Three Seasons In Yellowstone National Park - The Fall

Yellowstone is an active super-volcanic park and boasts a grand display of vivid geothermal features, perhaps the only one of it's kind in the world. As noted in the park website, its a home to more than 10,000 features of which more than 300 are geysers.  With all its spectacular flora, fauna and natural wonders, this park has been given a deserving place in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. 

West thumb Geyser Basin

The geo thermal features in the park are:

Hot springs: Hot springs are formed when super heated ground water surfaces into a wide pool without any constrictions in its plumbing system. The hot water cools down on reaching the surface and gets replaced by hotter water from below and this cycle continues till someday the water depletes from the ground reservoir or there are constrictions formed in the passage which results in the formation of fumaroles or geysers.  

Source: internet

Geysers: Geysers are hot springs with constrictions in the passage of ground water rising to the surface. The constrictions, usually near the surface, prevent the water from circulating freely. The hot water fails to cool and high pressure steam is formed below the surface which eventually explodes out in the form of a geyser. Water is expelled faster than it can enter the geyser's plumbing system, and the heat and pressure gradually decrease. The eruption stops when the water reservoir depletes or when the system cools down.

Fumaroles in the Mud Volcano basin

Fumaroles: A fumaroles or  steam vents, occur in openings like cracks and fissures in volcanic regions when superheated water (with temperatures as high as 280°F (138°C) vaporizes before reaching the surface due to drop in pressure or due to short supply of water in the underground reservoir. Steam and other gases (often toxic) emerge from the vent, with hissing or whistling sounds like it happens through a pressure cooker. 

Mudpots: Mudpots are acidic hotsprings or fumaroles. Microorganisms convert hydrogen sulfide, rising from the depths of the earth into sulfuric acid, which breaks down the surrounding rocks into clay thus forming a muddy acidic bubbling pot.

Travertine terraces: Travertine terraces are formed from limestone or calcium carbonate deposits from hot springs. 

Mammoth hot springs travertine terrace

Microbial mats and thermophiles: Microorganisms called thermophiles (heat lovers) or extremophiles (lovers of extremity), inhabit the volcanic regions. These microorganisms when clustered together in millions form microbial mats. These microbial mats contribute to the colors of the geothermal features. An article explaining this phenomena.

So, our third visit to Yellowstone was during a fall long weekend after a year of our second visit. We planned to fly to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and then drive down to the park through the South gate via Grand Teton National Park.

Must make a mention, the flight landing in Jackson hole is one of the most spectacular I have ever seen. Its a big regret that I was too mesmerized to click a photo or take a video :(

While the oblivious 'me' was gazing aimlessly out of the aircraft window, the flight in gradual descent emerged out of the dense cottony veil of clouds, swept smoothly down through a sky passage between two snow peaked mountains into the lap of a green grassy bowl surrounded by a tall majestic range. An unforgettable stupendous experience.

The tiny but busy airport of Jackson hole is located amidst the breathtaking Teton range and that makes it one of those exclusive airports with the most beautiful flight landings. Anyone visiting Jackson hole must take the flight experience at least once.

Flight take off at Jackson Hole airport

We stayed in Jackson hole for a day and I thoroughly enjoyed its picturesque locale. The hole part of the name is quite apt. The town, indeed, seems to be located in a hole between the mountains. It is a small, cosy, laid back, peaceful town with a lively downtown and lots of fun stuff.

Early next morning, we drove down to Yellowstone National Park. The scenic drive took almost a couple hours. On the way, we stopped at a viewpoint at Grand Teton National Park, the Jackson lake dam and Reservoir and Lewis lake. The glimpse of Grand Teton National Park was quite impressive and we were tempted to hang around longer but Yellowstone was our primary destination and we had to curb our detour having made the promise to come back later for the Teton experience.

Jackson Dam 

Lewis lake

We stayed at a lodge in the yellowstone park for the next two days. On the fourth day we flew out of Jackson hole to our respective destinations. All three of my yellowstone visits were short weekend trips and that definitely did no justice. There's lots to do, lots to see and its never enough.

Geysers submerged in yellowstone lake

Fishing cone geyser (inactive)

One of my favorite destinations in the park is the lake. Its absolutely gorgeous and I can just sit at the beach for hours doing nothing but gazing and day dreaming :) and I really did that for a while.

Some fascinating features around the lake are the submerged pools and geysers like the fishing cone. 'The name Fishing Cone can be traced back to tales told by mountain men of a lake where you could catch a fish then immediately dunk it into hot spring and cook it on the hook.' - source: wikipedia. 

I was told, that in early 20th century, the park visitors could actually fish trouts in the lake and then cook them in the hot spring but since 1911, this activity has been strictly prohibited. Visitors started clogging the vents of the geysers and springs and disturbed their ecological system. Well, cooking may not be allowed today but canoeing, kayaking and boating are and these are popular activities in the park.

The Grand Canyon of Yellow Stone

 

Brink of upper falls

Brink of lower falls

The grand canyon of yellowstone is another popular attraction of yellowstone. There are many hiking trails around the area leading to the two falls and the yellowstone river at the canyon base. We were short on time but still managed a couple of short hikes. Animal sighting during this visit was limited to the usual herds of bisons and elks. I think one needs to camp around the valleys and rivers for better animal sighting. Next time.... next time :) Thankfully there's always a next time :)

The lake meets the spring

Three seasons in Yellowstone National Park - Winter - North gate >> Part 1

Three seasons in Yellowstone National Park - Summer - East gate >> Part 2 

So I am told, the west entry is the best since it is centrally located and provides access to all parts of the park easily. This entry is closest to Idaho Falls, Idaho. I have not stayed in the park as yet and have yet to visit it in Spring. Definitely this time it will be the West.

Three Seasons In Yellowstone National Park - The Summer

Yellowstone is one of my favorite holiday destinations. It is an active volcanic park and one of the most exotic destinations in the world. An absolute must for a nature lover. Wanting to fulfill my idiosyncratic wish to enter this volcanic extravaganza from all it's five gates, I went back to the park after a year of my first visit. This time in summer and through the East gate. 

"Nothing ever conceived by human art could equal the peculiar vividness and delicacy of color of these remarkable prismatic springs. Life becomes a privilege and a blessing after one has seen and thoroughly felt these incomparable types of nature's cunning skill." - Yellowstone expedition's leader, Ferdinand Hayden (Source)

'Next to the motel we lodged at, was a quaint house on a hill top. At first glance, Edward Scissorhand's castle flashed in my mind sans the snow of course. It had an eerie magnetism about it. An engineer's unfinished dream, the Smith Mansion in Wapity valley is an example of unique artistry. Francis Smith had started this project as a house for his family but soon lost himself entirely to the madness of building it (such was the story explained by the motel owner). He single handedly pieced every part of this five storied fantasy. Whether it was bringing the partially fire damaged lodgepole pines from the nearby rattlesnake mountains or designing the fairy tale dining table, or shaping the giant swing, or crafting the elk horn door knobs or constructing the elegant gable roofs, day after day for 12 long years he dedicated himself to this solo task. There was also a little love story attached to the legend and this solitary insane involvement. It is said, so deep was Mr. Smith's love for his wife, that when she separated from him, he directed all his devotion and energy to building this dream project with such intense passion that even his death came from a fall while working on a balcony during one of the crazy westerlies visit, Wyoming is (in)famous for.'

. It's story. 

So, our summer trip to Yellowstone happened on the July 4th long weekend. We planned to base our trip from Cody, Wyoming. We started our drive from Fargo and it took almost half a day to reach Cody via Billings, Montana. 

On our way to Cody, we were literally chased by a storm. We could see the dark clouds following us with great speed while the radio kept announcing storm alerts. That was one interesting race. Well we did eventually escape it by taking shelter in a small town deli. 

We booked a hotel in the outskirts of Cody, since all lodges in the park were already booked due to peak holiday season. Lesson learnt: If planning to stay in the park, plan ahead and book ahead particularly during national holidays and summers.

'Most scenic 52 miles in the United States' was quoted by President Roosevelt for the 45 minute Buffalo Bill scenic byway drive from Cody to Yellowstone, through the gorgeous volcanic Absaroka range. I would second Teddy Roosevelt anytime. The drive indeed was spectacular. If not the best, it definitely was one of the best. 

Lake Yellowstone which is a part of the yellowstone caldera is one of the first features one meets when entering through the east gate. 

Map of the main geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't include the Norris basin in the north west, which I could not visit during this trip.

West Thumb Geyser Basin with a glimpse of the yellowstone lake. 

The Old faithful is one of the tallest geysers in the world erupting upto a height of about 185 ft. In fact, I had the notion that it is the tallest till I learnt at the park that steamboat geyser in the Norris basin is the tallest shooting upto a height of about 390 ft, though extremely irregular and unpredictable thus, conferring the more frequent and predictable Old faithful the position of being the most popular. The last major eruptions of steamboat were witnessed in 2013 and 2014.  List of the tallest geysers in the world.

Quite by accident we met a Bullsnake in the upper geyser basin. We were told this snake is aggressive but non-venomous and is the largest snake species of North America. It has a unique skin pattern and easily identifiable. Black/brown/yellowish stripes on top and three layers of black/brown spots on both sides. Usually, these snakes are 4-6 ft long. This one was almost 5 ft long.

We met herds of bisons and elks in lamar valley. This particular bison was the largest of the lot.

Opal pool

Grand Primatic Spring

Sapphire Pool, Excelsior pool, Turquoise pool (left to right, above) and Opal pool are some of the most exotic pools of middle geyser basin. The exquisite colors of these hot spring pools are due to the varied layers of microbial mats in these basins, the varied depths and the varied levels of temperature. The spectral reflection depends on the optical absorption by the mats and scattering by the water and the incident solar and diffuse skylight conditions (as explained by a study conducted by Montana State University). One of the most dramatic play of colors is seen in the largest hot spring in the park, the Grand prismatic spring.  It is one of the popular hotspots of the park.

Shell Geyser

Jewel Geyser

The Excelsior geyser was the second tallest geyser in the world spouting up to a height of 300 ft. but after its major eruption in 1890, it has not spouted very high. Many of the tall but unpredictable geysers are located in the western Norris basin, (which I couldn't visit during this visit), lower basin and the upper basin.

There are a collection of smaller geysers like shell and jewel in the biscuit basin, which is one of the most volatile and unpredictable basins in the park. It's been so named because of the biscuit like deposits around the geysers.

Paint pots

Firehole water falls

The lower geyser basin is the largest basin in the park and has some popular attractions like the Great fountain geyser which can unpredictably shoot up to 230 ft . We missed the geyser eruption but it is a predictable geyser and spouts over 200 ft. There are many mud pools, paint pots and hot springs in this basin as well. Further west from this basin is the Fire hole water falls.

Firehole river along the midway geyser basin

The Angel 'travertine' terrace of the Mammoth hotsprings. 

A beautiful sunset on our way back through South Dakota

Three seasons in Yellowstone National Park - Winter - North gate >> Part 1

Three seasons in Yellowstone National Park - Fall - South gate >> Part 3