Yellowstone: Pandemic Reprieve
It's been a few weeks since we returned from Yellowstone National Park and I've found it hard to wrap my brain around the experience. I mean, everyday was full. Metaphorically, we fit weeks into days. I'm still not sure where to dive in writing so I'm just going to start and see where goes.
After the obligatory Old Faithful viewing we visited Black Sand Basin. It was a relief just to get away from all the people. The air was cold and the humid, it felt so good on our parched Colorado skin. Microbial mats of color illuminated our senses and gave rise to our mystical imaginations. The deep gurgling from geysers rumbled through our heads and it felt like we were waking up. Waking up from the long drive and the 2020 pandemic isolation slumber.
Opalescent Pool, my favorite, apparently wasn't there until the 1950's when it's neighboring geyser, the Spouter Geyser began pooling its runoff there. Surrounded by bleak colorless sand, the colorful microbial mats around the edge are shades of orange, green and brown. Contrasting these are varying shades of blue in the deeper center of the pool caused by refracted sunlight.
When the runoff water, high in silica, was absorbed by the surrounding trees, they essentially fossilized, almost glass like in their essence of placid serenity and calm.
Our trip wasn’t one we planned in advance, we just drove North, through Northern Colorado, Southern and Central Wyoming, temperatures dropping. Camping along the way with other hardy campers. Carrying extra comforters and thick pads for tenting it, glad to have our camper for its kitchen and dinette.
We woke early to snow a few days into Yellowstone. In the morning we took Archie for walks to warm up and steamed up the camper with the hot tea kettle. Strolling through the attractions before the rest of the public, we watched the loons play as mist rose off the water.
The day we watched two bears fight over an elk the younger one had killed will remain etched in my mind, likely for the remainder of my days.
My favorite day was the day we kayaked on the lake. Feeling the hot water drip into the lake from above felt like pure magic. The warm water surrounding our kayaks where hot streams of water ran off into Lake Yellowstone, was pretty cool! (We got permits to kayak in Yellowstone Lake at our campsite, from the ranger.)
That same day a dear friend of mine from (then) Western State College, Becca & her partner drove over from their home in MT to visit us. She lifted my spirits so much during this time of pandemic retraction. She brought sling shots and fishing poles for the kids and a sumo solar bobble which still graces the front of our camper and reminds me of this amazing trip.
We even squeezed in a little science with a digital thermometer that we picked up the gift shop. The kids took turns measuring the temperatures of pools. It was super cool to learn about various organisms that live in the very, very hot waters. Learn more about that here
Fresh air, campfires, hot steamy water, wildlife, adventures, abundant opportunities to learn, amazing hikes & good friends sparked our creativity and zest for life. Thank you Yellowstone National Park! We exhausted ourselves!
