A Mammoth Day

(note from Stacey - we take on average 150 photos - each - each day. We're trying to pick the ones that show the park at its best, but for every 1 we show, we have 30 others that are fabulous as well)

For the first 32 years of its existence, the park was run by the U.S. Army, at Fort Yellowstone at what is now known as Mammoth Village. The village includes administrative offices, gas station, visitors’ center and general store. The primary attraction of this area is the hot springs terraces – a surreal collection of thermal springs that, over time, have created terraces as the mineral laden water cascades down the side of the mountain. Coupled with the steam, clouds and overwhelming sulfur odor, the place appears to be something from another planet.

Oh, and the bathrooms are very large here.

Apparently you can fit a bus in them.

Immediately to the east, we were lucky enough to catch site of a lone grey wolf; not a picture however. The Grey Wolf was re-introduced to the park in 1995, and the current estimated population is at about 120.

Moving south, we visited Tower Falls, meeting a couple from Syracuse while we hiked down a short trail for better views of the falls. Dunraven pass, immediately to the south, is still closed, so we turned back and made our way over to the Norris Geyser Basin.

The middle of the park is said to be the remnants of a super volcano that collapsed about 640,000 years ago, the result of a geologic “hot spot” several miles below the park. This accounts for all of the thermal activity that is visible on the surface. The Norris geyser basin is an otherworldly collection of small geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pits that cover hundreds of acres. We discovered that geyser clouds follow the “Law of the Grill” in that the odorous steam cloud is always blown in the direction of the photographer or subject.

Heading south, we stopped at Gibbon Falls, the west back to the hotel. More elk and bison, blah, blah, blah. Truth be told, seeing all of the elk and bison never got old. The route back to the west entrance is 14 miles along the Madison River, linked by a series of meadows, so that the elk and bison graze their way through the area every morning and evening, often on and along the road.

Pizza and local microbrew followed our return to West Yellowstone. A couple from Detroit was able to convince the owner to put the Red Wings game on. Some trash talking was noted, but we were playing from a weak position as Detroit remains in the playoffs while our Av’s are busy working on their tans. Stacey’s Penguins and JR’s Blackhawks also remain in the playoffs.