Next stop for ‘The Owlheads’ was our very FIRST NP (and the best) – Yellowstone!
What is in store for ‘The Owlheads’ here??
Thank goodness President Grant was convinced to create a novel protection mechanism for our country’s natural beauty (not yet seen anywhere in the world) and declared Yellowstone the world’s first national park in 1872;-) For the first time, preservation of America’s most remarkable landscapes became a common national and international goal. This action was a forerunner to the naming of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – which Yellowstone NP was also named in 1978.
At the heart of Yellowstone’s past is the supervolcano whose latest eruption was about 630,000 years ago. The center of the volcano collapsed, forming a 30- by 45-mile caldera, or basin, which is now the center of the park. The heat powering those eruptions still fuel the park’s geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots – which includes the most famous of all – –
Old Faithful erupted right on time.
The waterfall created by Old Faithful.
A rainy walk around the Upper Geyser Basin.
The Anemone Spring – – Beautiful or Ugly?????
At least E was a little concerned that the granddaughters might find Yellowstone a bit ‘boring’ as the emphasis here was more on geologic makeup (perhaps appealing to a little older age group) than animals – although Old Faithful DID amaze!! However, the park’s ecosystems range from near desert vegetation to subalpine meadow and forest, all of which support a variety of habitats that sustain diverse wildlife like bison, elk, grizzly and black bears and wolves (sadly – no wolf sightings during our stay). And Lamar Valley is the perfect habitat for much of this wildlife. So – we were off on a road trip and all concerns about the lack of animals were washed away with MANY fortuitous sightings!! AND – E & G learned what a fantastic time spring is to travel through these areas as ‘babies’ of all species abound;-)
First up – an elk cow keeping watch over her calf.
Other than the random elk, it seems the animals of the day needed to be ‘B’ animals – Bison, Bald Eagle, Bear and Badgers! ‘The Owlheads’ heads were swiveling and the babies were plentiful and soooooo cute;-)
We saw lots of bison calves referred to as “red dogs”.
The mature bulls are as big as cars! They spend most of the year (except mating season) alone.
A bald eagle keeping watch in its nest across the river.
This black bear (yes this ones coat is brown) was the first of many fortuitous bear encounters in the park;-)
G couldn’t get the camera up fast enough to capture the front ends of this mother badger and her three little ones that crossed the road in front of us.
This female longhorn sheep folded herself in half to keep an eye on us.
WOW! What a day of animal sightings Lamar Valley provided. What isn’t seen in the pictures above is how much we laughed at the numbers of bison. A Jr. Ranger task was to count those in Lamar Valley – we quit at approximately 500+ when we came around a curve and saw a whole hillside dotted with them;-)!!!!
Back to geology at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Here one can see the geologic history in dramatic colors and shapes. The canyon formed when hydrothermal activity altered and weakend the bedrock, making the stone softer so that the Yellowstone River could erode the weakened rocks to deepen and widen the canyon. The hydrothermally altered rhyolite and sediment creates the multi-hued layers of orange, yellow, brown and green in the canyon.
The ever beautiful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
The Shoe Crew at The Brink of the Lower Falls.
Spotted a young osprey along the way.
The 308-foot Lower Falls from a distance.
The trip to and from The Canyon was also eventful – full of fortuitous bear sightings! The grizzlies were out to give us a VERY good show;-) (And to think – E was worried about seeing animals in Yellowstone?!?!?!)
First up – what the Ranger identified as a young couple – –
Typical male – bored with it all.
He resorted to begging.
What part of NO don’t you understand?!?!
All these people are watching us.
Maybe if we wave at them they will take the hint and hit the road.
An hour passes quickly with such wonderful, natural entertainment and the girls were thrilled! But, we really needed to move on down the road. Didn’t get far, though, until we had another fortuitous sighting – a Mother Grizzly and her two cubs;-)!! Bear cubs are born in the deep winter months during the hibernation period. In April and May, they begin to venture out with their mother – and stay with her for two to three years before the Mom kicks them out so she can mate again. What a sight – –
Even with bears – kids look just like their Mom’s!
Kids will be Kids!
Siblings giving each other a hard time.
Something caused the more skittish cub to run for cover .
Okay, let me show you two how to drink from the stream.
All of a sudden, another hour had passed. But, who cares with such natural entertainment.
Time to take a little time and check out some more of that geysers, hot springs, mud pots stuff. After all, that is why Yellowstone was established. So – off to Fountain Paint Pots to walk the boardwalk and ‘enjoy’ that sulfur smell that made the girls hold their noses;-) A perfect place to see the hot springs pools – the most common hydrothermal features in the park – –
Such beautiful, clear blue water – so inviting. Uh – NO!!
– – the mudpots, which are acidic features with a limited water supply. Therefore, their consistency and activity varies with the seasons and precipitation.
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.
And, the geysers, which erupt with steaming hot water. Their regularity and predictability depend upon their underground reservoir.
E decided something she would really like to do was a Ranger Talk/Walk through Mammoth Hot Springs, as this was a new area of exploration for E&G. Unlike the Old Faithful area which changes very little over 100’s of years due to its rhyolite makeup – the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are like living sculptures. Its makeup of travertine, which builds up rapidly, causes the features to change quickly and constantly with changes in the volume of water, the slope of the ground and objects in the water’s path. Here, as in few other places on earth, rock forms before your eyes. Take lots of pictures if you visit – because if you return in a few years, the view will be very different!
A well-informed, enthusiastic Ranger gave a fantastic tour.
The village of Mammoth Hot Springs in the distance as seen from the Terraces boardwalk.
A stunning view at Canary Spring!
Turns out the girls enjoyed this adventure as much as E & G;-)
And, of course, as we were leaving the talk – another fortuitous sighting!!
Good morning black bear!
After this enlightening morning and all the other Yellowstone activities, the requirements for the Yellowstone Junior Ranger badge had been completed. So – we were off to the Visitor Center with the completed documentation for the Ranger and the swearing in ceremony! What a morning;-)
Earning their Yellowstone Junior Ranger Badges.
The Visitor Center at Mammoth Hot Springs is housed in the buildings of ‘Fort Yellowstone’. When the Yellowstone area was made a National Park in 1872, the park was under serious threat from those who would exploit its resources AND there was NO National Park Service. So, from 1886 to 1918, the US Army stepped in to help. Fort Yellowstone is a testament to the long history of our first national park and of the important role the Army played in preserving it for the future. It is now the home of the Park Headquarters. This was a wonderful area to be our home base for the 5 days in Yellowstone;-)
As the days wound down – there were a few remaining sights to document – –
A pronghorn up close and personal.
A marker passed every day in our comings and goings.
Our view across the valley from Gardiner MT at the north entrance to the Park. (Yep – it snowed on us the first night!!)
What a wonderful time was had by all ‘The Owlheads’ in Yellowstone NP;-) It was also really nice to stay in Gardiner, MT at the original entrance to the park – and the only entrance back in 1872. Mammoth Hot Springs was only 5 miles away, with all its history, beauty, elk herd AND a great dining room! But, as is always true, all good things must come to an end. So – we took one last trip through the Roosevelt Gate and said good-bye to Yellowstone.
See you next time.
The words and pictures above do not do justice to the fun adventure we had in these 10 days. The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NP’s provided the beauty, activities and wildlife for our enjoyment. Family provided the FUN! How else could you come up with things like ‘The Owlheads’ and laugh at fortuitous sighting after fortuitous sighting?!?!
One more BIG thank you to our NP’s!! In Love with it All – E & G
Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour 