We left relatively early today to get to Old Faithful as
early as possible to try to beat the worst of the crowds. Actually, for summer in Yellowstone it hasn’t
seemed to be overly crowded, except for the inability to get dinner
reservations at reasonable times.
The sign at the Great Fountain Geyser had a sign posted with the expected eruption schedule that was between 8:15 pm and 12:15 am that night. We decided we didn’t want to hang around.
Then it was off to the Midway Geyser Basin area. It was a short walk to a bridge that crossed the Yellowstone River and then up the boardwalk to the top of the basin area.
This area featured two major (and majorly awesome) features, the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Excelsior Crystal Geyser Crater.
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the park at 370 feet across and is an awesome rainbow of oranges, blue, and turquoise. Steam constantly rose from the spring with a brillant blue.
The bright orange was from algae growth in the hot pools.
There were several other "bed" of mineral deposits that had algae growth that gave very interesting designs.
We got to Old Faithful just 5 or 10 minutes before she
went off.
Pretty awesome.
There were a lot of people there but it didn’t seem too bad as the viewing area surrounding the geyser was very large with many benches for comfortable viewing.
There were a lot of people there but it didn’t seem too bad as the viewing area surrounding the geyser was very large with many benches for comfortable viewing.
After the first eruption we took a walk around the area
and along the Yellowstone River...
where we saw more bubbling pots and florescent algae growth...
and interesting (and some dead) trees.
We finished up in Old Faithful Inn.
The lobby is several stories high and the entire building appears to be built of trees and logs. It was a very impressive example of the National Park Service’s “parkitecture” style of building construction. We had lunch at the dining room at the Inn, just beating a massive crowd.
where we saw more bubbling pots and florescent algae growth...
and interesting (and some dead) trees.
We finished up in Old Faithful Inn.
The lobby is several stories high and the entire building appears to be built of trees and logs. It was a very impressive example of the National Park Service’s “parkitecture” style of building construction. We had lunch at the dining room at the Inn, just beating a massive crowd.
Then it was back outside for the viewing of another
eruption. This one we viewed from the
opposite side of the geyser with Old Faithful Inn in the background. From this side we were better to see the
water erupting, not just the steam.
More photos of Old Faithful
We then headed off up the road with a short drive along the Fountain Flat Road (not much to see but did see some trumpeter swans)
before going to the Lower Geyser Basin that had some geysers that were erupting pretty continuously.
This area had good boardwalks so it was fairly easy for Mom to get around in her wheelchair to see everything.
There were a number of very lovely thermal pools/hot springs...
more bubbling mud pots.
We then took short Firehole Lake Drive. Didn’t see an actual lake and none of the geysers were doing anything. But the area was pretty with some thermal pools and beds of mineral deposits.
We then headed off up the road with a short drive along the Fountain Flat Road (not much to see but did see some trumpeter swans)
before going to the Lower Geyser Basin that had some geysers that were erupting pretty continuously.
This area had good boardwalks so it was fairly easy for Mom to get around in her wheelchair to see everything.
There were a number of very lovely thermal pools/hot springs...
more bubbling mud pots.
We then took short Firehole Lake Drive. Didn’t see an actual lake and none of the geysers were doing anything. But the area was pretty with some thermal pools and beds of mineral deposits.
The sign at the Great Fountain Geyser had a sign posted with the expected eruption schedule that was between 8:15 pm and 12:15 am that night. We decided we didn’t want to hang around.
Then it was off to the Midway Geyser Basin area. It was a short walk to a bridge that crossed the Yellowstone River and then up the boardwalk to the top of the basin area.
This area featured two major (and majorly awesome) features, the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Excelsior Crystal Geyser Crater.
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the park at 370 feet across and is an awesome rainbow of oranges, blue, and turquoise. Steam constantly rose from the spring with a brillant blue.
The Excelsior Geyser Crater was covered with constant
mist. Through the mist you could
occasionally see bubbles rising up through the deep blue waters.
The water from this crater flows across a shield of mineral deposits and empties scalding water into the Yellowstone River at a rate of 4000 gallons per minute. It last erupted for two days in 1985.
More photos of Midway Geyser.
The water from this crater flows across a shield of mineral deposits and empties scalding water into the Yellowstone River at a rate of 4000 gallons per minute. It last erupted for two days in 1985.
More photos of Midway Geyser.
The both kids had worked hard the last two days on their
Junior Ranger projects. They were only
missing a Ranger Talk so it was back to Old Faithful for a talk on how geysers
work. Just as the talk was starting Old
Faithful erupted. Plus, across the river
the Lion Geyser (so named because it growls like a lion when erupting) also erupted. Pretty awesome.
After the talk it was into the Visitor Center be sworn in
as Junior Rangers. Chloe did the entire
book, which qualified her for the patch given to Junior Rangers 13 and up. Competitive kid. They both did great.
It had been a long day so headed back to the hotel. On the way we stopped for a picture at the Continental Divide...
and of course there was more wildlife to see and photograph.
and of course there was more wildlife to see and photograph.
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