7/9/08 Where Do We Start?

We were up early this morning and by habit I turned on the computer. Not thinking, I tried to log on so that I could catch up on the blogs I follow and then it hit me. NO INTERNET! So I got my computer fix playing a few rounds of Solitaire. It wasn't the same. It definitely wasn't the same. I couldn't find out where Bobby and Shelly were, what LaVon was up to or did Barb finally update her blog. (You can take that as a hint to do so Barb)

Finally, around eleven, we got in the truck to see a small section of this humongous park. We decided to go see the hot springs.

On the way there we passed over Fishing Bridge. Although fishing from the bridge was banned many years ago due to nearly wiping out the fish population from over-fishing, the bridge is a popular stop for visitors. It gives one a chance to view the waterway and see the waterfowl that populate it. So far we've seen white pelicans and trumpeter swans.

We went to an area known as West Thumb Geyser Basin. It is situated along the shore of Yellowstone Lake. West Thumb's shoreline has crater like contours to it and it is much deeper in this area than the rest of the lake. Only a massive explosion could have formed West Thumb. Underwater hot springs and geysers keep some areas of Yellowstone Lake free from ice in the winter.

Though the blowout occurred 125,000 years ago, West Thumb is still thermally active. Hot springs, mudpots and geysers steam and percolate along the shoreline, and gauges record high heat flow in the lake bottom sediments.

We followed the boardwalk down to the shoreline but didn't see any bison, or buffalo as they are commonly known. The sign Bob just passed cautions us not to approach the bison.

Our first view of the thermal pools.

As unusual as these pools look what struck us most was the SMELL! They stink! Like bad eggs or sulphur. Take note of how blue the lake is in the background.

The orange color comes from bacterial growth.

In this picture you can see the steam rising from the thermal pool and in the center you can see where it is percolating.

This pool is called the Abyss, the bottom has not been reached as yet.

This next pool is called The Cone. We could feel the heat from the steam coming off this pool.

This larger pool is known as the Fishing Cone. I don't know where the word "cone" comes into play but I daresay this water is way too hot for any fish to survive here!

Over the years hundreds of people have walked too close to the pools and have fallen through the crust of the earth surrounding them resulting in terrible burns and even death. You can bet we stayed on the boardwalks!

The grounds are certainly colorful! Yeah, I know, its bacteria,,,but its pretty bacteria!

The shoreline.

Our view of the lake, forest, snow covered mountains, clouds and blue skies.

This thermal hotspot is underwater. Look and you can see the ripples caused by the percolating.

As we walked by this next pool we picked up the pace a little bit, no, a lot, because it smelled so bad! People walking by here holding their noses was not an uncommon sight. We learned to steer clear of the milky white pools where the sulphur was more concentrated.

The water temperature in the Seismograph Pool is 167 degrees!

LaVon, I haven't forgotten you, here's your dead tree picture for the day.

In our travels today we did pass over the Continental Divide.

Back at the house I played more solitaire, Bob looked over all the reading material about Yellowstone that we gathered along the way and we settled in to watch some DVD's.

Probably the best part of the whole day was meeting the family two doors down from us. Ed and Audrey and their 15 year old daughter, Lauren. They are from Maryland and we just hit it off with them right away. We hope to spend some more time with them while we're here. You just meet the nicest people when camping.

End of our first full day here in Yellowstone.