YELLOWSTONE - DAY 2

In spite of the distances, we were determined to see the east and north sides of Yellowstone today.

Up and out early meant seeing bison before we ever got to Yellowstone,

Lots of snow but the roads were clear.

This is not a cloud. It is smoke from the fire that closed the South Entrance for several days.

More and bigger.

 Yellowstone Lake with snow covered peaks.

A lot had melted by the time we got there.

Mammoth Hot Springs was another place I really wanted to show Carol. I remember massive multi colored terraces covered with flowing water.

Seismic activity and changing water levels have caused most of them to dry up. A few remain but the color is washed out even on those.

 And we'd driven half the day just to see them.


But we were compensated in other ways. This is the front lawn of the Reamer House, a private residence right in the middle of the tourist area. Yes, those are female elk with yearlings.

Sorry about the butt view, but this was the biggest set of horns we'd ever seen on a big horn sheep.

Tower Falls.

Tower Falls Canyon.

The rock formations left from the volcanic era are fascinating.

These vertical columns that look like a picket fence are the same formation from which the Devil's Tower was formed, just on a much smaller scale.

 3/8 of a mile. Let's go, it can't be THAT bad. It's only 3/8 of a mile.
 

Going down didn't seem so bad. But why do all those people coming back up look so miserable. Boy, they must really be out of shape. I guess that's why they put benches at almost every switchback.

The "view" doesn't explain why the walk was worth it. It's more the "experience" of standing right at the brink and feeling and hearing the power.

 All too soon we decided it was time to walk back up. I really didn't think I could be so out of breath in such a short time. We sat on almost every one of those benches. Who knew 8000' was high enough to make such a difference? And that MUST be it because we couldn't possibly be THIS out of shape.

We were glad we did it.

We were very glad it was over.


More views of the canyon.

 Momma and baby.

After that hike we were ready to go home. But we had forgotten that the Mud Volcanoes and Sulphur Pots were on the way out of the park.

Oh, by the way - spell check says I spelled "sulphur" wrong. When my mother returned to teaching in 1957 after a 20 year hiatus she said, "What the heck do you mean it's 'sulfur'?  I guess I'll start spelling 'enough' as 'enuf.' "

Anyway, fascinating stinky place.
 

 The brochure says it's sulfuric acid just slightly less Ph than battery acid.

I guess this bird can't read the signs.

Back at Yellowstone Lake at sunset.

 The moon over Shoshone Canyon as we return to the Airstream.

God is good. every day.

BUFFALO BILL CODY CENTER OF THE WEST

Our second day at Yellowstone Inn and RV Park was rainy. It was snowing in Yellowstone and there was snow on the peaks surrounding us.

So we stayed in and vegged.

On Tuesday we went to Cody because Ralph Tartaglia told us we HAD to. He was right. We only spent a day and we could have spent a week. Their gun collection totals over 7000. We attended a "30 minute" talk on guns that lasted an hour and fifteen minutes. Carol enjoyed the talk but I couldn't get her to walk through all the displays.

Five museums in one.

Buffalo Bill
Firearms
Plains Indians
Western Art
Natural History

They were ALL incredible. Along with the gun talk, we heard a talk on Annie Oakley - most, if not everything you "know" about her is so wrong. We also attended a raptor demonstration.

The art work, inside and outside was incredible.


 HEY -  We've been there !

 

Sacagawea.

 

This is a standing picture album that was in the Buffalo Bill Museum. He had it in his hunting tent. I have one that is exactly the same except for the picture. It was my Grandmother Cook's and this is the only other one I've ever seen.

Another great day.

Tomorrow we tackle Yellowstone again. Weather permitting.