August 10
While staying at Colton Bay RV Park we take one day and make a trip with Dan (the same guide we had in Grand Teton National Park) to Yellowstone for a full day Yellowstone Lower Loop photographic tour. We meet him at the Colton Bay Store at 5:30 a.m. and head north. As we head into lower Yellowstone the temperature drops to 29 degrees. Our first stop as the sun is rising is the West Thumb basin overlooking Yellowstone Lake. Due to the cold air temperature and the hot springs, pools, and mud pots the boardwalk is icy and slippery. We carefully make our way down to the water’s edge for some sunrise photos.
Next we stop at the Lower and Upper Falls overlooks where we have the opportunity to experiment with different camera settings and viewpoints. Unfortunately it’s at this point that the tour buses start to catch up with us and the atmosphere of the park changes from secluded and peaceful to crowded and frenetic.
From the Falls we start exploring the western part of the park with a stop in the Lower Geyser Basin to view the White Cone Geyser. Dan’s timing is impeccable as we only have to wait about five minutes for an eruption.
From the Lower Geyser Basin we travel to the Midway Geyser Basin for the phenomenal colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring.
At various points throughout the day Dan calls the Old Faithful Visitor Center for information on the last eruption of the famous geyser. After one such call he determines that we have just enough time to travel from Midway Geyser Basin to the Upper Geyser Basin to catch the next eruption. He lets us out at the nearest parking lot with instructions of where to meet him for lunch following the spectacle. The viewing area is packed with spectators so we find a spot behind the benches and wait. Fortunately we only have to wait about ten minutes.
We are actually disappointed with Old Faithful. Perhaps this was not a major eruption or our vantage point was not optimal. Either way, we were more impressed with White Cone.
After lunch Dan drops us off at the boardwalk in the Biscuit Basin three miles north of Old Faithful while he fights an incredible amount of traffic for a parking place. Biscuit Basin was named for the biscuit-like deposits that once surrounded the Sapphire Pool. The deposits were destroyed when Sapphire erupted in 1959.
After completing the boardwalk, we find Dan sitting on a bench in the parking area waiting for us. We walk to his vehicle and head back to Grand Teton National Park and Colter Bay Village – approximately two hours away. Yellowstone is truly fascinating and we’re glad we took the opportunity to visit.
