Yellowstone - The Adventures

I guess since it took us years to plan this trip..... it should take me years to write about it.  At least that is what it seems like I am doing..... 

By now, you have probably seen all of my Yellowstone pictures via Facebook.... but this post about our "adventures" will give you some more information as to where they were taken and what they were taken of.

We drove over 1000 miles, so pretty  much every inch of the park was covered.  It was amazing to me how each corner of the park was different.  From geysers to mud pots to hot springs to lakes to mountains... it was like entering different worlds throughout the day.

Some of the sights:

Upper Geyser Basin - Sunset Lake

Sapphire Pool - even more gorgeous in person!

Fairy Falls.  A 5 mile round trip hike...

We actually got stuck in a hail storm hiking back from the Falls.  My Mom had started hiking back early anticipating the storm that was headed our way.  Dad and I took our chances and ended up getting pelted with hail.  I wasn't wearing a jacket, had my hair pulled up in a hat,  and was doing every thing that I could to protect my camera - so my ears and the backs of my arms got quite the beating.  Of course, in between saying "Ow", we were laughing and trying to move as fast as we could.  Mom later said that she could hear Dad's laughter echoing through the trees.

It was definitely a memorable and funny experience!

Dad and I climbed the side of a steep hill to get this shot.  The colors of the basin are gorgeous!

Gibbon Falls....

This was a place full of mud pots.  I ran ahead and climbed the bazillion steps up to the top of the lookout.  I managed to capture Mom and Dad in the scenic picture.  They are the yellow and blue dots on the walkway.

A boiling, bubbling mud volcano.  It reminded me of a melting Jabba the Hut.

Another beautiful "pool".....

This is what is left from the massive fires in 1988....

The Black Cauldron...

Artist Point....

Roosevelt Arch - North Entrance....

Standing at the edge of The Lower Falls....

The sign says it all....

Lower Falls, again...( I kind of have an obsession with waterfalls)

Fishing Hole Geyser in Yellowstone Lake

This geyser was named "Fishing Hole" because early explorers/trappers discovered that you could stand on the edge of the geyser, catch a fish on your fishing pole, and then drop the fish in the hole.  The HOT water in the geyser would cook the fish completely.



West Thumb Basin...

Rainbow at The Lower Falls...

Uncle Tom's Trail... 328 steps in to the Canyon...

328 steps is fairly easy going down... but climbing back up at such a high altitude was tough!! We had to take multiple breaks to catch our breath.  In fact, I was blown away by how hard it was for me to breath during some of our hikes... and we were just walking on slightly elevated paths.  I can't imagine actually running or working out at that altitude - it would definitely take a while to get used to.

Tower Falls...

Mom admiring a waterfall... Dad realizing that he just got phone service....

Rainbow at The Upper Falls...

One of the many entrances to the park.  We visited every single one!

Playing UNO and enjoying popcorn and a fire at Lake Lodge...

Mt. Washburn.  The hike that we are saving for next time.  Dad was checking out the peak of the hike.  It was too late in the day to get started but I'm sure the view is breathtaking.

Plus, fellow hikers told us that they had seen Big Horn Sheep on the path which we had yet to see without binoculars.

The lobby of Lake Yellowstone Hotel....

Enjoying hot tea from the Keurig!  No television, WiFi, or even phone service... but our cabins had a Keurig!  It was awesome!

Our trusty transportation...

In looking back through all of my pictures, I realize that this post is just a smidge of what all we did while in Yellowstone.  We definitely made the most of our trip and experienced as much as we possibly could in a week's time.

And then on our last day, we went  back to Old Faithful Inn for one last picture before we left for the airport...

I know that I've said this a million times.... but this trip was absolutely the BEST TRIP EVER!  I have the best memories documented in pictures, a journal, this blog, my head, and in my heart.

Mom and Dad, I can't thank you enough!!

Counting the days until I go back......