Final Ride in Yellowstone

August 23, 2011 Valley View RV Park, Island Park, Idaho

A couple of days ago we took are last ride (for this visit at least) into Yellowstone National Park. We had decided with Paul and Paula that we wanted to go into the park in the evening with the hope of seeing the elusive wildlife. So, we went into West Yellowstone at 5:30 p.m. and had dinner. Paul drove us all in his truck into Yellowstone which was fantastic and it gave me a chance to really look around.

You can drive for miles and miles in Yellowstone and see nothing but Lodgepole Pine trees, streams and rivers.

We came across this bull bison lumbering up the middle of the road.

A little further down the road we encountered another Bison bull walking the other way down the road.

As we continued our two hour drive towards Lamar Valley in the park, the sun began to sink below the horizon making our spotting efforts too difficult. But, not before we came across a herd of bison crossing the road.

We finally left the park around 11:30 disappointed that we had not seen a grizzly, moose, wolf or elk.

Okay, I know you didn't ask, but I'll tell ya anyway. My opinion of Yellowstone N.P. is that it was a bit of let down. Joyce and I both think we enjoyed Grand Teton N.P. more than Yellowstone. Yellowstone is so vast that you have to drive great distances to see the park. However, the biggest let down was the lack of visible wildlife. Obviously not the fault of the park! Although the landscape is beautiful, much of it is forested thus making it hard to see as you drive. In the Grand Tetons the roads aren't as crowded by the pines and there's always the majestic mountains to view. The biggest themes in Yellowstone N.P. seem to be the geothermal pools, paint pots, geysers and water falls. Pretty, but not my thing. Now had we had better luck finding and viewing wildlife, I know my opinion would be different. Having said that, if you get a chance to visit Yellowstone, be sure and do it!

Tomorrow we are moving on to Missoula Montana and eventually Glacier N.P.

Hike In Yelowstone, The Lost Lake Trail

August 16, 2011. Valley View RV Park, Island Park Idaho.


The last couple of days we took care of some domestic chores. Joyce and I rode into West Yellowstone yesterday to check out the town. It was a cloudy windy day so walking around town was a good way to kill the day. While there, we stopped at the Chamber/Visitor Center. Half of the center serves as a visitor center for Yellowstone N.P. We inquired about a loop hike in the north half of the park and two were suggested, Beaver Ponds Loop and Lost Lake Trail.
Today we decided to hike Lost Lake Trail with Paul and Paula in Yellowstone N.P.  We got going at 8:00 and drove to West Yellowstone in the Jeep. We stopped for a quick breakfast in town realizing that it would probably take us a couple hours to get to the trailhead.

As we drove to the trailhead, we stopped to take in the scenery from some of the overlooks as we hadn't been in the northern part of the park.

We found an off-road loop that took us up some high meadows. We were looking but didn't see any wildlife.

Many parts of the forested areas are full of dead trees from forest fires.

We finally arrived at Roosevelt Lodge and prepared for our hike. The trailhead for Lost Lake Trail is just behind the lodge. We noted the "Warning Bear Frequenting Area" sign on the trailhead bill board! Paul and Paula had purchased bear spray and I was carrying something a bit more lethal in case the bear spray didn't work! There are 150 Grizzlies and untold numbers of black bear in Yellowstone. There have been a few attacks this year and at least one fatality.

We decided to take the short hike to Lost Creek Falls first before starting on the Lost Lake Trail.

Lost Creek Falls

After returning from Lost Creek Falls we began our hike to Lost Lake up a steep mountain side through thick ripe Rasberry bushes. A favorite treat for bears! We made sure to make noise as we hiked! We picked and ate a few Rasberries as we walked...ummm tasty!

At the top of the mountain at about 7700 ft we could see Lost Lake in the distance.

Lost Lake

Paul and Paula

The hike continued to another landmark, The Petrified Tree, which is just a petrified stump. From there it was up the side of another steep bluff.

 We were soon in some high meadows where there were plenty of "buffalo chips" but no Bison to be seen.

Throughout the park there are a number of large dead pine trees. I'm assuming they may have been killed by Pine Beatles. Some of the dead trees are quite impressive in stature.

The hike ended after about 4.5 miles back at the Roosevelt Lodge and we all climbed back into the Jeep. We continued traveling the North loop and stopped for more beautiful sights and to eat our bag lunches.

One of many overlooks

After a full day of 9+ hours we were ready to head back home to take care of our dogs. We saw this Mule Deer on the way out of the Park.

We had a wonderful time and it was an exhausting day. We've decided to extend for another week here in Island Park Idaho as there is a lot to see in this area. The weather has been beautiful with the exception of one especially windy cloudy day. We've pulled out our ceramic heaters as the nights get into the low to mid 40's but the highs are in the mid 70's to low 80's.

Yellowstone National Park, Day One

August 13, 2011. Valley View RV Park Island Park, Idaho.


We traveled in our Jeep to Yellowstone National Park with Paul and Paula. The goal was to get a lay of the land and visit the visitor centers. The Park is about 20 miles from our campground via the small town of West Yellowstone.
We got in with our Volunteer Pass saving us $25. It only took a few minutes of waiting in traffic before getting through the gate.

Yellowstone Bison (Buffalo)

Upon entering we took the Fire Hole Canyon Loop. The pictures should speak for themselves.

Firehole River

Firehole Falls

The four of us posing by the falls.

One of many geyser and paint pot stops.

After stopping or driving through or past several geothermal areas, we needed to stop to visit the iconic Old Faithful. We lined up along the viewing deck along with hundreds of others for the 1:30 p.m. anticipated eruption. True to form Old Faithful didn't fail to entertain!

Old Faithful erupting for about 3 minutes.

One of many lakes. 

There was evidence throughout the park of forest fires. Some are naturally occurring from lightning strikes and others from careless visitors.

An Elk resting in the burned forest.

We took a short hike to Artist Point for a view of the Yellowstone River Falls.

Yellowstone River Upper Falls

Driving through an area of the park known as Fishing Bridge we came across a herd of Bison. Several were near the road and at least one was walking down the road creating a traffic jam. According to the park literature, more people are injured annually by Bison than by any other animal in the park.

Bison Herd

One of many fly fisherman in the park.

On the way out of the park, we came across this guy laying in the tall grass.

Elk Calf 

Elk and Calf from a few hundred yards way.

Evidence on the bluff of a major fire in 1988.

We had a wonderful time driving through the park interspersed with some short walks to some of the geysers or falls. We didn't see any Moose or Bear. I would really like to photograph a Moose. According to the park literature there are only 200 Moose in the park and 150 Grizzlies along with numerous Black Bear.

By the time we got back home we had been gone 9 hrs. and had driven over 150 miles. However, we saw only a small portion of the park and drove only half of the major paved loops. So we assuredly must return and we plan to work in a hike in Yellowstone.