Yellowstome NP, a lifetime of memories
We stayed outside the Park in a commercial campground for a few expensive days because our first choice did not work out well. Our preference is to find a Forest Service campground or, better yet, a flat spot in a national forest to call our own. The internet told us to take this certain road a little way and we would find a lot of good private spots. We did. The Supreme Mistress of Navigation spied a copse of large pine trees about 100 yards off the road down a dirt track. It was a little tight turning around and backing into the site but with my superior driving skills and only minor cursing, we were settled. Home sweet home for several free nights right outside of Yellowstone. Could not be better, right? Turned out to also be a favorite spot of the local free-range herd of cattle. The bovine left quite a lot of personal “calling cards”. As a side note here, it took a lot of soap and water to clean up those calling cards after we quickly packed up and left to the very nice, clean commercial camp just down the road. A lot more expensive but no cows.
The next morning, we entered the Park around 6:00 am to beat the less dedicated tourist. Driving in the west entrance just as the sky started to lighten, I relived so many memories from past trips. My first time here was when my parents were driving me to college. I got to feed the bears from the backseat car window while my mom yelled at me, she did that a lot. What could go wrong? I was a teenager. Next trip came in ’76 when my best friend Bruce and I came to back pack for a couple of weeks. Later there was the time my dad and I packed into Heart Lake and caught the largest cutthroat trout ever. Again, years later Princess and I introduced my young daughter to the Park as she road in the back of my dads’ pick-up truck. In between these memories, there were other times here that I will always cherish.
Much like our other visits, the Princess and I did the grand tour circling the interior of the Park. I tried to capture some of the famous locations – Norris Geyser Basin at sunrise, the lower falls and of course some wildlife.
While talking to a ranger, we learned that there were two mating pairs of swans in the Park, one of which were on the Firehole river, a place that I always wanted to explore.
As we drove slowly along the river, just as I commented that we probably would not find the pair, one swan appeared feeding in the river close to a place where I could pull the truck off the road. Not only that, I had the correct camera and lens at hand. After stalking through the trees to get a closer shot the swan ignored me and put on a show.
This year has been a good year for us to see wildflowers. Every area we have visited has had an abundance of wildflowers. By July in past years the blooms had past and the grass had already dried. The moisture and cooler temperatures have been enjoyed by all.
Another morning we left the campsite around 5:00 am to be in position for a sunrise photo of a particular mountain along the Madison River. The location was selected the day before so I could catch the light as it just touched the top of the peak with the river still in shadow. I know it would have been a great shot if not for the dense fog completely blocking out the sun. Instead of the mountain, I came away with a photo of the Madison shrouded in mist. I have a hard seeing an alternative photo but I am trying to learn to shoot what you have and not worry about the plan. This time luck was with me.
Staying outside the boundaries of Yellowstone worked out well because the Princess and I were willing to get an early start to beat the bus loads of the other visitors. By 8:30 in the morning the best light was already past and the big viewing areas are already getting crowded. I suppose you could accomplish the same thing by waiting till 6:00 pm to tour as most people are stopping for dinner. Either way, the Park is wonderful no matter how many times you have visited it in the past.
Dennis and Sherrie
