Day 5-6 Session II
Thursday, July 25, 2008
Day 5 - We left the Tetons bound for Yellowstone National Park.
On our way into our campground we stopped at West Thumb Geyser Basin which overlooks Yellowstone Lake.
This is the largest lake at high elevation (7,733 feet) in North America. The average summer temperature of the lake water is a chilly 45 degrees.
The kids liked the Abyss Pool (the 3rd deepest in the park at 53 feet)
and Fishing Cone the best. Mountain men told stories of catching trout, swinging the pole around and dipping it into the boiling water and cooking and eating the fish without taking it off the line!
The Continental Divide runs through the park.
Luck wasn't with us and we reached Old Faithful with enough time to get a good viewing spot sitting on the front row of the boardwalk but she was late to the show by 30 minutes. Not very faithful anymore. The eruption lasted about 5 minutes. It expels 3,700-8,400 gallons of boiling water and reaches a height of 106-184 feet in the air.
The next stop was in the Upper Geyser Basin to view Black Sand Basin. It is named for sand derived from black volcanic glass (obsidian) and features some of the most splendid hot springs in the park.
Then for a refreshing dip in the Firehole River which isn't as cold as Yellowstone Lake because it's warmed by the boiling water that spills into the river from the geysers.
Next wildlife viewing galore!
Driving along the Yellowstone River we saw over 500 buffalo roaming the Hayden Valley as well as
elk and mule deer and beaver.
To make sure all the kid's noses were working we stopped by the Sulphur Caldron
and saw two buffalo walking around on the thin volcanic crust. They didn't seem to mind the smell one bit!
Friday, July 27th-
Day 6 - Our second day at Yellowstone took us to Artist Point in the Canyon area of the park.
the Upper Falls.
Lower Falls.
After a brief hike down 384 steps on Uncle Tom's Trail the kids posed in front of the Lower Falls.
A view from Artist Point.
Mule Deer at Mud Volcano.
Churning Geyser.
A quick dip in the Yellowstone Lake before dinner and a Fireside Ranger Lecture about the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Day 5 - We left the Tetons bound for Yellowstone National Park.
On our way into our campground we stopped at West Thumb Geyser Basin which overlooks Yellowstone Lake.
This is the largest lake at high elevation (7,733 feet) in North America. The average summer temperature of the lake water is a chilly 45 degrees.
The kids liked the Abyss Pool (the 3rd deepest in the park at 53 feet)
and Fishing Cone the best. Mountain men told stories of catching trout, swinging the pole around and dipping it into the boiling water and cooking and eating the fish without taking it off the line!
The Continental Divide runs through the park.
Luck wasn't with us and we reached Old Faithful with enough time to get a good viewing spot sitting on the front row of the boardwalk but she was late to the show by 30 minutes. Not very faithful anymore. The eruption lasted about 5 minutes. It expels 3,700-8,400 gallons of boiling water and reaches a height of 106-184 feet in the air.
The next stop was in the Upper Geyser Basin to view Black Sand Basin. It is named for sand derived from black volcanic glass (obsidian) and features some of the most splendid hot springs in the park.
Then for a refreshing dip in the Firehole River which isn't as cold as Yellowstone Lake because it's warmed by the boiling water that spills into the river from the geysers.
Next wildlife viewing galore!
Driving along the Yellowstone River we saw over 500 buffalo roaming the Hayden Valley as well as
elk and mule deer and beaver.
To make sure all the kid's noses were working we stopped by the Sulphur Caldron
and saw two buffalo walking around on the thin volcanic crust. They didn't seem to mind the smell one bit!
Friday, July 27th-
Day 6 - Our second day at Yellowstone took us to Artist Point in the Canyon area of the park.
the Upper Falls.
Lower Falls.
After a brief hike down 384 steps on Uncle Tom's Trail the kids posed in front of the Lower Falls.
A view from Artist Point.
Mule Deer at Mud Volcano.
Churning Geyser.
A quick dip in the Yellowstone Lake before dinner and a Fireside Ranger Lecture about the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
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