YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING
Day 2 in Yellowstone National Park was another full day!
First stop ...
Avalanche Peak
Avalanche Peak is one of the higher elevations in Yellowstone National Park, with a steep climb to the top - nearly 2,000' in 2.1 miles. The peak is usually covered with snow until early July and the area is frequented by grizzly bears in the fall -- so much so that the park recommends not hiking this particular trail in September or October. I didn't know that until just this very moment, so I'm glad I made it back safely ... and without any grizzly sightings.
Once again, I had an early start to my morning with some incredible views of geothermal steam wafting into the air.
Near the trailhead, I drove past this view, stopped, snapped a quick photo and hopped back in the car. Now, looking at the photo and seeing the sun glare, I'm super bummed I didn't pay more attention to the photo in the moment, but it's still a beautiful shot with the mountain perfectly reflected in the calm lake.
Most trailheads in Montana and Wyoming have signs warning hikers about bear safety. This one is a bit more detailed than most of the other signs posted in bear-populated parks, so I snapped a picture. I take these warning for granted now, but wanted to capture the info that put me on edge the first time I read it!
My favorite instruction is to stand your ground if the bear charges. Not sure my nerves would be strong enough to overcome my flight response in that situation! Glad I never had to test my nerves.
Here's a view from the top of Avalanche Peak:
I didn't see anyone on the trail except one guy right before I reached the top. He was an accountant from Kansas and he told me about a loop down and around the back of the mountain. I was able to see it on my AllTrails map, so we took it down together. My feet made the first tracks in the patches of snow that still spotted the north side of the mountain.
I took one picture looking back. You can see how it was a little tricky high-stepping through the snow onto the loose rocks beneath, at an angle on the side of the mountain.
Once we got below the snow line, I said my good-bye and hurried ahead back to my car. I still had a lot to see today!
Total miles = 4.56
Total elevation gain = 1,942'
Peak elevation = 10,565'
Old Faithful
The Old Faithful geyser, named for its frequent and relatively predictable eruptions, was discovered in 1870 and became the world's first national park in 1872. Old Faithful erupts about 20 times a day, with eruptions averaging 130-140' high and lasting 1.5 to 5 minutes.
Now that I know this bit of history, I am less surprised at the large hotels, the shops, the staff housing, the enormous parking lot, and even the US Post Office all situated in a little village near the geyser. Most of the buildings were built in the early 1900's in a rustic log cabin style which has stood the test of time.
I was lucky to wait just 10 minutes or so to see an eruption. And while the number of people and the amount of development in the area left me with very low expectations for this "tourist trap" ... when Old Faithful finally erupted, I WAS awestruck by the height and power of the eruption. Can you imagine walking along and suddenly being the first person to see this?
Grand Prismatic Spring
From Old Faithful, I hit several hot springs along the way back home. Here are some of my favorite shots.
This is Grand Prismatic Spring
Due to its bright colors and ENORMOUS size, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is one of the most photographed thermal features in Yellowstone. The spring is larger than a football field, with bands of orange, yellow, and green encircling the deep blue water. See the tiny people on the boardwalk behind the spring?
Morning Glory Pool
This pool was named by the wife of an Assistant Park Superintendent in 1883 because it resembles the morning glory flower.
Sapphire Pool
This large clear blue pool is 53' deep and has an average temperature of 160° F. To put this in perspective, the water in a hot tub is typically set at 100-102° F and should never exceed 104° F.
Mustard Spring in Biscuit Basin
This area is named for the unusual biscuit-shaped formations below the water. This particular pool is called Mustard Spring because of the bright mustard color.
Black Opal Spring, Wall Pool, and Black Diamond Pool
Believe it or not, but most of these pools have been known to erupt at one time or another - two of these last in 1953 and 2011. I love the blue and green colors right next to each other and the strange calcified formations below the water. I would NOT love standing in this same location next time they erupt.
By the end of the day, I was tired and geyser-ed out. I went back to the hotel, ate dinner, packed, and prepped to leave for the Grand Tetons early the next morning. Peace out, Yellowstone!