A Day in Yellowstone

I had a great day today. One of the perks we get as an employee of Yellowstone is free access to the park tours which run daily. A guest would normally have to pay $63, but we get access for free. So, today, I decided to participate in the all-day “Circle of fire tour.” It began at approximately 7:45 A.M. and ended at 4:15 P.M.

The bus first stopped at the Upper and Lower Falls of the Canyon. This just happens to be what my area of the park is popular for, hence the name “Canyon Village.” I was able to get closer to the falls than I had before and I have great photos.

We next moved on to pick up other passengers at Fishing Bridge and Lake. While at Lake, I snapped a few photos of the beautiful view from Lake Hotel. It’s a view to die for. I’m serious. The hotel overlooks Yellowstone Lake and it has many mountains in the background.

From there, we stopped at the West Thumb Geyser Basin. We got to see a couple of thermal features. It’s was a bit of a quick walk and we did not get a chance to see everything. This area seems to be popular for all of its hot springs.

After that, we headed over to Old Faithful where I got a chance to see her blow at 12:49 P.M. It was slow at first and then a big burst of water. I was sure to take photos. I also ate a lunch of hamburger and potato salad at the Old Faithful Lodge Dining Room. The place has a rustic feel as it’s a very old log cabin.

Our next to last stop before coming back to Canyon was at the Fountain Paint Pot area. This was the highlight of the trip. There, we got a chance to see all four thermal features, including: mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles and geysers. The mud pots are interesting because they make the strangest noise. We also came across a very loud boiling fumarole. It sounded something like boiling water as it overflows on the stove. Lastly, we saw a couple of geysers. We specifically saw the one called “Celestine Pool.” This was the hot pool of water where a guy was killed when he jumped in to save his dog. He failed to realize the temperature of the water before diving in.

And last, we stopped at Norris Geyser Basin. This was a real rush, so we only got to see the steamboat geyser.

On a different note, I read on CNN this morning where an individual was killed just at the edge of the park by a Grizzly Bear. That acts as a constant reminder that you should practice safety where you are out in the park.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

A few days after I arrived here in Yellowstone, I decided to head over to the Canyon. It's often referred to as "The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone." From my understanding, the lower falls is twice as large as Niagra Falls. It was snowing at the time, so some of the pictures aren't as clear as I would prefer. I am going to visit it again once it stops raining, so expect more pictures later.

The trail head to visit the Canyon is the near the P area cabins here in Canyon. Once you reach the head, the trail is approximately 1/2 mile and goes through a very beautiful wooded area. As you will see from some of the photos, it was snowing. Snow made the trail all the prettier.

Enjoy (to make the pictures larger, click on them)