Farther Along

Our first day in Yellowstone began with an eleven mile hike from Dogshead Trailhead and took us to Shoshone Lake. When we got to the lake we decided we wanted to swim. After hobbling over the beach littered with sharp volcanic stones, we reached the water and waded up to our waist before summoning the strength to dive into the cold mountain water. Victor and Lauren swam to the far shore, while Daniel and Chris tired out quickly and swam into shore, about a quarter mile from where they had started. It took them 20 minutes to walk across those sharp stones again back to their shoes! After we dried out, we began the trek back to the car. Once in the car, we headed through the south entrance back to camp.

The next morning we said our farewells to the Turpauds, and headed back into Yellowstone for a more touristy day. We started with Old Faithful then toured the Upper Geyser Basin. Lauren was convinced that  she had better names for all the geothermal features in the park than the existing names.  She wanted to rename one Spritzer geyser, another one Pomporous geyser (who knows what that means!), and my favorite, The Crusty Butte instead of Castle Geyser.  I said that was stupid because people would spend too much time laughing at the name and making a mockery of the poor geyser by calling it crusty butt!  Lauren refuted it by saying it would provide comic relief as well as an educated experience for all who pass its gas! After we had enough Sulphur fume inhalation, we decided it was time for some wildlife...epic fail. 

Look Mom, I see a Crusty Butt! 

We saw only some buffalo from a great distance, but we made the most of it. Next stop, the Mud Volcano and the Sulphur Caldron! Inadvertently, while observing these super cool geothermal hotspots, a bull bison made his way onto the walkway and decided to plop down  within touching distance of the walkway! He was only a few feet from the bubbling mud volcano and seemed without a care in the world! We indulged took as many pictures as we could, as fast as we could so as not to be trampled in a wild fit of rutting rage! As soon as we left that buffalo we encountered another one on the path, this one emitting some mournful lowing sounds! To be honest it freaked us out a little bit so we used the mass of tourists as a wall between ourselves and it while we filmed it...just wanted to be safe ya know!

From the Mud Volcano we went and visited the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We hiked down to a viewpoint of the Lower Falls, an astounding view from above the falls' 308 foot descent to the river below! We also saw the canyon from the Grand View point.  After that we headed to the North entrance and through the Arch built in 1872 when Congress first created the park, the first of all the National Parks! We camped in Jardine, a little town in Montana just North of Yellowstone.

The next morning we packed up and spent the last couple of hours in Yellowstone visiting the Mammoth Hot Springs. It was a very surreal experience, standing on top of these calcium deposits, and amidst trees that had literally become entombed in the limestone! Overall, Yellowstone was an awesome experience, albeit very crowded! We loved it, but if we ever came back it would be with the intention of exploring the backcountry instead of seeing the park from the road.