Yellowstone is Calling...And I'm back baby. Let's Visit Gorgeous Biscuit Basin and Go on an "Easy" Hike to Morning Glory Pool

You know what to do...Click on the links!!

The Gorgeous Views of Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons with Elk Herd Cameos!

Jenny Lake and Foxes and Bears!

Wild West, Abandoned Cabins, and Bison!

Mormon Row - Beautiful Barns and Pronghorn Antelope!

National Museum of Wildlife Art - Amazing Sculptures in a Glorious Outdoor Setting!

Colter Bay at Grand Teton National Park & Snow! South Entrance of Yellowstone to Black Sand Basin!

Beautiful Geyers of Black Sand Basin!

Okay!  On with the story of my amazing adventure in Yellowstone National Park!  Quick refresher:  I set off from California to visit a place I haven't been since childhood - solo as usual!  

Great fun was had, amazing sights were seen in both Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP.  Anxiety was felt and my first solo nights were successful!

And now, on my first full day in Yellowstone National Park, I was up early and excited to hit the road, see some more sights, and - hopefully - get a little exercise.  

I absolutely loved being there at this time of year!  The colder (than summer) air means that the steam rising from the vents is easier to see and looks so cool!

I was heading to catch the morning eruption of Old Faithful so I was on the right side of the road to get a picture or two of the bison herd in front of the Midway Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring. 

All those little dots are bison in various sized. I didn't notice it at the time, but there are even BABIES out there!  

Some, like me, were a little on the sleepy side.  

Some people at the far end of the turnout left, so I was able to move a bit closer to the herd for more photos.

Is it just me or is this bison pregnant?  

They all have horns so I don't know how else to tell boys from girls.

Here's a closer look.  

This is when I first noticed the babies!  

Yes, there is one in the next photo...hiding behind it's mom (dad?).

But I couldn't linger to take more photos as I had someplace to be.  

There was a park ranger standing near the meadow with binoculars, looking across the road and up a nearby hill. I asked her if the bison herd was usually there and she said it had been there for awhile and would probably hang out all day, but couldn't promise.

 I asked her what she was looking for and she said that about 15 minutes prior, a bear had crossed the road nearby and ran up the hill.  She was hoping to see where it was heading.  

Darn!  I just missed it!

But I had to press on and hope the bison decided to wait for me to come back this way because  Old Faithful was predicted to blow at 6:35 and I was on my way! I got there and found a pretty close parking spot because it was so early (I guess).  I was hustling up the walk way and, to my surprise, the geyser was already going off!  

Holy chit!  Luckily my camera was slung across my chest so I was able to snap a quick shot as I walked up!  It was pretty amazing and the eruption seemed to last for a pretty good bit.  I guess it was on the upper end of the 1-5 minutes per eruption.  

I debated about hanging around to see the next eruption but it wasn't for awhile according to the board in front of the visitor center. 

I walked around for a bit while I was trying to decide and got this cool photo of one of the other geysers in the area.  I don't know which one it is though.  

The birder in me (very amateur as we all know) was happy to see a heron soaring over the forest near Old Faithful.  I didn't see a ton of birds and the few pictures I tried to get are a little on the shitty side.  Especially the one mountain bluebird I saw.  lol  I'm still going to post them though.  

Well, I decided not to wait around because I wanted to visit Biscuit Basin and, hopefully, go on a little easy hike.  Which I did.  And the videos?  They're a little hilarious.  lol  But that's going to be in the next post. 

So first, it's Biscuit Basin!  

With sleeping bison right in the parking lot!! Well, just beside the parking lot anyway.  Like within 10 yards!  I cropped the bottom of this photo right at the asphalt line.  So cool!

So, so very cool to see these huge creatures up close!  

It was so amazing to be in such a beautiful place on such a beautiful morning!  Words cannot even describe honestly.  But pictures can!

Black Opal Pool and Black Diamond Pool

Golden ground!  I swear the terraced ground around the springs and geysers looked like real gold in the morning light.  So gorgeous!

Sapphire Pool with stunning gold and green runoff

Sapphire Pool with it's aqua to azure depths.  So clear and gorgeous!  There are random bubbles in there too...see if you can spot them.  

Jewel Geyser

Shell Geyser (closeup) - You can see the clamshell appearance of the sinter surrounding the opening which gives this geyser it's name. 

Silver Globe Cave Geyser

After walking the loop at Biscuit Basin, I decided that I did, indeed, want to try the little hike from the Artemesia Trailhead to Morning Glory Pool.  

Since I am more than a little out of shape and the altitude at the trailhead is approximately 7,300'  compared to the 80' where I live, I was slightly apprehensive.  But I love walking in the outdoors and would never forgive myself if I came to Yellowstone and DIDN'T try to hike.  

So I decided to go for it.  I mean, I could always turn around, right?

This is the hike which is about .9 miles each way from trailhead to Morning Glory.  You can keep going all the way to Old Faithful and even farther!  I hope to do that next time.  :)  So each way was probably about 1.25 from the parking lot of Biscuit Basin where I left my car. 

But that adventure is deserving of it's own post.  :)  Which shall be up MUCH sooner than this one was.  haha  See you soon!

xoxo

Nikon D600 with Nikkor 28-300 & Nikon D7200 with Sigma Contemporary 150-600

From Gorgeous Grand Tetons National Park to Amazing Yellowstone!! It's Time to Cross the Border! 5/18/2021

My too-short twenty-four hours in Grand Tetons was coming to a close!  I was heading north towards the South Entrance to Yellowstone, but still had a few more sights to see in beautiful Jackson Hole.

But first, why don't you click the links below to catch up on the drives through the amazing beauty of Grand Teton:

The Gorgeous Views of Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons with Elk Herd Cameos!

Jenny Lake and Foxes and Bears!

Wild West, Abandoned Cabins, and Bison!

Mormon Row - Beautiful Barns and Pronghorn Antelope!

National Museum of Wildlife Art - Amazing Sculptures in a Glorious Outdoor Setting!

After leaving Jackson and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, I once again traveled the beautiful Teton Park Road but this time I turned left onto the John D Rockefeller Parkway/Highway 191 to continue north towards Yellowstone.  This was previously untraveled road for me since, as stated in my previous posts, I had turned right before to head for Oxbow Bend  and South 191 to go back to Jackson.  

I was running a bit low on time as I wanted to be at Madison Campground by 6:00 in case there was anything wrong with my reservation (my anxiety kicking me in the ass as usual).  So I didn't really plan on making a lot of stops, but there were a few I just couldn't resist!

My first stop was at the Willow Flats Overlook. Such a beautiful, wide-open space filled with so many different ecosystems.  There is a trail through part of it from the Jackson Lake Lodge which is just down the road.  I really hope to do some hiking on my next trip and this will be top of the list. 

If you look just above the dip in the Willow trees on the left (just below the clump of pines in front of the lake), you can just make out a herd of Elk laying and grazing in the flats.  

If you hike the trail through Willow Flats from Jackson Lake Lodge, you end up in Colter Bay.  Obviously I drove, but was really happy I stopped in Colter Bay.  For starters, it's an amazing little village with grocery stores, a laundromat, campground, etc.  All tucked away so you don't even see it if you stay on the main road (except for signage of course). 

I pulled in as my last stop just to see what it was like.  I'm so glad I did.  

There is a "swimming beach" at Colter Bay and of course it was too cold for swimming on this Spring day.  

But there was a father and his son just checking out the beach.  The young man wearing his red shirt as he threw rocks into the blue water just popped to me - especially with the mountain towering over him.  Papa is off to the left - both just enjoying discovering nature. 

This was my last view of the Teton Range and Jackson Lake - as you get back on the highway, you find yourself in dense forest and foothills as you head north into Yellowstone. 

As I turned around near the campground, this cute little Uinta ground squirrel chewing on some grass caught my eye!  

Unfortunately, in my excitement and hurry, I didn't get the right focus.  :(  He's not perfectly clear but you can still see how cute he is with his little grass sticking out of his mouth!

So I took another.  He looked at me like I was the paparazzi.  lol  

He is not amused.  haha  So I left him in peace and headed north.  I soon reached the entrance to Yellowstone!  The line was pretty long for mid-May, but not too bad and it moved pretty quickly. 

As I'm driving up the now increasing windy, forested road, I start seeing SNOW!  So happy and excited!  This California flatlander (for the most part) doesn't get to see much snow.  And it was so gorgeous settled into the Snake River canyon!

I cannot even express how beautiful it was!  And my photos probably don't do it justice.  

And of course, I along with pretty much everyone else on the road, had to pull over at Lewis Falls, the first waterfall you can see from the highway. The sky was dramatic, the air was brisk, and the 30-foot falls and surrounding river were so beautiful and - even with the small crowd - peaceful.  I sat here for a little bit, I'm not going to lie.  

After stopping at Lewis Falls, I didn't really stop again for a bit.  I just enjoyed the windy road through truly stunning forests.  

Frankly, I was determined not to make many stops.  As I mentioned earlier, the anxiety that is becoming more and more of a driving force in my life was making itself felt.  I had received a confirmation email for my Madison campground campsite, but it only listed one night - not the two that I had reserved.  So my mind was pushing me to get there to make sure I had a place to sleep.  

I was tempted to stop as I passed beautiful Lewis Lake which was halfway covered in ice and snow.  I've never seen anything like that before and I actually do regret not stopping for even five minutes to enjoy it.  

But I didn't.  (I regret this.)

I was tempted again when I came to the turnoff for Old Faithful.  I should at least stop and see what's there, right?

But I didn't (I didn't regret this like I did Lewis Lake). 

But when I saw the steam from Black Sand Basin?  I couldn't resist stopping.  I squelched my anxieties and pulled right over.  And I'm so glad I did!!  

We'll explore Black Sand Basin geyser area and my very first Yellowstone bison UP CLOSE and personal!  In the next post.  :)  But I'll leave you with this little teaser. 

xoxo

Nikon D600 with Nikkor 28-300 lens & D7200 with Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens

Amazing Road Trip to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks! The Beginning of the Adventure Starts Here!

I've been wanting to go to Yellowstone for the last few years and every year SOMETHING prevented it.  I was determined to make it happen this Spring and, with the help of my wonderful daughter, I was able to make it happen.

I wanted to go in Spring so I could see BABIES hopefully.  And I also didn't want to be there during the busy time of year (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, primarily) because I'm not one for crowds in the first place plus we are still dealing with this pandemic.

I had my second Moderna vaccine shot 3 weeks prior to my trip, so I was happy because the timing for me to take a road trip was really working out.  

As you may know, I love to see churches and temples for their architecture and beauty and my route would be taking me through parts of Idaho where my mom and dad lived and married.  I was happy to drive though these places I hadn't seen since my childhood. 

I left California on Sunday afternoon/evening and headed up I-80 towards Wells, Nevada. 

I drove until just as the sun was coming up before I started to feel tired enough to take a nap.  I stopped at a Truck Stop/Casino in Wells Nevada and climbed into the back of my SUV for a short nap.  I woke up to quite a gorgeous view of the East Humboldt Range. 

After my nap, my road would take me through Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls.  I vaguely remember having family around Twin Falls (Burley) and Pocatello (not sure) and my parents got "sealed" in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple.  So, since I had to stop for gas and to stretch my legs and such, I decided I would take photos at each of the temples.

First on my route was Twin Falls:

And next, I saw the Pocatello temple from the freeway and was a little surprised because I didn't know there was one in Pocatello.  Turns out it is under construction but was still pretty photogenic from the right angle.  It is up on a hill which makes it look really cool from a distance. 

Pretty with a similar look to Twin Falls, but the layout is akin to the Idaho Falls Temple.  Speaking of which...

The Idaho Falls Temple is definitely the Queen of the three!  Gorgeous architecture on a gorgeous location.  I walked around a bit but would love to go back again to explore more fully.  

Next leg of the journey took me from Idaho Falls over the mountain pass into Wyoming.  And into the incredible beauty of Grand Tetons National Park.  

To be honest, nothing really prepared me for the beauty I was about to see.  Photos that I had seen didn't really do it justice and mine may not either, but let's get to it in the next post!

xoxo

Nikon D600 & D7200