I’m heading back into Yellowstone today, hoping that I will be early enough to avoid the crowds at some of the more popular places. It seems that my concept of an early start doesn’t quite hack it!
First stop, Grand Prismatic Springs. Ideally I want the view from above, so navigate to the Overlook. The nav just takes me to a spot on the road. Technically this wasn’t incorrect, but it was certainly unhelpful. As I am at the springs, I decide that I might as well take a look at ground level
Fairly impressive, but I see people up above so there is clearly a trail up there, though not from this car park. I figure I will head to Old Faithful as I’m sure that will get busy. On the way, I pass a car park for a trailhead, which I suspect might be what I need for the springs (yes, my poor homework has come back to bite me again), so will try that later as I intend to come back this way anyway.
Parking at Old Faithful is not at all challenging - it being provided on a similar scale to the Grand Canyon. As I approach, there seems to be some activity which quickly peters out. I suspect that I have just seen the tail end of an eruption. This is confirmed as the crowds begin to disperse. Will I wait an hour and a half for the next one. I will not.
There is so much to see here. Yellowstone is huge and there are spectacular views and random thermal outcroppings all over the place, random holes in cliffs spouting steam etc., etc.
Back to the Fairy Falls Trailhead Car park, and it seems I may have made a tactical error. It is absolutely heaving now. Oh well, this is not an unusual situation and something usually turns up. I turn into the queue chuckling to myself that, with all the time I now have on my hands, I have chosen to visit one of the most popular tourist areas in the US on a sunny Sunday in June. I only have myself to blame.
Now everyone knows the parking routine : you shuffle around as the cars in front move and hope that you will get lucky and someone will return to their car and leave just as you are in the right spot. Obviously you win some and lose some. Or so I thought when I was perfectly placed as a car pulled out, only to be aggressively waved away as I turned in by the passenger from a vehicle further behind who had positioned herself in the parking spot.
Clearly I had to express some doubts as to whether this was a legitimate parking strategy. She expressed some doubts as to my parentage. Which made me laugh. This unfortunately just seemed to make her angrier. I have no desire for this to get out of hand so I move on, confident in the knowledge that the universe will provide. Sure enough, two minutes later a man returning to his car indicates that his party will be vacating 2 spaces, so I have an embarrassment of riches. I like to think this is karma at work.
Anyway, when I finally get up to the viewpoint (yes, it is the right trail), aggressive woman and her party of RVers are hogging the best spot. They spent about 5 minutes taking photos (with every possible combo of their group) and then stand chatting with their back to the view for another 5 minutes or so, seemingly oblivious to the crowd of people waiting to get a look. It never ceases to amaze me the level of entitlement and lack of awareness that some people have…
Still, it was worth the wait.
I am now going to drive some way north (hopefully out of range or irritating RVers) to Mammoth Hot Springs. Also busy but manageable it turns out, and fairly impressive.
Then back to the hotel to try and figure out what to do with my last week in the States. I want to visit Devil’s Tower and probably Mount Rushmore, but no real plans beyond that. That was at least until last night when Ethan planted the seed of a mad idea in my head involving about a 3000 mile side trip. Will have to mull this over…
On my way for something to eat (West Yellowstone Brewing Company obviously) I have another scout around town. I am amused by this hotel which clearly doesn't want to oversell itself
The town clearly likes to lean into the whole Wild West thing…
The meal and beer are good, although my Tofu burger is the spiciest thing I have eaten in a long time. Burning mouth and sweating I must look as though I am about to keel over. Better grab another beer.
I wonder whether this is some subtle Montana way of proving your manliness even if you are a veggie?
I shall now post this from the bar via the miracle of modern technology 🤣