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Sunday, September 30, 2007

Yellowstone #6 - The Big Hike


Today I want to show you the big hike we went on, about 5 miles, while we were in Yellowstone. The hike starts out following along the side of a big hill and the backside of Prism Spring. It's a huge spring and when the sun shines through the steam rising from the surface it's like a moving rainbow cloud. Of course my picture doesn't really show that part, but use your imagination.

After about a mile it turns and follows a trail through a new growth forest. After the big forest fires of 88 it took awhile for the trees to grow. They are now at the perfect Christmas Tree height so it was like walking through a Christmas Tree Farm. The main downside to this is that there wasn't a lot of shade.Next you come out into an area where you can see mostly burned trees. I don't think this is still from 88, it's probably a more recent fire. We followed along the base of this cliff for another mile and a half...with significantly less shade.Then, we were there! And this small stream of water just drops off the edge of the cliff several hundred feet. Between the shade of the cliff and the mist from the water, it's actually pretty cool under there. If you were brave enough to get wet, you probably could have swam right up to where the water falls.I love how the water shoots over the edge and doesn't even get the rock wet until almost halfway down.We rested there a little while, then headed back out, watching the beautiful views of the valley. One thing to say for the lack of trees is it makes for great views!

(This is the stream that flows out of the bottom of the falls. That's all the water there is!)I loved this hike and would love to do it again in another five years or so and see how much more the trees have grown. There wasn't a whole lot of up and down, especially compared to what I've done before, but it's still a nice challenging length, especially in the sun. But then again, give me another month or so and I'll be begging for some sun!

3 comments:

Jim Macdonald said...

It is a beautiful hike - the fall called Fairy Falls is 198 feet. When I first went there, there was a whole colony of marmots at the base of the fall; it was early in the morning, and I was the first person on the trail.

Did you go just a bit further to Imperial Geyser (and Splash Geyser)? Perhaps not, because you don't mention it. Too bad - worth going back to! You won't be sorry. The last time I did that hike last year, there were bison on the trail. But, after that, wow.

Jim Macdonald said...

Oh, by the way. The post has been linked in the Yellowstone Newspaper

Anonymous said...

Wow Laura, you are getting famous for your hikes. I just walk around my neighborhood and sneak up on the moose. There was one hiding behind a bush....a BIG bush the other day. I still think AK is the place to be when you want a REAL hike! joking! A. Melanya
PS Love the pic of your Mom and Dad. I'm praying!!!!