And we wander on...
It’s Sunday night, nearing 8pm, and the sun is setting beyond the lodgepole pines. Bright blue sky directly above mixes with cottony clouds. Just clouds, no smoke tonight. The wind blew the right way for us to have clear skies. When we got back to camp around 3:30, the air was fairly thick with smoke. It’s good to sit here and breath in the fresh Yellowstone air, to feel the cool breeze picking up, hoping that it doesn’t get too far into the 30s tonight.
We’ve had a wonderful nine day run in Yellowstone, and now it is time to move on. What I am most grateful for is the opportunity to make memories in this park with Alanna. It’s not just mine anymore, but ours.
Today, we hiked up to Mt. Washburn, which is over 10,000 feet in elevation. On a clear day, you can see the Tetons, but not today. Too much smoke all around from the multiple fires burning in the park. This particular hike was led by a ranger. I thought Alanna was going to scream with joy when he announced he was a retired geology professor. Instead, she gave a little leap and then peppered him with questions for the next five hours. Since our trip to southern Utah, she has been deeply intrigued by geology but this was the first time we were hiking with an actual geologist. Heaven in Yellowstone!
In spite of the smoke, the rim of the caldera was still visible. Fascinating to think about the ancient yet active volcano that formed this landscape. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was also visible, an absolute geologic wonder of this park. During this trip, we had the good fortune of standing on the rim, hiking to the bottom of the canyon and then today, seeing it from elevation. We are fortunate, no doubt.
For the last nine nights, we camped at Indian Creek, which is between Norris and Mammoth. It’s a smaller campground and quiet. The sites are not on top of one another. We’ve opted to stay here for these reasons, and it has meant a bit more driving. We got on the road a little after six this morning to get to the trailhead early—we fear being late in these situations. The good part about driving your house around is that you can drive in your pajamas if you like, and then open the fridge and have breakfast in the parking lot. It’s ideal!
On the way, to Dunraven Pass, we saw two small herds of elk, quite a few deer, and one coyote trotting down the middle of the road. He looked back and saw us, kept ambling along, and then when he came to a pull out, he graciously yielded the road. It was a moment. The elk in that part of the park signal that fall is on the way. They are returning from the green grasses of the high country to rut. Though we have not heard them bugling yet, we hope to before we leave elk country for good.
Every day, I am grounded in gratitude for all that we are experiencing, and for our wise decision to embark on this trip. It’s been such a good long time since I’ve been in Yellowstone at this time of year. It’s good to be in it, to feel the park once again and also to let it go and move on.
