Wyoming
and Yellowstone - page 4 |
| Our main destinations in Wyoming were Grand Teton and
Yellowstone Natl. Parks. So the next day we continued north on highway 191 to Jackson. We
were still on the edge of the desert with beautiful far sights to dry canyons and rocks.
Just south of Jackson the mountains became green |
and
covered with forests on the lower sides and snow on the top. Jackson we discovered was a
very popular place for tourists visiting the mountains. Most motels were quite full and
expensive but we were lucky to find a relatively affordable room even equipped with a nice
kitchen in a small motel. We decided to stay here for a couple of days. In the evening we
enjoyed all the nice souvenir |
The main street in Jackson
|
Walk along Jenny Lake
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shops and found a good
restaurant for a meal. The following day we drove up to Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons.
These mountains look very majestic as you see them rise 7000 feet straight from the level
valley floor. Crossing the famous winding Snake River was a special feeling The
river is very popular for white water rafting. We parked at the Jenny Lake visitor center
and walked along the lake and later climbed a trail up the hill side. On a plateau we had
our lunch with a marvelous view to the lake and the meadows below. We then continued along
the lake where we spotted a small bear cub on the hill side. Unfortunately (perhaps!) we
were not close enough for a photo. Further down the trail was a ferry back to the visitor
center. We decided to jump onboard as it was beginning to rain. We returned to Jackson via
the more quiet back road to Teton Village which is mainly a playground for winter |
sport enthusiasts. For the
next 3 days we had made reservation for a KOA cabin at the Moran Junction just south of
the entrance gate to Yellowstone Natl. Park. So good bye to wonderful |
| Jackson. The KOA camp ground
was situated with a fantastic view to the Tetons and the cabin had a lovely front porch.
The interior was quite primitive but we had nice sleeps in our sleeping bags. We decided
to take two full days drives in Yellowstone which was certainly not too much. The
distances are quite far in this area. The first day we took the lower loop (96 miles) and
the second day we went all the way up to the north entrance at Mammoth following the grand
loop road (142 miles). Yellowstone was established as the first national park in the world
in 1872. It is a |
KOA cabin
|
Naked trees from the 1988 fires
|
paradise for those who loves
wildlife. And you really get an impression of the strong forces in the underground at
numerous places where steam and mud bubbles and escapes from holes and cracks in the
fragile earth's crust leaving incredible colorful sediments. The first major impression
entering the park from the south is all the burned forest left from a cascade of big fires
in the summer of 1988. Almost a fourth of the park was affected by these fires. At the
T-junction at Grant Village we went west to the Upper Geyser Basin. At this stretch we
crossed the Continental Divide twice. The last crossing was at the little Isa Lake, which
interestingly donates water to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. At the Upper Geyser
Basin is a |
Old Faithful |
Castle Geyser
|
Steaming Morning Glory Pool
|
huge parking lot.
From the Old Faithful Lodge you have a splendid view to Old Faithful, which is probably
the best known Geyser in the world. It erupts regularly every 70 minutes with a very high
cascade of steaming water. In the area is a boardwalk leading to many strange
geysers and hot steam holes. Many geysers have eruptions but not as predictable as Old
Faithful. In the Old Faithful area a lot of rodents are seen, probably because the many
visitors provide food. There are many other geysers and mud |
| volcanoes all over Yellowstone but none as densely
populated as the Upper Basin area. Some of these we passed on the way further north to
Madison. From the Madison junction via Norris to Canyon Village we spotted quite a number
of wildlife in the forests, on meadows or at river banks. This included bison at several
locations, moose, elk, deer, and coyote. Just south of Canyon Village we crossed the
canyon of Yellowstone. From a parking lot we went down a short trail to have a marvelous
view to the "yellow" canyon and the waterfalls. Dusk had arrived at that point.
This was an optimal time for spotting wildlife. Driving along the Yellowstone River
southwards to Yellowstone Lake we saw big herds of bison, moose coming out from the forest
lines to grass on meadows and flamingos on the river banks. Just before the lake is
Dragon`s Mouth Mud Volcano with mud bubbling releasing peculiar odors. Later when we drove
back to our cabin we had to drive with great care as several large animals walked along
the roadside. |
WILD LIFE OF YELLOWSTONE |
Marmot performing for food
|
Chipmunk watching us
|
Lonely Bison in the meadows |
Wapiti Elk enjoying tasteful grass
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Goats |
Female moose |
Moose calf
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