Susan and Frank's Big Adventure

Day 138 - August 1, 2008

Today we drove to the south western part of the park. Our first stop was at Fishing Village Visitors' Center which had a really good wildlife display. Of course we had to stop there too to get our Passport Book Stamp. Carrie and George had given us the National Parks Passport Book a few years ago and they didn't know what a monster they created. We stop at all the visitors' centers so we can get our "stamp". We have tons of stamps now.

Then we took 2 hikes - Pelican Creek and Storm Point. The Storm Point hike went through beautiful wildflower meadows and then to Yellowstone Lake and then through the forest. I sure was making lots of noise (clapping and calling out "coming through") as this was prime bear country. The sights on this hike were incredible

Then we drove to Lake Village and saw the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Also we made a stop at Bridge Bay Marina to check it out.

Then it was on to West Thumb Geyser Basin where we saw a unique series of geysers. They were awesome. Last stop was at Grant Village and of course another stamp in the Passport Book. So as you can tell, we covered a lot of territory and saw some amazing, wondrous sights. Another blessed day seeing the awesome USA!!!

This is a typical "animal jam". As soon as any wildlife is viewed and you stop and point and take out your camera or binoculars, you get this result. Pretty funny, huh? This particular animal was an elk. We are still on the hunt for a bear. The only one we saw was a little dot in the distance. Of course, we want to view the bear from the safety of our car!!

At Stormy Point on Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake is North America's largest mountain lake. Over geological time it has drained into the Pacific Ocean and into the Arctic Ocean via Hudson Bay. It now drains into the Atlantic via the Gulf of Mexico. The lake is 20 miles long, 14 miles wide, and 430 feet deep at its deepest point. It averages 140 feet deep. Native trout generally inhabit the upper 60 feet because their foods rarely occur below that depth. Average August surface temperature is 60 degrees. Bottom temperature never rises above 42 degrees. Swimming is discouraged as such cold waters can cause potentially fatal hypothermia and hyperventilation within mere minutes.

The Le Hardys Fire at Yellowstone National Park. The latest news is that they are making progress on it. The fire is in the unpopulated south western part of the park and is no threat to visitors or structures. Looks pretty scary to me!!

Black Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail. At one time the pool was actually black. Lower water temperature allowed thick mats of dark green and brown thermophiles to grow in the pool, causing it to appear black. The water temperature rose during the summer of 1991, killing the organisms. Black Pool also erupted that summer and several times the following winter. Black Pool is now a quiet and beautiful pool.