Yellowstone - Day3 and 4

Wednesday was a laid back day.  We went to breakfast at the Lake Hotel and then drove to Tower-Roosevelt and then towards the Northeast Entrance to see Lamar Valley.   We did manage to get a picture of a yellow tour bus at the hotel!

Yellow Tour Bus 

Tower Falls

Pelican Creek (near Fishing Bridge)

Thursday we headed to Mammoth Hot Springs area.  We drove through the Hayden Valley area and it was the first time I thought our car may get damaged by buffalo!  We were stopped on the road and there was a drop off to the right of the car.  15 to 20 buffalo came towards us and surrounded the car on both sides (they all wouldn't fit to the right side of car).  It was pretty amazing. 

Buffalo in Hayden Valley

Buffalo crossing Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley

We went to Boiling River in Mammoth Hot Springs area first.  There is a hot spring that feeds into the Gardner River.   It is one of the few places you can swim in Yellowstone.  If the water is too hot from the spring you can move a few inches and feel the cold water from the Gardner River.  We found it relaxing and spent a couple hours.  We went before lunch and seemed to beat the crowd.

Hot springs entering Gardner River



Spring feeds from left into Gardner River

Cool Dragonfly

After the Boiling River we went to Mammoth Hot Springs and toured the Lower and Upper Terraces. 

Palette Spring

Palette Spring



Canary Spring



Canary Spring

Yellowstone - Day2

Our second full day in Yellowstone was spent at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.  We hiked the Uncle Tom's Point trail and then the South Rim Trail to Artist Point (a little under 2 miles).  We were so happy we walked South Rim Trail, Artist Point was packed!  The trail was empty!  Smiles for everyone!  We both really enjoyed the canyon, we thought it was a really cool day.

The Upper Falls

The Lower Falls

Yellowstone Canyon - the colors were stunning

 

Mr Coyote hunting in Hayden Valley (took on way to Canyon!)

Yellowstone Arrival and Day1

After two days in Helena MT to get provisions and RV maintenance, we headed to Yellowstone.  We arrived on Sunday, August 19th.   We entered at the North Entrance of Yellowstone at the Roosevelt Arch and had to drive approximately 55 miles to our campground at Fishing Bridge.  The park is enormous and we were experiencing culture shock!  We aren't in Glacier anymore!  Visitors and buffalo were everywhere in Yellowstone (especially Hayden Valley).  I was not expecting traffic jams in the park but that is exactly how we found ourselves upon arrival!

Blocked traffic to get this bad boy!

I believe Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres and has 310 miles of paved roadways.  On average, we drove 100 miles/day to see different features throughout the park.  If you ever visit the park, please be alert when driving!   We waited a couple of hours on one roadway because of a head on collision ahead of us since there are no alternate roads. We saw numerous accidents including a car in a tree next to a river bed.  When traffic slowed and stopped we were looking for wildlife and saw the car in tree!

Not how you want to spend vacation!

Haze and wildfire smoke clouded the views at Yellowstone.  The only day we didn't have haze/smoke was our last day.  The pictures reflect our experience!

We spent a majority of our time visiting all the geological features of the park.  The first full day we went to see the Upper Geyser Basin.  The Upper Geyser Basin includes Old Faithful.   We saw numerous pools, geysers and springs.   Based on ranger predictions we were able to see several geysers erupt during our visit to the Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful, Daisy and Riverside)!

Old Faithful

Mr C checking things out (not too closely!)

Can't remember which pool/spring but the colors are fantastic!

Riverside when not erupting

Riverside during eruption

 

Daisy

Mirror Pool

Iceburg Lake

A chilly 31 degrees is how we started our day!  We were going to take a guided tour to Iceburg Lake but decided to go later in the morning so we could reach a higher temperature!   We contemplated not going but we would be disappointed later if we didn't make the trek.  What is another 10 miles! Thankfully coming back was all downhill or flat!

There were a lot of people on the trail and the lake was a little smaller than I expected but it was stunning.  Odd to see iceburgs floating around and a cover of ice on a lake in mid-August!

The trail to Iceburg Lake

Meadows and mountains with glimpse of lake

Another glimpse

Iceburg Lake

Another Iceburg Lake picture

Panoramic

Mr C riding an iceburg!

Levitating!

So blue and pretty

The road back to RV

We leave Montana tomorrow.  I really enjoyed Glacier National Park and don't think anything could top this park but we have many more to go!   Next stop .... Helena for provisions (just about out of all groceries!).  After  getting supplies we will be in Yellowstone and Grand Teton!  Can't wait!

Siyeh Pass Trail - WOW!

We did many small hikes to build up to a longer hike.  This was it!  Siyeh Pass is the highest elevation trail in Glacier Park at 8080 feet.  I believe we had gained 2100 + feet in elevation before descent into Baring Creek valley to Sunrift Gorge.  It was incredible!  It is rated one of the best day hikes in the country.

We decided to go on a guided tour.  Preston Park, an high alpine meadow with lots of wildflowers,  is an area known for bear and it is recommended to hike in groups.  I'm still a little nervous about the bear!   Steve normally yells, "Bears come eat Cheryl!".   There was only one drawback of the guided tour, the one who became known as "the talker".  There was one gent who talked incessantly!  When the group of 8 wasn't enjoying the views, they were avoiding "the talker".   It was funny. 

The one drawback of the hike itself was the 700 ft of switchbacks.  It wasn't an issue for me but was an issue for Steve (height apprehension again!).    He kept his head down and watched the person's heels in front of him.   Because of his courage and field work (noticed rock turned over by bear), he was awarded Junior Ranger, an honor usually bestowed on 12 year olds.  We had a great guide.  She was awesome and a lot of fun!

Proud Junior Ranger!

Steve and I both agree we have never seen anything as beautiful as the views seen on the hike (and it was free!).  It was worth every sore muscle we have today!  The light wasn't good for pictures but will share them anyway.

Purdy!

Preston Park meadow



Siyeh Creek (I think)  with Piegan mountain and glacier as backdrop

These next two pictures are from the 700 ft switchbacks.  I wanted picture of views but Steve had camera during hike up..lol



This is looking back off trail on Matahpi



You can see blue water from glacier dust

Looking out over cliff ledge (after ascent)

View from other side of cliff (begin of descent into Baring Creek valley - Sexton Glacier is to right)

St Mary's Lake below and you can see hike trail



Closer view of Sexton Glacier with falls



Picture from trail

Falls created by glacier and snow melt

Gorge where all water we followed down trail ends up

It was a balmy 47 degrees and raining this morning.  We will be going to get pie and tshirts today!

Two Medicine

We went to the Two Medicine area of the park today.  We (me..lol) did not have the stamina to do the original 6 mile hike we planned. We just tooled around, went to Running Eagle Falls and to Paradise Point (maybe 2 miles total).  It was nice and relaxed.  We plan on doing a 10 mile hike tomorrow and 8 mile on Wed or Thurs depending on weather.

Running Eagle Falls

The water comes from undergrround chutes!

We drove to Two Sisters restaurant for lunch.  It is between St Mary and Babb.  It was awesome!  We had the red burger (their speciality).  The burger was loaded with onion, mushroom, bacon, cheese and creole sauce.  We will return for dessert (lemon huckleberry bread pudding or maybe huckleberry pie ala mode - we will see!).

Two Sisters - Interior as eclectic as exterior!

Note the aliens welcome on the roof and the play on words on the sign.

We just hung out and did some wash.  Steve was talking to a guy in campsite across from us.   They are towing a 95 Geo Tracker and the transmission is hosed.  They only have 2nd gear.  They said screw it and drove to Canada with only 2nd gear.  He said when 2nd gear goes he will start renting a car.  Too funny!   The tow bar is so low that when there is a dip or imperfection in a gas station pavement,  'we take some of the gas station with us'.  They are quite the characters.