8/24 - Haven't you "herd?"

The incomparable Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, with the stunning Lower Falls gracefully descending in the center.


If you visit Yellowstone for only one reason, let it be for its sweeping landscape and lush scenery; if not for that, then for the romance; if not for that, then for its unique array of hot springs, geysers, and waterfalls; and if you visit Yellowstone for no other reason, you must go for its spectacular wildlife and the probability that you will be close to it.

We rose from our motel room in a flash, got ready for the day, and checked out by 11am; but not before Trista rapidly whipped up some delicious eggs and blueberry pancakes. We spent a couple of hours at the neighboring hotel to blog and scurried off through the West Entrance to Yellowstone again.

Not five minutes in and there was already a wildlife sighting. Yellowstonians call these "Buffalo Jams" because passerby's just stop in the road to gawk. We were no exception. To our left, up a tiny hill and very close, was an enormous buffalo. Down the road a bit, there were two more. Down the road further, even more. Buffalo soon became a regular part of our day. Late in the afternoon, we were right in the middle of a completely ridiculous "Buffalo Jam." Traffic came to a halt both ways as a herd of at least 35 bison and calves milled between all the vehicles. We were surrounded. It was AWESOME! A bit nerve-racking too because bison have been known to charge at cars. But here they seriously had no room for that. In fact, the embankment dropped off the side of the road to our right and the beasts stopped themselves there beside the car because they hadn't enough room to pass us. So Trista got a two minute view of this huge buffalo's ass, right next to her head. I finally pulled up a bit to let them by.


Major "Buffalo Jam." This is only half of them.

So here was the breakdown after our third day at Yellowstone:
Buffalo - about 100
Bull Elk - 3
Mule Deer Buck - 2
Female Deer - 4 or 5
Pronghorn (like antelope) - 20 or so
Trumpeter Swan - 2
and many different squirrels, prairie dogs, small birds, and bats

We had hoped to see, some from a distance: a bear, a moose, a bald eagle, a big horn sheep, a wolf, and a beaver. These all live there too, but we had no luck. That's okay, we got out alive.

Trista took this photo of a Mule Deer with her cell phone.

The enormous Yellowstone Lake behind us.


Adam at the brink of the Upper Falls.

Other fascinating things on our last day were the Fountain Paint Pots, with its various hot springs and geysers, including the Fountain Geyser, which burst up and sprayed all its viewers. Lastly, no visit to Yellowstone would be complete without trekking the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where you can view from many different overlook points the Upper and, just unbelievably majestic and more impressive, Lower Falls. The Canyon and the Falls are of such scenic scope that its no wonder artists have been painting this for eons. Viewing it in person feels as if you are in those paintings.


The brink of the majestic Lower Falls. There is a beautiful emerald green ribbon that runs down the center at the drop, if you can see it here.

We went up to Canyon Village to buy another magnet and headed down and out the East Entrance along Yellowstone Lake, with the huge full moon glistening brightly on it as the water rested peacefully.

This is not more snow, it is hot white mud at the Fountain Paint Pots.


Needless to say, we LOVED Yellowstone. It was everything it promised to be and we were very sad to say goodbye to it. We hope these entries can help you feel as though you enjoyed it with us.

Next stop: Mt. Rushmore!


The beautifully colored Silex Spring at the Fountain Paint Pots.