What a shitty night. While Ferdinand was sleeping like a baby cuddled in two sleeping bags, the gentleman I am, I gave one of mine to Nicki. She already woke up before 6am in the morning and started a fire for us. Compared to Nicki and me, the two French girls Claudia and Maria -Lourea (sorry for misspelling) had a wonderful warm night in their car. Nicki works in the same country that she is from - South Africa - as a park ranger. So at night we put her at duty to watch out for bears and fight them in any case. That´s also why she woke up so early. The very morning is the best time to see wildlife such as bears or wolfs.
The french girls took off pretty early, too, because they had booked a wild water rafting tour - we were soo jealous. We started the day with a good long shower, while Ferdi again was taking double the time than I did. He says he needs a shower to wake up, plus a kilo of shampoo. I have to make some things clear at that point. I do take showers and I love them, plus you will find me jumping in every lake there is. I just love fresh water. The difference between Ferdi and me is that he always takes showers in the morning to wake up. I just think it makes more sense to shower after a 10 mile hike than before. If you camp in a national park and you need a shower, you have got to find one of those rare locations where you actually can shower. The average distance is about 10 to 15 miles from a camp spot. The nearest showers for us are at Roosevelt Lodge, just a little bit North of Tower Falls camp ground. We also bought snacks and supplies for the day and finally, after an hour, we took off to really start the day. It was 9 o´ clock, already too late to see some good wildlife. Nevertheless we gave it a shot and drove into the Lamar Valley. It is one of the best wildlife watching spots, plus it´s very scenery and host to a wolf pack. Nicki who got up early and left for Lamar Valley around 7am, like we did for the showers, got to see wolfs and bears. We hope that she is going to share some of her pictures here on this blog later.
Bison herd at Lamar Valley The french girls took off pretty early, too, because they had booked a wild water rafting tour - we were soo jealous. We started the day with a good long shower, while Ferdi again was taking double the time than I did. He says he needs a shower to wake up, plus a kilo of shampoo. I have to make some things clear at that point. I do take showers and I love them, plus you will find me jumping in every lake there is. I just love fresh water. The difference between Ferdi and me is that he always takes showers in the morning to wake up. I just think it makes more sense to shower after a 10 mile hike than before. If you camp in a national park and you need a shower, you have got to find one of those rare locations where you actually can shower. The average distance is about 10 to 15 miles from a camp spot. The nearest showers for us are at Roosevelt Lodge, just a little bit North of Tower Falls camp ground. We also bought snacks and supplies for the day and finally, after an hour, we took off to really start the day. It was 9 o´ clock, already too late to see some good wildlife. Nevertheless we gave it a shot and drove into the Lamar Valley. It is one of the best wildlife watching spots, plus it´s very scenery and host to a wolf pack. Nicki who got up early and left for Lamar Valley around 7am, like we did for the showers, got to see wolfs and bears. We hope that she is going to share some of her pictures here on this blog later.
She truly knows how to live and act properly in a natural park. One time when she was working at Kruger National Park, she guided a group of tourists while suddenly a leopard appeared in front of them starting to chase them. Nicki got out her rifle and would have had to shoot this beautiful animal, if it didn´t turn away right before it hit the group. I guess I should tell you also a bit more about the two French girls who came to the States with a tourist visa to work for something like a horse farm. They would ride the horses so they would get used to it. The mailed about 100 of those horse farms in all states, but once they called one, they actually got a job. If one of you is out there wanting to come here and be more than a tourist, there are ways and possibilities. This is such a great country!
It was too late for us to see wolfs or bears at Lamar Valley, but we saw huge herds of bison. Quelle surprise! They are everywhere. Though beautiful in nature and very much looking like Ferdi when he doesn´t shower - I´m glad he does - bison are just everywhere. So is Ferdi, always around. Most of the times we get along well. That is we don´t walk along, I am usually a little bit faster and have to pull him behind me.
BearJam - Why are there all these cars, ... It was too late for us to see wolfs or bears at Lamar Valley, but we saw huge herds of bison. Quelle surprise! They are everywhere. Though beautiful in nature and very much looking like Ferdi when he doesn´t shower - I´m glad he does - bison are just everywhere. So is Ferdi, always around. Most of the times we get along well. That is we don´t walk along, I am usually a little bit faster and have to pull him behind me.
After not seeing any impressive wildlife, we decided this day would be dedicated to hot springs, hot spring terraces, geysers, roaring mountains, grand prismatic springs and waterfalls. Where shall I start? Did I say we decided not to go for wildlife this day? Well, we intended to until we got into a bear-jam. Nope, it´s not food, though it would make a good marketable name. We got into a real traffic jam. The reason was a black bear who hid in the bushes about 10 feet away from the street. Several signs along the way require you to stay 100 yards away from bear and wolf and 25 yard from all other animals. Clearly this rule was violated heavily by dozens of cars, but what can you do if the bear decides to reside next to the road? First, I couldn´t figure out the reason why we were suddenly stopping. So I got out and walked upfront.
The black bear was camouflaged pretty good, so we couldn´t get a good shot of him - I mean camera shot. Who would shoot this beautiful animal. That´s not brave at all. Go and hunt ground squirrels, that´s way more challenging, plus I know someone who pays up to $1 for each dead ground squirrel. The black bear next to the road was indeed exciting, but not as much as we hoped to. We didn´t see much more than his ears and parts of his pelage shining through the woods. Then it took off, climbed up the hill and disappeared. That´s as much wildlife we got that day. After our unplanned encounter with this black beauty we drove to Mammoth Hot Springs. It was one of the earliest tourist sites of the park, when it was created in the 19th century. Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces are truly beautiful. There are no words for it. Look at the following pictures
There is a river called Gardener River that floats from Mammoth to Gardiner up north. Gardiner River was my favorite of all we have encountered in the park so far. I´d say it´s one of the hot spots in the world and by hot I mean really hot. Gardiner River is a chill and cool creek, but there is also another spring that pores out hundreds of gallons of hot water into the creek every second. As a result there is a basin where one can relax in the cold - warm - hot creek, depending on how you like it. The basin isn´t deeper than 3 feet and at some places as shallow as 1 foot. The hot spring doesn´t pore just at one spot into the cold Gardener River, but at many. Thereby a whole hot water front is created that clashes against the cold Gardener River. There is even one arm of the hot spring that floats into a small pond, 6x6 foot small, I call it baby basin. Well, that´s where Ferdi went to splash and chill. The other basin was about 12 x 100 feet big and offered way more different possibilities to find a good spot. There is hot showers, deeper and shallower spots. The best thing is to just meander around while floating on the water until you find your spot. Once you think it´s just perfect you will feel that the streams of hot and cold water are not steady, but that they will change from second to second by a few degrees. It feels like getting a massage.
While Ferdi was for about half an hour in the baby pond, I stayed in the bigger basin for one and a half hour. Ferdi went back to the car and took a really long nap. After he had already slept like a baby, cuddled in its hoody and two sleeping bags, I really do not know why he had to catch up sleep. Well, I say let him do! Why not. I enjoyed my vacation in the hot spring a lot. It wasn´t only for the hot water, but also for the excellent company in the hot spring. In a relaxed atmosphere like a hot spring good conversations almost emerge naturally. Everyone who has been in a hot tub must know that. Now imagine a natural hot tub without all the chlorine, but with fresh air, a lot of space and right in nature! That´s what it is like there, currently my favorite spot in the world.
Meandering around I found a really nice spot next to a man called Herb. He is from Cody, Wyoming, that lonely place we had passed before. He said he´d come up to Yellowstone for a day together with his wife. How blessed they are to have this paradise in front of their door. Herb just hosted two other Germans via couchsurfing. He also likes to fly fish, ride the motorcycle and live a healthy life. Later we met Terry together, a man from Florida on a three-month summer vacation through all the national parks. We talked about physics, beauty of nature and much more. Time passed by and I was happy to be in such an interesting company and good conversation.
I didn´t see Ferdi for ages. I decided to say Goodbye to my fellow folks and to look for the man who shares the car and tent with me. I was looking everywhere, but I couldn´t find him. Did he drown? Did he float away? ... Or was he burned by the hot water? Luckily I found him later resting in the car. I honestly cannot understand why on earth someone would leave such a great spot. I would have stayed a few more hours. Back in Maastricht Ferdi swims like a fish in the water, but only if it isn´t too cold. Therefore, I thought this hot spring would be as enjoyable as it was for me. Maybe he was pissed by too many babies peeing in the baby pond - literally.
On the way back to the car I met a group of Dutch travelers, who must have been from the Dutch bible belt. There wasn´t a single American on this trip I couldn´t approach and have a few words with. In fact Americans are very social and , but these Dutch people just weren´t. Nothing against Dutch in general, I study in the Netherlands, have a lot of Dutch friends and I love their excellent cuisine (fries, kaas brodje and cheesburger). For me this group of Europeans stands exemplary for a difference between Americans and Europeans. In Europe people tend to be more serious and for themselves. My impression can be shaped by the fact that we are working and studying in Europe and on vacation in the States, but I believe the trend is there. We keep meeting funny and interesting Americans every day.
Meandering around I found a really nice spot next to a man called Herb. He is from Cody, Wyoming, that lonely place we had passed before. He said he´d come up to Yellowstone for a day together with his wife. How blessed they are to have this paradise in front of their door. Herb just hosted two other Germans via couchsurfing. He also likes to fly fish, ride the motorcycle and live a healthy life. Later we met Terry together, a man from Florida on a three-month summer vacation through all the national parks. We talked about physics, beauty of nature and much more. Time passed by and I was happy to be in such an interesting company and good conversation.
I didn´t see Ferdi for ages. I decided to say Goodbye to my fellow folks and to look for the man who shares the car and tent with me. I was looking everywhere, but I couldn´t find him. Did he drown? Did he float away? ... Or was he burned by the hot water? Luckily I found him later resting in the car. I honestly cannot understand why on earth someone would leave such a great spot. I would have stayed a few more hours. Back in Maastricht Ferdi swims like a fish in the water, but only if it isn´t too cold. Therefore, I thought this hot spring would be as enjoyable as it was for me. Maybe he was pissed by too many babies peeing in the baby pond - literally.
On the way back to the car I met a group of Dutch travelers, who must have been from the Dutch bible belt. There wasn´t a single American on this trip I couldn´t approach and have a few words with. In fact Americans are very social and , but these Dutch people just weren´t. Nothing against Dutch in general, I study in the Netherlands, have a lot of Dutch friends and I love their excellent cuisine (fries, kaas brodje and cheesburger). For me this group of Europeans stands exemplary for a difference between Americans and Europeans. In Europe people tend to be more serious and for themselves. My impression can be shaped by the fact that we are working and studying in Europe and on vacation in the States, but I believe the trend is there. We keep meeting funny and interesting Americans every day.
Just a couple of hours after I almost dissolved in the hot spring, we met Mike and Tina (M&T) with their kids. They were from the middle of Wisconsin, a small place called Pittsville. This information should already be enough for all of you to find out who they are. Internet is scary, isn´t it? Back in Wisconsin M&T raise horses, in Yellowstone we met them at Old Faithful to watch the Old Faithful Geyser erupt. As the geyser only erupts about every 90 minutes, we had to wait another 40 minutes when we arrived. That gave us a lot of time to chat with M&T. The geyser itself was pretty cool. Check out these pics.
On the way to Old faithful we also passed Gibbon Falls and Grand Prismatic Springs. Nicki had lent us her lonely planet Yellowstone travel guide for the day, plus she gave us some really good tips:
1. When you want to see Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace take the upper parking lot. 2. When checking out Grand Prismatic Springs, don´t take the main parking lot, but instead keep driving on main road for 1/2 a mile until you reach a parking lot, called Fairy... something. From there you can start a small hike up a mountain. You will most definitely get the best view from up there.
Does anyone remember the fairytale in which dwarfs buried gold at the end of a rainbow, for you to dig it out? For those who have tried so, like my sister, you will notice that you can never make it to the start of a rainbow. If you want to know the exact physical explanation why you can´t as Ferdi. Grand Prismatic Springs is worth more than any gold. Prismatic, refers to the various, rainbow colors that you can find within and outside the pond. The sand is red and orange, whereas the lake is yellow, green and blue. No gold can buy you that view. Nature just has to be. Yellowstone is a blast. There is just site after sight after sight, keeping surprises ready for you any second. It´s better than any amusement park. Please don´t go to New York, L.A. or Miami, go check out Yellowstone!
1. When you want to see Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace take the upper parking lot. 2. When checking out Grand Prismatic Springs, don´t take the main parking lot, but instead keep driving on main road for 1/2 a mile until you reach a parking lot, called Fairy... something. From there you can start a small hike up a mountain. You will most definitely get the best view from up there.
Does anyone remember the fairytale in which dwarfs buried gold at the end of a rainbow, for you to dig it out? For those who have tried so, like my sister, you will notice that you can never make it to the start of a rainbow. If you want to know the exact physical explanation why you can´t as Ferdi. Grand Prismatic Springs is worth more than any gold. Prismatic, refers to the various, rainbow colors that you can find within and outside the pond. The sand is red and orange, whereas the lake is yellow, green and blue. No gold can buy you that view. Nature just has to be. Yellowstone is a blast. There is just site after sight after sight, keeping surprises ready for you any second. It´s better than any amusement park. Please don´t go to New York, L.A. or Miami, go check out Yellowstone!
We ended the day by taking the Blacktail Plateau Drive, a lonely 10-mile dirt road through the hills. It´s supposed to be an excellent bear watch road. We gave Silver Surfer a hard time - all these bumps he had to drive through. The only thing we saw was an excited crowd jumping out of the car in front of us chasing down the hill. When we stopped and asked them what their deal was, they said they had just seen a black bear. By the time we got out of our car, the bear was of course gone. What a shame.
By all this swimming, driving and sightseeing we were so hungry. We finished the day where we started it - at Roosevelt Lodge. One of the Roosevelts, Ferdi will know which one, once resided there. What would be more suited than a president´s lodge to dine? Actually, at another location we grilled and cooked our own dinner at a campfire, but more on that in a later post. At Roosevelt Lodge I ate my favorite bison burger and Ferdi ate spaghetti bolognese. I have to mention that the night before we dined at the same place. While I had a bison burger, too, Ferdi ate his favorite dish: spare ribs.
There is much more to explore in Yellowstone than there could fit into this blog. We will leave these pictures and let you do the rest with your imagination. Next is Grand Teton and Salt Lake City!
Here are some more impressions of the day...
There is much more to explore in Yellowstone than there could fit into this blog. We will leave these pictures and let you do the rest with your imagination. Next is Grand Teton and Salt Lake City!
Here are some more impressions of the day...