Day 36 (Sat. June 17/06)
Livingston, MT to Jackson, WY
Town of Gardiner and the Arch at the entrance
to Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was established as the world's first national park in 1872.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park attracted 2.8 million visitors to its
2.2 million acres last year. Huge volcanic eruptions occurred about 2 million
years ago, then 1.3 million years ago and again 640,000 years ago. The park's
central part collapsed and formed a 30 by 45 mile basin. The "Grand
Canyon" of Yellowstone plunges over 1000 feet and the hot water acting on
volcanic rock created the canyon's colours.
As we drove through the park, we crossed 3 Continental Divides. We had also
crossed one on Route 66 and once since leaving Salt Lake City. Yellowstone Lake
is North America's largest mountain lake at 20 miles long, 14 miles wide and
430 feet at it's deepest point. Over geological time it has drained into the
Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean via Hudson's Bay. It now drains into the
Atlantic via the Gulf of Mexico.
Mammoth Hot Springs
The tremendous heat that caused the volcanos to erupt many years ago is what still powers the geysers (a special kind of hot spring with constrictions in it's plumbing, a geyser periodically erupts violently as pressure mounts in the large volume of hot water stored deep under the surface), hot springs (colours in hot springs and runoff channels occur as a result of light refraction, suspended mineral particles and large communities of microscopic organisms. They grow in water too hot, even boiling, for most life on earth), fumaroles (water vapour and other gases expelled from holes in the ground create a kind of steam vent, or "dry geyser") and Mud Pots( acidic hot springs with a limited water supply. Some microorganisms use hydrogen sulphide, which rises from deep within the earth as an energy source. They help convert the smelly gas to sulphuric acid, which breaks down rock into clay. Various gases escape through the wet clay mud and cause it to bubble.) The spectacular terraces and other formations are formed from the Calcium Carbonate carried by the hot water.
Snow capped mountains and a few Elk
There are over 950 miles of hiking trails and 300 miles of roads in the park. The park is very environmentally conscious, using more than 60,000 square feet of recycled plastic in the boardwalks around the park. Park officials use hybrid vehicles when possible and diesel powered vehicles must use fuel made with 20% vegetable oil.
Monument Geyser Basin
This was the closest we got to a geyser to be able to feel the heat from the steam.
Fire in 1988 burned thousands of acres
An unbelievable number of fallen trees cover the area where the fire was. Most of the trees show no indication of having been burned due to the weather wearing away the charred coverings. Thousands of small trees that have naturally regenerated now cover the area.
This is a Cone geyser, whereas Old Faithful
is a Fountain geyser
Do young geysers grow to be old geysers?
Beware of inquisitive Ravens
As we walked back from the above geysers, we noticed a raven sitting on the bike. We later talked to some visitors who watched the raven as he tried to open the pouch on the tank bib. When we got to the bike, he was sitting on this car and found an open window. It's not really noticeable in the first picture, but he left a little present on the armrest between the front seats.
Castle Geyser
This somewhat un-noticed geyser erupted just before Old Faithful almost as if to get us all fired up for the grand finale. I don't think it always erupts just before the "big guy". In the 2nd picture, you can see a small plume of steam coming from Old Faithful closer to you and to the right.
Old Faithful, the most popular geyser
Of the some 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park, Old Faithful is the most popular. It erupts an average of every 94 minutes during it's more than 120 years of observation, each time spewing thousands of gallons of steaming water into the air.
Old Faithful Geyser
We were fortunate to have arrived about 10 minutes before Old Faithful erupted. A boardwalk surrounds approximately 2 thirds of the geyser and provides a viewing point for hundreds of visitors, from a safe distance, of course. The whole thing was over in less than 10 minutes and, just like when watching fireworks, was complete with the ooing and awing.
Daily Stats
349 Kms Ridden
5 Hrs 20 Mins Riding Time
2 Hrs 05 Mins Stopped Time
81.2 Km/Hr Avg Riding Speed
Fuel Used: 20.57 L
Fuel Cost: $16.15 US
Avg Km/L: 65.49