It's a geyser!

Currently In: Victor Idaho (outside Grand Teton National Park)
Next Up: Loveland, CO and then a few locations in South Colorado
We will be in New Mexico in late August


In addition to the wonderful wildlife, Yellowstone is known for its abundance of hydrothermal sites that started from a super volcano eruption 631,000 years ago.   The center of the volcano collapsed forming a 45 mile wide caldera.  The heat from the several eruptions still fuel the geysers, hot springs and mud pots today.

The most famous of these features is Old Faithful.

My Old Faithful Geezer

They can forecast the eruption within 20 minutes and it is magnificent when it happens!

We took a walk along Geyser Hill and then we continued on the boardwalk up to Morning Glory Pool.  I think there are over 30 hydrothermal sites along this route in the Upper Geyser Basin.  Much of it has this yellow/orange color since the hot water runoff is a good breeding ground for microbes.

Here are a few of my favorite geysers, pools, and the like.

Blue Star Spring

Pump Geyser

Doublet Pool

Crested Pool

Castle Geyser

Morning Glory Pool

We passed the Grotto Geyser on the way up when it was quiet.  Look what happened a few minutes later when we passed it again!

It was time for a lunch (really dinner) break!   Not all of our lunch spots have a great view!

We also took this opportunity to look at the historic lodge and hotel at Old Faithful.  The best parts about the lodge were the expansive windows and the light fixtures.

The Old Faithful Inn, dating back to 1903, was much more interesting.

The high ceiling and fireplace(check out that clock!) were awesome!

There was a lot of detail, especially with woodworking.  The stairs here are an example.  And the walls made out of logs!

We decided to get a drink at the Bear Pit - the lounge at the Inn.  Also some really great decor and detail. The wood carving above the bar and the window etching behind it were really special.

On our way out of the Park, we decided to stop at the Midway Geyser Basin to see the Excelsior Geyser Crater.  We were there in the early evening and the steam was really really pouring off the hot water!

Boiling water!

And the hot water runs right out of the Crater and into the Firehole River.

It started to rain so we did not get a good look at the Grand Prismatic Spring.  But we were treated to a double rainbow instead!