Monday 18th September 2023
We drove to Yellowstone National Park. The park was established in 1872 and covers 3472 square miles, 2.2 million acres and extends across three states. It is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
The park sits on top of the largest super volcano in North America.
It is hard to wrap your head around the size of the park and the time is takes to get to different areas especially as there is only one road that loops around and the speed limit is 35mph as the roads are very windy, narrow and steep in a lot of places plus very very busy.
We decided to make our first visit a driving day to get to know the area and as we would be out all day we took Morgan with us. Dogs are only allowed inside a vehicle and at car parks. They cannot go on trails so this made it difficult for us to spend time there without her as it took us over an hour just to drive to the Northern entrance gate.
We would have loved to go to see Old Faithful and other geysers and also do some hiking but they were too far away. Another time!
The first day we drove over 150 miles which was very tiring but we saw some amazing scenery and just as we were leaving we saw a lone bison and then as we approached Mammoth Springs area we saw elk.
It was rutting season, the males who have spent all year wandering alone in the mountains come down to lower elevations looking for some action! Next to the post office in the town (was a town but really more like an administration and housing area for park staff) each afternoon the female elk go to chill on the nice lawns. We asked a ranger why they would want to be there in the middle of cars and people, he said they think it is because they actually feel safer as there are no wolves or bears and they go there every afternoon. Imagine when you clock on for work that day to find your shift is patrolling the road near the elks shouting at people to stay away from the elk and to keep the traffic moving.
The male elk we saw was huge. We did see some you tubes of the same area showing the males running after the females and making very loud noises early each morning. Poor girls.
https://www.tiktok.com/@ourseattletails/video/7280365012592446766
 |
| The drive to Yellowstone |
 |
| You can't see me, I'm hiding! |
 |
| You found me! |
 |
| The town of Gardiner |
 |
| Storm hit as we were driving home. |
No comments:
Post a Comment