Staring into the Dragon's Mouth

Touristy Peak with a Sulphury Reek

Today I am heading west once more, cruising into the caldera of the super volcano. Fun fact, the caldera of Yellowstone is 45 miles long by 30 miles wide. That must have been some eruption!

Of course I will not be entering the Yellowstone Zone of Death. This is an area that, due to the oddities of (a) how Yellowstone was formed from bits of multiple states and (b) oddities in the way that US jurisdictional districts work, means that it is potentially possible to kill someone in a 50 square mile area of Yellowstone and not be charged. If only I had thought to bring someone annoying along (discounting my own company of course!).

Heading into Yellowstone, I yet again cross the continental divide - this time at 8000 feet. I guess I must be thoroughly used to the altitude now. When I get home it will be like breathing soup!

And so I finally make it into the OG - Yellowstone is the first National Park and is absolutely beautiful, I have to stop myself pulling over at every viewpoint.

I do pull over at some toilets. As I return to the car, I notice something is a bit off, and then realise that the car is completely covered with mosquitos. I have to make a emergency dive into the boot for some insect repellent and then into the car without allowing too much of the surrounding cloud in. Well that was a tad unexpected. I slap on the repellent, head off at speed and then, when I think it is safe, open the windows with a view to blowing out the invaders. Yellowstone really is the place for wildlife!

I come across a major snarl up on the road - absolute mayhem with people pulling over in mad parking manoeuvres or just stopping dead in the road. There is only one thing that causes this sort of traffic behaviour…

… and so it turns out to be. A black bear and cub (obviously the most dangerous combo but at least even the people who got out of their cars aren’t approaching). I think these are the first bears that I have seen in the wild in the US.

Next, the mud volcano area. This is great. I’m particularly taken by the Dragon’s Mouth. From overheard conversations, it seems that most of the children here are too, which probably speaks volumes.

This bison seems to be moving in for a sauna

At the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, I see an Amish family. I don’t know why I should be surprised that they indulge in tourism - although I couldn’t see any horses tethered anywhere so I can’t help feeling that some sort of rule infringement may have taken place.

Another snarl up on the road - this time some bison casually wandering along. I gather this is quite a common occurrence and they seem absolutely oblivious to the traffic. Luckily I am on the opposite side of the road so am not blocked by the bison, but do get flagged down by every other car in the traffic jam asking me what is going on, so I guess there is no escape!

Absolutely no road sense!

On to the Norris Basin and some prime geothermal activity. I will let a small subset of the photographs that I have taken here do the talking.

I’m off to spend the night in the town of West Yellowstone which, it turns out, is in Montana, so that’s another state (the 7th I think on this trip) ticked off. I had technically been into Montana once before but it was on a boat trip in Glacier National Park from the Canada side and we weren’t allowed to disembark in the US.

Anyway, more to see tomorrow, will see if I can get to Grand Prismatic Springs and Old Faithful before it gets too busy.