Yellowstone, Part 1
A Little History
Many of you know me as a speaker, writer, podcaster, pastor’s wife, my kid’s mom, etc….but what you may not know is that I majored in Recreation Management at Appalachian State University. When I told my grandaddy that I was going to be a Rec major, he said, “Well what does that mean? You’re going to sit on a porch in a rocking chair all day and get paid?” He was always a jokester.
I chose my major because the outdoors calms me and invites me to worship apart from the busy and worry of everyday life. I believe our spiritual, emotional and physical health are connected. We are whole beings who use our bodies to worship God in a variety of ways; whether singing in a worship service or allowing ourselves to be humbled by the enormity of God’s creation.
In university, I studied a conservationist named John Muir. I did not know him personally, but I resonate they way he felt “a spiritual connection to nature; he believed that mankind is just one part of an interconnected natural world, not its master, and that God is revealed through nature.“ He had a holistic, spiritual view of nature.” Muir’s love of nature inspired to write articles and advocate for the preservation these natural treasures for the sake of the environment as well as for human enjoyment. His passionate writings reached the ears of President Theodore Roosevelt and the two went camping in the Yosemite valley for three nights. Many consider this excursion “the most significant camping trip in conservation history” because it opened Roosevelt’s eyes to beauty of Yosemite valley (this is one of my favor, and served as a catalyst for the National Park System we enjoy today. In effect, our week of adventure in Montana and Wyoming this summer were possible in part because John Muir shared his passion with the world- now that will preach!
Grand Prismatic Spring
We entered the park through the West entrance. Soon after we entered, we passed a crowded parking lot not knowing it led directly to the path for the gorgeous Grand Prismatic Spring. We debated about turning around because our first visit was supposed to be Old Faithful. We didn’t turn around, and thankfully found a second trail which gave us a good view of the electric blue geyser from an overlook. We were not disappointed. Either trail to this spot requires a short hike. This site is sort-of crowded. Most people wore masks because the trail wide, but still felt close in proximity, especially while waiting to take pics. However, there was enough space to keep social distance. I sort-of regret not taking the first trail, but it was so crowded that I think our mistake ended up being the wiser choice because there are loads of geysers in the park.
Old Faithful
Next, we spent a lot of time in the car waiting in line to see Old Faithful because it is a must see in Yellowstone. This is a crowded site so everyone wore masks. To alleviate the awkwardness, we participated with others making jokes about Old Faithful not being so faithful because it did not erupt during the predicted time-frame, but when it did erupt everyone held their breath in amazement. Here are a few pics of the blast and the surrounding area. Approximately half of the world’s geysers are in Yellowstone, so while there are a lot of bubbling attractions in the Old Faithful area, I would advise you don’t miss the other equally beautiful hydrothermal features throughout the park which are not as crowded.
West Thumb Basin
We went to West Thumb Lake (Clayton kept calling it Wet Thumb, and we teased him) after Old Faithful and were not disappointed. The basin rests in the shore of West Thumb Lake, which is a lake attached to the larger Yellowstone Lake. The map, makes the lake look deceivingly small but it is huge. The lake’s shore has geysers and mineral residue, but is soon drops off and becomes a very deep crater filled with water. When we visited, the cloud cover and wind coming off the lake made me cold, but the steam blowing on the surface of the Abyss Pool was warm. We all commented that it would be cool to scuba dive to find the bottom of this deep majestic hole, but then we also noted how we would never survive. The enormous lake combined with the wonders of the basin make this a must see in my book.
From here we drove up the Yellowstone Lake coast to the fishing bridge and were able to view some long anticipated animals (see sidebar).
In Part 2, I will provide you with a description of the falls, Mammoth Hot Springs, and some beautiful scenery spots in the park which I hope to revisit and do some hiking and camping in the future.
Look at that Rack..oh and Buffalo
The elk’s racks were simply unbelievable. We were privileged to view them so close for so long…although we were super careful. There were a couple of park rangers trying to keep people from thinking they were stuffed animals, but we literally watched them eat as the sun went down on the lake. And then…we drove further up Yellowstone lake to discover a few buffalo! Yippee!
Things to Know
We decided to visit during COVID, so here are some things to consider. Food in and outside the park is mostly take-out and masks are required in town, in the park around crowds, and in restaurants. Because of this, we usually brought our own drinks and food to consume in the car. Car lines arriving and leaving required much patience. Park services are limited (such as the visitation center and limited lodging, however I did not feel overlooked or lost. Restrooms are accessible and have hand sanitizer but we brought our own as well. There are a lot of open trails and spaces where you can find solitude, but the primary sites have the normal amount of people who are also trying to social distance as well. I found everyone was polite and considerate. I hope this info is helpful and useful for you!
