Yellowstone, Wyoming - September '24

We spent a week in the Nation’s oldest national park. It felt like the Serengeti of North America. Wildlife abounds across the massive 2.2 million acre land. We were again blessed to encounter more pronghorn and deer, but also many elk, coyote, blue grouse, bison and a 600 pound black bear! There are 1,000 black bear in the park but less than 5% of them are that large. Our paths crossed a little too close for comfort on our way down from hiking 10,219 foot Mt. Washburn. Fortunately, he was not interested in us and I was able to focus my lens, snap off a few photos whilst fumbling with my bear spray and scrambling to get off the trail without incident. While there are many grizzlies in the park, we did not come across any, which is just fine with Stace! The bison amble along, with a single focus of consuming grass. Seemingly oblivious to the hoards of us humans gawking from vehicles. Seeing hundreds of them was amazing, but I couldn’t help but imagine a time where their numbers were in the many 10’s of thousands. The fall colors are just starting to dazzle with yellow, sage, purple and orange, though in another few weeks I suspect they’ll really pop.

The landscape is just thrilling with dotted forest, rolling meadows and grasslands, snow dusted peaks, and deep canyons with narrow meandering winding rivers. The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River tumbles more than 300 feet (nearly twice the size of Niagara) flowing through the 590,000 year old “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone”. Even in mid September, crowds were plenty and parking lots filled early, but just hiking a few tenths of mile away from the car, we found few people and enjoyed wonderful day hikes to ourselves.

A trip to Yellowstone would not be complete without a stop to see Old Faithful and the famous Geyers. Volcanic activity 5 miles below the surface mixes with water and creates intense heat. As this rises it dissolves the mineral Silica. Both steam and silica bubble to the surface, creating an eerie steamy, white, desolate landscape. Bacteria thriving in these conditions create stunning blue and red colors. This scene along with the teaming life in the park, one can’t help but be grateful for the great leaders over a hundred years ago who sought to set aside this amazing place in perpetuity for future generations to enjoy. Nature is just so cool!