Before I begin this posting, I would like to mention that Ken Burns has just completed his latest series on America’s National Parks and the first program will be aired on September 27. We saw a preview tonight and it captured the way we feel about this marvelous trip we are taking and all the beautiful sights we are seeing. I hope you will join us in watching this program and be sure and put this date on your calendars.
Now, back to Yellowstone! On Day 3, we set out with Matt and Alice and drove north from our Fishing Bridge Campground. We spent the first part of the day in the Canyon area which borders the Yellowstone River. This is the site of the Lower (109 feet) and Upper (308 feet) Falls. Yellowstone has 290 known waterfalls with a 15-foot drop or more.
As we traveled along the river, the canyon got deeper and the view more spectacular. Hank got more and more nervous about being near the edge.
We came to my favorite part of the park, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. In some places, the walls of the canyon are 1200 feet deep. The views were truly breath-taking.
We continued north to the Tower-Roosevelt area. Amazing how the topography changes with each twist of the road.
We saw many areas that had been damaged by fires. Each year, lightning starts an average of 22 fires in Yellowstone. Most of the go out before burning one acre.
For those people who like a bit of the old west, there is horse-back riding and even stage coach rides that take the guests out to a chuck-wagon dinner in this part of the park.
The river came back in and there were still more gorgeous sights to be seen from above. Hank didn’t even come down the paths this time.
We spent the last part of the day at Mammoth Hot Springs. Here, the hot water from deep below finds its way to the top and builds tier upon tier of terraced stone. It’s been doing this for thousands of years and the result is an amazing sight.
We had seen a couple of elk enjoying the heat generated by the springs and then saw a whole herd on our way out of the area.
We ran into a huge traffic jam on our way back to the campground. The buffalo had decided to take over the highway. Park rangers had to come and herd them off the road.
Just a few more shots of sights we saw on this journey through the northern end of the park. It was a wonderful day in this glorious place.
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