Old Faithful

Old Faithful is, if nothing else, faithful. After a few teasing spurts, the iconic geyser of Yellowstone Park erupted, a thousand shutters clicked, the small crowd cheered, and all was well with the world. Old Faithful, as it had since 1870, delivered.

I had always wanted to see Old Faithful. It's on my bucket list of Great American Sites. I've seen the Grand Canyon, which was grand, and Zion National Park and the Redwoods. 

The remaining big deal is Mount Rushmore. I've heard that it's kind of small, but I don't know about that. Most people are surprised by how big Stone Mountain is, but size is relative in oh so many ways.

Old Faithful, that wonder of natural wonders, is surrounded by concrete and benches. The visitor's center is big, and new, and glassy. There are a few hotels, and a massive gift shop that's full of exactly what you would expect.

I guess icons need all the support system. After all, the tourists on the busses who push and shove to take pictures of water squirting up into the air must stand somewhere. 

And if you're going to take a genuine Yellowstone shot glass with a wolf on it back to the other side of the world, you might as well buy it from the locals.

Don't get me wrong: Old Faithful Village isn't a commercialized island in the middle of the Aspens; it's all quite neat and clean and orderly. The National Park Service doesn't mess around.

As for Old Faithful, things remain the same: build up a head of steam, blow it off, and then settle back down. It's the way it should be, and you don't need a t shirt with a buffalo on it to appreciate it.

Yellowstone and the wildlife

Rule one: if you really want to see wildlife in Yellowstone Park pay a few bucks and get a naturalist and wildlife photographer to take you on a day-long tour. 

His name was Adam Brubaker. We left the hotel at 7 am, returned at six tonight, and saw wondrous things in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

Moose, wolves, deer, bison, pronghorns, more bison, elk oh my. Wonderful photographs by Rebecca and good ones by me. The scenery was spectacular, the weather ideal, and the whole experience will be a lifetime of memories.

More to come.

Big Sky Country

Rebecca and I agree: there's a reason they call it Big Sky Country. But to get to Big Sky Country (which is actually Montana, I know, but we're not there and the big sky doesn't stop at the state line,) you have to drive through the Bee Hive State.
Hands up, class! How many of you knew Utah was the Bee Hive State, and how many know why?
It was the perfect combination of factors: Rebecca won two round trip tickets on Southwest Airlines, Mark has a convention in Las Vegas, and Mark had never been to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Park or Wyoming or Montana.
We're off on another.
The crowded but on-time airline didn't lose our luggage and we made it to Salt Lake City. Then we drove for 4 1/2 hours to Jackson, Wyoming, through some of the most beautiful country in the US.
The pictures tell the story, even the part about the Wyoming State Trooper who gave Mark a warning about going over the 55 mph speed limit.
I was relieved this morning to see that not only does the Albertson's next door to the hotel have a Starbuck's (roughing it has its limits,) but also sells bear spray. If they are selling that stuff in the supermarkets, then a prudent person might pay heed to bear warnings, should they not?