- Joined
- May 5, 2012
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- 1,727
Two iconic parks in one whirlwind weekend. The accommodations were relatively plush. Two nights in Island Park and a third on the shores of Jackson Lake at the Signal Mountain Lodge.
Hikes were, with one exception, short and languid. That one exception: I nearly caused myself a cardiac crisis by sprinting up the steps of Uncle Tom's Trail, taking them two at a time, trying to catch up to a girl.
This trip, like most, had a narrative. But it's a story that won't prove interesting to many. Also, I'm rather upset now, months later, with my cohort. So I'll keep the personal details brief.
There are more than enough photos to make up the difference.
Our itinerary was a bit scattered, as we were trying to hit as many of the requisite first-timer sights as possible in a short amount of time.
Day one in Yellowstone was whirlwind. We hit Norris Geyser Basin...
Artists Paintpots...
Firehole Canyon...
Grand Prismatic Spring...
Old Faithful...
...and Fire Hole Lake/Great Fountain Geyser.
Daylight simply proved too finite, so after dusk we returned to the cabin in Island Park.
Day two in Yellowstone started with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its stunning falls.
Bison were everywhere around Dragon's Mouth Spring and Black Dragon's Cauldron...
Then, heading south we cruised by the exceptionally pretty shoreline of West Thumb as the weather started to turn...
A cloudburst unleashed and we scampered for the car. The timing actually worked out, however, as we were growing fatigued of the in-and-out-of-the-car routine. Grand Teton was calling.
After stopping at the Lodge for check-in and refreshment, we decided to take a walk around String Lake. This little deer was not at all perturbed by our presence.
The sun had slid behind the range, leaving just enough daylight to soften the views.
I felt torn that final night about whether or not it was worth waking early to chance the sunrise at the most photographed barn in America. Ultimately, I went for it.
There were eight or so others there before daybreak. Clouds matted the sky from horizon to horizon. We all stood around fiddling with our cameras until it became clear the direct rays weren't going to break through that morning.
Even though the light wasn't epic, it felt good to check one of the iconic photo spots of the West I hadn't yet visited off the list.
The drive back into the park after sunrise seemed sublime. Pockets of sunlight painted the mountains.
We checked out of the Lodge, took stupid selfies by the lake and bid farewell to our vacation. All that remained was the long drive back to Utah, with brief stops to make new friends...
...and to see Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Yellowstone reminds me nature isn't always pretty or polite.
Pro tip: if you're a photographer, always look for the small details in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter. Like evidence your subject has diarrhea.
Hikes were, with one exception, short and languid. That one exception: I nearly caused myself a cardiac crisis by sprinting up the steps of Uncle Tom's Trail, taking them two at a time, trying to catch up to a girl.
This trip, like most, had a narrative. But it's a story that won't prove interesting to many. Also, I'm rather upset now, months later, with my cohort. So I'll keep the personal details brief.
There are more than enough photos to make up the difference.
Our itinerary was a bit scattered, as we were trying to hit as many of the requisite first-timer sights as possible in a short amount of time.
Day one in Yellowstone was whirlwind. We hit Norris Geyser Basin...
Artists Paintpots...
Firehole Canyon...
Grand Prismatic Spring...
Old Faithful...
...and Fire Hole Lake/Great Fountain Geyser.
Daylight simply proved too finite, so after dusk we returned to the cabin in Island Park.
Day two in Yellowstone started with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its stunning falls.
Bison were everywhere around Dragon's Mouth Spring and Black Dragon's Cauldron...
Then, heading south we cruised by the exceptionally pretty shoreline of West Thumb as the weather started to turn...
A cloudburst unleashed and we scampered for the car. The timing actually worked out, however, as we were growing fatigued of the in-and-out-of-the-car routine. Grand Teton was calling.
After stopping at the Lodge for check-in and refreshment, we decided to take a walk around String Lake. This little deer was not at all perturbed by our presence.
The sun had slid behind the range, leaving just enough daylight to soften the views.
I felt torn that final night about whether or not it was worth waking early to chance the sunrise at the most photographed barn in America. Ultimately, I went for it.
There were eight or so others there before daybreak. Clouds matted the sky from horizon to horizon. We all stood around fiddling with our cameras until it became clear the direct rays weren't going to break through that morning.
Even though the light wasn't epic, it felt good to check one of the iconic photo spots of the West I hadn't yet visited off the list.
The drive back into the park after sunrise seemed sublime. Pockets of sunlight painted the mountains.
We checked out of the Lodge, took stupid selfies by the lake and bid farewell to our vacation. All that remained was the long drive back to Utah, with brief stops to make new friends...
...and to see Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Yellowstone reminds me nature isn't always pretty or polite.
Pro tip: if you're a photographer, always look for the small details in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter. Like evidence your subject has diarrhea.
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