Last year we planned to go to Yellowstone at the end of the summer but decided to cancel because we were too tired. This year we were more tired, but we pressed forward with our plans. Richard’s parents came along with us and we made a small caravan with cars loaded with good things to eat and gear for any weather.We enjoyed the geyser basins with their pools, steam, and geyser eruptions.We stopped at Old Faithful and waited with the crowds in the rain. It was a good time. I thought all of the tourists would bother me, but I really enjoyed hearing all of the languages and watching people.We ate lunch on the tailgate on this day. The next day we grilled hot dogs in the woods. The last day we stopped for pizza in West Yellowstone. Each lunch was a nice break.The boys loved the lodge. I loved feeling the history of the place.This was Hayden Valley. There wasn’t much wildlife here because of the rain, but we did spot some birds and some bison in the distance.Bison.This was one of the pools by Yellowstone Lake. Richard loved the color.We stayed on this boardwalk for a while, enjoying the heat and steam from the geothermal activity below. Geothermal is my new word of the week.Toward evening, we discovered two elk. This guy just sat there and chewed for the 20 minutes we were there.These elk were CLOSE and rangers were there yelling at people to stay back.Whazzup, yo?I watched the crowds everywhere we went and enjoyed seeing their sense of wonder at water, animals, and rocks.Happy boys at the north rim of the Grand Canyon of YellowstoneIt must be nice to have a big brother to swing you around.
There was a German couple just a few feet away and I think they took a picture of our kids, too.These colors seem unreal.On the way out of the park on the first day, we had to stop for some bison to cross the road, making Richard’s dream complete.The next day was sunny for a few minutes. We stopped and looked at some falls on our way back to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.That’s me behind the shades and under that hat. Richard’s mom wasn’t sure I’d be recognized 😉We hiked down Uncle Tom’s Trail, which is hundreds of steps down a cliff to get closer to the base of these falls. I felt a little guilty as I passed people who live at lower elevations or with asthma. The altitude didn’t bother us and the climb looked more perilous than it turned out to be.I’m trying to record the adventurous things that I do so I can get rid of the reputation of being a scaredy-pants-wimp.Instagram at the the base of Uncle Tom’s Trail.We went to the overlook at Artist’s Point. This was one of the most beautiful places we saw.We have a theory that people don’t really want to see just scenery, so we decorate these pictures with ourselves. Are you tired of all of the group shots yet?This was on the road between Tower Falls and Mammoth. Richard and I sang songs from The Sound of Music all the way.Here are the Rosses at Mammoth Hot Springs. We made jokes about the signs in the area which all began with “Mammoth.” “Mammoth Parking” and “Mammoth Restrooms” were especially funny at the time, although neither lived up to its name. Parking and bathrooms were just the usual size.Our last hike was at the Artists Paint Pots near the Norris Geyser Basin. The kids liked this little walk a lot. We traveled the entire “figure 8” of roads in Yellowstone and visited 8 of the 9 places we hoped to see. The weather was a little chilly and we were disappointed we couldn’t stop for a swim, but cooler temperatures and overcast skies made it comfortable for hiking and nice for taking pictures.The Rosses stayed at this cabin by Hebgen Lake in Montana. We stayed behind them in a tent trailer that looks almost like the one in the background.The boys loved the lake. They collected dead fish and rocks. They found abandoned fishing equipment and a pocket knife.They brought a bag of rocks home. As they dried in the sun outside, Daniel grew more disappointed at their appearance. Now we have them on display in a jar of water on the mantel. Rocks always look better when they are wet.Richard took the kids for a ride on the lake during the last hour of our stay.
There are so many memories from these quick days. We loved eating outdoors, even though the mosquitoes came along. We enjoyed the crowds and the contrasting quiet of the woods and playing balance beam on the logs. We loved the wildlife and shopping for t-shirts in West Yellowstone. The Ross parents were great company and enriched the experience with their knowledge of the park, their humor, pancakes, cookies, and ice cream cones almost every time we stopped for gasoline.
On the trip home, I read aloud in the truck. We passed 6 temples, not counting the two we can see from our home hill. Daniel and Mark rode with Richard’s parents for most of the trip. It was good for our family to go to Yellowstone. I think it will be one of the trips the kids will remember vividly, not just because of the spectacular things we saw, but the small things we did, too.
I love all of the pictures! So glad you saw so many things at Yellowstone.
Looks like fun!! I love the old lodge- we once stayed there and ended up playing cards and people watching in the lobby for hours. And I love seeing all of you in the photos- if we wanted scenery pics we would buy a postcard- you make it a much better picture 🙂
I love all of the pictures! So glad you saw so many things at Yellowstone.
Looks like fun!! I love the old lodge- we once stayed there and ended up playing cards and people watching in the lobby for hours. And I love seeing all of you in the photos- if we wanted scenery pics we would buy a postcard- you make it a much better picture 🙂