We were up early to head to Yellowstone; checking the road closures online showed everything open except a pass I knew would be closed. Amanda made lattes; we prefer them over coffee. I will drink straight espresso or a bold coffee, but while the frother is out, why not. Amanda likes to make honey almond milk flat whites, one of her Starbucks favorites. They come in compliant with our way of eating. I’m more of an oat milk guy; the mouthfeel is close to regular milk. The almond milk is good as well. While she heated the Moka pot, I made burritos from the taco leftovers. I added a little cauliflower queso to the veggies placing them on a bed of beans and wrapping it all in a large Ezekiel tortilla.
As we left the parking lot, I was already singing and dancing to my own tune. Amanda had not had enough coffee to deal with that, but she was mute on the subject. God did not grant her any morning person vibes! It was dark as we left, and I wanted to get an iconic shot of Mormon row as the sun rose. We were the second car there and probably about half an hour early. I sat in the car sipping coffee for a bit, then went to get a shot. Amanda stayed warm in the car. I talked with some photographers joking about being in the midst of a telephoto lens with my iPhone. A couple was there the previous night taking some astronomy photos and warned about where a badger was hiding.
The morning had been quiet; the few of us there were talking did so softly, letting each other enjoy the moment. Others started to fall in for their shots, not quite as reverent as we had been. One lady screaming at her husband about a low camera battery. This is why American tourists are hated around the world. I remember my mother telling a story of sitting in a cafe somewhere in Europe with some obnoxious Americans making fools of themselves. She didn’t want to be associated with them and acted as if she was Australian. Unfortunately, the clouds split the mountains, and we couldn’t achieve the perfect image, but a few good ones nonetheless. Without the shot and the moment spoiled, I called it, and off we went toward Yellowstone.
One of the bad things about going to Yellowstone via the south entrance is you go through Grand Teton park. It’s hard to make it through the park without wanting to stop and look at so many incredible sights! We managed to make it through without too many stops but did spot many animals out for morning munchies. Also, a quick stop at the bald eagle sighting spot; Amanda is determined to see one a little closer.
The roads were still icy as we came by the south entrance, but it was breaking everywhere but the shaded areas. It was a cold morning 7 was the lowest we noticed on the car display. We would come next to the Lewis River. It would carve its way, making a deep canyon in some spots. Named after the leader of the Lewis and Clark expeditions, though they never made it to Yellowstone, he played a significant role in all westward discoveries. We stopped for a touristy continental divide photo op. We have a gimbal to help shoot videos and better selfies. The car hood makes for the perfect spot to setup the mini tripod, controlling my camera with my watch.
Today would be a lake day, passing a few lakes in the Tetons, then Lewis lake feeding the river. Then on to the shores of West Thumb that connected to Yellowstone lake, the largest lake in North America above 7,000 feet. Our first stop was the West Thumb geyser basin; snow-covered boardwalks meandered amongst the thermal features. It starkly contrasted with all the heat and boiling springs against the snowy ground and trees. All on the banks of a vast lake with what I can only imagine would hold fridged waters. This thermal activity is unlike anything I’ve experienced; it is fascinating to see all the boiling pods and steam vents. We have yet to encounter the prominent features yet; saving the best for last.
As we made our way around the lake, Jack would tell stories of the lake and its inhabitants. Fishermen would introduce non-native trout, which would wreak havoc on the ecosystem. The new trout would feed the native cutthroat trout spawn, drastically lowering their numbers. The otters feed on the cutthroat, which swims shallow, but the non-native trout would swim too deep for the otters to feed on. As a result, the otters take down willows, subsequently helping with wildfire control. You see where I’m going with this, and this would only be with one species; there are 20 that feed on the cutthroat. The cutthroat numbers have since increased with management. Humans think we can do better than God’s natural way of life. As a former atheist, it’s hard for me to think how I just thought that all of the symphonies of nature were just by chance. If you just look, you can see God’s hand in everything, all perfectly balanced; that is, until we decide we know better!
As I age, my views have changed from politics to nature. I am more middle-of-the-road politically now and more of a conservationist than I would have thought years ago. Life experiences have changed my views along with traveling. Our change in diet helped with this as well. I have been exposed to many opposing viewpoints in the realm of plant based/vegan eating. To be honest, some of my views were changed. However, we still don’t consider ourselves vegan because of the stigma that comes with it. We still eat meat and cheese sometimes, and I am still a hunter, too. I would not hunt for the sport if I didn’t plan on eating what I killed now. Always wanting to kill a bear before, but now I’d much rather sit with Amanda and watch one do its thing in nature. Nothing opens your eyes as traveling does, not touristy sightseeing, but seeing how others live in the real world. The more we travel, experience, and challenge our bubble/our comfort zone, the broader our horizons become. This goes toward our slogan too…life after a change of heart.
Ok, back on track; I’ll try and reign in on my philosophical chatter a little! We ducked off to see Yellowstone Lake Lodge on the banks of the lake. It was closed just as all the other visitor’s centers have been. Nothing remarkable to see here, but we did see a spot to take snow pictures. Amanda had a shot she wanted to get, and this fit the bill, snow in an opening with snow-draped pine trees. She’s picky with many things; this was no different. It had to be thick trees, with just the right amount of snow on them, and in a clearing! We pulled over, I set the car hood shooting base up, and we snapped some couple shots, individuals, and some with her, the donor plaque. I was able to catch a few impressive photos. Some I’ll reveal now, but you may have to wait for the others in Christmas card form!
It was lunchtime, so we went to find a spot with a nice view. We found a turnout that met the bill and devoured our burritos. They were good and ate well at room temperature.
As we left the lunch spot, there was a more prime spot overlooking the lake from a high point with fumaroles spewing steam along the bank. However, the sulfur smell may not have made it a better location! I hopped out to get a few pictures. Amanda would live through my photos; she was too full to get out and roam.
We proceeded toward the southeast entrance, up and over a high pass with winding roads. With a full belly, Amanda was dozing on me; I would also be tired. We weren’t making a loop, so I didn’t bother to wake her as we turned around to make the trek back over the pass. We did come across many buffalo. It was crazy to see out drastic the terrain would change on group of buffalo grazed an open grassy area then not 4 miles away another group on snow covered hills.
Once back at the lake, we stopped for a bathroom break. It was just one bathroom; national parks are the original gender-neutral bathrooms, in place before it was hip to do so! I went to go in for the annoyance factor, and the door was locked. I asked Amanda from the outside why she would lock the door in the middle of nowhere with no one around, and her response was, ‘to keep you out!’ I got a nice panoramic shot of the beautiful lake while I waited.
