September 6-10, 2007 -- We drove into the main north entrance
to Yellowstone National Park and arrived at Mammoth Hot
Springs. I had never thought about how Yellowstone got its
name, but when I saw the colorful mineral deposits surrounding
me it was obvious. Steam billowed into the air from the hot
springs and the smell of sulphur wafted over us in waves. The
minerals solidify into stairstep formations and drippy solid lumps.
There is a mystical quality to this area. The water looks passive
and serene, but the mist and steam drifting above the surface
belie something more sinister brewing below.
I saw a fast flowing stream
filled with bright green plant
life. it was crystal clear and
looked like it must be ice
cold. Without even thinking
I put my hand in the water -
and yanked it right out!
The water was hot hot hot!
There are mazes of
boardwalks throughout
Mammoth Hot Springs, some
passing old defunct springs
and others skirting pools of
steaming mineral water. The
minerals harden into all kinds
of shapes, from elaborate
staircases to very tall
pinnacles. Some of the
springs bubble under vast
lakes punctuated by dead
trees. Up close the minerals
are a kaleidescope of colors.
In some areas the minerals harden in waves, like a frozen
orange ocean. In other areas mini-waterfalls dribble minerals
over an edge.
At one lookout we found a
professional photographer
using a huge format camera
under a draped hood. Our
quickie snapshots of anything
and everything around us
seemed amateurish next to his
deliberate methodology.
Other areas of the park feature geysers as well as hot springs.
No visit to Yellowstone is complete without a spin past Old
Faithful. It erupts every 90 minutes or so, and with less
promptness and splendor than 50 years ago when an earthquake
shifted things below the surface. The crowds gather, however,
and there were several hundred people for our showing. We
were lucky and got a big burst after the geyser teased us with a
series of smaller sprays.
After enjoying much of what Yellowstone has to offer -- but realizing
we'll have to return several times to see it all -- we made our way
south into Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming.