Images of Glacier NP

WEST GLACIER, MT - - We've been out of wi-fi territory for the past 4 days or so.  We left Yellowstone NP and headed to our favorite NP - - Glacier.  The first picture is of Two Medicine Lake and lots of Glacier NP.  On our hike to Grinnell Lake we encountered a number of miniature waterfalls descending from snow-melt higher up.  And then there's the Horse Family portrait.

On the road, again

BOZEMAN, MT - - We've left our jobs at Yellowstone.  Today is the first day of our wandering around seeing the country.  To get the full report, click on the link to Lydia's blog.  More as the miles roll by.

Bubbling hot spring

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - This bubbling hot pool, the Firehole River and the rust colored water streaks running into the river  - - caused by bacteria in the hot (160-degree) water - - are only a 10 minute walk from our dorm.  I have the morning off before leaving OF at 2:30pm for a tour from another lodge.

Birding on the Madison River

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - On our weekend we found Greater Scaup ducks with orange legs; a Sandhill Crane with rusty feathers and a red winged blackbird.  The weather forecast for Sunday and Monday (June 19-20) calls for rain and snow showers.  No global warming here.

Geyser Art, 2011

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - Geothermal art comes in many forms, like the geyser at top (a repeat pic), or the gold  colors in the middle shot to the paw print (probably wolf) which is 200-300 years old given the depth of the impression.  The colors come from the water temperature.  Lighter, more brilliant golds on the geyser signal that the water temp is in the 190-degree range.  The two other pics probable temperatures are in the 160 to 140-degree range given the darker hues.

Catch up

OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - As you can see from the above pics we do have some sunny weather...just not much right now.  On our off day travels we've come upon American White Pelicans parked in formation heading into a stiff wind; an ever-vigilant Yellowbelly Marmot and White Dome geyser which has built up it's cone over hundreds of years and will either become extinct as all plumbing gets filled in or blow it's stack.

Off the road again

 OLD FAITHFUL, WY - - We're back from our final days touring the park as part of our training.  Of course, we couldn't go everywhere we needed to because of (1) heavy snow; (2) avalanche danger on a road that has been cleared and (3) a rock slide which blocked another road.  This is normal life as winter (hopefully) heads our of here.  In the meantime, the bison still like taking steam baths and, when the sun come out the scenery is spectacular.