Cody - Yellowstone - Jackson Hole, WY (6)

A side note to yesterdays post; I added additional pictures of Cody, WY at the end of the post.

Today we left Cody early with the hopes of arriving in Yellowstone before the weekend crowd.

The weather was again picture perfect at 72 degrees, very little humidity and bright blue skies. We arrived before the gate was manned. Fortunately, a note on the gate told us to proceed anyway.

We did not go far before we began to see the lasting effects from the extensive forest fires a few years ago. On a brighter note, we also saw encouraging signs that Yellowstone is well on it's way to a strong recovery.

This interesting bus is used by the park service to provide guided tours of Yellowstone.

We entered Yellowstone at the East Gate and one of our first views of the geyser-steam action came at Steamboat Point on Yellowstone Lake. The entire park sits atop a massive underground volcano. You better like the smell and taste of sulphur.

We saw buffalo throughout the park. This bull was standing right beside the road, oblivious to the tourists.

I was somewhat surprised to see white pelicans in several locations. In addition to pelicans, we were fortunate to see buffalo, elk, geese, ducks of all kinds and ground squirrels. We did not see any bear or wolves.

There is nothing I can add to the pictures from Yellowstone. It is truly a beautiful and amazing, one of a kind place.

For those who know Yellowstone, we drove three fourths of The Grand Loop, from the East Gate, north to Mammoth Hot Springs and south to the South Gate.

We first spotted this buffalo standing in the edge of the steam. A very ghost-like sight. Unfortunately, he moved before I could take the shot.

Wild flowers abound throughout the park.

A massive bull elk chewing his cud in a meadow. Notice his antlers are still in the velvet stage.

At Mammoth Hot Springs I expected to see elk grazing on the grass, as I did the last time I was here, on the way to Alaska. Unfortunately, none were around. Notice the wire cage over the flowers to keep the elk from eating them. Many of the trees had wire cages around the trunks for the same reason.

We crossed the Continental Divide several times as we drove The Grand Loop.

We exited Yellowstone at the South Gate, and almost immediately drove around The Teton Mountains. This marina has an awesome view. Natalie ... wonder what your boat would look like on Jackson Lake? LOL

Carolyn and I agree, The Grand Teton is the most impressive mountain we have seen to date.

Tonight we are in Jackson Hole, WY.

The home of the National Elk Refuge.

Jackson Hole is much like Cody, WY. A western, cowboy town, with a touch of artistic sophistication. It is an eclectic mixture of saloons, great restaurants and art galleries, all of which are overseen by a mountain covered in ski runs.

Tomorrow we will turn north and drive up the western edge of Yellowstone in Idaho, on our way to Glacier National Park.

"Never Use Money to Measure Wealth" ~Robert Duval~ Broken Trail