Day 22 Yellowstone National Park

June 10

Upper Loop to Mammoth Hot Springs & back
 
Today we are driving the upper loop.  We started out stopping at a lookout, already full of people spotting 2 elk.  The camera equipment is probably worth $10,000 per person.  Next we actually took a wrong turn and ended up at Upper & Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  We started out on Uncle Tom’s Trail which is 328 steps down to the falls.  Then we had to climb back up!!  Then up to the North Rim Drive.  Amazing view with a drop of about 800 – 1500 feet.

 Uncle Tom’s stairs

 Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

Road construction near Tower-Roosevelt along the side of the mountain.  Trying to get it done before the crowds arrive??  Well off to see a Petrified Tree.  Part way up the road was blocked so we walked the ¼ mile.  Park Ranger blocked it off because there was a mother black bear with two cubs.  That was more exciting than looking at a Petrified Tree.

 Bears

Mammoth Hot Springs!  Here we have pools of cascading hot springs that form terraces.  The mineral deposits build up and the terraces are formed and continually change and build.  In 2006 a boardwalk had to be removed as the springs and minerals were forming.  Very interesting place to visit!  One of the Park Attendants was just giving a talk on how the terraces are formed when we got there.  Beautiful little village with buildings dating back to 1891 to 1931 for army headquarters and troops assigned to Yellowstone National Park.  Elk roam freely around the town so as we were walking around Historic Fort Yellowstone they were grazing on the lawns. Careful where we step!! 

Palette Spring

 

Orange Terrace

We were looking forward to a dip in a Hot Springs!!  After lunch in the village we drove the Upper Terrace Drive instead of walking the boardwalk since we had walked about half of it.  Driving back to the campsite from here wasn’t exciting since we’d been over part of the road before.  We took the Virginia Cascade Drive and headed back to the campsite.  I would have liked to stop at the  Mud Volcano again to see the Black Dragon Caldron but it was hot and it was time to get back for supper and do laundry.

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  126 km Bogaert’s truck 
Weather:  Sunshine; High:  28 degrees; Lo: 12 degrees
Wildlife:  100+ Bison, Elk, Geese, Deer, Black bears, and Prong Horns
Campsite:  Fishing Bridge RV Park
Walking:  10+ km 
Answer:  No swimming hot springs at Mammoth!!