Sunday, July 29, 2012

Up late to start sight seeing as neither of us listened for the alarm...so we got an extra hour and a half to sleep.  Departed for Mammoth, Gardner and several hydrothermal features.  We saw Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Roaring Mountain, the Grand Prismatic Pool, the swimming hole in the Firehole River, Midway Geyser Basin, and Firehole Lake Area.  We returned to West Yellowstone in time to enjoy supper with Jim's sisters and the clan.  Thanks to Jim's sisters & nephew, Craig, for a wonderful meal.  Jim's family is talking about their NEXT get together in two years.  Their tentative plan is to go to Northern Wisconsin and the Apostle Islands area. 
Now...here's some great photos of our 3rd day at America's (and the World's) FIRST National Park, Yellowstone!

Rustic Falls

Golden Gate (left)...Bunsen Peak (right)...note the highway built out on the edge of the mountain!

Mountains along Gardner Road

Fly fisherman in the Gardner River

Gardner Road with sage brush and storm

Gardner Road....headed north

Hoodoos over Gardner Road

Elk resting on the lawn outside Mammouth Hotel

Original stonegate arch at the north entrance of Yellowstone NP

Close up of the park's motto atop the arch

Interessting sign along Gardner Road



Cap Rock at Mammoth Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs

Prospect Spring

Orange Mound Terrace

closeup of Orange Mound Spring

Angel Terrace

Earthquake Rock Zone

Look out below!

Mountains to the west of Gardner Road

Firehole River Falls....LOTS of people go swimming the water warmed by geysers and springs in the area.

Hot water draining from Midway Geyser Bowl into the Firehole River...
Thus becoming the warm water to swim in at the Firehole Falls!

Excelsior Geyser

Grand Prismatic Geyser....amazingly beautful.  You need to fly above this in
a helicopter to truly see its beauty!

Miniature forests of algae surround the Grand Prismatic Pool

Opal Pool

Boiling hot water draining down into Firehole River from Midway Geyser Bowl



Blue Geyser



Dome Geyser

Black Hole Spring

Bubbling paint pot...light grey

Artist paint pot...azure bllue

Firehole Lake