Day 8: First Day in Yellowstone

Today was our first day in Yellowstone! Before we sent on into the park we stopped at the Silver Gate General Store for some milk and lunch meat. When we pulled up Britt spotted a buffalo beside the building. At first we weren't sure if it was real, but after we looked at it a little while we realized it was chewing so it was real. That was our first encounter with the buffalo. When we went in the store we asked the man what we should do just expecting him to tell us the main things, but he was much more helpful than expected. He gave us a map and drew all over it showing us all the secret places and best places. We used that map and his directions as if they were the only directions and then were great!

Once we got into the park our first stop was a little lake back off in the woods. He said the hike was about 20 minutes, when we did it we had to go a little slower. But, we made it! Up the trail to the lake all the way around the lake and back down the trail. It was a long 2 mile hike and i am sure we will all be sore tomorrow. But Mom did it and she was excited just to be able to go with us!

Next we went to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and saw the water falls. The man that gave us the map told us the best view was from Artist Point so that is where we went and I think I agree with him! That waterfall was huge and so powerful and we were on a bridge right over the river that came from the falls. That river was so far down and the canyon was to seep! That has to be one of the best views in Yellowstone!

After the falls we went to our fits geyser basin! Norris Geyser basin has a ton of hot springs that were very pretty, but it smelled awful! The whole places reacked with sulfur! Just not a pleasant smell at all. I wanted to know how hot the water was so instead of touching it and getting thrown in jail, I asked the ranger. He told me those were the hotest set of geysers and their average temperature was 160-180 degrees!! One of the springs once reached 280 degrees!! That sure is some hot water!

While driving around some of the smaller cut off roads Dad spotted an enormous elk. He was a 5 by 5 which means he had 5 horns on both sides, but instead of the horns going up about a foot they stretched about 4 feet in the air! Dad couldn't resist himself so he and Austin went a little closer to be sure to get a better picture and they did! That bull was so big and so beautiful laying down in all the green grass with his horns standing so high.

The funniest thing that has happened thus far was the traffic jam we got into today! We just thought there must be an animal on the side of the road, but once we got close enough we realized there was a buffalo walking down the center of the road. Cars were trying to pass it, but that took a while. Finally, we got to the front of the line and passed it. When we drove by it was only 2 ft away from our car. Dad tried to reach out and pet it but we yelled at him not to! Mam said it was just a parade and it sure seemed like one. Today was a first during our first day in Yellowstone!

Funny Comments:

Mom- No the buffalo is walking down the center of the road, it is like a parade!