9-11-18 West Thumb:

Update on hand, arm and shoulder---doing a lot better. 

Slept well, but still got up in time to see the sunrise throw a pretty pink cast on the mountains to the West.

Layla and I watched the mountains go from pink to their normal grayish color. 

I did get back in the pool this morning while Layla took her morning nap, then we were on our way again.
First sight we saw today was just after we entered the park----our first and only majestic Bald Eagle!

How fitting for 9/11!

We went North, again, on the Grand Loop, to the Norris Junction, then cut across towards the Canyon area..  Layla did quite well.  Here she's playing hide and seek.

A lone buffalo.  Wonder why they go so far away from the herds?

Angie had noticed a one way scenic drive off this route on a previous trip across, so today we took it---Blacktail  Plateau Drive.  This is a 6 mile one-way dirt road that takes you back into the woods and meadows of Blacktail Deer Plateau. This was the only wildlife we saw,  I believe it is a Mourning Cloak---a type of Brushfoot butterfly.    Only one I've ever seen!

We also saw this pretty impressive waterfall, too.

The road was pretty sketchy in places!

Notice how they raised the ground to level out the road---a series of wooden poles.

It was about a 20 minute detour, but another interesting one and more of Yellowstone I haven't seen before.

When we reached Tower Junction, we headed into Canyon Village.  I had been told that each village had different souvenir tokens, but the ones here were the same as at Old Faithful Inn.

But it was time to get Layla out and walk around a bit anyway.
 Got a kick out of this booth.

Wish we had time to do the North Rim drive, but we didn't.  i understand the road to Inspiration Point had just reopened after being closed for 2 years.  figured it would be really crowded.

We did spend a bit of time in the gift shops.  Angie was looking for a sweatshirt for herself.  Don't think she found one she liked enough to get, though.

But I found this cute little onesie that I got for Layla.

Back on the road we headed South on the Grand Loop through Hayden Valley again and along the Yellowstone River.

The buffalo had moved from where we saw them a few days ago and were quite a bit farther from the road.

Dragged out my 150-600mm lens for a few distant close ups.

Didn't spend much time there.  Our main destination for today was West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Still following the river.

Saw these guys next to the road near Lake Village.

Amazingly enough, they didn't stop traffic for hours like they do by the West entrance!

First views of Yellowstone Lake. 

It is the largest lake above 8,000 feet elevation in North America.  Active hydro thermal features lie under the lake and in deeper waters, but the average summer water temps are still a chilly 45 degrees.

more evidence of the 1988 wild fire.  It sure covered a lot of ground!

Finally made it to West Thumb.  It is situated at the western edge of a large bay along the shores of Yellowstone Lake.  West Thumb got its name from its shape --- Yellowstone Lake resembles a hand with a large western bay as the thumb...West Thumb.

It's the largest geyser basin along the lake.   West Thumb is actually a caldera within a caldera.

West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail is an easy 3/8 mile walk to the lake shore and back.

Proof I was in Yellowstone.

the trail along the lake.

One of the geysers at the edge of the lake. 

Looks so inviting!

Some of the 3,100 gallons of hot water that flows into the lake every day.

One of the deeper hot springs in the park, Abyss Pool is 53 feet deep.

It varies from turquoise blue to emerald green to various shades of brown.

From time to time, it was a geyser, but has been quiet for many years now.

Back up to the top of the trail near the parking lot.

We were parked by this nice picnic area.

So we had a picnic!

And Layla got to stretch out awhile.

She's gotten to the point where she likes to imitate actions. 

One of the local birds.  It sounded like some sort of Jay.

After a lunch of crackers and sausage and cheese and chips and drinks---we hit the road again.  One of the Continental Divide signs that we passed.  Supposedly water on one side flows to the Pacific and on the other side flows to the Atlantic.

a little lily pond along our way

We made such good time that we decided to stop at Biscuit Basin---another new area for me!   Biscuit-like sinter deposits once lined the edge of Sapphire's crater, and in the 1880s it received its name for the biscuit-like formations.  The 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake made Sapphire Pool erupt and blew the "biscuits" away.

The trail to biscuit basin starts with a bridge over Firehole River. 

Biscuit Basin contains a small collection of thermal features.

the basin is actually part of the Upper Geyser Basin (which starts by Old Faithful).  Sapphire Pool dominates the main group west of the river. The water of this pool is crystal clear with a Oriental blue sapphire tint.

The trail is an easy 3/4 mile or so. 

Looking back towards the river

Josh going ahead keeping Layla happy.

The bacterial mats here were so interesting!  So much texture and colors!  Angie and I stood here mesmerized by them for quite some time.

More bacterial mats

Many of the pools here were really dark, with thick mats. I understand the darker matts are made up of bacteria that grow in cooler hot springs.

Reminded me of coral!

 We'd seen bacterial mats at other areas of the park, but none as thick and interesting as these ones.

More texture, but I think this is some sort of plant.

At the far end of the trail

Coming back around to the colorful bacterial mats

Love the abstract design in these mats!

I'm obsessed with them!

a poor little stick posing in the geothermal mass.

Back to the area near the river.

almost back to Firehole River

Back on the road.  Neat that you can see steaming pools from the road.

Looking towards the Midway Basin  as we drove by.

We were really making good time!

There was traffic, but it was moving at the 35 mph speed limit.

If only traffic was like this in Yellowstone all the time!!!

To our junction!  Only 14 miles to go---and another 2 hours!!!!

Almost immediately traffic came to a stop.  So to pass time I took pictures.   Of trees;

and wild flowers along the road I would have otherwise missed.

driftwood like logs.

more wild flowers.

even colorful pine needles.

and colorful leaves on weeds.

So aggravating!!!!  We know it's the elk or the bison, but why do people have to stop in the middle of the road for more then 2 minutes!!!????  Especially since they can pull off to the side of the road, or a pull off area?!  So many inconsiderate drivers!  This has happened every night, but not as bad as tonight.

Back to looking for interesting things along the road to shoot---since I couldn't shoot the inconsiderate drivers.

Angie finally let a very unhappy girl out of her seat. 

That made her much happier until Angie had to put her back in her seat.

Finally got to see something. 

Come on driver!

OK, this photo might make the whole delay worth it---I really like the texture and colors here.

Fortunately a Ranger finally showed up and got people going again!  You would think they'd know this happens every day here and just assign someone to stay there.

Yep, there's the culprit!  This is even with a long zoom lens!

They were on the other side of the river!

Once the Ranger got traffic moving again, we were out of the park in minutes.
Good Bye Yellowstone!!!  What a send off!!! 

Wonder if I'll ever get back here?!