America's Wonderland - Lower Loop (Canyon to West Thumb)

I'm sorry it's been so long since the last post!  I could offer any number of excuses (A's crazy rotation schedule, photography classes two nights a week, more travel), but instead let's continue the story!  :)

I accidentally omitted this photo from the last bunch, but I find it funny so I had to post it now... While the staff at Yellowstone seems to have the thermal features pretty well mapped out, every now and then one just pops up wherever it feels like it.  Sometimes in a parking lot.

The day started out beautifully - bright blue skies and crisp weather.  We drove through Hayden Valley (where we might have pulled over a few times to check out the buffalo) and headed to the Mud Volcano.

The Mud Volcano area is described as a "tour through a bad case of heartburn".  All the steam rising from cracks and bubbling mud are not exactly picturesque, but it's definitely intriguing.  

First we saw Dragon Mouth Spring, which is named for the "rhythmic belching of steam and water shooting from the cavernous opening".  I can't do a better job than that description!

Even the video doesn't capture the full effect.

Next on the trail was the area's namesake... the Mud Volcano.  Early visitors to Yellowstone described it as a "most repulsive and terrifying sight", with mud erupting to cover tall trees.  Now it just bubbles, but it's still intense!

There were so many thermal features in this one area, a location somewhat near the middle of the Yellowstone volcano caldera.  This is the Churning Caldron, a spring which throws water 3-5 feet in the air!  Walking through its steam isn't exactly a spa experience - it reeks of sulfur.  Don't open your mouth!

Behind us in the next shot is the Mud Geyser, the once star attraction of the Mud Volcano Area.  It was once a geyser which shot muddy water 50 feet into the air every few hours until it died in the 1900s.  Also in the area is the "Cooking Hillside", where the soil temperature is almost 200F.  Most of the trees have died and there are mini steam vents, but the bison love the warmth.

Back in the rental car, we drove along the edge of Lake Yellowstone to the West Thumb Geyser Basin.  The lake was a pretty blue, with not many boaters on the water.  Too chilly at 50F, I guess!

Along the way, we hit another traffic jam in the form of an elk grazing just along the edge of the road.  He was unfazed by any of the vehicles or tourists.  Must have been some tasty grass!

As we neared West Thumb, we could see the steam from some thermal areas right alongside the lake.  Come to find out, multiple springs empty straight into Lake Yellowstone.  A and I agreed we were interested in how this affects the animals in the area.  (No info as of yet.)

The first activity on the list at West Thumb is lunch, then we walk the boardwalks around the thermal area.  As always, we're warned to keep away from the animals.

I don't think a "Caution: Do not approach the humans" sign would work as well... there were bear prints in the cement!

Fun fact: Even though this geyser basin pours an average of 3,100 gallons of hot water into the lake every day, the lake's average summer temperature is 45F.  Brr!

This is the Seismograph Pool - appropriately named since the Yellowstone area experiences an average of 1,500 earthquakes each year.

This beautiful pool is called Black Pool, which might sound deceiving, but we learned that at one point it was actually black.  The water temperature used to be low enough to allow thick mats of dark microorganisms to grow in the pool which made it appear black.  Then the water temperature rose and killed off those organisms, leaving only the ones which thrive on high temperatures and are a beautiful blue.

Abyss Pool is one of the deepest hot springs at 53 feet deep.  It last erupted in 1992, but has remained quiet ever since.

The steam rising off the colorful springs is tinted with their hue.

After the boardwalks, we hiked the Lake Overlook Trail.  I think you can guess what the destination was.  :)  The trail was partly muddy, so we had to be creative in our methods.

All was going well; we were the only ones on the trail and it was calm and peaceful.  Until we ran into this sign.

Of course we followed the flags - what kind of adventurers would we be otherwise?  (I'm particularly fond of the fine print at the bottom!)

We found a marmot lounging around the newly-formed thermal area.

The view from the top!

On the way back, A spotted an elk grazing not far from us.  I would have completely missed it. 

After our hike it was time to head to the next national park: Grand Teton!  On the way out we saw more animal babies - mini elk!  They were so cute!

We stopped for a typical tourist picture at one of the Continental Divide peaks.

We also took a quick side hike to Moose Falls.

Coming up next: We tackle Grand Teton National Park!