Crinkly's Good Ole American Family Road Trip Day 12: Stay-cation day 3 (9/7/15)

Woke up early and after a quick breakfast headed out to the park to beat the crowds. Get into the park and head to West thumb to see the lake and some hot springs near there. Has some great views of the lake, which is clear water, very blue, with mountains in the background.

Approaching the pools and this is the view. Despite the mud pits, looks amazing! 

Not actual mud, but murky hot water. 

Some of the hot water flowing into the cool water creating steam. 

One of the named pools as we get closer to the shore.

Cant see it through the steam too much but apparently this pool is black.

Crystal clear! Cannot tell if this is a pool or a cliff. Amazing.

Bleeding into the lake.

Tell me you dont want to get in this water, regardless of how cold/hot it might be?

View of the shore around the park. Just showing how clear and immaculate the water is.

Beauty for days!

You can have your beach. Ill take this anyday.

Small cauldron of hot water at the edge of the coast.

These people have the right idea.

Squirrel! My lil buddy is just feasting before the upcoming winter.

As we cruise down the road, we stop for another view to see what one of the beaches look like.

Crinkly met himself another bison! 

Drove up to a lookout among a forest that had recently had some fire damage. Helped the views thats for sure.

View off in the distance of the Tetons (where we will go tomorrow).

Had some visitors as we were taking in the scenery.

Ma and wee one just foraging for some grub.

They are just running around not really minding us being there.

Drove down to some lakes to get some more water views.

Little less glare, little more beauty. 

Found a raging river. This is a place I would expect a bear to be fishing.

Giant mud pit. Doesnt look too great but the differences in scenery is cool.

One of the dried up lakes. boo global warming!

Water used to be where we are standing but it has been receding recently.

More steamy mud pits to take in. Its good for your pores.

Amazing the different colors of the grass over yonder and in the middle island by the water. 

Ending the day by some rapids and a waterfall - not a bad deal.

Wanna tube over this waterfall? Be my guest!

Incredibly beautiful. After walking around that area, we head to the Fishing bridge area to do some shopping and continue on to the Lake Butte overlook which gives some views of the grand Tetons in the distance and a more eagle eye view of the lake and surrounding areas. Then we went to the lakes near the east entrance, Sylvan was beautiful with similar water quality as the main lake while Eleanor was almost dried up and very unimpressive. After pulling a U-turn, we check out the mud volcano and the sulfur cauldron, both of which are not very impressive, especially after coming from the firehole river. Some of these could be better in the spring when there has been water accumulation in the pits. Then we go to check out the brink of the upper falls which has some nice views of some rapids and the waterfall as it cascades over. After that we head back home to make dinner and preparations for moving on.

Crinkly's Good Ole American Family Road Trip Day 11: Stay-cation day 2 (9/6/15)

After having some breakfast sandwiches we ventured into the park where we got stuck in some traffic trying to get up to mammoth springs. Eventually we make our way up there and the springs are anti-climatic as it is the end of summer and lots of the springs are dried up; would love to see them at the beginning of summer cause some of the cascades are really pretty.

More steam? Apparently this exists outside of the fire alley.

Crinkly likes these cascades (though wouldnt mind more water making them more prominent).

Barren wasteland. To me, this would be what I would imagine the moon or mars to look like (without the amazing sky)

Edge of Yellowstone out yonder.

That looks so weird with the brown stripe going down the middle.

This formation looks interesting.

Found some water for the cascades. You can tell where it is still flowing.

Some of the water is still there but most has evaporated. Next time maybe.

Little panoramic action from the top. 

Picture cannot do this natural beauty justice but I tried.

Top of the cascades looking out over the town. Yes this is what this trip is about. 

Some of the cascades dried up from the season.

Would not mind calling that home for year or 2 would you?

Beautiful creatures just resting in peace. Even with all these people walking around. As it should be.

Not a bad day to explore one of the preeminent parks in the USA. With Ole Glory flapping in the wind.

Eastern side of the park, these guys just sun bathing in the park. those horns on the one in the back look like they could do some damage.

Crinkly wants to go check out that white stuff over there.

Some of the springs. That looks like it would be phenomenal with more water.

Crinkly found the tundra. Nah the rocks just look frozen but does look fascinating.

Ever think the arctic could steam?

Getting into the canyon. Wonder what is in store for us.

First views of the great waterfall. 

If anyone ever wanted a pictorial definition of a treeline - here ya go (not the right answer but not a bad answer :) )

You like canyons? Yellowstone has those too!

Just filling Crinkly up with some waterfall water :p

Crinkly and I at a lookout far away from the waterfall.

A view even a blind person would love to witness. 

Water goes on for days. Cool being able to trace it way upstream.

Mommy and me posing with a delightful waterfall photobombing us.

This bridge/waterfall combo is pretty sweet.

We can see the end of the path. Lets see what this view is all about.

This is the kind of stuff that makes one thankful to be on this earth.

Our reward. Would you make the hike for that view?

Picture of sweaty me and Crinkly after the hike with the prize in the background.

Close up of the waterfall crest. there is a viewing platform with people right next to it.

Well we have seen the waterfall from a great vantage point. now we get to climb all the way back up. Would like to say it was worth it :) Daddy leading the way. (side note - look at that sky) 

Osprey nest in the middle of the canyon. 

Bear sighting!!!! First one in nature for me. yay!

Just wants to find some berries... or some honey :)

Such a beautiful creature... that will rip you to shreds if it wants.

Kind of amazing that this and the thermal pools from yesterday are in the same park.

There were elk all in the town laying around which were big and beautiful creatures in a very old timey town. After the springs we went down to the canyon and got to see some beautiful sights from different outlooks. My dad and I walked to the lookout point from the initial outlook and walked down the red rock trail to the outlook down below which had an amazing view of the waterfall. As we were leaving the grand view, we came upon a bear on the side of the road which was the first bear I have seen in the wild. We get back to the cabin, clean up, and then head to uncle Jim's (our friends grandfather's) for dinner and drinks and a great night. We had some tri tip (beef), and a good salad (he made some homemade dressing with everclear). Also had some good local rye whiskey and some delicious zin from California After many stories and discussions around the table, we headed back to the cabin to turn in and get ready for more exploring tomorrow. A busy day full of walking around and pretty weather (not a cloud in the sky most of the day) made for a long but productive day.