Yellowstone (September, 2010)

Welcome to Yellowstone – why there are traffic jams

Fountain Paint Pot, named for the different colors coming from the oxidation of iron

Fairy Falls, beautiful stop along Midway Geyser Basin

Imperial Geyser Basin- as impressive without the geyser erupting as with

Old Faithful, erupts approximately every 90 minutes and shoots 100 – 200 feet high

Inactive geyser base in Lake Yellowstone, caldron of the sleeping Yellowstone volcano

Lake Yellowstone is surrounded by small geysers and steaming pools.

Bison roam freely everywhere, generally oblivious to tourists.

Norris Geyser Basin, hottest, oldest, and most dynamic basin

Dragon’s Mouth, duly named for sulpheric bad breath of a dragon

Aside from bison, elk freely roam the park and create traffic jams.

Another view of the Norris Geyser Basin

Cistern Spring in Norris Back Basin – colors are created by algae and bacteria in the hot water.

Yellowstone Canyon, reason for the name of the park

Lower Yellowstone Falls as seen from Artist Point

Mule deer twins

A very majestic creature!

Black bear having lunch

Did you see any grizzlies? No only a brown bear. Oops – what is the difference – whether it is in Alaska or the lower 48!

Day trip to the Tetons

Grand Teton Mountain

Upper Geyser Basin – where geysers do not erupt very often

Mountain lupin on the trail up Mt. Washburn

View from Mt. Washburn – Antelope fire in the background

Trail to the top – not for the weak hearted!

Burnt forest from the Antelope fire

Tower Fall – look for the towering rock formations at the top of the falls.

Some very unusual rock formations – the fence at the top of the ridge is not man made.

Explanation of the formation of those rocks

Mammoth Hot Springs, comprised of calcium carbonate

Mammoth Hot Springs – more of a variety of minerals

White Dome Geyser, its 12 foot high cone is one of highest in the park.

Looking down on Old Faithful

Lone Star Geyser, eruptions can reach 45 feet high and last up to 30 minutes. Also has a 12 foot cone.

Bison ignore the steam and ash of eruptions.

Biscuit Basin, even the rivlets steam and are colored by minerals, alga, and bacteria.

Jewel Geyser in the Biscuit Basin

Midway Geyser Basin – a solidified air bubble

Overview of Midway Geyser Basin

Saying good-bye to Yellowstone with a final traffic barrier