We only had two nights, so we made the most of it:
The first large animal we saw, and the most numerous – the bison.
Elk in Mammoth Springs
Looking for wildlife…
A crane on one of the rivers – we saw lots of birds.
GEOLOGICAL WONDERS
James getting a better view of Canary Springs
Jessi & James at Mammoth Springs
Splurt at one of the mud volcanos
Sign in the Yellowstone Lodge showing the predicted eruption time for Old Faithful.
Old Faithful – Kathleen’s only request for the visit was to see Old Faithful erupt.
The Anemone Geyser – my favorite little geyser is located near Old Faithful.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Tower Falls
HISTORY
We found this little gravesite where we stopped for lunch.
During the winter of 1888-1889, E. C. Culver served as winter caretaker at the Firehole Hotel, and lived there with his wife Mattie and daughter Theda. Mattie Culver was tubercular and Culver hoped the mountain air would help improve his wife’s health. Sadly, Mattie continued to worsen, and died on March 2, 1889. Heavy snows and frozen ground made proper burial impossible. Solders from the nearby Fountain soldier station helped place Mattie’s body in two barrels covered with snow. She remained there until properly laid to rest when the ground thawed in the spring. A tombstone marking her grave near the present
Nez Perce Picnic area reads, “Mattie S. wife of E. C. Culver died March 2, 1889, aged 30 years.”
THE LICENSE PLATE GAME
We saw license plates from 47 out of 50 states – I took a picture of Hawaii for proof – the only ones we didn’t see were Deleware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
The old yellow buses for tours
Some of James’ favorite cars taking a ‘vintage’ tour through the park
SEPTEMBER CAMPING
It was cold enough that everything had frost on it in the mornings – James let the sun take care of the frost on the windshield and the tent.