Yellowstone National Park

There were also still huge swaths of burnt forest from the last set of fires that went through. They had threatened us with construction closures on the website, but as it turned out they hadn't actually gotten to that part yet, and while there were a lot of people there, it was not particularly crowded.

It was a lovely day, despite the remains of snow in some portions of the park, and I got my sunburn for the summer when I foolishly went around the hot springs loop without my hat.

West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail

This trail is mainly hot springs, beginning with a steaming bubbling pool in the central island of the parking lot.

Sadly, the mudpots (my favorite!) were not bubbling gloppily, but the animals were out in force, beginning with the scruffy-looking elk that wandered across the path as I turned back to my car.

Old Faithful Area Trail(s)

More scruffy-looking elk, sitting sunning themselves out in front of Old Faithful.

The path winds down past the Firehole river, into which the geysers run off. Even when there are no geysers going off, the ground steams noticeably.

This small unlabled geyser seemed to be bubbling over every few minutes. Meanwhile, back in the direction of the visitor center, a couple of bison were crossing Geyser Hill.

The second bison in the picture above left these footprints as he crossed the walkway. He leapt down off it very tidily, with that beautiful economy of movement you get from quite large animals. It was very impressive.

Closeup of that same bison, who settled in to grazing quite near the walkway, and was fortunately not interested in mauling those of us who wanted to pass closer by him than the warning signs suggested. (It's kind of hard to detour around the potentially dangerous animals when you're also required to keep to the boardwalks)

The elk were still there, disinclined to move, as Old Faithful went off. Below is a lovely pool filled by the geyser's runoff.

Token image from Grand Teton park, where I only drove through a corner on my way out. They had their construction up and running...

In this location Carmen Sandiego would probably steal: Old Faithful