Yellowstone National Park. Part 1.

8-28-2012

Our first day in Yellowstone National Park was Tuesday the 28^th.



We saw a moose at this stop but he was so far out we did not get a good picture of him, so we decided to put this picture of a heron that was also in the stream.



When we come into the park from the town of West Yellowstone we travel about 12 miles along the Madison river. This is one of the better stretches to see wildlife.



Terrace Springs.



Beryl Spring is interesting because it has a bubbling spring along with a couple of steam vents.



While traveling through the park we wanted to check out it’s campgrounds. When we turned into Norris Campground this buffalo was sitting in a wallow.



When we came out he was rolling in the wallow (which we did not get on film) but he then stood up and shook off some of that dust.

 



Not very far down the road we came to a halt. I wonder what could be holding up the traffic? Well……





Of course, “Buffalo”. This pair was just taking their sweet time strolling down the road.





There was a motorcycle a couple of cars behind us and at our next stop at Mammoth Hot Springs we visited with him a little. He said that after the car behind me got by the buffalo, both buffalo moved over and took over both lanes.
They look a lot bigger when you’re sitting on a motorcycle!!!!







Mammoth Hot Springs has changed a lot since we were here in 2008. They seem to be drying up as you will see in some of our 2012 vs 2008 pictures.
There are still some very picturesque areas.



This area was pretty much wet when we were here in 2008. Now it’s dry as a bone and looks like a salt bed.



Picture taken in 2012….



This photo is from 2008.



Here is a picture from 2012….



And here is one from 2008. What a difference.







In 2008 the color was all along the face of the springs.



This is the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.



In the town of Mammoth Hot Springs they have to protect their flowers from the herd of elk in the area. When we came here previously we have always seen elk, but on this trip there was not one to be seen.





We finally saw some elk and they were on that 12-mile stretch along the Madison that I mentioned at the beginning.



A few more elk were resting nearby the banks of the Madison River.



Until next time,

Dave and Sandy