Day 136 - July 30, 2008

Today we tried to get an early start to catch a ranger program. Well, our first mistake was to try to drive through McDonald's for a quick breakfast - Bad Mistake. Total chaos. Well, we decided to go to a little cafe and had a nice big breakfast. Then it was on to Canyon Village. We went to the Visitor Center and saw a nice film and checked out a couple of the shops. Then we went to the South Rim area and walked a very steep trail and we were able to see the fantastic Upper Falls. Then on to Artist Point for a spectacular view of the Lower Falls. Then we rode through Hayden Valley and saw lots of buffalo. We were planning to go down to Fishing Village for some more touring but we could see a lot of smoke and found out there was a fire down in Fishing Village from a downed power line. So, the road was closed. Hopefully, they will contain the fire quickly.

Our change of plans took us to the Norris Basin and we took the boardwalk trail and saw geysers, hot springs and lots of hot pots.

Quite a breathe taking day we had!!

Herd of Elk

We like to stop and eat our picnic lunch at one of the picnic areas. It beats the crowds and wait time at the various eating places. This picnic spot was right by the Yellowstone River.

Upper Falls as seen from the Uncle Tom's Trail which is a very, very steep 500' staircase.

Lower Falls as seen from Artist Point. Isn't this spectacular!!

"O give me a home where the buffalo roam". We had many encounters in the Hayden Valley. The valley is a former lakebed. Soil here permits little tree growth, and the shrub-and-grass land valley plants are used by grazing animals.

Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin. We saw this one on the 1.5 mile Back Basin Loop hike. Pretty amazing!!

Clear Springs at the Norris Geyser Basin area. The basin is living testimony to the park's unique thermal activity. It is the location of one of the park's highest concentrations of thermal features. Underground water temperatures can reach 459 degrees.