Yellowstone Day 2: Part 2

After the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, our next planned stop was the Mud Volcano, but as we were driving to it we were caught in a stretch of "controlled burn ahead: No stopping for the next six miles."  All turnouts were coned off, including the one to the Mud Volcano.  I was disappointed--but that just leaves something for the next visit!

As we were driving down that six mile stretch, Joshua spotted a wolf.  It was pretty far--the other side of a meadow and across a river.  He stopped in the middle of the lane (since we couldn't pull off) and got a few pictures.  At first, due to the scrawniness of the wolf and the distance, I thought it was a coyote, but sure enough, a wolf it is!  So while the badger made J's day, the wolf made mine!  I just wish we had more time to look at it, or that it was closer.



Next we followed Yellowstone Lake to West Thumb/West Thumb Geyser Basin.  When we arrived there, I had to use the restroom so J dropped me off and then went to park.  When I got out of the bathroom he had brought our sweatshirts out of the car with him.  Although it was cloudy and slightly chilly, I didn't want to bother carrying around a sweatshirt that I wouldn't use.  I think my exact words were: "why did you get the sweatshirts?  It's a little chilly now, but once we start on our hike we will warm right up."  Nevertheless, I took the sweatshirt and we went a-hiking.

I was eating my words within ten minutes or so as the weather turned colder.  It began to rain, then hail.  I was having fun (I just pulled my hood up and continued snapping pictures--I was able to get some amazing shots) but Josh, who didn't have a hood, wasn't having as much fun.  He helped protect my camera from being pelted by the hail (there were some pretty big hailstones).

Then as quickly as it started, the rain and hail ended.  Although my camera was a little worse for the wear.  Between the steam from the springs and the rain/hail, something must have gotten into my camera and the on/off button stopped functioning for about half an hour or so.  I have a pretty hardy camera though, and it works like a charm again.






Mudpot--and look, we got it exploding!








It empties right into the lake.  The lake is recreational, meaning people boat, swim, fish, etc.

These are the shots I was able to get while it was hailing.  These geysers are in the lake along the edge of Yellowstone Lake at West Thumb. 








The wind kept blowing the steam from this one right into my camera so my lens would fog up and I had to wipe it down to clear it



 



It looks so nice and deceptively inviting...I wanted to just jump in!