Yellowstone National Park

Published August 21, 2014

Left work early Wednesday & boarded a plane to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Not only running a marathon this weekend – my 10^th– but also celebrating a birthday. Chose to spend this year in Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Park 🙂

Short one hour flight from Colorado (vs 8+ hours drive), set up camp at the Flat Creek Inn & hit the road early Thursday – destination Old Faithful, 2 hours away in Yellowstone National Park.

The day’s weather was notably different from Colorado, misty rain & cool sub-60 temps. Unfortunately, Grand Tetons’ iconic peaks were completely obscured by cloud cover (would have to wait ’til Sunday). Another hour further, Old Faithful. Took a quick walkabout the Visitors Center, only 20 minutes ‘til this mighty geyser was scheduled to blow. Secured a premium spot & waited for geyser magic.

A thin white plume seeped from the ground, followed by larger puffs of white gas, then all diminished. The act re-commenced, this time water gurgled within the large gaseous plume. Another brief break & the show known as Old Faithful began. Approximately every 91 minutes, this geyser blows – spewing boiling water from Earth. AMAZING! What a birthday show!

Next stop: Grand Prismatic Spring

Listed #2 on gaperguide.com’s Top 5 Stops in Yellowstone – I was not disappointed. Because of the day’s cool weather, dense sulfuric fog formed from vapors pouring off colourful geysers in Midway Geyser Basin. The misty weather & geyser littered landscape was reminiscent of last year’s Icelandic adventure. SPECTACULAR orange & blues – crazy vivid hues. LOVED it!

Located in the Midway Geyser Basin is the brightly colored Grand Prismatic Spring. It is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the 3^rd largest in the world!

Weather report for the weekend – rain, rain & more rain. Sounded like today might be my best chance to see Yellowstone – so stayed on the road & headed another hour west to Lower Yellowstone Falls.

The lower falls are 308 feet high, almost twice as high as Niagara Falls!

Parked a pull-off early & trail ran Red Rock & North Rim 2 miles to get a closer view of the Falls (& help altitude acclimate for Saturday’s Mesa Falls marathon). STUNNING VIEW of the Falls! The 2 mile return run UP however – now that was challenging 🙂

Didn’t see Yellowstone’s famous buffalo but did up my bear tally to 3 for the summer. A black bear crossed in front of my car – super exciting to see these huge predators when you’re not hiking (remembering last month’s 2 grizzlies in Glacier).

Finished at Mud Volcano before returning to Jackson via Yellowstone Lake & West Thumb.

Full 12 hour day – mountains, geysers, waterfalls & a bear! Happy Happy Birthday to me!