Yellowstone & Grand Teton
Jun 8-12, 2006
AC1043 YYZ-DEN, UA271 DEN-JAC, UA1218 JAC-DEN, AC1038 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
Jun 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
Jun 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
Jun 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?