Yellowstone River and Yellowstone NP

After leaving Fort Robinson I joined a small group of the WINs in Big Timber, Montana.



We were camped right on the banks of the Yellowstone River.

 

There were five of us who kayaked 9+ miles of the river. 

 

 

Then we moved south to Mammoth Hot Springs CG in the National Park.  But before we could set up the RVs we had to negotiate the elk wandering about.

 

 

On one of our days there we drove (in cars) over the Beartooth Hwy to Red Lodge, MT.   Actually out of the park but a beautiful drive.  Much of it above timerline and with lots of switchbacks.

 

 

The U-shaped valleys were formed by glaciers -- way back when...

 

 

At the Mammoth Hot Springs area we viewed the springs that are bubbling boiling hot water filled with minerals which color the sediments.  Here the Minerva Springs.

 

 

Another area showing the beautiful colors.  Signs tell visitors "Do Not Touch-boiling temperatures".

 

 

Some of the mineral deposits have formed huge mounds.

 



You can see here how thin and fragile the surface is.  One bad step and .....

 



Another day we drove south to the Norris Geyser Basin, part of the huge Yellowstone caldera.

 

 

Emerald Pond.  Sometimes the steam is so thick you cannot see the emerald color.

 

 

 

 

Steamboat Geyser

 

 

Sorry aboaut the sideways photo of the Lower Falls.

 

 

And the Upper Falls.

 



On our way back to camp we encountered a bison jam along the road.

 



And also an elk jam to watch this guy wade along in the Yellowstone River.

 

 

Now we have moved on to Grand Teton National Park.  Our greeter here in the Gros Ventre (Gro Vant) CG was this bull moose quietly chewing his cud and watching these silly folks.