Another cool pic fron today

Can't seem to figure out how to have 2 pics in 1 post with this app.

Last Day in Yellowstone

Today marked our final day here in Yellowstone - we will be headed down to the Tetons tomorrow morning. We decided to pack a lot in today and did about 13 miles of hiking visiting lone star geyser, fairy falls and imperial geyser, all backcountry destinations. The hikes were great. We had plenty of sun and were actually able to get under the 200+ ft waterfall for a quick but cold dip. We really enjoyed Yellowstone but are ready for a change of scenery.

Old Faithful

We made it through the night out in the grand canyon of Yellowstone.  It was a cold night with rain and snow! No bears that night. But so far in the park we have seen mule deer, elk, buffalo, a grizzly bear from the car, moose, Jack rabbit and crazy loons. We have moved to the center of the park now and today we saw old faithful and some of the other features of the geyser basin. Pretty amazing. Tried posting a video but I'm still technically challenged. We're taking a rest day today and what better place to read then in the sun at old faithful.

Grand canyon of Yellowstone

We spent today hiking around the fastest river Ive ever seen. Super steep sand/gravel raveen cut by numerous 100's of feet high water falls. We hiked the 327 stairs  down Uncle Tom's trail aka the "heavy metal stair master".  We finished up on a trail so notrious for bears even dave spent a ton of money on state-of-the-art bear spray. Looks like a mini fire extinguisher. At this point we have only seen chipmunks and a crazy loon- no bears; the nite is still young. This might be our last post... we love u all ;>

Mammoth hot springs

Yesterday we visited the Northwest side of the park-mammoth hot springs. This area is like a giant witches cauldron on a hillside. Boiling hot water emerges from a lodgepole pine covered hill. As it makes its way down it deposits a travertine crust making a series of terraces which look like limestone and reek of sulfur. Our favorite spot in this area was called boiling springs. This was where the extremely hot water from mammoth hot springs ran down and merged with a freezing cold glacial runnoff river. At their confluence was a natural hot tub.

We spent the evening of the 4th in west Yellowstone listening to a local funk band. Even I danced because it was so cold it was the only way to keep warm. The evening finished with the local fireworks display.  It was a great day.

West Yellowstone

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we finished up our visit in Zion with the angels landing hike in 105 degree weather. This was an amazing climb up a several thousand foot sandstone cliff overlooking the zion valley carved by the virgin river we had hiked the day before. The views were spectacular and the hike a bit insane, finishing with a system of chains bolted into the exposed cliff face for handholds. This was the end of our visit with Joey Kaylan and Wendy and after a quick bite to eat Jeanette and I hit the road north. We made it as far as salt lake city, and spent the night in a sweet Ramada in where we did laundry and repacked.

This morning we hit the road and are now in west Yellowstone MT. The drive in was beautiful and the temperature could not be more different then Zion. As I write this I am huddled around a fire with pants, jacket and hat on. Its so nice, we believe the temps are in the high 30s. Tomorrow we will begin exploring the park.