INSIDE Yellowstone

We left the quaint little town of Gardiner and headed into Yellowstone for our very FIRST campsite experience and to explore the rest of the park.

We experienced lots of geysers, some smelly…some not so smelly, more bison and mule deer.....lots o' glorious mule deer.  Sorry Brian, we couldn't resist.  OK, OK, maybe they're elk... masquerading as mule deer with white tuchus's (a.k.a behinds). 

We weren't so lucky in the bear or moose spotting department but we did see two of mom's favorite.....wolves, thanks to a fellow traveler's generous use of his telescope.

A nice clean RV park alongside the Yellowstone River just one mile away from YNP.

The town of Gardiner: note the two kayaks in the front lawn across the river.  Very cool and authentic we thought.

We're now card carrying members.



Just another commuter putting up with traffic.  Thankfully for us loser humans he didn't have road rage and a rifle



Lounging by the lake

So ugly he's cute calf

The view is never boring.  Redundant, but never old.



Uinta ground squirrel living right next to the previous hot spring shot.  We called him "Adrenaline junkie squirrel" as these 'springs' are not only lava hot, but are as acidic as battery acid.  These are not your common 'resort hot springs' folks.



Harper could handle the smell....Jack could not.





This photo is for posterity:
Dad on the phone with the RV guy to find out why are water tank was leaking.  Mom helped by looking at the manual to find out that....the tank was full and not leaking after all...only over flowing because it was full. 
PS  Author is laughing hysterically while typing (while not forgetting how hot and adorable said husband is). 



"Baby it's cold outside"

Our campsite/campfire covered in snow.
Our kind campsite neighbor let us use his.*
*no kidding...all Naon's said simultaneously, "We must not be in Spokane anymore!" 

The kids checking out the specimens at the Jr. Ranger talk 

Pyro Jack lighting his first campfire.

This picture speaks volumes

Our first S'mores at our first campfire.
Dad's expression says it all...."I like hook-ups."  (ie RV hook ups = eletricity/water and heat).

 

Jack and Harper getting their VERY FIRST JR. RANGER BADGE.  At Yellowstone National Park no less!!!!

Yellowstone National Park: Mammoth to Lamar Valley

We finally made it to one of our prime destinations: Yellowstone National Park.  We spent the night before in Gardiner, a cute little town just a mile outside the north entrance of Yellowstone.  We spent our first day exploring the north end from west (Mammoth Hot Springs) to east (Lamar Valley).

We were in AWE. The size of the park, the landscape and wildlife were truly a sight to be seen. YELLOWSTONE IS A MUST SEE.  We already want to come back and we haven't left yet.   
JACK: "There were bison e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e......and a squirrel."

HARPER: "Being SO CLOSE!  I was only 10 feet away from a bison which was right behind our car!"

JEFF: "I can't articulate into words the sheer beauty of the park."

North Entrance

The world's first national park 1872

Pronghorns

Mule deer

Mule deer

This big boy bison was right next to our car.

Scratching an itch?

Pronghorns



Lamar Valley: we were hoping to see a wolf at dusk but instead we saw plenty of....



bison!



We caught a few casually heading off to their deluxe accomodations for bed.  We all laughed pretty hard.







Harper loved the soft and fuzzy antlers on this beauty of a Mule deer.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Heading up to the top of the Mammoth Hot Springs

The kids thought this looked like roasted marshmallows.

We thought this looked like Superman's home on Krypton

View from the top of Mammoth at dusk.  We were the only one's up there at the time...



Finally.....the top!



Jack happily heading down from the top

Liberty Cap: dormant hot spring cone