Yellowstone National Park- Geysers & More!

Today the sun was shining so it was a perfect day to view the thermal springs with their brilliant colors!  We walked the boardwalk around Old Faithful and saw it erupt from the backside. 

We also saw many other geysers such as this one, the Beehive.  We started at Old Faithful and worked our way north today, stopping at the Fountain Paint Pot for a gurgling, clay filled pool.  Pictures of Yellowstone surely don’t illustrate the sounds and smells of it’s many wonders.  The sulphur smell of the thermal features may seem like stinky eggs at first, but then one knows that the smell means great beauty lies ahead!  The sounds vary from bubbling and plopping of the Fountain Paint Pot to the hissing of steam straining to escape a fumarole. 

  We also visited the Midway Geyser Basin to view the famous Grand Prismatic Spring.  It is one of the largest pools and one of the hottest, so there is always plenty of steam.  Right above us as we walked this boardwalk, two Ospreys chattered overhead.  Back at our campsite, an Osprey was spotted with it’s trout dinner in its talons.

Caleb finished up his Jr.Ranger requirements and was sworn in by a ranger at the Madison Jr.Ranger Station.  Now he’s prepared to flash his badge to help protect our national park! 

These Bison, earlier in the day, were right behind where Caleb is standing in the photo above.  We’ve been to Yellowstone before, but don’t recall ever seeing as many bison calves as this year.

Grotto Geyser puts on an entertaining show on the Upper Geyser Basin.  It shoots and sprays this way and that, popping up here and then there, masking itself in steam and then clearing up.  We sat and watched Grotto’s antics for a few minutes before walking on.

Do you see the baby leaping in the background?  These bison were swimming across the Madison River.  And when mama decided to cross, baby had to take the plunge too!  The water is high and the current is swift, so when one mama and baby crossed they didn’t end up at the same spot on the other bank!  So they snorted and ran to meet up with each other again.

We have decided to stay one more night here in West Yellowstone.  Tomorrow is supposed to be pretty clear before the rains move back in towards evening.  Where to after that?  We are planning a spelunking adventure, so follow along!