December 22, 2024
Baby it’s cold outside!!! It rained last night so Bozeman is very cold and icy as we head off to Yellowstone!!
We traveled south along the Yellowstone River through breathtaking mountain scenery on our way to Mammoth Hot Springs. We were only on the road for a few minutes when we spotted some long horn sheep and an eagle high in the tree!!!
Lunch was in Gardiner a small town, just before the Roosevelt Arch that marks the entry into the park. When the Roosevelt Arch was dedicated by Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 Gardiner was the most important gateway to Yellowstone, the first park and a jewel in the national park crown. On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres, of unparalleled beauty providing abundant viewing of wildlife in an intact ecosystem, geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and don’t forget Old Fateful!!! We will be exploring all of it in the snow and with very limited tourist!! In the winter they restrict the number of people allowed into the park and you can only go with a guide.
As we explored the steaming, limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs I was struck by not only the beauty of the area but the quiet as we were the only ones on the wooden terraces that are jammed with thousands of tourist in the summer. What a spectacular site!!!!
We Walked down the terraces to our hotel the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel named after nearby springs. The hotel as it stands today was built in 1936, while retaining a wing of guest rooms originally built in 1911. It is beautifully decorated for the holiday season!!!
The beauty of Yellowstone is overwhelming!! Since I was just in Patagonia I thought Yellowstone would be a letdown, I was so wrong. Tomorrow we head to Lamar Valley that is called the Serengeti of Yellowstone and I am confident that we we see the illusive grey wolf!!
Absolutely a “Best Day Ever…so far”!!!!
Mary, what a fantastic trip to South America you had! We did too, but some very different itineraries, we did Igauzú Falls and if you haven’t been, it’s just unbelievable! We did Yellowstone last year and stayed in Gardiner, charming town. It wasn’t crowded thankfully, but not the beautiful sights you’re getting with pretty much nobody and some snow in the ground. Hope you get to see the Gray Wolf, and seems you’re already enjoying your time. Brhobbs57@yahoo.com and I’m on FB too if you do that, profile pic is me and my husband in front of the step pyramid at Saqqara. I also sent an FB friend request if you’d like….