Yellowstone & Grand Teton

June 8-12, 2006
AC1043/UA271 YYZ-DEN-JAC, UA1218/AC1038 JAC-DEN-YYZ

We had a US National Park pass from Utah/Arizona and I hadn’t seen Old Faithful.  Was a bit of a challenge figuring out how to get there, but 25,000 points puts you in Jackson Hole and the rest was easy.  Both the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone were worth the trip, but together was a great combination.  Weather was a little rainy, but found some good weather each day, particularly at the end, and overall it didn’t slow us down.  Through all of our travels, this was also the first time that we got to see a wild moose and believe me, we have tried.

Additional information:
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park

June 9
Jackson Hole to West Yellowstone, arrived previous night

Grand Tetons with a few clouds

Started hike with a boat trip across Jenny Lake

Rapids of Cascade Creek below Hidden Falls

The hike pays off - Inspiration Point

Cascade Canyon

Spring Mountain Flowers

Mountains reflected on Jackson Lake

Site of 1959 Madison Valley Earthquake, at the time of quake all the geysers went off

Cottages destroyed in the powerful quake

“Building Destruction” -- our favorite sign in the area

June 10
West Yellowstone to Old Faithful, via Mammoth and Roosevelt

First buffalo -- seemed unique at the time; apparently they like to walk along the road

Deer and fawn at Firehole Canyon

Fawn close-up at Firehole River

Buffalo in more natural habitat

Norris Geyser Basin

Only geyser action we saw at Norris, although we waited for 20 minutes in vain for one

Pool in lower Norris Geyser Basin

Hike along Basalt columns of Sheepeater Cliffs

Orange Spring Mound - Mammoth Hot Springs

Angel Terrace (after the rain) - Mammoth

Minerva Terrace (lower Mammoth)

Lower Mammoth with town and valley below

More Mammoth lower terrace

Looking north to Montana around Roosevelt

Black bear headed for the car

Buffalos take over the road to Norris, leaving a 30 minute traffic jam in their wake

Old Faithful crowd waits (somewhat patiently)

Old Faithful, mostly on schedule

A different geyser (somewhat less faithful)

Signs help you decide how long to wait

Patience did pay off and the rain mostly held off

June 11
Old Faithful to Lake Yellowstone, with detour to Canyon

Firehole River next day; finally some blue skies

Geyser Hill above Old Faithful

View from Geyser Hill

Bacterial mat at Midway Geyser Basin

White Dome on schedule, missed Great Fountain

More bacterial mats at Biscuit Basin

Bacteria close-up

Sapphire Pool at Biscuit Basin

Lower Falls - Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

More canyon after third hike

Buffalo roadside

Cutthroat trout swim up-stream at Lehardy Rapids

Thermal features along Lake Yellowstone

Sylvan Lake on drive to East Entrance

Lupins from Lake Butte lookout

Lake Yellowstone from lookout

Buffalo and thermal vent along Lake Yellowstone

June 12
Lake Yellowstone to Jackson Hole and home

Abyss Pool in West Thumb Geyser Basin

Hot spring in Lake Yellowstone

Deer inside boardwalks at West Thumb

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Grand Tetons with sun

Moose jam - every animal picture has one of these

Our first moose ever!

Mirrored Grand Tetons

String Lake Hike in Grand Tetons

Another of the 30 pictures  

Tetons with horses

Teton Glacier

The Square in Jackson -- no animals were harmed 

More downtown Jackson - we forgot our cowboy hats

Airport in a National Park?  Why not?