Sunset at Lake Lodge

Wonderful way to end the day. Glass of wine, Soso had hot chocolate, SJ chocolate milk.
Right before the sun slipped behind the mountain, the pianist and violinist played The Star Spangled Banner. SJ immediately hopped up and placed his hand over his heart...so proud of him. Soso quickly did too. SK and I stood hand on heart watched the Stars and Stripes lowered right outside the window from us.
So glad we decided on a whim to go to dinner there that night. We wet put on the waiting list, but it didn't matter. We could have sat and watched the world for hours.
Dinner was delicious.

Dinner at Lake Lodge

Very nice.
It didn't look like much as we parked and went inside the back door.
Once inside. Wow. There was a faint drift of music coming from a piano and violin. Amazing architectural details all around. I have read about the atmosphere in the sunroom. So peaceful and relaxing. We listened to the piano and violin music while watching the sunset in overstuffed chairs.

Our First Bear Jam

Yep. We spotted our first grizzly and started a bear jam! I asked SK to pull over because saw something on hill. You get an eye for the differences in the landscape after a few days.
I got on the binoculars-BEAR! So, SK got out the scope and set up on the roof of the truck. Before too long...cars were piling in! Scopes set up. Chatter through the group.
Our first official bear jam started by us!
The bear was across the river on the hillside. Pretty far away. Soso and SK hiked out to the edge to get a better look. So peaceful. Beautiful. I love Hayden Valley.

Grand Canyon...no the other one

SJ crashed before we got to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, aka "not the real Grand Canyon". So, girls stroll to Artist Point!
Absolutely beautiful.
I like the colors here. They just don't show through in photos. Or the vast depths. I'm a sucker for a waterfall too.
Sophia was pretty funny. The sign meant for the cars...but the only way to the path to Artist was the other way!

Stalking Wildlife

Big score! Coyote! We stopped to look at a bison...and there he was wandering around!
A grizzly and cub.
Big horn from yesterday, close up.
SK scouting the river.

Dragon's Mouth

Commute Home

5/19/2015
We drove home the long way from Mammoth Hot Springs because the quick road over the mountain wasn't open yet.
As you pass through meadows...chances are you're going to get in a "bison jam". We did.
We stopped off to see Mud Volcano. A stinky bubbling mud hole. In the loop is also Dragon's Mouth...super creepy! It was a hit with the kids. It sounded just like a dragon sleeping in a cave must sound like. The water comes in a wave and smoke billows out as if an exhale!
Every night after when we would drive by, SK would ask if anyone would like to stop. A dare to walk up to it at night. No takers! Not even me!

Big Horn Sheep!

We explored out towards the NE entrance of Yellowstone. Found the 45th parallel and bighorn sheep. The picturesque and iconic gate. Elk in town. Good site seeing day!

Mammoth Hot Springs!

Finally! After a long drive through a construction zone, over a mountain, we arrived!
Sophia is next to an extinct hot spring named Liberty Cap.
We did the short short hike because it was wicked cold...saw Devil's thumb area and checked the box!
We quickly headed to the Terrace Grill for food! Really cool view of elk across the street. Elk wander around mammoth streets...because they are HUGE flipping deer and they can.

Mammouth upper

05/19/2015
Any thermal features with a bathroom...got bumped up on the priority list when driving!
This is the upper drive through section of Mammouth Hot Springs...that had a bathroom. :)

North!

05/19/2015
We took our tour north after Norris. The first shot is of the last glance after hiking around. Just beautiful eerie desolation with a hint of could blow up at any 100,000 years.
We stopped to check out the waterfall at the Golden Gate Bridge. When I pointed out and told her the name, Sophia was a little miffed. Yellowstone having stolen "the real names"...The Grand Canyon(of Yellowstone) although "grand" wasn't "the real one". Now here they have a bridge named "Golden Gate" and clearly..."not the real one".
Cool drive through the hoo-doos section.
When we popped out over the ridge to Mammouth, Sophia commented that the mountains to our right looked like they were giant's feet with toenails!

Norris Geyser Basin

Home to several erupting geysers, we checked it out with a short boardwalk hike.
Steamboat was large and seemingly continuous geyser. We didn't get to see the 300 ft rare eruption. Last one was 1994? Still hissing. Steaming. Water spraying action!
Next, Vixen. When we walked up, it was spraying all over the boardwalk!? Apparently, we did get to see a rare eruption of that mini-geyser. Sophia thought it was "so cute"!
All through the Norris Basin, every geyser is labeled. Some are pretty easy...some are tongue twisters. Sophia read everyone like a CHAMP! Very proud of her...she even sounded out and read the last one. SK and I gave each other the wth look. No phasing Soso though!