After spending the evening in Cody, WY, we got up early and headed west toward Yellowstone. Along the way we stopped for gas and had some pound cake and breakfast bars as we got no free breakfast at the Holiday Inn. After an hour's drive we arrived at the northeast gate and our National Park Senior Pass got us in free. Thanks to Kent Neveu for letting us know about this little $10 investment. Just after entering the Park we crossed Sylvan Pass at 8530 feet and the temperature fell to 46 degrees. The first major sight for us was Yellowstone Lake which was very blue and very large. A good part of the first leg going southwest on the lower loop stays by the lake and early on we saw two deer in velvet grazing near the lake.
We saw our first large burn and later saw where after only 21 years after a major fire in 1989, the trees had been naturally re-seeded from the effects of the fire and the trees had grown to heights of 15-20 feet. We later saw two buffalo and a female elk. We crossed the continental divide twice with one crossing at altitude of 8391 feet and a temperature of 55 degrees.
After seeing numerous sights of geese, white pelicans, ducks and cormorants, we pulled into the Old Faithful geyser area. After a hearty lunch of bison meat loaf, mashed potatos and gravy, we watched Old Faithful blow at precisely 1:00 PM, right on time, 90 minutes from her last eruption. We walked the area and saw other geysers and many, many hot water pools bubbling up from the earth. The weather was 66 degrees with no clouds which helped make the day spectacular. We continued north on the southern loop and continued to see beautiful vistas of mountains, trees, cliffs, rivers and open meadows.
We took the short loop over to the eastern side and continued north on the east side of the north loop. We crossed the Yellowstone River and continued to see more of the Park. The road was very winding, narrow and full of more exciting vistas. We stopped to see the petrified tree briefly and other un-named spots. When we ended the day we found ourselves in Gardiner, MT about 2 miles from the north gate of the Park. Plans for tomorrow include seeing the remaining parts of the north and south loops and head towards Grand Teton National Park.
We took the short loop over to the eastern side and continued north on the east side of the north loop. We crossed the Yellowstone River and continued to see more of the Park. The road was very winding, narrow and full of more exciting vistas. We stopped to see the petrified tree briefly and other un-named spots. When we ended the day we found ourselves in Gardiner, MT about 2 miles from the north gate of the Park. Plans for tomorrow include seeing the remaining parts of the north and south loops and head towards Grand Teton National Park.
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