Yellowstone is enormous, and filled with volcanic activity. Geysers, mud pools, hot springs, and everything is changing all the time, not static, so last week, there may not have been a hot spring here, and today there is!
Over the 2 days we were there we saw many things.
The vistas of forests with random steam vents coming through were a little unreal.
Mammoth Hot Springs. Beautiful hot springs with layers and layers of multi-coloured pools and formations
The 'Grand Canyon' of Yellowstone. Very deep and steep with a magnificent torrent running through it.
Old Faithful, which was faithfully right on time about 90 minutes after the last eruption, though only lasted a minute or so. Many, many people were there to watch, including some very opinionated yanks who were sure that putting a turbine into old faithful would provide lots of power.
The Artist's Paint Pot. A pretty collection of vari-coloured mud pools laid out like an artist's palette.
Dragon's Breath spring. Very aptly named. The steam is constant, and the spring itself belches out in waves.
Grand Prismatic, which must be one of the most iconic of Yellowstone attractions. Better seen from far away rather than right up close.
And many more interesting geo-thermal features. Way too many to post here, but there are pics in the photo album.
We camped overnight in Yellowstone for 2 nights. It was bitterly cold both mornings with the poles on the tents being frosty and the condensation on the inside freezing as soon as we started taking the tents down. We took turns with camp chores (cooking, washing, cleaning the bus). Nights round the campfire were fun though, toasting s'mores and drinking and chatting and an occasional sing-song. Food at the camps was good too, with Ryan, our guide, doing an excellent job of feeding us tasty hot food.
Wildlife-wise we saw a good variety, though unfortunately no grizzly bears! :(
Elk at Mammoth Springs, buffalo and white tailed deer scattered around, chipmunks variously, american robins and a Red Crossbill at the campsite and a Clark's Nutcracker in the Grand Canyon.
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