Venturing into the Wild

Saturday was our first full day in Yellowstone. Bug and I arose early and started our visit at the Madison Junction visitor center. Bug signed up with the Jr Ranger program to work on earning his badge by the end of the week. The badge is earned by purchasing and working on the requirements listed in the Jr Ranger newspaper. Some of the requirements include answering detailed questions about the park or wildlife, attending a ranger led program, and going on a ranger led hike.

While we were at the visitor center we attended a Ranger Talk on identification of wolves, foxes, and coyotes. Bug was a little expert by the time we were done, and his knowledge was beneficial later in the week when he was able to spot a gray wolf in the distance.

We took a short walk to the river. This little critter chattered at us for several minutes

We had our first hike at the Artist Paint Pots between Madison Junction and the Norris Geyser Basin. This was our first view of the thermal regions.

The easy one mile hike was fully of variety. We started out strolling through a wet meadow and a forest of lodge pole pines which quickly turned into a boardwalk crossing a steaming thermal area full of hot springs and small geysers.

The boardwalk wound up a hillside for a closer look at a couple sputtering mud pools. It also had a nice view of the forest and mountains above as well as the colorful hot springs below.

Our next stop was at the Norris Geyser Basin. Bug picked out the one and half mile Back Basin trail for us to hike before lunch.

The first geyser on the tour was Steamboat geyser. This is the world's tallest active geyser, but unfortunately it's not predictable. It was steaming and sputtering with a minor 4 foot eruption while we passed by.

Our next stop was Echinus. This is the world's largest acidic geyser. Watch your camera lens if it decides to go off while you are nearby.

Bug delighted in reading the self-guided tour signs to me along the way.

Puff n' Stuff geyser was one of our favorites in the basin. As Bug pointed out, it sounds like a steam engine puffing away.

I was quite taken with the milky pool of Pearl Geyser. It's easy to see how it got it's name.

Minute Geyser has a rather sad story. It seems that the geyser once erupted every 60 seconds, but back in the days when the old main park road ran right by it visitors carelessly threw rocks and other objects into the vent clogging it. The geyser now erupts irregularly and not so spectacularly from it's smaller East vent.

Our hike took us upward into a small forest. I made Bug pause to pose for a photo in such pretty surroundings.

Then he felt he ought to return the favor.

If I recall correctly the name of this geyser was Fearless.

Right before Bug spotted this sign we watched two grown men leave the safety of the boardwalk trail, climb a small hill, and pose for a picture next to a sputtering thermal pool. I used this as a reminder to Bug about how dangerous the grounds were and how important it was to remain on the safety of the established trail.

We stopped at the visitor center for a short picnic lunch and continued on our way.

We stopped to view Obsidian Cliff and found a small trail behind the exhibit. We followed it a short while and came to this meadow where the trail abruptly stopped.

We turned back around and enjoyed the roadside exhibit detailing how Obsidian Cliff was formed.

Our next stop took us to the Mammoth Hot Springs area where we followed the mile long Lower Terrace Trail.

The springs made the already hot day even hotter, requiring frequent stops for sips of cool water.

Bug enjoyed the winding trail and used the frequent loops to assert his independence within Mom's sight.

Heading East on the Upper Loop road we found an easy half mile hike to Wraith Falls.

We also found a nice elderly couple that took our picture in exchange for me taking theirs.

Our next destination was to be the Tower Falls area. The drive took a little longer than expected when we stopped to watch this Black Bear forage around a meadow.

We also made a slight detour to see the last remaining petrified tree. There were once three petrified trees standing here but thoughtless visitors chipped away at the other two for souvenirs. The park wisely gated the remaining tree away from the public's touch.

A very short stroll took us from the Tower Falls Visitor Center to the Hanging Valley. Bug made sure to read the self-guide sign aloud.

Tower Falls was very picturesque but this was the start of what Bug calls my "dizzy legs". I sometimes experience slight bouts of vertigo when I am able to look straight down from a high place. This was one of those times.

As we left Tower Falls and headed toward Canyon Village we spotted another Black Bear. This one had a young cub with her, but he was difficult to photograph as he enjoyed darting in and out of the tall grass.

It was getting towards dusk now and the wildlife was active in the park. These elk knew that they had the right of way. I got a chuckle out of this young one's snobbish demeanor.

We passed by one of the many bison we would see through out the week. This fellow was resting just off the edge of the roadway.

It was a good first day for our explorations around the park.