Yesterday we didn't have Internet access and my phone didn't have signal either (we can use it as a wireless hotspot), so I was not able to blog. I'm sorry! So included on today's blog is also what I did yesterday. Enjoy!
Yesterday (Wednesday) -- Woke up at 8:15, got ready, had breakfast (Mini Wheats and milk), loaded the car, and checked out. We took a nice walk around before heading to the Interagency Fire Control Center. Our tour guide, a rookie "Smokejumper" was very knowledgeable and took us all over the building and grounds. We saw all their paraequipment (food, water, survival supplies, firefighting equipment, chainsaws, etc.), lockers (each jumper has their own with gear and such), where they hang up the parachutes to dry/air out after a jump, the sewing/repairing room (ALL the clothing/parachutes/etc. are made there), the outfits they jump in, and one of the airplanes they use. We actually got to climb in it for a few minutes and see where the jumpers sit, where the gear is stored, the cockpit, and more. At the end of the tour, we all got T-shirts with the "Smokejumpers" logo on it. It was a great tour...and free!
Next, we went to the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center (closed for renovation). We were still able to see the lake and all the rocks and devastated trees. There was even a pretty lookout down at a valley with a rapids-filled Madison River.
After that, we drove on to Norris Geyser Basin to have lunch (turkey/ham/Colby Jack cheese pita, Sun Chips, carrots, an orange, and juice) at 1:30. Then we walked on some boardwalks/trails to access the geysers. They were beautiful blue-green pools, and one was spouting pretty high when we were there! It smelled like sulfur -- familiar from our visit here eight years ago, and Pilgrim Hot Springs! They also had a small museum there with good information, as well as a shop (I found a postcard).
Next, we drove on the Virginia Cascade Drive (about 2.5 miles), which took us past a pretty valley and the huge, white, roaring Virginia Falls. We laughed at the tiny creek that forms the monstrous falls. Then we checked in at 4:10 to Canyon Creek Lodge. Our room had rustic forest-type furniture, mugs, tea/coffee, glass cups, and a bear-shaped bar of soap. After checking in and getting situated, we drove to Yellowstone Falls and walked down a steep switchback trail to view the falls up close. We came back to our hotel, went into a shop (I found a cute stuffed bison and a T-shirt...cheap!), had supper at a cafeteria (BLT wrap, salad, orange juice), went back to the hotel, showered, and went to bed at 10:45.
Today (Thursday) -- Woke up at 8 AM, got ready, had breakfast (granola and juice), loaded up, headed out, got some National Park passport stamps (I have a National Park Passport and I can get stamps at each park I go to...it's cool), and drove up the Chittendon Road. On the way there, we saw a lone bison walking along the road. Throughout the day, we saw several more lone ones, as well as a large herd this evening. It took us up to a pretty viewpoint, and then we hiked a bit higher to get a really gorgeous panorama. Then we drove on Blacktail Creek Road -- gravel, dusty, and a tiny bit bumpy (but nothing compared to the road to camp!). Lots of pretty scenery, and we even saw a happy coyote who had just eaten a squirrel or mouse. He was beautiful, fat, and healthy. We also saw two big bull moose with huge racks of antlers -- they were happily eating up in the forest, paying no attention to anything else. It was fun to see them!
We had lunch in Gardiner, Montana, at the Raven Grill (I had lasagna bolognese...yum). For dessert, we all shared huckleberry creme brulee...so sweet and good! After that, we went into a shop to find huckleberry pancake mix and syrup. I got some postcards and huckleberry licorice. We also went into a saddle shop and saw all the Western items and I was happy! Then we went through the historic entrance with the big archway and took pictures. Also went to Mammoth Hot Springs -- Upper and Lower Terraces. Took pictures, walked a bit on the boardwalks, saw Mound Spring (burbling heavily, flowing way down). The Visitor Center at Mammoth was good, too, with lots of great exhibits, including stuffed animals (there were baby wolves and a little baby elk...aww).
Drove on to Grant Village (saw four female elk and a baby) and checked into our hotel. Got our stuff situated, then my mom and I went out for a nice little walk. We saw Yellowstone Lake and people were kayaking on it! Came back, had a huckleberry licorice strip and some carrots, showered, had supper (chicken-bean-cheese pitas and huckleberry-blackberry sparkling water), and are now ready to go to bed. I can't post any pictures because it's late and I don't have fast Internet, but I hope you have an idea of what we're seeing. It's fun!
~Anna~
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