(scroll down for another new post: Cody, WY)
There is no place like Yellowstone National Park. The world’s first national park (thanks again TR) became special thousands of years ago when a giant volcanic eruption blew the top off the volcano exposing a giant valley, called a caldera. The closeness of the magma underground is what provides so many of the unique geologic features of the park. Hot springs, mud volcanoes, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, mountains, valleys, plains, countless rivers, and of course the famous predictable geysers make the park so dynamic. At almost any location in the park, a small pond or winding stream steams from the geothermal activity beneath the ground. Throw in the bison, elk, bald eagles, deer (we call them “face-butt deer” because well…), wolves, bears, and mountain lions and this place becomes unforgettable. We never caught sight of bears or mountain lions, but we tried hard.
Perhaps the most unique species we encountered was in the Snow Lodge restaurant, just outside Old Faithful. He looked at us through stoned-red eyes, and asked, “Is it cold in here?… I can’t tell ‘cause I have this awesome sweater.” The black and gray version of a Where’s Waldo tee he wore under the prescribed black uniform must have been awesome because it was indeed cold. From his day-old greasy, disheveled black hair, past the obligatory hemp necklace he is a round mound of awesome. His name is AJ. One semester and likely two years from graduating college, he was willing to tend to all of our dining needs, while “he was up.” After gracing us with a few awkward smiles and much-needed breaks, it was clear our comment card was going in his favor, something he greatly appreciated since he “could use something to go his way”. We miss AJ.
In seriousness, we filled our days among throngs of foreigners, RV’ers, and senior citizens taking in the highlights but we also trekked miles into the backcountry on our own. We hiked a mountain and into a canyon despite the wintry weather at night. It did snow twice during our visit. Take you time through our photos- we really hope to share our appreciation of the park with you.
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3 comments:
Just a note of historical accuracy here - I cover Yellowstone blogs and news on the Web - and I see this one all the time, but it just isn't true.
"TR" - Teddy Roosevelt - did not found Yellowstone National Park. It was founded March 1, 1872, by act of Congress when Grant was President. TR was a teenager.
TR does play a very small role in Yellowstone's history. He hunted there in the 1880s and he visited the park in 1903, laying the cornerstone of the arch at the North Entrance that now is named for him. Other than that, it was a lot of other people who play a much bigger part in Yellowstone's history.
As I mention in a lot of other places where I find myself correcting this, I have no idea where this myth began and haven't gotten much closer than the association people have of TR with conservation - but why specifically to Yellowstone National Park, who started it, and why it's so common given how few generations ago this was.
Anyhow, thanks for the blog.
Cheers,
Jim
Mscott and Rachel, keep the vids coming! Also, totally awesome pictures of Yellowstone. Can't wait to see you September 24.
Wow guys those pics of Yellowstone are awesome. I had no idea about all those weird geological occurrences - mainly the hot springs and those other weird looking things I assume come from the magma underneath.
Also so cool how close you go to the bison. They just roll around like that in the wild? Like through the driveway / parking lot in that pic?
Fav pic of M'er is when you are trying to lean towards the deer to get yourself in the pic. Meanwhile you are so far away and clearly in the frame, but the 6 inch lean to your right really made the pic!
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