Day Five

Sunrise on the Lamar Valley is a must do, especially when it's in your backyard. We awoke at 4:30 AM and quickly put warmer clothes on. The fire in our wood burning stove had gone out at some point in the evening and the cabin was as cold as the air outside. With hats, gloves and lots of layers, we loaded up the van and rolled out of the Roosevelt Lodge in the early morning light. We stopped at a spot I had scouted the night before that had several pools of still water and boulders to explore. As we were shooting, the howl of a wolf pierced the morning stillness. Another wolf responded from afar. The howling carried on for a few minutes as we all stood in silence scanning the mountains around us for movement. We never did spot the wolves, but the howls were enough to remind us we were not alone.

After the sunrise shoot, a group of us had a delicious breakfast at the Roosevelt Lodge, and then packed up for another long day of exploring Yellowstone. On our way out of the Lodge, we were treated with our second bear sighting. This time it was a small black bear crossing the road just ahead of us. We continued along the road from Tower Junction to Mammoth in the Northwest corner of the park, stopping once to take in the amazing view above the Yellowstone and Hellroaring Rivers. Once in Mammoth, we took some time to explore the Lower Terrace Trail, which is famous for its unique thermal features. Some of us also visited the Albright Visitors Center. On the first floor is a great exhibit of William Henry Jackson's photographs from his visit to the park in 1871.

After Mammoth, we cruised South. Shortly after passing the Madison Junction we took a short detour on a one-way road through Firehole Canyon. The Firehole River roars through the canyon, with white water and falls reverberating on the rock walls. Our next stop was the Midway Geyser Basin. The highlight of this thermal area is the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is the second largest hot spring in the world. At one point, the springs in the area boil over and flow directly into the Firehole River. The wind was kicking up as we hiked along the boardwalk sending steam from the massive hot springs directly at us. We stood in the same location for awhile enjoying the combination of cool breezes and warm steam rushing over us. 

Our final stop of the day was Old Faithful in the Lower Geyser Basin. This year we went directly to a parking lot below the Old Faithful Inn and dodged most of the tourist traffic. The Inn is a personal favorite of mine. The style of the lodge has been labeled "parkitechture" for its use of local timber and unique design that blends with the natural surroundings. Inside the lodge you feel like you're stepping back in time. The dim lighting resembles a candle lit past, while the five story vaulted log ceiling and giant stone fireplace accentuate the dramatic design.

Old Faithful was right on time, as usual, and we enjoyed the show from various locations. Afterwards, we loaded the van and headed south, passing over The Continental Divide and Craig's Pass before making a complete loop. We finished our epic two-day odyssey driving along the Tetons as the sun faded in the evening sky.