Yellowstone

Well, we made it to Yellowstone today. The weather has warmed up just a little..it was in the 50's. We had a sunny day and no snow! There is still quite a bit of snow in the passes and on the mountains, but we had no problems checking out the sights. We did the northern loop this time. We saw the upper and lower Yellowstone falls. The falls in the picture is the lower falls. We saw a lot of elk, and male buffalo...but no female buffalo. We only saw 1 moose, just as we were leaving the park. We saw more animals this time than the last time we were here in 2002. We checked out the mud volcanoes and saw a lot of hot springs and hot spring terraces. We didn't get to Old Faithful since that is in the south end of the park and there just wasn't time to see it today. There is just no way you can see everything in the place in one day. This park sure is beautiful. Life is Good!

Cody Painted Bears

We checked out the painted bears waiting at the WY national guard for their "placements" on June 21. This is a fundraiser for the Park Co Library in Cody. A local artist created the 5 foot fiberglass bear and other local artists painted/created works of art on them. Some of the painted bears are quite remarkable. There are 25 of these bears and they will be on display around Cody for a couple months...then in October they will be auctioned off and the funds will be used for the youth center at the library. Check out this blog for more information on these bears. http://www.grizgathering.blogspot.com

My favorite bear

Snow in Yellowstone

This is the first time I have ever seen snow in June! Maybe we should have stayed in Arizona a little longer!!! Ha-Ha.

Aborted Yellowstone trip

Since we are staying in Cody, WY for a couple of weeks, we decided to visit Yellowstone National Park. When we got to the East Entrance, we were greeted with SNOW! We sat in traffic line for a little while before we were informed that they were not letting anyone through the East Entrance. With the temperature at 33 degrees, and snow falling, they decided to close the pass. This is as far as we got! Oh well, we will try again when the weather clears. Who would have thought on June 8th it would be this cold and snowy.

Yellowstone Buffalo

We saw three buffalo just outside the park. We were told that they are part of the Yellowstone herd and that they are allowed to roam wherever they please. As long as there are just a few buffalo, together, outside the park, they are left alone. When the herd size increases to 15 or so, the round them up and drive them back into the park. I guess they came down to get out of the snow!! LOL

The Big Horn Hot Spring

This is one of several hot springs in the "Hot Springs State Park" located in Thermopolis, WY. The water at this source is 135 degrees and they have to cool it down to 104 degrees for the public bath house located in the park. In a treaty signed with the Shoshone and Arapaho indians in 1896, the hot springs is to be free of charge for everyone. There is a Black Sulpher Springs here too...and you could smell it! This is really a cool place to visit if you are ever in the area. Life is Good!

Tepee Fountain

This huge mound of mineral is called Tepee Fountain. This structure, started in 1903, was created by piping the hot mineral water through vertical pipe built into a rock pyramid. As the water exits the top and flows over the structure, it cools and deposits travertine, much the same way as the Terraces are formed near the Big Horn Spring within the park.. The algae within the water colors the deposits. Kelly and I stuck our hands in the water as it flowed over the tepee and found it to be quite warm.

Swinging Bridge at Hot Springs State Park

I caught a picture of Walt and Kelly Gunn taking pictures of the swinging bridge and mineral terraces at the hot springs park.
I spoke with a man while crossing the bridge who is from this area. He said they use to jump off the bridge into the river below...he said they were young and stupid.

Mineral Terraces

This is one area of the mineral terraces that line the Big Horn River. Over thousands of years the hot mineral water from the springs have flowed over this area and deposited the mineral formations you see here. I took this picture from the swinging bridge.

The First J C Penney Store

On 5/30 we visited Kremmerer, WY...home of the first JCPenney Store. Here are pictures of the store (outside and inside) and the home of James C Penney...founder. It is interesting what you find when you stop and smell the roses as you travel. Life is Good!