Rachel's Graduation 

         and 

           Yellowstone National Park    

                                             May 6 - 9, 2017

Rachel graduated from Boise State University on May 6, 2017, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies, Gerontology Emphasis, Magna Cum Laude. 

More than 1,750 graduates participated in the 100th commencement outdoors "on the blue".  Rachel is somewhere under the arrow.   

Immediately following graduation we headed to Yellowstone National Park, touching parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

In Yellowstone, there were bison everywhere.  We didn't ever agree on the correct term - buffalo or bison - but they were numerous and large.  Wil was thrilled by the modeling ability of this guy who welcomed us just a few miles inside the west entrance.  The National Park literature refers to them as bison.  Google says buffalo reside in Africa and Asia.

Old Faithful did her thing just minutes after we arrived.  Good timing.  With the iconic site checked off our list, we set off to explore the vastness of the Upper Geyser Basin.

There were many, many geysers in Upper Geyser Basin.  In fact, it is one of the largest concentrations of geysers in the world.  Only four others compare (Russia, New Zealand, Chili and Iceland).  Sara waited a long time for the water to bubble up in Catfish Geyser so she could take this photo.  Credit goes to Sara for many of the photos in this post.

We are often lucky on our vacations.  I did not realize at the time Castle Geyser only erupts every 14 hours.  We were just strolling along when...       

ready

set...

GO!

We wondered how natives and animals traveled across this landscape without sinking into a boiling mudpot or having a geyser erupt on them.  Such a marvelous but dangerous phenomenon.                     

Apparently, less drowsy Dramamine is stronger than non drowsy Dramamine.  Rachel took some less drowsy for the drive, then had trouble staying upright.

This round geyser looks cute and small...but to see a perspective of its size, look at Becca standing in front of it.

I've never seen such a variety of formations, colors and geography in one place.  Yellowstone far exceeded my expectations.  This is Morning Glory which used to be clear blue until vandals littered it  which reduced the temperature of the water so colored bacteria were able to grow. 

Bison seemed oblivious to the humans but I was still nervous to get too close.  Wil followed one off the path for a short distance to try for a better shot, but I insisted he come back to safer ground.

Making my way to Grand Prismatic Springs in Midway Geyser Basin to see the prism of color.    

The colors are splendid in aerial photos, but we were only able to get an idea from the ground.   

Either Opal Pool or Turquoise Pool near Grand Prismatic Springs was perfectly blue.  It looked calm and peaceful - almost inviting.  But we knew better.   Clear blue water means it is above the boiling point so few organisms are able to grow in it to form colors. 

       

Get back, Clementine!  For some reason, this doll followed us everywhere.

Heading north to the Mammoth area, the landscape changed entirely.  More trees and green hillsides, and snow capped mountains in the distance. 

Lamar Valley was reportedly a prime region for viewing animals.  On the way to it, bam - there was a bear, right beside the road!  

    Viewing animals at sunset cast great lighting on our subjects.  The pronghorns moved gracefully and had pretty markings.

Animals have the right of way.  These bighorn sheep were in no hurry to clear the road.  

An advantage of visiting in May was the chance to see baby animals.  We saw one mama nudge her baby while they were running and the baby flipped.  I guess mama bison aren't gentle.

On the drive out to Lamar Valley we looked through binoculars at a grizzly far up on a hill.  I couldn't really see it that well, but we can say we did.  We also saw a fox on the way out and the way back.  The wolves eluded us, though.

Time to head to our cabin for the night.

Another animal encounter at our cabin.  The chipmunks demanded crumbs.

We liked our little two room cabin at Mammoth Hot Springs.  The dark spot behind us to the left is a bison. 

The Mammoth Hot Springs area was fascinating.  Wondrous formations have formed for thousands of years.  This one almost seemed ghoulish.   Hot springs are dormant geysers that are cooler water running and dripping, rather than erupting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

One of the sites Sara most wanted to see was Minerva Terrace.  It was, indeed, impressive.  It looked pure and clean.  

Hot, cascading water still runs down the hills.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Wow, Sara's tall!  She's touching the top of 37 foot tall Liberty Cap.

I was impressed by the varying ecozones (I looked that up and it's the closest word I could find to what I'm trying to describe) that could be seen at once.  Flat geothermal vastness to forest to rocky mountains.  Such variation.

After walking through the hot springs in the morning, before it was too hot, we headed back out toward Lamar valley to see some waterfalls.  The first one was Wraith Falls, a wide, flat fall that looked like a sheet of snow. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A nice little hike to and from Wraith Falls crossed Lupine Creek, where Becca felt bold...

...and Rachel felt mischievous.   "Stop," cried Mama Bear.   

Everywhere we looked were photo opportunities.  Look at these beasts!

Just down the road was Undine Falls, east of Mammoth.

 Becca wore the right sweater.  

We were all intrigued by an area south of Mammoth covered with rocks that looked like a moonscape.  The girls climbed and frolicked.  Wil photographed.

My family.

One more waterfall on the way out of the park: Gibbon Falls.  The force of the water coming down Gibbon River was tremendous.

Headed back toward home.

                                                     

Thus ends our wild and rugged family outing as documented in Travel Adventures with Wil.