So... started this post ages ago... determined to finish today!
I gotta finish up these posts about my girls trip because in two days we'll be in Vegas and there will be other things to write about!
Monday, Julia had planned for us to go to Yellowstone. Despite the grim weather forecast we decided to go anyway! It was about a two hour drive but, like the trip to Jackson Hole, it was beautiful country to drive through! When we got to Yellowstone we immediately realized it was definitely spring/summer time. There were babies everywhere! It was so fun! Baby bison, baby elk, baby deer... LOTS AND LOTS OF BABIES!!!!
Our first stop was at Fountain Paint Pots springs. I had been here once before with my family but I didn't remember a lot. It was very fascinating. They have boardwalks all over these hot springs that are EVERYWHERE! Some of them, because of the minerals in them, were colored blues, yellows, rusts... 
So beautiful! The pictures really don't do them justice! However, as is the case with most hot springs, there was lots of sulfur in the air... and my my... so stinky!
Julia had her heart set on doing a hike and in spite of the crummy weather we decided to press on! We went on a little hike up to "Mystic Falls"... and this is where the fun begins! We got about 50 yards from the car on our "hike" when we were dismayed to see that most of the next 50 yards were basically under water. Apparently thunderstorms and late spring thaw runoff were the culprits. We stood there, looked at each other, briefly discussed and then with my encouraging words of "Oh well... you only live once", still ringing in our ears, we did our best to leap over the first big "puddle", and then proceeded to wade through the next part of the path. The water was cold but it wasn't too bad.
Shortly after wading, we saw a large bison just a little ways off the path. I reached into my pocket to grab my camera and.... nothing. Hmm... I must have put it in the backpack. Nope... not in the backpack. Because Julia was the only one in waterproof hiking boots (Mary Ann and I were in mesh tennis shoes... hehe) she was volunteered to go back to the ca
r to see if I left it there. After five minutes I was concerned. She came back empty handed and was just about to re-jump over our first "puddle" when she stopped, bent down and picked something up from out of the water.... Any guesses what it was??? :( No bueno. So... most of the pictures from this day of the trip and the rest of the trip are NOT from my camera. ***A note: Since then I am happy to report that I was able to rescue the SD card... the camera turns on... but the flash doesn't work... and it only takes pictures in some of the modes. Sounds like it's time for a new camera!***
But after the tragedy was accepted, we mourned, the poor camera was honored, and then we pressed forward! Through muck, up hills, over mini falls and finally, we arrived at Mystic Falls! It really was breathtaking. I am always amazed by the power of Mother Nature. It has a humbling way of making me feel so small. We ate lunch at the lookout over the falls and then decided that instead of going back the same way we came we'd take the loop up and around. It was worth it... we were privileged with some more amazing vantage points and spectacular views!
I gotta finish up these posts about my girls trip because in two days we'll be in Vegas and there will be other things to write about!
Monday, Julia had planned for us to go to Yellowstone. Despite the grim weather forecast we decided to go anyway! It was about a two hour drive but, like the trip to Jackson Hole, it was beautiful country to drive through! When we got to Yellowstone we immediately realized it was definitely spring/summer time. There were babies everywhere! It was so fun! Baby bison, baby elk, baby deer... LOTS AND LOTS OF BABIES!!!!
Our first stop was at Fountain Paint Pots springs. I had been here once before with my family but I didn't remember a lot. It was very fascinating. They have boardwalks all over these hot springs that are EVERYWHERE! Some of them, because of the minerals in them, were colored blues, yellows, rusts... 
So beautiful! The pictures really don't do them justice! However, as is the case with most hot springs, there was lots of sulfur in the air... and my my... so stinky!
Julia had her heart set on doing a hike and in spite of the crummy weather we decided to press on! We went on a little hike up to "Mystic Falls"... and this is where the fun begins! We got about 50 yards from the car on our "hike" when we were dismayed to see that most of the next 50 yards were basically under water. Apparently thunderstorms and late spring thaw runoff were the culprits. We stood there, looked at each other, briefly discussed and then with my encouraging words of "Oh well... you only live once", still ringing in our ears, we did our best to leap over the first big "puddle", and then proceeded to wade through the next part of the path. The water was cold but it wasn't too bad.Shortly after wading, we saw a large bison just a little ways off the path. I reached into my pocket to grab my camera and.... nothing. Hmm... I must have put it in the backpack. Nope... not in the backpack. Because Julia was the only one in waterproof hiking boots (Mary Ann and I were in mesh tennis shoes... hehe) she was volunteered to go back to the ca
r to see if I left it there. After five minutes I was concerned. She came back empty handed and was just about to re-jump over our first "puddle" when she stopped, bent down and picked something up from out of the water.... Any guesses what it was??? :( No bueno. So... most of the pictures from this day of the trip and the rest of the trip are NOT from my camera. ***A note: Since then I am happy to report that I was able to rescue the SD card... the camera turns on... but the flash doesn't work... and it only takes pictures in some of the modes. Sounds like it's time for a new camera!***
But after the tragedy was accepted, we mourned, the poor camera was honored, and then we pressed forward! Through muck, up hills, over mini falls and finally, we arrived at Mystic Falls! It really was breathtaking. I am always amazed by the power of Mother Nature. It has a humbling way of making me feel so small. We ate lunch at the lookout over the falls and then decided that instead of going back the same way we came we'd take the loop up and around. It was worth it... we were privileged with some more amazing vantage points and spectacular views!
All in all it was a great hike! We ended the day by visiting Old Faithful! Julia had missed an eruption last time she visited with her family and was bound and determined to see one this time! Mary Ann had been young the last time she was there and didn't remember too much. It was fun! We didn't have to wait too long either... We were only sitting there for about ten minutes
! Once again, it made me appreciate the power and majesty of nature!After the eruption we hit up a couple of the buildings and shops just to check things up. We were all starving so we grabbed some overpriced marginal food (but what are you gonna do? :) ) before leaving the park. The drive home was fairly uneventful with the exception of it taking us 45 minutes to exit the park because some bison decided to just stand in the middle of the road. We all joked that that's probably what they do for fun... dare each other to walk out and stand in the road just to screw with the humans. I wouldn't doubt it! ;)
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