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Wednesday, June 18, 1997
Gardiner, Montana to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
US's FlagMT's FlagWY's Flag

Map
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming:
Latitude: 44° 44' 24" North
Longitude: 110° 41' 30" West
Altitude: 7291 feet
From Seattle: 598 miles
Lodging: Camp - Norris Campground

Map
Today's Travel:
Country: United States
Regions: Montana, Wyoming
Route: US89
Start: Gardiner, Montana
Stop 1. Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces, Yellowstone National Park
Stop 2. Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful), Yellowstone National Park
End:Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Road Miles:135 miles
Linear:69 miles
Weather: Sunny / Hail / Thunder Storms

Available Photos:

Cupid Spring Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Canary Spring #1 Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Canary Spring #2 Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Angel Terrace Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Osprey Falls Yellowstone National Park, WY

Elk #1 Yellowstone National Park, WY

Elk #2 Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Resting Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Crowds waiting Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #1 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #2 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #3 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #4 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #5 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #6 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Old Faithful" - Erupting #7 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Unnamed hot spring Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Tortois Shell Hot Spring" in front of "Castle Geyser" Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Unnamed hot spring Punch Bowl trail, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Punch Bowl Spring" Punch Bowl trail, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Daisy Geyser" - Erupting Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Daisy Geyser" - Winding down Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Grotto Geyser" - Resting Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Riverside Geyser" - Warming up Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mud Pot Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Morning Glory Spring" #1 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Morning Glory Spring" #2 Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

"Morning Glory Spring" - with hail ripples Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Hail! Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Oops - My poor car Parking lot, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Gibbon Falls Yellowstone National Park, WY

All photo images © 1997-2000 Anthony Jones - Images may not be used without prior written approval.

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Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 69
Miles Driven:15369
Linear Dist: 55927
Countries Visited: 2
Regions Visited: 34
More stats...
Hotels: 29
Friends / Family: 19
Camping: 14
Hostels: 7
Beers: 177
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Journal Entry:
Early morning start (relatively). Sun was out, not a cloud in the sky so I put the top down. Got a sweet site at Norris Campground (in the park!). Stopped at Mammoth Hot Springs to take some more pictures in the sunlight.

Next, headed for "Old Faithful", figuring I'd beat the crowds... Wrong! It took me over four hours to drive the 75 miles. RVs mostly, some road work, and just general congestion. When I got there I checked the predicted next eruption - 1:25, checked my watch - 11:50, over an hour so I went for lunch. Oops, I don't wear my watch anymore, so it's still set for Seattle time, so I missed the eruption. I go strait to the geyser, and stake a front row spot. It's a nice day so I sit in the sun and read while waiting for the next eruption at 3:05. Old Faithful goes off at 3:13, it is impressive. I find myself thinking how cool it would be to come during the winter, the geysers in the snow, no crowds, peaceful.

I head out on the Upper Geyser Trail. About a half mile into the trail it starts to rain, hard. I think about my top being down, but it stops in a few minutes and it's sunny again. The for the next hour it alternates: Sun, hail, sun, rain on a five minute interval. I keep going, my car has been rained on (in?) before, and as long as it sunny every once in awhile it's a nice hike, besides the crowds are gone! I luck into catching Daisy Geyser's eruption. I get to Riverside Geyser (near the end of the trail) and it looks like it should erupt in a little bit (the guide says an hour or two). It looks real picturesque, so I settle down to wait. It starts hailing again. Ouch, it starts hailing hard. Harder. Ow! Ow! Ow! I give up on the geyser and start running. I give up on running and try to hide under some trees. The wind starts to blow - hard. Ow the tree doesn't work anymore. I try to run again. Ow. Brr. OW! BRRRRR! It stops hailing as I get near my car. I shovel out my car and go do laundry for the rest of the day.


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