Thursday in Yellowstone

Awoke to gorgeous Montana mountains.


Yogi Bear remains elusive along with the black and grizzly bears in Yellowstone but hey we have pretty much covered all the other animals.
This morning, it was cool but again smokey damn those fires.



The elk were around the streets of Gardiner again - our first views on the way to the supermarket.


We crossed the Yellowstone River on a high bridge - first photo opportunity.


We decided to do the Lamar valley first and that did not disappoint - heaps of bison next to the Lamar River.


Lamar is so lovely, green lush pasture next to the streams.


We visited the petrified tree which had been fossilized due to an eruption.


This was just one of three left on the site due to fossil-collecting tourists and so it was fenced off. We stopped for a light lunch at the picnic area- it was cool out of the sun but lovely in it.


A fellow traveller brought out his guitar and we enjoyed the sun to a little light jazz.


Hunter liked this spot too.


There were a number of bison crossing the roads- they seem to enjoy doing this and being admired as they amble along next to your car.


They give you the eye to check out if you are friend or foe and I would not like to be the latter as they could put a pretty mean dent in your car. They are huge!


We also saw these two pronghorn sheep - the first I had seen since Jackson.


The road down to Canyon wound up high and we could see the regenerating forest following fires.


At Canyon Village we visited the information centre - good volcanics lessons - and the shop. Hunter tried the hat on but didnt think it was her style.


I had decided we must do an hours guided walk on the South Rim of the canyon with a ranger so we brought walking shoes. We met ranger Mary, a young lass,


from South Carolina at Uncle Toms Trail carpark. We saw the higher falls


And the lower falls


and got a pocket history of the Park from Mary. It was supposed to take an hour but i think Mary liked listening to her own voice and she embellished the stories with her own personal flavour. The canyon is awe inspiring


It was a good experience though and learned lots of history about the area. The sun was disappearing behind smoke and the wind was getting up.


Smoke was getting thicker on the walk and by the time we were back at the carpark it was making me cough. There was a fire near Norris and as we were heading back to Gardiner that way I felt slightly nervous. Having heard from ranger Mary that an 18 year old had died falling over the canyon this season and learning that 2 people were killed by bears in 2011 I wasn't keen to become one of Yellowstone's statistics. There were no cars going my direction but Dan assured me they would have stopped us if there had been any problems. We eventually got back onto the road north and more bison stopped us on the road.


I also had a close shave with a police car who noticed I was doing 50 mph instead of 45. Rock formations are stunning here and I only stopped once on the homeward stretch to Gardiner to take these photos.


Back to lovely Gardiner and had photos by the Northern Entrance





Saw more elk wandering


and proceeded straight to the Lighthouse restaurant again for another great dinner.


Time to leave the Park tomorrow, Eastward bound to Cody and a dude ranch motel. Hehe ! Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Granite St,Gardiner,United States

Second day in yellowstone

Our overnight stay in West Yellowstone was very pleasant at the Kelly Inn, nicely themed to the park


and then in the morning we picked up a packed lunch from a great little cafe in town. Recommend it for a packed lunch.


And set off for Madison in the park. Had to get Hunter's pic by the beautiful Madison River since it is her second name


-It was just a beautiful morning and the wind had taken away a bit of the smoke. The river was gorgeous.


We saw a blue heron down by the river too.


We went into the Firehole Falls road that we had passed by the day before, a great little by-road with stunning views of the falls.


Had a few photos by the top of the cascades


Although it doesn't look like the river is dropping away behind us it was!


And then we headed northward towards Gardiner. Our first stop was at the indian paintpots which were not up to NZ standards but ah well......


At least there was white mud


And then onward to a picnic lunch among the lodgepoles


The Indians used these to make their lodges or teepees hence the name.


These swayed hugely in the wind almost frightening and so many tres fall over that it is easy to imagine them falling on us while we ate our packed lunches.


It was a lovely site however and we survived. More scenery and we saw more elk and a bison. Gorgeous valleys and drop away scenes.


Then hit Mammoth which has beautiful white terraces


You can walk alongside them on boardwalks


And they make an eerie landscape with trees not surviving their harsh environments


There are some beautiful landscapes here


Fluid but also solid.


After a stop at Mammoth for afternoon tea and visitor centre I learned that there had been a fort here.


The museum had good displays of wildlife and Indian artefacts. On our way to Gardiner we saw some goat-like animals which were on a steep bank.


One of them was right on the road and stopped the traffic -they live dangerously in this steep country but the tourists are generally very respectful to them.


Another scooted along directly above our car.


After this we forged on to Gardiner which is also outside the Park in Montana. I love it here. I feel at home.


It is a small town in mountainous country.The Yellowstone River cuts through the valley and their are green flats farmed down to the banks.


The Yellowstone Village Inn is superb, friendly management and out in the country but still just a mile from the park entrance.


They recommended the Lighthouse


restaurant 6 mins further north and it was excellent food at good prices in a nautical setting. The staff here were very good too.


When we arrived back at the Inn the elk had moved in


and a group of five of them were eating the shrubbery around the units.


A mother mule deer had also brought her fawn in for a look around.


Fantastic! We took photos then headed upstairs to our room where we watched them for a long while from our window.


Yes thats our black car. The manager told us that bison came onto the lawn in the last big snowfall in winter. Great country!


And this landform is called the Devil's Slide - I can see why!


Tomorrow its around the top end of the park from Gardiner up to the Lamar Valley and down to the canyon home of the great waterfalls.


Hunter finished the day with a swim in the heated pool. A lovely day.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Gardiner,United States