John Colter Trail 1807 — 1808

Day 29: September 11th, 2005 Mammoth Hot Springs — Old Faithful

It was not possible to lower the furnace in my room. Therefore it was really hot during the night. But therefore I am sitting again in a draft at breakfast. But my server is really friendly and keen. Around 10am I pay and walk back to my room. Then I pack my stuff together and pay. During checkout I learn, that Dunraven Pass, which I have passed yesterday in snow rain, is now closed because of snow! It seems, that this can get really ugly. All in all I must drive this pass again in a couple of days…

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Obsidian Creek, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Obsidian Creek, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Crystal Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Twin Lakes, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Nymph Lake, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

But for now I continue on Grand Loop Rd in direction of Old Faithful. On my way are numerous options for stops to take pictures or to do some video taping. But unfortunately the weather is still pretty bad. It is extremely cold which also cools down my mood for hiking to sub–zero. I even stop to get one of my very warm shirts out of my suitcase due to the cold. Then I continue.

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

At Norris Geyser Basin is my next stopover. There are many small and big geysers and hot springs. But even with all this warm steams around, it is still really cold. When I wait at one place for a geyser to erupt, which does not want to, I meet a couple of Austria. Then a guy from Munich, Moosach, shows up. What a coincidence. We say goodbye and he hikes on. But after 10 minutes waiting in the cold I eventually give up and hike on to video tape the next excitements. I am lucky to capture a lot of these great impressions before I arrive at my car almost frozen — just in time before two big tour busses spit out their whole load.

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Terrace Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Terrace Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Terrace Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Falls, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Falls, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Falls, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Fountain Paint Pot Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Fountain Paint Pot Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Fountain Paint Pot Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Fountain Paint Pot Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Then I continue on Grand Loop Rd, where I stop a couple of times for nice pictures.

White Dome Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

White Dome Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Lake, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Now I turn onto Firehole Lake Drive and I have the luck to see the eruption of White Dome Geyser. Although this geyser is not really big, it is still impressive. With my first video taping of an erupting geyser I continue my drive and stop a couple of times again for some nice pictures and video taping of hot springs and an impressive landscape.

Excelsior Geyser Crater, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Excelsior Geyser Crater, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Excelsior Geyser Crater, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Excelsior Geyser Crater, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Way to soon I arrive at the big Highway and continue my drive to the south. My next stop is Excelsior Geyser Crater. There I am able to get some great pictures and videos with the already low standing sun. There I also meet again my friend from Moosach. He gives me the hint that the Great Fountain Geyser at Firehole Lake Drive shall erupt at half past six. This happens only every 25 hours and it should be really impressive. I say thank you for this hint and walk back to my car.

Because I have already made my reservations for the stay tonight, I decide to not skip this spectacle. First I wait at the wrong spot. But eventually I realize the correct place just in time. I look for a spot in the back light. My hope is, that the sun is making the water to really sparkle.

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, WY

After approximately 15 minutes things start — unfortunately not the way, as I had hoped to. The wind is blowing in the wrong direction and blows all the steam in my direction. But nevertheless I am able to catch some really nice shots and videos of the geyser. After a while my new friend from Moosach also arrives. But he walks over to the spot, where they have built a tribune and where is way less steam.

After my tape in the camera has finished, I also walk over to this place and must realize, that I would have had most likely the better pictures from there. But now it is too late. And I am parking so far away, that it would take way too long to get another tape. So I am fine with just pictures for now and have a nice chat with my new friend.

His name is Michael and he is in the States for business for a couple of days. And he uses this opportunity to also add some days of vacation. However, he is doing everything the touristy way: Driving many miles just for the highlights. When saying goodbye, I also give him my business card, because he would like to receive some pictures from me. He promises to send an email. Then we say goodbye again.

Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone National Park, WY

I continue my drive in direction of Old Faithful. My destination of today is the Snowlodge Cabin, where I have my reservation for tonight. Just past seven I check in. There I also have again a cabin, which is placed a bit outside. Anyways, it is still in walking distance to the restaurant.

88 S10 Blazer, Snowlodge Cabin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Sunset Snowlodge Cabin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

88 S10 Blazer, Sunset Snowlodge Cabin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Because the landscape around my cabin is really nice, I place myself here to video tape the sunset. Then I walk over to the restaurant for dinner. But to my surprise the restaurant is completely full and I must wait for a solid 45 minutes for a free table. But therefore my server is really friendly. For the first time I try elk meat, which tastes a bit like game. Only the price is pretty high with $30. Additionally you need something to drink and the tip. Because I am here on foot, I allow myself a good glass of wine.

Around a quarter to ten I pay and walk back to my cabin. In the meantime it has cooled down extremely — I am sure it must be around freezing. Pretty much frozen I arrive at my cabin. First thing is to make myself a hot coffee. Then I check my video taping of today. Around midnight I eventually made it and fall into my bed, completely wiped out.