We left Arizona and traveled through the beautiful state of Utah. High snow-capped mountains surrounded us on all sides. I was able to snap this shot of the Teton Mountains from the highway.
When we arrived at the
Red Rock RV Park and Campground in Island Park, Idaho, we were greeted by a sea of wildflowers in the shadows of mountains with hints of snow left on their peaks. This campground was such a pleasant retreat from the many stays at campgrounds too close to highways, railroad tracks, and other campers. The sights were wide with large yards and fire pits. The wifi was sufficiently strong and the laundry facilities were very clean.
In addition to the human and canine residents of Red Rock RV Park, we were surprised by the presence of these adorable Idaho Ground Squirrels who made their home in a burrow under one of our neighbors' fire pits.
Our first day in Yellowstone included a visit to the thermal features that make the park so famous. As we approached we saw many spots where steam rose like a specter to envelope the land. It was eerily incredible to realize that a mere 5 miles beneath my feet magma flows throughout the ancient volcanic caldera.
We stopped at Geyser Land to see boiling mud pots, hissing thermal vents, prismatic hot pools, and blowing geysers. Each feature was so interesting and different from the next. One of the most photographed mud pots is called Fountain Paint Pot. It is a thick white mud which produces a rapid bubbling. It sounds like a witch's brew.
There was another type of mud pot, but this one was more like a thick sloshy milk shake. It behaved much like a water geyser, but did not spew as high.
One of the more beautiful features we saw was a deep crystal blue pool of steaming hot water. Looking into the pool, it became evident just how deep it was. It had one layer of rock upon another layer and all the while getting darker blue in color. Surrounding the pool were brilliant orange bacterial mats that are home to thermophilic bacteria. They are the only creatures able to thrive in this particular harsh environment.
Another thermal pool called Grand Prismatic Spring, which is part of the Midway Geyser Basin, was impressive because of the sheer size and volume of water it dumps into the Fire Hole River. A whopping 6 million gallons of super-heated water spills into the river daily causing a 3 degree rise in overall water temperature. It, too, supports the growth of large orange bacterial mats along the edge of the pond and each run-off stream.
There are hundreds of additional thermal features, but time was limited and Old Faithful faithfully awaited our visit. "Old Mavel," as Aidan mistakenly called it, is the most visited sight in Yellowstone. Once again, it did not disappoint. Old Faithful is the most frequent and predictable geyser in the park. It erupts approximately every 50 minutes (give or take a few). There are benches surrounding the geyser and a famous inn bearing its name. The
Old Faithful Inn is a beautiful log structure built in 1910s and 1920s and rustically appointed with rough-hewn log columns and rails, dark wood furniture and lodge style decor. Each rail and timber used in the construction of the inn was sought for its particular shape or size to fit in a predetermined place.
We watched Old Faithful erupt twice. It was a magnificent display of geothermal power. The steam that continually swirls out of the geyser hole ebbs and flows and continues to slowly build until short bursts of water begin to leap out of the ground, jumping higher and higher with loud blasts of steam and foul-smelling sulphuric spray until it reaches a dizzying height of 130 to 180 feet and lasting from 1-1/2 to 5 minutes. It was certainly an experience none of us will ever forget!
It was humbling and a little frightening to realize that the entire day that we spent in Yellowstone was spent inside of the third largest volcanic caldera in the world. The Yellowstone volcano is still active and that scientists are more and more convinced of an impending eruption, although as to the extent of the eruption they are completely unsure. However, the geothermal splendor Yellowstone presents is a must for all to see.
We stayed an uneventful night in Topeka, Kansas. Matt had been whining about Cracker Barrel for 900 miles. So he finally got his wish. And he and Aidan engaged in a very intense game of checkers. Aidan won. "I had five kings. Dad had four kings. It was a technical win. But I won." Yep, that's my competitive boy.
