1126 September 4, 2024 Yellowstone Northern Loop
I walked this morning around the perimeter of the town. It was 40 degrees and crisp and cool and perfect for walking. While I walked, I talked with my mom, a good friend, and Kyle who had Wade Wednesday today.
At 9, we drove the Jeep back through the West Entrance to Yellowstone. Our mission today was to see the Northern Loop.
As we entered the park, the traffic slowed to a crawl. A traffic jam. It is ironic that we had to sit in traffic in order to go and see the wilderness and the wildlife. The slow traffic was caused by a buffalo walking in the middle of the road. Then, a short distance after, there were a couple of elk on the steep incline along the road.
There was steam rising everywhere. The morning air was still chilly and that served to highlight the pockets of steam rising from the earth.
We saw men erecting long orange snow poles on the shoulders of the road. Winter is coming!
We stopped to reflect on how amazing this visit has been. The rangers and park employees do an incredible job of making things run smoothly. Over 4,000,000 people come here every year. The roads are in great condition. All of the facilities are clean and well maintained. There is NO TRASH! The service is top notch. The General Store was beautiful and the water is crystal clear. Americans are lucky to have this place preserved for the generations to come.
We walked a short boardwalk to the Frying Pan Spring.
Roaring Mountain was a sight to behold. Multiple fumaroles allow the release of gasses from beneath the surface. It looks like the whole mountain is cooking.
We stopped at a moose exhibit in a moose habitat but there were no moose today.
Sheepeater Cliff is named for the Shoshone Indians whose survival was dependent on bighorn sheep. The cliff is composed of basalt lava columns.
The Gallatin Range is in the distance and a lake in the foreground. We saw some grazing bison and a pair of swans.
Such a pretty ride.
Mammoth Springs Terraces are travertine. This is a type of limestone that builds up and changes shape rapidly. The sculptured rocks were otherworldly.
Undine Falls were the prettiest we have seen here.
We continue to be amazed by the diversity of the landscape and terrain.
We saw antelope grazing on a high prairie.
We took a gravel road, the Blacktail Plateau Drive. We found a lunch spot with outstanding scenery.
The aspens are beginning to color at higher elevations.
The fireweed is at the end of its season.
Calcite Springs was another lovely place. Here, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is visible. The Yellowstone River carved this path eons ago.
A cool rock overhang.
Our pictures are just snippets. This park is unbelievable and our brains and eyes can scarcely take it all in. I hope that these pictures inspire you to make this trip. It is well worth seeing!