To Mammoth and Beyond!

Happy Saturday!

I am sure you will all be happy to know that I finally got a good night's sleep and am much perkier today! Good thing too because Ken tried to kill me. More on that later.

This morning we breakfasted at a little bakery down the street. There were two couples ahead of us who had to know the ingredients of every item in the bakery case. The woman actually asked if the huckleberry scones had sugar in them. Come on woman, they had a white glaze all over the top and huckleberries are notoriously sour! The finally left without buying anything. Probably on to a more heart healthy breakfast at McDonald's. We ordered croissant breakfast sandwiches that were wonderful!

Today's itinerary was the northern loop of Yellowstone park. We mainly drove, didn't pull out much. Being the July 4th weekend, the park is very crowded. Sometimes though, it seems hard to find an American. We've hear just about every language from Chinese to Aussie. The park is especially teeming with Chinese and Japanese tourists. At dinner last night there was a group of elderly Japanese women. They were served huge hunks of prime rib with dinner salads. Their expressions were funny as they tried to figure out what to do with the plate of lettuce but even better when they saw that hunk of half raw beef in front of them!

As we drove today we encountered several "animal jams". These occur when one car stops to look at an elk or buffalo and every car behind them stops to gawk with them. I think "animal jams" are only appropriate when there is a grizzly bear, of which we saw one again today.

Our first stop today was at Mammoth Hot Springs. To me this is the most beautiful area of the park. There are massive white cliffs with hot spring pools and waterfalls flowing over the cliffs. There is a gorgeous hotel that must have been built in the '20's because of the craftsman architecture throughout the lobby. Just off the lobby is a meeting room and on the wall of the meeting room is a huge map made entirely of inlaid wood. Each state has it's own kind of wood. It is a beautiful piece of art work. In the lobby are some unusual easy chairs and ottomans. Ken plopped down in one while I was shopping. He encouraged me to try one and I think we sat there for 15 minutes just enjoying the comfort of the chairs.

Mammoth is home to Fort Yellowstone. Yellowstone Park was established by Congress in 1872 as the people of the United States began to understand and value the scarcity of the American wilderness. Yellowstone Valley became a protected area but this only encouraged poachers, miners and other opportunists who wanted to take advantage of the tourists and the natural wonders of the area. In response, Fort Yellowstone was established and the Army of the Yellowstone was created. The Army of the Yellowstone was a division of the regular army and was considered to be a prime assignment for the soldiers posted there. Rather than being crudely built as most forts of the day were, the buildings of Ft Yellowstone were built of natural stone. As a result, the original buildings still stand and are used for housing for park personnel.

Our prime destination today was the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This is where Ken tried to kill me. DISCLAIMER: Ken did not actually try to kill me but it was his idea to take the trail down to the brink of the falls. The trip down is a steep 3/8 of a mile descent and a 600 foot drop in altitude. This means that the trip up is a steep 3/8 of a mile ascent with a 600 foot gain in in altitude. I thought I was gonna die! Fortunately, the park service anticipated the possibility of such near death experiences and place benches at the top of most of the steepest climbs. What was cute though is the friend I made. There was this little elderly Chinese lady who I noticed was stopping when I stopped and walked when I walked. After the first couple of stops she would pat the seat next to her inviting me to sit down. A few stops later we began a conversation and this continued all the way up the hill. She didn't seem to be as winded as I but she did say she was tired. It made it somewhat easier to get up that hill. I do have to note, Ken walked most of the way up the hill with us and by the end he was getting winded too.

Our time in Yellowstone is almost over. Tomorrow we will drive back through the park and south to Jackson Hole. Then it is on to Rock Springs to do laundry. Monday evening we will be in paradise. The mountains are calling. I must go.