Yellowstone

Posted by Rose.Sherry June 27, 2021

Yellowstone

June 21, 2021

We are getting more comfortable trailing a 31 foot trailer behind the pick up truck but we still did not want to drive it through Yellowstone, so today we went around and stopped in Riverton, WY today on our way to Cody, our launching pad to see Yellowstone.

Leaving Grand Tetons this morning. You can see them out the window and in the side mirror.

Only one little cloud over the Tetons on our way out.

The blue skies of Wyoming filled our week here.

We drove along the Wind River for a good portion of our trip.

The scenery was easy to take in.

June 22, 2021

Today we drove to Cody, Wyoming our base for seeing Yellowstone.

We drove on Scenic Byway 20 in Wyoming and it did not disappoint. The Wind River ran alongside us for miles. We passed the Wedding of the Waters where the Wind River becomes the Big Horn River.

"The Owl Creek Mountains likely created a barrier between what people might have once thought were two rivers, Sutherland said. By the time people knew it was a single river, the names had taken root."

At this point we drove through the first of 3 tunnels to get thru the rocky hills.

The tunnels were not long and you can see off to the left another tunnel for the railroad tracks.

As we neared Cody we ran into one lane traffic for resurfacing the highway. Fortunately, we only had to wait a few minutes to drive slowly on the one open lane for about 5 miles before it returned to a 2 lane road.

Upon arrival at our new campsite, Jim had a package waiting from Mike & Sarah, a new shirt for Father's Day, sweet. We spent the afternoon getting an oil change for the truck and picking up groceries for the week. Tomorrow we go to Yellowstone!

June 23,2021

We woke up early and drove off to see Yellowstone

Our first stop, LeHardy Rapids

"These rapids are named after topographer Paul LeHardy, whose raft overturned here, spilling guns, provisions and bedding but sparing his life." He made a makeshift raft to go down the Yellowstone River not knowing that the easy flowing river had these rapids.

Birds resting besides the rapids.

Our next stop, Mud Volcano Area

"Sulphur is the Source of The Smell

Hydrogen sulfide gas rising from Yellowstone's magma chamber causes the rotten-egg smell."

Bison love this area and we resting close to the boardwalk.

My favorite feature is the Dragon's Mouth

Here is a video so you can hear the noise coming out of the Dragon's mouth.

The contrast of the clean river across the road and the mud volcano area of thermal activity.

The bubbling pool in the foreground has taken some of the activity of Sulphur Cauldron in the back.

And yes, that is a bison sitting in between the two pools.

"Ten times more acidic than lemon juice, Sulphur Caldron sits on the edge of one of the most active areas of Yellowstone's buried volcano. Sulphur-rich gasses rise furiously here, filling Sulphur Caldron with sulfuric acid. "

Here we are with the Upper Falls.

The Lower Falls from Artist Point

"At 308 feet, the Lower Falls is the tallest waterfall in the park. In terms of height alone, it’s more than twice the size of Niagara Falls. The amount of water flowing over the falls varies greatly depending on the season. At peak runoff times in the spring, 63,500 gal/sec flow over the falls, whereas at lower runoff times in the fall, the flow diminishes to 5,000 gal/sec."

The long view of the canyon & Lower Falls from Artist Point

Then we hiked down to the Brink of Lower Falls, we were right on top of them.

"Standing on the platform at the Brink of the Upper Falls, this 109-foot cascade of surging water will look every bit as powerful as it is."

Here is a video for you to see what it is like at the top of the Lower Falls.

Driving on we came to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Here is the Orange Mound

"Hot water flows over the mound after bubbling through several vents along the top.

Heat-dwelling bacteria and algae grow abundantly in Orange Spring Mound's water, creating tapestries of "living color."

Field of thermal pools with a mountain backdrop.

This feature is called Mound Terrace officially, but I call it Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Palette Spring.

"Many of the colors you see are vast communities of thermophiles, but some of the yellow is pure sulphur."

Minerva Terrace

When we came years ago with the kids this feature was more liquid and still forming, today it was dry and greyer than I remembered.

Then on our way out we hit an "animal jam" where cars slow or stop to see wildlife. By the time we drove by the animal was gone. This is the busiest area we encountered. Earlier we were driving north while a bison was walking in the southbound lane, it had traffic in the south lane backed up for almost 2 miles.

June 24, 2021

Today is all about the lake and geysers.

Today we started at Butte Overlook to see Lake Yellowstone

"You are looking south across thirty miles of water into an area farther from a road than any place in the lower 48 states. Except for Grant Village, there is no significant development between here and Jackson, Wyoming, one hundred miles south. "

"And as we become ever more aware of our own increasing separation from the natural world, wilderness assumes an added significance. It provides a stable point of natural reference; a retreat from constant communication with each other and, instead, quiet listening to what the wilderness has to say to each of us."

Back down along the lakeshore, fumaroles.

"A fumarole, or steam vent, exists when a hydrothermal feature has so little water in its system that the water boils away before reaching the surface."

As we drive around the lake we stopped to see Yellowstone Lake Hotel.

"The Lake Hotel is one of a series of hotels built to accommodate visitors to Yellowstone National Park in the late 19th and early 20th century. Built in 1891, it is the oldest operating hotel in the park. It was re-designed and substantially expanded by Robert Reamer, architect of the Old Faithful Inn in 1903. In contrast to the Old Faithful Inn and many other western park facilities, the Lake Hotel is a relatively plain clapboarded Colonial Revival structure with three large Ionic porticoes facing Yellowstone Lake."

If you are looking for something more rustic, there is Yellowstone Lake Lodge

"The main lodge is constructed of logs and is the focal point of this classic and comfortable building. Located behind the lodge are 186 cabins with private baths are available in recently renovated Western and Frontier styles as well as the basic Pioneer cabins."

Still along the lakeshore, our next stop is the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Not only is there thermal activity on the basin, there is activity in the lake.

These two are underwater, and are known as Lakeshore Geysers.

This one, Fishing Cone, is also in the lake.

"The name Fishing Cone can be traced back to tales told by mountain men of a lake where one could catch a fish, immediately dunk it into the hot spring, and cook it on the hook. A member of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition popularized this feat."

The Abyss Pool, is 53 feet deep. It has not erupted since June 1992.

This colorful pool is on the basin.

The drainage from this pool is colorful due to thermophiles.

"Thermophilic communities are as diverse as the communities that humans live in. Community formations, colors, and locations vary depending on the types of microbes, the pH, and the temperature of their environments."

On our way to the Upper Basin we stopped at Keppler Cascades.

"Kepler Cascades is a waterfall on the Firehole River in southwestern Yellowstone National Park. The cascades are located approximately 2.6 miles south of Old Faithful. The cascades drop approximately 150 feet over multiple drops. The longest drop is 50 feet."

Unless you count the drop from the overlook, yikes.

It's time for the Upper Basin Geysers. Here is Riverside Geyser erupting.

"Riverside Geyser is a cone-type geyser.

Eruptions are very predictable, taking place every 5.5 to 7.5 hours."

This is the Grotto Geyser, Jim has renamed it melting marshmallow man.

Here is the Chromatic Pool. I think it looks like a bloodshot eye.

Jim captured this shot of the Beauty Pool

Spasmodic Geyser

"named by A.C. Peale, from the 1878 Hayden survey team, for its erratic eruptions."

Anemone Geyser, a flashback to our time in Oregon.

And of course, you can't come to Yellowstone and not see Old Faithful.

So it's only fair if you read the blog, you too can see Old Faithful.

It's been another great day at Yellowstone.

June 25, 2021

Today we visited the Buffalo Bill Dam. The spring has brought in a lot of wood down the river, it will get cleared of all this wood later in the summer.

"Known at the time of its construction as Shoshone Dam, it was renamed in 1946 to honor Cody. The 325 feet (99 m) high structure was designed by engineer Daniel Webster Cole and built between 1905 and 1910. At the time of its completion it was the tallest dam in the world."

Three separate construction companies worked on the dam, the first one was fired for not making enough progress, the second one also let go after limited progress, the third did finish the job. All 3 companies neared financial ruin from working on the dam.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir holds all the spring melt to be used later down river for irrigation of the dry Western territory here. It is beautiful.

Snowmelt is accumulating in the reservoir and will be released as needed during the dry season.

We drove into Cody to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

Five world class museums under one roof, Buffalo Bill, Plains Indians, Firearms, Natural History and Western Art galleries.

"Buffalo Bill" William F. Cody was probably the best known American in the world during his lifetime. Having been involved in many events that shaped the American West, he formed an arena show of the western experience called "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" in 1883. It toured the United States and Europe for 30 years."

Irma Hotel's Wheel of Fortune, ca. 1905

This wheel of fortune was used in the bar room of the Irma Hotel, now the main dining room.

It just looks like it belongs in a saloon.

Here are 2 sides of a replica tent that Buffalo Bill Cody would use while touring with his Wild West Show. Take note of the Linen envelope on the cot; bowl and pitcher set, ca. 1900 on the table; hardwood chamber pot chair ca. 1850 in the corner, and the portable bathtub, ca 1910 on the right.

On the living area side of the tent not the painting on cotton fabric, ca. 1900-1910, the desk, ca. 1880; wool chair throw, ca. 1890 on the desk chair; Rockite chair, 1885-1895 in the corner, smoking stand; suitcase, and antler end table (elk and moose), ca. 1880,and on the desk a hardwood poker chip & card set ca. 1910

This was my favorite picture in the Art Gallery

The Homesteaders, 1969-1970 John Clymer (1907-1989)

Oil on canvas

Everyone looks so happy, it must be early on in their journey.

The art gallery also had works by Frederick Remington but the recreation of his studio in Rochelle, NY seemed more intriguing to me. A realistic Western environment to inspire his Western Art.

"Remington built his impressive studio in New Rochelle, New York, in 1896. This recreated studio, filled with many original accessories, reflects Remington's personality and passions. He captured the Old West the land, the light, and the colors-by collecting these artifacts and recreating their stories in his art. In his studio, Remington produced most of his life's work, creating more than 3,000 pieces of art."

June 26, 2021

It is a cloudy start to the day as we leave at 7:30 am for Yellowstone.

We spot 2 adorable fawns and their mom just shortly after we entered the park.

We have seen a lot of Bison so far, and today we passed an entire herd of bison which was full of calves and their moms. Apparently the lone males we previously spotted wanted no part of this group.

Our first destination, Norris Geyser Basin

"In the basin-far below the towering peaks of the Gallatin Mountains-water accumulates underground. Heated by the Yellowstone Volcano, the water travels upward to erupt from acidic geysers, rise from steaming fumaroles, and simmer in shimmering pools."

Porcelain Springs

"The milky color of the mineral deposited here inspired the naming of Porcelain Basin. Siliceous sinter is brought to the surface by hot water and forms a sinter "sheet" over this flat area as the water flows across the ground and the mineral settles out."

"Fumaroles, also called steam vents, are Yellowstone's hottest surface features. They continuously vent steam from below. Their underground plumbing reaches penetrate hot rock, but are generally dry. The little water that drains into the fumarole's plumbing flashes to steam."

Runoff from the Springs

Porcelain Spring

"Hot springs are pools of water heated by

an underground heat source with no underground plumbing constriction.

Superheated water cools slightly as it reaches the surface, and is then displaced by hotter water from deeper sources. This sets up a pattern of water circulation, which helps prevent the chain reaction leading to an eruption."

Steamboat Geyser

This Geyser did sprout for us, but not near its full strength which can go up to 300 feet.

Cistern Spring Living Color

"Hot springs create different water temperature environments for living things. Cistern Spring's brown, orange, and green colors represent species of visible algae and bacteria, each requiring a different temperature environment. Only a handful of hard-to-see species of bacteria can live where spring water is near, at, or above boiling. As water gradually cools-by flowing away from its source it creates lower temperature environments ideal for these colorful species of algae and bacteria."

Echinus an Acidic Geyser

"Millions of spine-shaped deposits surround Echinus Geyser. Iron, arsenic, manganese, and aluminum are all found in the acidic fountain of water that showers the landscape. With each eruption, these metals help build miniature rust-colored sinter spines."

Perhaps the inspiration for lava cakes, this Chocolate Pot

"These orange-brown mounds consist mainly of precipitated iron oxide, mixed with silica. Compared to more typical hot springs of Yellowstone the temperature of chocolate pot springs is only moderate, around 130 °F or less."

We pulled over at Gibbon Falls Overlook and were not disappointed.

"Gibbon Falls has a drop of approximately 84 feet."

We drove down Firehole Canyon Drive and spotted Firehole Falls

"a 40-foot waterfall amidst 800-foot thick lava flows forming the canyon walls."

We drove to the Fountain Paint Pot Trail, the paint pots were all white, not picture worthy.

here is the beautiful blue Silex Spring instead.

When we arrived at Clepsydra Geyser it was quiet.

Then Clepsydra erupted and went on for over 20 minutes

A ranger stopped by the trail and gave a talk, he had to speak loudly since Clepsydra was going off the entire time of his talk on this part of the park.

Here is a 20 second video so you can see and hear Clepsydra.

The Celestine Pool, another pretty spring

"Celestine Pool is a hot spring with an average temperature of 183.4°F, an average pH of 8.3"

We are not done yet we went on Firehole Lake Drive and saw these Hot Cascades and the colorful thermophiles that live in them.

And this very green/yellow portion of Hot Lake

With all these crazy thermal features, Yellowstone is like visiting a different planet.

And for our final spot at Yellowstone, Midway Basin's

Excelsior Geyser Crater "formerly known as Excelsior Geyser, is a dormant fountain-type geyser"

Grand Prismatic Spring, as colorful around the spring as it is in.

". . . the largest and one of the most brilliant of Yellowstone's many colorful hot springs. Its massive expanse stretches approximately 200 feet across. The high temperature of its water 160F⁰ ensures that the spring is often cloaked in steam. "

The much smaller Opal Pool also packs a colorful punch and is much easier to fit in frame.

Run off from Excelsior Geyser Crater

"Yellowstone's hydrothermal features provide a glimpse into the distant past when intense volcanism was widespread on the young Earth. The lifeforms found here help scientists understand the type of life that likely arose and diversified billions of years ago on our planet."

"Deep beneath us, magma from an active volcano heats water that rises to the surface through fissures in the rocks. The result is a hot spring that pours almost 500 gallons of hot water each minute into the Firehole River. "

We have had a great time in Yellowstone. It's been a lot of driving. Staying in Cody it is 50 miles to the East Entrance of Yellowstone (fortunately its a beautiful drive thru the Shoshone National Forest) then the park itself is huge. If you come to visit, try to stay in the park, we would have if we could have gotten a reserved campsite for our RV, but since Fishing Bridge campground for RVs is being renovated in 2021 we were out of luck.

June 27, 2021

Today we went to church and then strolled up and down Main Street in Cody.

Outside the Irma Hotel that Buffalo Bill built.

"In 1902, he built the Irma Hotel, which he called "just the sweetest hotel that ever was". Buffalo Bill maintained two suites and an office at the hotel for his personal use."