Summer is proving to be a hard time for me to keep up with the blog. I want to be out doing things instead of writing about them. Also, I’m still cutting my teeth on the new job so I’ve been doing some work at home after hours to try and get to where I need to be. Buhhhh… Anyhow, enough excuses.
This last weekend Kel and I went to Yellowstone. We drove to West Yellowstone where we stayed for 2 days, then we drove past the Tetons and spent one night in Jackson Hole. It was such a great trip! I think I’ve only been to Old Faithful in the past. I had no idea that there were hundreds of geysers, hot springs and mud pots. According to Wikipedia, about half of the worlds geothermal features are found in Yellowstone!
The colorful springs were definitely my favorite, ranging in color from pastel pinks and blues to snow whites to burnt oranges. We also saw huge mud pits that gurgled and spit chunks into the air. And of course, the geysers and steaming vents. It really is the most alien place in the world. And one unexpected but welcome surprise was the signage in the area. We especially liked the one of a girl holding her face in horror as her brother gets a smackdown from a geyser.
We also took a 5-mile hike on a trail that promised us beavers. We found the lake and the beaver dam, but the little fuzzballs must not have been as excited to see us as we 
were them. But we did find a lost French family who taught us the French names for beaver and otter (I say taught as if I actually remember the names). But even sans beavers it was amazing. After Hawaii, it may have been the lushest hike I’ve ever done! We did get to see some wildlife – an eagle, a yellow-bellied marmot, some bison, elk, deer and a we even caught a glimpse of a bear cub as it ran across the road. I really wanted to ride a moose and give a high-five to a bear, but no such luck.
On the way to Jackson Hole we drove past the Tetons and I fell in love with them. They’re steep and jagged and just gorgeous. And the day that we drove through they were blanketed in a thick haze. Just breathtaking. Once we got to Jackson we took it easy.. ate, shopped and soaked. It was an amazing whirlwind of a 3-day weekend.
Here is a slide show of more pics from the trip.
