Two Weeks - Four Park Visits

I arrived here in Gardiner two weeks ago today.  It seems like so much longer ago, because of all that I've already done and seen here.  My work is going well (I've actually worked seven days since arriving) and I've been able to spend a little time in Yellowstone National Park.

With the high cost of gas ($4.99 as of this writing) . . . and expected to continue to go up throughout the summer . . . my initial thoughts of spending A LOT of time inside the park might not happen.  Yesterday I filled up inside the park for the first time, and even with my YPSS employee discount (we operate the service stations), it was $54 for 12 gallons (I still had a quarter tank when I gassed up).  I could easily see myself spending a tank or two a week given a "short trip" inside the park is 100 miles and a moderate one is 250, give or take.  So a short + moderate trip would be one tank or $65~ish.

I do like that I am so close to the NE Entrance (less than two miles from my apartment to the gate.  And the upper portion of the Grand Loop Road has some outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities including the world famous Lamar Valley, aka the Serengeti of North America (or so they say).  Bison, moose, wolves, bears, pronghorn and big horn sheep all call this home.  Some days it's a challenge to see any animals, and others they seem to be everywhere . . . especially the bison.  Here's a short video of the bison jam I was in last Wednesday night after work. 

Over the past seven years, I have vacationed here in late May/early June.  I cannot remember so much snow still on the ground . . . and NEVER ice still on Lake Yellowstone.  Locals tell me they had lower than normal snowfall this past winter, so all I can think is that it's been colder than normal this spring hence the lack of melting of snow and ice throughout the area.  It is true what the say that the park never looks the same . . . year-to-year and month-to-month.  I'm excited to see it again this year, just a little different that in my past visits.

Lake Yellowstone May 25th

Dunraven Pass June 1st

With springtime comes wonderful waterfalls as the snow caps melt.  And with all the rain we've had over the past couple of weeks, they are especially beautiful.  This is one of the roadside waterfalls on the East Entrance Road.  There have been times in the past when I've driven by this spot and it was barely a trickle!

Rain is good, and it's the reason why I'm here at home on my day off processing photos and blogging instead of being out in the park today.  I woke up to loud rain against my window, and the forecast throughout the region is for more rain.  So I decided to stay in and take advantage of the time to share more on my blog!

For true outdoors people, rain doesn't deter them from being out, doing what they love.  Yesterday I saw men out fly fishing in the rivers that run through the west side of the park.  They look like dots here but I loved this image!  "Everything" you think of when you talk about Yellowstone NP. 

Some of the streams are still snow packed, as the water runs through melting along the shoreline.  I found this to be a pretty scene as I was driving through the park one afternoon

It's been fun watching families as they drive through the areas still covered with snow.  Children playing in the snow, making snowmen and doing things that kids growing up in the deep south may never have experienced.  I like to try to see the world from the perspective of others . . . and especially a child filled with wonderment for things they have never experienced.

This is one of the marvelous things about Yellowstone National Park . . . there is always something to marvel at . . . experiences and sights yet to be had.  You just never know what you may find yourself encountering on any given day because each day brings a new view.