We've just spent two weeks at Yellowstone. The entire experience was richer and more complex than I can describe here in an orderly fashion so I'm just going to go with impressions without any sort of a timeline.
First, I thought that Yellowstone was all about the hydrothermal features, unique in the world. Very wrong. Even though they are indeed spectacular and interesting, the park is also about wildlife in nearly touching distance and breathtaking scenery. Okay, the thermal stuff does also qualify as scenery. The canyon, on the other hand, is even more of a spectacular visit than Old Faithful or even the Artist Paintpots.
Second, Yellowstone is a lot of driving. Remember, the park is 2 million acres, about 50 miles square. Long distances from one feature to another. Fortunately, it's very much like driving through a 3-d postcard at 40 mph or less. We logged more than a thousand miles in the two weeks here. Every one of those miles was breathtakingly beautiful with something new around every bend. We also
hiked twenty or so miles on off-road trails always seeing something unique or beautiful.
Which brings up the next point - traffic. There's always a bunch of people on the road. Kinda handy for finding wildlife, just look for the traffic jams. After a while I got to thinking "It's just another herd of elk, what's the big deal?". Amazing how one's thinking adjusts.
Of course, where there is a lot of traffic, there are a lot of people. People from all over the world. We became accustomed to hearing German, Chinese, Hindi (I think), French and a smattering of Dutch and Spanish. One experience that sticks in my mind is seeing a group of hard-core bikers (Oh yes, the park is full of Harleys, more on that later) in full regalia, leather vests and pants, do-rag bandannas on their head, ponytails and beards. As they passed by me, I heard them speaking German to each other. Wouldn't have known it looking at them. About the Harleys - hundreds of them, usually travelling in packs, most often folks in their 50's and up just reliving their youth. Hard to find fault, especially from my own perspective.
Next is the wildlife. Not necessarily the big fellas, bison, elk, bears, deer, etc. As mentioned before, the woods are full of marmots, squirrels, there are otters in the rivers, osprey a common sight, ravens bigger than chickens and smart enough to spot an unprotected sandwich.
Of course, there's always the scenery. Mountains in every direction and often underfoot. This is exactly on the continental divide and it seems every direction ought to be down. Nope, lots of up wherever you look. It took me days to realize that not only are we in the Rockies but we're crossing over them on a regular basis. That would explain the change in fuel mileage and the popping in my ears.
Our last full day in the area, the town of West Yellowstone had a Hot Rod show. Free to the public and very much a class operation. Two, count'em two, original Cobras. Each half a million minimum on the auction block. Also lots of much less expensive home-built rods and restorations. One fellow I spent a long time talking with had less than 4 grand in his self-bodied (handcrafted aluminum) custom starting with his son's junker Mustang.
Next Stop, Glacier National Park.
First, I thought that Yellowstone was all about the hydrothermal features, unique in the world. Very wrong. Even though they are indeed spectacular and interesting, the park is also about wildlife in nearly touching distance and breathtaking scenery. Okay, the thermal stuff does also qualify as scenery. The canyon, on the other hand, is even more of a spectacular visit than Old Faithful or even the Artist Paintpots.
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| Lower falls in Yellowstone Grand Canyon |
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| One of the many hot springs. Note how clear the water is. |
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| One more breathtaking vista (yawn). |
Second, Yellowstone is a lot of driving. Remember, the park is 2 million acres, about 50 miles square. Long distances from one feature to another. Fortunately, it's very much like driving through a 3-d postcard at 40 mph or less. We logged more than a thousand miles in the two weeks here. Every one of those miles was breathtakingly beautiful with something new around every bend. We also
hiked twenty or so miles on off-road trails always seeing something unique or beautiful.
Which brings up the next point - traffic. There's always a bunch of people on the road. Kinda handy for finding wildlife, just look for the traffic jams. After a while I got to thinking "It's just another herd of elk, what's the big deal?". Amazing how one's thinking adjusts.
Of course, where there is a lot of traffic, there are a lot of people. People from all over the world. We became accustomed to hearing German, Chinese, Hindi (I think), French and a smattering of Dutch and Spanish. One experience that sticks in my mind is seeing a group of hard-core bikers (Oh yes, the park is full of Harleys, more on that later) in full regalia, leather vests and pants, do-rag bandannas on their head, ponytails and beards. As they passed by me, I heard them speaking German to each other. Wouldn't have known it looking at them. About the Harleys - hundreds of them, usually travelling in packs, most often folks in their 50's and up just reliving their youth. Hard to find fault, especially from my own perspective.
Next is the wildlife. Not necessarily the big fellas, bison, elk, bears, deer, etc. As mentioned before, the woods are full of marmots, squirrels, there are otters in the rivers, osprey a common sight, ravens bigger than chickens and smart enough to spot an unprotected sandwich.
Of course, there's always the scenery. Mountains in every direction and often underfoot. This is exactly on the continental divide and it seems every direction ought to be down. Nope, lots of up wherever you look. It took me days to realize that not only are we in the Rockies but we're crossing over them on a regular basis. That would explain the change in fuel mileage and the popping in my ears.
Our last full day in the area, the town of West Yellowstone had a Hot Rod show. Free to the public and very much a class operation. Two, count'em two, original Cobras. Each half a million minimum on the auction block. Also lots of much less expensive home-built rods and restorations. One fellow I spent a long time talking with had less than 4 grand in his self-bodied (handcrafted aluminum) custom starting with his son's junker Mustang.
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| The $4000 custon (plus 4 years of work) |
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| The other end of the spectrum. |
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| This one had me going, I had to ask the owner. Hint for you gearheads - paired center exhausts and rear distributor. |
Next Stop, Glacier National Park.
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