Hiking Yellowstone


Monday, July 15, 2019

We again hit the park early so that we could beat the crowds.  Mission accomplished.  We had picked out what Yellowstone’s trail guide called a moderately challenging hike which was to include a Falls…imagine that!

The trail followed the Little Firehole River through a 30-year-old Lodgepole Pine forest to the 70-foot Mystic Falls.  Like yesterday’s Falls, Mystic Falls did not disappoint.  In case anyone was wondering about why it is a 30-year-old forest, I will explain.  In 1988 almost 1/3 of Yellowstone National Park burned after a lightning strike in early July.  More than 30,000 firefighters and military personnel fought it.  After being so cruel, Mother Nature, actually came to the rescue.  An early September snowfall brought it under control even though some areas were still smoldering until the end of November.

Our hike to the Falls was relatively easy…our route back not so much.  We decided to climb a series of switchbacks to an overlook.  To say that this climb was challenging is an understatement.  I am not sure where the ‘moderate’ part described in the trail guide was.  They must have meant the boardwalk out near the parking lot.  However, the reward at the top made it all worthwhile.  The panoramic views of the Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful area) were outstanding.  After a slight hiccup finding the route back down, we descended on a different set of switchbacks…apparently less steep…not sure about that.  And did I mention the mosquitoes…they were alive and well and not picky about biting through insect repellent.  Overall, a great hike.

We decided to leave Yellowstone early.  The amount of people at the parking area was hard to believe.  The number of cars that we met as we were traveling the 30 miles out to the town of West Yellowstone, was even more unbelievable.  Where they were going to park is anyone’s guess.  We had lunch at the Slippery Otter, a nice little Pub with a selection of over 20 local beers on tap…not a bad choice at all.

Distance Traveled = 113 km.  Wildlife Sightings = Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Trumpeter Swan, Mountain Bluebird, Canada Geese, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin, Cowbird, Brewers Blackbird, Chipping Sparrow, Red Squirrel, Chipmunk, Buffalo.


Mystic Falls


The Climb Up


View of the Upper Geyser Basin from the Overlook


Selfie??


Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin


Bacterial Mat at Sapphire Pool


One last geyser....

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