Yellowstone Day 3

“The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated” – Samantha Garmin

(With apologies to Samuel Clemens)

After reporting last night that Samantha seemingly had expired and I could get no response from her via either power source she used, I searched the internet for any “first aid” procedures I might be able to use and found one that worked and she came back to life. So we will continue this adventure together.

This morning when I got up the sky outside was overcast, but not raining and there appeared to be little hints of blue in them occasionally. I showered, dressed and went down the hall and had breakfast. I returned to my room and checked the weather forecast which looked favorable, compared to yesterday. Highs in the upper 40s were expected, partly sunny skies with little chance of rain until possibly in the afternoon.

I headed off for the park with the plan to explore the northern end of the park. Temps when I left were in the high-mid 30s. Along the first leg of my drive there was a group of cars to the side of the road so I stopped to investigate. They were looking at an Osprey and its nest at the top of a tree.

I continued on to Norris Junction, stopping occasionally at various geyser spots along the way such as Artists Paint Pot.  I arrived at Norris Junction around 10 am and toured around the Norris Geyser Basin. The sky was still overcast and the temperature was around 40, but there was very little wind, so the cold was not unbearable. I walked around the Porcelain Basin and then went over and walked around the Back Basin. I left the Norris Geyser Basin around 11:30 am and headed toward Mammoth Hot Springs.

Osprey and its nest

Artist Paint Pots

 Porcelain Basin

 Black Growler and Ledge Geyser

 Back Basin

 Puff n Stuff Geyser

 Steamboat Geyser

I arrived at Mammoth Hot Springs about 12:15 pm and went to the Albright Visitor Center to check on items to visit and get a cancellation stamp for my passport book. The sky was still somewhat overcast and the temps were around 50.  Around the Visitor Center were several Elk just laying around in the grass, ignoring all the human activity going on in their midst. Mammoth Springs is also where historic Fort Yellowstone is located, being an army outpost for years until it became a national park.

I then headed on toward Tower Falls and planned to visit some the places at Mammoth Hot Springs on my return trip that afternoon. On the drive to Tower Falls the sun began to make an appearance and the temps were rising into the mid 50s, making it a nice day after the cold, dreary day yesterday.  I arrived at Tower Junction and the falls were 2 miles further up the road. On the way there I passed a group of cars in the oncoming traffic pulled over to the side and everyone looking toward my side of the road. They even had a park ranger with them. I finally saw a black bear in the open area across the road, but I was unable to stop and get a picture so I drove on. I arrived at Tower Falls around 1:15 pm and went up to the falls. On my way back as I passed the area where the bear had been sighted, the group was breaking up and the bear had disappeared into the woods. So there really are bears in them woods!

Tower Falls

On my way back to Mammoth Hot Springs I stopped at the Petrified Tree, Wraith Falls and Undine Falls as well as a couple of scenic overlooks. On the way up to Wraith Falls there was an Elk lying in the grass about 50 feet from the trail, the closest Elk I had seen the whole trip, excluding those at Mammoth Springs. On the road back, there was a herd of Bison being escorted by a fire truck that had traffic stalled for a while.

Petrified Tree

"Elky Summer"

Wraith Falls

Undine Falls

Bison with Fire Truck escort

Scene on the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction

I arrived back in Mammoth Springs around 2:45 pm and went to the General Store for a coke. I then proceeded over to the Terraces at Mammoth Springs. These are mineral deposits from the Mammoth hot springs that have formed terraces over the centuries. I walked around the board walks where the terraces are located. I left Mammoth Hot Springs just before 3:30 pm expecting about a 90 minute drive back to West Yellowstone. On the way between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction, traffic was stalled for over 20 minutes waiting on a herd of Bison to saunter down the highway on their way to another grazing area. While waiting on them another group of Bison came up from behind us on the road, but they moved on over to an area beside the road and were not a problem.

 Liberty Cap an Extinct Hot Spring

 Terraces

 Mammoth Hot Springs

 Overlook from the Terraces

Bison moving up from the rear of the traffic jam passing me by like I was standing still 

The Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Falls area were much different than the other locations I visited in Yellowstone. For one thing they are at a lower elevation and the temps were warmer. The terrain was more open with mountains surrounding the valleys etc.

I arrived back in West Yellowstone around a little after 5 pm and stopped and filled up the car for tomorrow’s trip to Billings, MT. I then drove over to the Old Town Café to have dinner. The waitress sounded East European and I asked her where she was from. Turned out she was Ukranian and was working here for the summer and it was her second summer to work here. West Yellowstone has a lot of seasonal workers who are brought in on a J1 Visa. (I learned that from Mike the hotel manager after dinner).

 After dinner I returned to the hotel and I am getting my things together for the trip to Billings to stay overnight on my way to Mount Rushmore.

Samantha seems to be fine now and hopefully she will be able to guide me to Billings tomorrow with no major issues.

 Miles driven since leaving Jackson WY

Mileage since leaving Bryce Canyon

See you down the road!