn't disappoint. 

We also met two guys at Morning Glory who were hiking the Continental Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada.  The trail takes them through Yellowstone and the Old Faithful geyser basin.  One guy had already completed the AT, and the other the Pacific Rim trail.  Both had camped nearby the night before (brrr).  

After Old Faithful, we made a final trip into the old Hamilton's Store, which is a gift shop and soda counter.  When we came out, there was a visitor.

The buffalo was happily grazing in front of Hamilton's Store.  Everyone leaving had to go way around to avoid it.  A Ranger stood nearby to make sure a 6th goring didn't happen this season (her words). 

By Old Faithful and Yellowstone.  Hope we see you soon.

Old Faithful Inn

Tonight for our last night in the park, we are staying at the Old Faithful Inn.  It is just magnificent. 

YNP #5. Special post

We are having lunch in the same restaurant we worked in 21 years ago.  Crazy. 

YNP #5

NORRIS GEYSER BASIN!!!!!

Probably the most incredible parts of Yellowstone are the geyser basins.   They are also the most popular.  Yesterday afternoon when we planned on going to Norris, the parking lot was closed due to congestion.  Instead, we changed plans and got up early today to beat the crowds.  We were some of the first people there around 8:30.  It was amazing.  You will see as the pictures progress, more and more people arrive.  By 11:00 when we left, several tour buses had arrived, and the parking lot was full.

This is a rare sight...a mostly empty parking lot.  

This cracked me up, and made me think of my brother. 

Sometimes geyser basins don't smell so good.

Steam from the hot springs and geysers.

All the great pools of hot springs with varying bacteria and colors (which live at different temperature conditions)

One of our favorites - Vixen Geyser.  We watched it go off several times.  Here's a video:

Zoe picked up the camera a lot today.

You can see the scale of the basin by the boardwalks in the background.

After our visit to Norris, we headed back to West Yellowstone.  We stopped along the Madison River for lunch and to play in the river.  Kim and Zoe waded around, I botanized, and Ian took a nap in the car. 

One last thought.  We came prepared, because we knew what to expect.  However, we've seen a lot of unprepared people - people hiking in flip flops or not carrying water.  Yellowstone is dry, extreme in temperatures, and with unpredictable weather. 

A hat, sunscreen, lip balm, rain gear, and WATER.  Lots of water.  Base elevation is around 8000 feet - the air is thin.  And, it's almost the end of July and tomorrow's high is 54 deg (3- deg low).  

 Seriously people, be prepared.  Ian and Zoe are not amused with other's unpreparedness.  

YNP Post #4

Gardner, Mt to West Yellowstone, MT (through WY)

Today we entered the park through the Main Entrance of Gardner, MT where we stayed the night before.

Gardner, MT from our hotel balcony.  The bridge crosses over the Yellowstone River and into downtown

Sprouses at the main entry.  The arch reads:

"For the benefit and enjoyment of the People"

 Our first stop along the way was to Mammoth Hot Springs.  Mammoth is the headquarters of the park, and one of the oldest parts.  Lots of elk hang out here.  People too.

The springs come out of the ground where they are heated by the thermal activity below.  While underground, the water picks up minerals and deposits them on the surface.

The water coming out of most of the springs is around 150 deg F, however, in some places it can be boiling.  It is really important to stay on the paths. The crust on the surface of the ground can be thin and people have fallen through getting terrible burns, or sometimes even dying.

The colors around the springs are caused by thermophytes - heat loving bacteria.  You can even tell the type of bacteria by their color.

Dormant Hot Spring Cone

After Mammoth, we drove south into the park and took our time stopping at different pull-offs.  We stopped at a moose exhibit (Ian's request), and really enjoyed the quiet and calm of the low lands (bogs) where moose frequent.  No luck on seeing a moose - yet.

kids on a moose hunt following tracks

this is supposedly where moose like to hang out

an awesome coneflower I was geeking out on.  That's the bloom with barely any petals.

So one of the smartest things we have done along the trip is to carry lunch stuff with us.  Restaurants in the park are stupid expensive and are really just mediocre at best.  We have a cooler with us each day with some essentials like apples, cheese, hard salami, a good mustard, crackers, and other assorted easy stuff to cut up and eat.

We've stopped to replenish once along the way.  Every time we have stopped to picnic, we see something we wouldn't have sen otherwise, and we saved about $50.

The next two nights we stay in West Yellowstone, MT.  It's a great home base and one of the closest towns to the park.  Staying in a good chain hotel with an indoor pool makes everyone a happier person the next day.

One sad note - I was excited to go back to an iconic restaraurnt and bar about 10 miles outside of West Yellowstone called Eino's.  It's where we would go for a fun night out as employees in the park.  It was a place you bought your raw steak at the bar and grilled it out back yourself.   Eino's sold years ago to Hi Country Tavern and Grill, and all signs showed they were still in operation.  Tonight, we drove out to find a new sign saying Hi Country was sold and close until further notice.  :(

Hi Country Grill (Eino's) - closed :(