Yellowstone #3 - Artist Paintpots

So, after the falls we drove over to Artist Paintpots which is a little trail (like 2/3 mile out and back) that goes around an area of thermal features, the most notable being the paintpots. The trail really isn't that long, but it does get really steep. You can see the trail down at the bottom from where we just climbed up (and I'm not even to the top yet.) The lower part of the trail is mostly hot springs where the ground water gets heated up by the fact that we're in a volcano and rises to the surface.

The different colored algae tells you how hot the water is (which is more evident in some of the Old Faithful pictures). The algae is everywhere that the water runs off, but it does make for some interesting features.

After climbing to the top you finally get to the Paintpots (otherwise known as mud pots). This is where there are springs coming up, but there is more loose dirt than rock and it mixes to make boiling mud. I have to admit that watching these things bubble and burp has got to be one of my favorites.

When you've finished being entertained, you come down the other side and try to enjoy the view while watching your footing.

On the way back to Grant at the end we drove past Gibbon Falls. I submit to you, is this a cascade or a waterfall? (I say it's a waterfall. I don't claim to know better than the rangers!)

We also made a quick stop at Old Faithful this day, but I will save all the Old Faithful stuff for next time.

Yellowstone #2 -- The Falls

Stage 2 -- Here we go.

We entered the park from the South entrance and drove up along this canyon toward Grant Village where we would be staying while in the park.

The canyon really is pretty amazing, but also probably the most bland thing we saw in the park. (You'll see what I mean soon enough!) We stopped at a small falls (well, small for the park) called Franklin Falls and my dad and I argued over whether this really was a falls or a cascade. (Does anyone know?) And then checked into our rooms at Grant, ate dinner, and heard a ranger talk (Thanks, Ranger Kevin!)

The next day was the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" and the Upper and Lower Falls. Although there are literally hundreds of waterfalls in the park, if someone is talking about "the falls" this is what they are talking about. The falls are probably the second most popular thing in the park with Old Faithful being the first. We wanted to do a hike on the South Rim, but they had the trail closed off for remodeling some of the overlooks. How weird is it to remodel nature? Anyway, with that option now closed, we drove around to the North side to some of the more popular overlooks. First we went down to the brink of the Upper Falls (the smaller of the two.) The ground vibrates underneath you from the power of the water going by.
This is the falls from further down the river. You really don't realize just how far that water drops standing on top of it. (The point that sticks out on the right side of the falls is where the previous picture was taken.)
After the Upper Falls we went further down the river to the Upper Falls, the largest one in the park. These things are so amazing! You can hear them from miles away.
In order to get to some of these lookouts, you actually have to go down into the canyon a little ways. This is our resting spot on the way back out. Hi mom and dad!

My dad and I still wanted to get a hike in that day, so we decided to hike along the North rim. There is a creek that comes out between the falls, and on that creek there is a smaller waterfall. We decided we wanted to go see it. So we sent mom off with the car to the other end of the trail, and started out. Going down some switchbacks, my feet slid out from under me and I fell pretty hard. I think I must have tweeked my back out pretty good because I was in pain for two weeks! My tailbone still gets sore if I sit on it for too long. (This will be an important factor in a later hike!) Anyway, we got down to the creek where a little bridge crossed it and found this little falls. It was a cute little spot that made you want to go swimming, but we were kinda shocked they actually marked this falls on a Yellowstone map.

Then we turned the corner.

So the first one wasn't actully the falls, this one was further down. The hike was pretty short, but it was a lot of fun (pain and all). And we rewarded ourselves with a picnic lunch and ice cream from Canyon Village. That wasn't the end of our day, but I will tell you all about Artist Paintpots next time!

The Tetons

I realized that I'd better get going on the rest of these blogs before I forget all the fun details of the trip! It's just so hard to find enough time all in one spot to edit the pictures and write the blog. I could split it up, but then I forget what I was thinking and lose my place, and...well, you understand. Anyway, this is for the Teton part of our trip.

(the back of the Tetons)

After spending the night in Idaho Falls we drove south along the backside of the Tetons to Jackson Hole. We stopped there for lunch and a little shopping and ate at this burger place that ended up being quite the adventure. The seating was all up at a bar and the restaraunt had a sort of 50's dinner feel. There were two cooks who thought they were hilarious and made fun of all their customers and flirted with all the girls. One of them, as part of the "show" finished off an entire glass of beer at once. The burgers were good though and huge. If you're in town I would recomend them, but bring your Tums, and get them to go!

(coming into the Jackson Hole valley)

Anyway, after stopping for fudge and taffy, we made our way up through the Tetons stopping in a few different places for pictures. The pictures, of course, cannot do the mountains justice, and I have never gotten over how you drive through Wyoming desert plains and the mountains just appear to jut up out of nowhere. They are truly breathtaking. So here are the pictures from the Tetons, I hope you like them!

P.S. I have decided to name the Sebring Ariel. It's a long story.