We ventured out about 6:15 to head for the North Entrance in Gardiner. We arrived at the historic Roosevelt Arch in an hour. The original main gateway to the part, this arch is a symbol of the park. President Roosevelt himself laid the cornerstone of the arch.
As we entered the park our goal was to drive the circle around the park to get a general overview and to stop at Old Faithful and spend time there. We drove through the beautiful America the Beautiful Pass on our way to Mammoth Hot Springs area. We parked in front of Liberty Cap and began to walk among the hot pools, white travertine terraces, and cliffs.
Liberty Cap is named for the peaked knit hats symbolizing freedom during the French Revolution. It stands 37 feet tall is primarily composed of travertine. It resembles a mushroom and has been a landmark in the park since before its opening. It was formed by a hot spring that was active for an extended period, allowing mineral deposits to accumulate gradually. The internal pressure of the spring was sufficient to elevate the water, leading to its height. We saw other formations such as Devil’s Thumb on our walk through the area. Bob enjoyed seeing the thermophiles that live the hot waters.
The travertine terraces in the area are formed from limestone. Thermal water rises through the limestone, carrying high amounts of the dissolved limestone (calcium carbonate). At the surface, carbon dioxide is released and calcium carbonate is deposited, forming travertine, the chalky white mineral forming the rock of travertine terraces. The formations resemble a cave turned inside out. Colorful stripes are formed by thermophiles, or heat-loving organisms
From Mammoth Hot Springs we continued down to Old Faithful. We passed the Grand Prismatic Spring which we plan to return to another day. We also saw herds of Bison.
We arrived at Old Faithful about 9 am and found that it was due to erupt about 9:42. We looked at the exhibits in the Visitors’ Center until about 9:25 when we took up our stations right at the front of the viewing area to wait and see. The Geyser did not disappoint. It erupted about 9:46, rising very high, and lasted nearly 5 minutes. After viewing, we had a wonderful buffet breakfast at the lodge and then wandered along the boardwalk through the Upper Geyser Basin until it was time for a second viewing. This time we were down wind and got the spray from another high and long eruption.
From Old Faithful we continued our drive through the park. We stopped to admire Yellowstone Lake and drove around its northwestern shore. Yellowstone Lake is North America’s largest high-elevation Sitting at 7,733 feet in the Park, it spans roughly 136 square miles with 141 miles of shoreline. Because its water averages an icy 41°F, swimming is not advised, making it a hub for boating, fishing, and sightseeing. Interestingly, the lake has the largest population of wild cutthroat trout in North America.
The Yellowstone River both feeds and drains the lake at opposite ends. It begins in the Absaroka Mountain Range on Yount Peak. The river enters the park and meanders through the Thorofare region into Yellowstone Lake. It leaves the lake at Fishing Bridge and flows north over LeHardys Rapids and through Hayden Valley. After this peaceful stretch, it crashes over the Upper and Lower falls of the Grand Canyon and flows generally northwest, meeting its largest tributary, the Lamar River, at Tower Junction. It continues through the Black Canyon and leaves the park near Gardiner, Montana. The Yellowstone River continues north and east through the state of Montana and joins the Missouri River near the eastern boundary line of the state. The Missouri River eventually joins the Mississippi River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Mexico.
As we continued back to the North Entrance, we stopped at Tower Fall, near Tower Junction. The fall plunges 132 ft and is bordered by rock pinnacles that were created by lava flows that cracked as they cooled.
From the Fall we drove to Tower Junction, then on to the North Entrance in Gallatin, and home to Pine Creek. On the trip, we saw lots of Bison, often in the road. It was a long day but gave us an overview of the park and a good look at Old Faithful.
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