Wyoming

11/28/2023 07:09:00 PM

Wyoming

Location: Yellowstone & Sundance

When: mid October

Miles traveled: 1179

Price of gas: 4.09

Interest: Prairie dogs

High point: Gallatin Range (photo on right)

Low points: Camping in bear territory again

One thing learned: Snake River's head waters (where it starts) is in Yellowstone.

Jenny Lake overlook

Leaving Idaho, I drove to Jackson, Wyoming. The town, sometimes referred to as Jackson Hole (the name of the valley), is at the southern end of Grand Teaton National Park. Originally I had planned on not visiting this park, but while in Idaho decided I would drive through it on my way to Yellowstone NP. Thus, it was a short visit. My main stop was at Jenny Lake. Grand Teaton and The Jaw can be seen from Jenny Lake, but Middle and South Teaton are hidden. In my opinion, the best view of the three Teaton peaks is from a turnout called "Glacier view".

After driving through Grand Teaton NP, I arrived at Yellowstone NP and stopped at Grant Village/West Thumb Geyser Basin. West Thumb has a large variety of thermal features including: geysers, hot springs, paint/mud pots, and fumaroles. One geyser, called Fishing Cone, got its name from visitors who caught fish in the adjoining lake and promptly dropped the fish into the geyser's boiling water to cook! Cooking fish or dropping anything into the thermals is now illegal, and frequent signs remind visitors of this. Debris can alter the look and clog these fragile features.

a hot spring

mud pots

On my second day at Yellowstone, I explored the areas around Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. These areas are two hours south of Gardiner, MT (the town at Yellowstone's north entrance where I was camping). The 60 degree + no wind weather conditions made it super difficult to see Grand Prismatic Spring as it was covered by mist. Old Faithful was visible, and I watched it erupt twice. I also watched part of Castle Geyser's eruption. Castle is another predictable geyser. It usually has two eruptions a day and each last ~50 minutes. While watching Castle, another geyser, Lion Group, far behind it also erupted. It was neat to see so many geysers erupt during my visit when I only expected to see Old Faithful erupt.

Castle Geyser

Grand Prismatic Spring, top left corner

Castle on right, Lion Group in center, rainbow on left!

Driving back from Old Faithful, I stopped at what came to be my favorite place in Yellowstone, a road turnout at Swan Lake. At the turnout, Gallatin mountain range sits behind Swan Lake and the sun sets behind the lake too. Most striking was the vast expanse of distance ("Distance" is the best and most appropriate word I could find. "Space" is a good second, but not quite right. "Land" is a bad choice. [Cue Goldilocks.]) that stretched before, around, and encompassed me. It was an expanse without borders. Borders like those found in a photograph, electronic screen, car windshield, nor did trees block out the sky. It was wonderful. It also reminded me of the ending to "The Galaxy, and the Ground Within" by Becky Chambers, which also describes a moment of viewing a place without any visual borders. Or perhaps the book influenced my view of the mountain range and made it a better experience. Either way, it was my favorite spot.

I spent two more days in Yellowstone NP, and saw: a mud volcano, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, bison, elk, pronghorn, and a red fox. Unfortunately, I don't have time to write about all of these and talk about Devils Tower too. Some photos of these things are at the bottom.

On the other side of Wyoming is Devils Tower. Geologists have two main theories about how Devils Tower formed. 1) It is solidified lava from the neck of a volcano. 2) It's a sheet of molten rock that was pushed between other rock layers. As a child I thought it was 3) a giant tree stump. Today, I say it's a petrified giant tree stump. My theory is way cooler. But I'm not a geologist. I'll have to ask my geologist friend, Fr. Deacon Jeff, how he thinks Devils Tower was created.

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Stopping my car at a field reserved for prairie dogs, I was surprised to hear them start calling to each other. At least two were above ground, and I took a few close up photos by holding my phone camera up to binoculars. I thought they would all be underground in such cold weather. It was snowing with a high of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The night before, I slept comfortably in my car while the temperature dropped into the teens. While I probably would be fine sleeping in my car in single digit temps, I don't want to and I don't have to. I've decided when the temperature is expected to get that cold, I'll get a motel room for the night.

After Wyoming, I planned on driving to Montana in an attempt to visit the state before winter sets in. That will be the topic for next week.

The end.