Today we had no pressing chores so we devoted the whole day to exploring in Yellowstone National Park. Right out of our campground at Flagg Ranch, we turned north for two miles until we ran into the back of a long line of cars awaiting impoverishment at the Yellowstone fee station. Once we finally made it to the fee station, we showed them our access pass and were told to move along without parting with the $30 entrance fee.
Right past the fee station, the road starts climbing up a spectacular rock gorge with the Lewis River cascading down the valley. There were abundant wildflowers lining the road. The speed limit is only 45 miles per hour so passengers and drivers alike can enjoy the great passing scenery. Just because the speed limits are low, stupidity of other drivers was noted all along the way. We saw folks who could not keep it in their lane, folks who stopped directly in the traffic lanes and bikers coming the other way that put their left foot and front wheel on our side of the double yellow. The bikers promptly got back on their side as they noted Charlotte’s massive shiny bumper approaching with their left leg in the sights.
We took the counter-clockwise route around Yellowstone’s south loop. From the fee station we went to the West Thumb geyser basin for a stroll. There are many colored ponds with geysers in the bottom, fumaroles and other fart gas spewing features here with enormous Yellowstone Lake in the background. All the volcanic features here come with little gasps of hydrogen sulfide which smell like rotten eggs.
From West Thumb we continued northeast to the Mud Volcano which is a big hole full of bubbling mud erupting from the bowels of the earth. There is also a big cave with foul odors and gurgling noises emanating therefrom called the Dragon’s Buttpipe or something with ample steam and stench rising from the entrance. We continued to a section of the park called Canyon Village which is at the impressive Yellowstone Falls. From there we cut west across the park to Norris Geyser Basin and then south toward Old Faithful which is located at the south end of a gigantic geyser basin where the fury of the earth can be seen along both sides of the road. There are giant columns of steam and furious eruptions of water on all sides here.
From the Old Faithful neighborhood, we went back toward West Thumb, completing the loop and passing over the Continental Divide three times along the way. Yellowstone is a truly amazing place with fantastic scenery even without the volcanic highlights visible everywhere. Throw in the geysers and mudpots and steam breathers and the place is unlike any in the world.
We got some photos today and you can see them if you click here