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Published: September 5th 2014
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Photos from this day in Yellowstone This day we decided to travel the east side of the 8 so we turned left in Mammoth Hot Springs and headed toward Tower-Roosevelt. We encountered a lot less traffic on this road, especially on the Blacktail Plateau Drive offshoot. We made quick stops at the Petrified Tree, Tower Fall, and any other pullout that caught our heart. When we reached Canyon Village we decided to cut across the 8, head back up to our hotel, and make plans for the evening light.
We passed by Ice Lake too quickly to startle the driver behind us with a "RIGHT HERE!" move so we slowed for the second left off the main road and pulled onto Virginia Cascade and looped back to our destination. Barb once again decided to stay in the car to catch up on her reading. Not knowing what to expect because of the overgrowth on both sides of the winding path to Ice Lake I brought the whole backpack full of photo tools, carrying the tripod with a camera and lens mounted. A good distance along the wooden path I came to a poster-size warning about not going any further without bear spray. Well, knowing
I didn't have one in my bag I stopped to think. Above, a bright yellow plane circled low and seemed to be trying to get my attention. I put two and 2 together and turned back to the car in a cautious hurry. Sure I'm schooled on what to do if a bear comes my way, but who wants to test that? Perhaps the usual Bear Aware bear scare was intensified this year because there were already 2 people killed with bear encounters (not bear
attacks), and there have only been 7 since the park opened in 1872. The planes were dispatched to monitor bear activity, and they didn't need my help.
A view of Gardiner from the edge of Yellowstone can be seen in photo 26. When we arrived back at our hotel we noticed another family arrived (photo 27). They reminded us of our closest neighbors back home.
Returning to the park for some evening shots, we went up the hill to Mammoth Hot Springs and continued to the Upper Terrace. This hill of travertine above the town is other worldly with countless photo ops. We could have spent all of our time here making photos
of the boiling limestone. Algae living in the hot pools help to expand the color range of this marvelous place. You can see some of the usual wooden paths in photos 39, 40, 50 & 51. Not only are they great ways to get close to the boiling jackpots, but they also provide good footing for tripods. Of course, others walking on the planks even 20 feet away can drastically alter a long exposure. Once I took advantage of these boards to stretch out my back; they're also good for sitting on to get close-ups of the steamy ooze.
God turned out the lights and we went home.
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