John Colter Trail 1807 — 1808

Day 28: September 10th, 2005 Canyon Village — Mammoth Hot Springs

The day really starts great: My neighbors have already used up so much hot water, that there is only enough left for me to wash my head. When I leave the door, the next shock is coming: Only 35 degrees!

The rain has cooled things extremely down. I pack again everything in my car to be able to check out after breakfast immediately. Around half past nine I pay and check with the rangers for one of these bear proof containers. There they tell me, that these are not approved for Yellowstone. You must put your stuff on poles. These are placed all around the camping spots. Otherwise you can only get one of these containers at Cooke City. But in California I can get them everywhere. I say thank you for all this information and hit the road.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Lower Falls, Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

First I take N Rim Dr to maybe get some nice shots. But the snow rain killed all of these hopes. Even with sweater and jacket, I am still freezing. Therefore I only do a brief stop, if there is not too much coming from above to take some pictures and videos.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Then I continue on the Grand Loop Rd in northern direction.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

At Dunraven Pass the snow rain changes to snow. But it does not stick to the roads. It only stays on the rocks and meadows.

Chittendon Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Nevertheless I still drive a gravel road, the Chittendon Rd, further up. But there I am almost only driving within the clouds. The hike to Mt. Washhburn is therefore also skipped.

Chittendon Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Chittendon Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Chittendon Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

So I drive back to the main road and from there down to the plain.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

There the snow rain starts to slowdown. Nonetheless I don’t trust the weather and therefore I only plan to do some brief hikes to my highlights of today.

Tower Fall, Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

However, an earlier thunderstorm has swept away the hiking trail to Tower Fall. Therefore I must skip this sight. Instead, I only do a brief hike down to Yellowstone River.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Then I continue my drive on Grand Loop Rd.

Petrified Tree, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Petrified Tree Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

My next destination is the Petrified Tree, which is protected by a huge fence. There is almost no chance to get a good shot here.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Then I continue on Grand Loop Rd to one of the rare gravel roads in the park — the Blacktail Plateau Dr.

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Blacktail Plateau Dr, Yellowstone National Park, WY

First I wonder, why there is an one way regulation on this gravel road. But soon I realize quickly why: Every couple of minutes a car is passing by, if you stop briefly — as if this is the quiet back road…

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Anyways, I am still able to get some nice shots, before I am back on Grand Loop Rd.

Wraith Falls, Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Wraith Falls, Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Next destination is Wraith Falls. But at this time of season, there is not too much water flowing down the rocks. At least the landscape is pretty.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Then I continue to Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, where I plan to stay for tonight. The hotel is a beautiful old building with these endless high rooms. Beside that you have telephone, but no TV — which I don’t really miss. You can have dinner at the restaurant across the street without any reservations.

Because I am still good in time, I also drive to the second gravel road in this area: The Old Gardiner Rd. However, I am not able to find the start of this road and end up first on the N Entrance Rd. Finally I realize, that this road starts directly on the hotel property.

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Old Gardiner Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

On this road is way less traffic. And with all these dark thunderstorm clouds I am able to capture some great pictures. Just before the park exit the gravel road reaches the paved roads again. Therefore I am still not forced to pay any fees.

N Entrance Rd, Gardner River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

I drive back to my hotel and still have plenty of time.

Because the weather also opens up, I decide to visit the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. On Grand Loop Rd I drive to the exit of the Upper Terrace Rd. You just have to drive up the hill and take the little road on top, which directly runs along the upper end of the terraces.

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY

This place is really worth a visit! The hiking trails to the warm springs are pretty short from the parking lot. Up there, you really get great pictures of the chalk terraces and the steaming waters. Due to the cold it is steaming way more than usual and is therefore really impressive! Nevertheless it is getting too cold for me, especially when the sun is getting lower. Therefore I hurry up to be eventually back in my car. Also a bus has released a horde of Japanese tourists, where I try to flee as fast as possible.

I drive back to my hotel and I am able to find a parking spot not too far away from the entrance. Then I check my video taping of today. Just before 8pm I leave my hotel and walk over to the restaurant. But the restaurant is completely overcrowded and I must wait more than half an hour for a free table. Into the bargain, it is pretty cold and additionally I am directly sitting in a draft. This also causes my food to cool down extremely fast. Also the steak is not really great. For this amount of money, you can really expect way more. Only my server is really nice.

Around a quarter past nine I pay and walk back to my room. There I really miss my coffee machine. Therefore I must check the rest of my video taping just with water…