Thursday - Transition Day

Thursday 7/20/17 Last night was my last at the Canyon Campground as I transitioned to the southern end of Yellowstone Park and the Grant Campground.  When I woke up I didn't bother heading out to seek wildlife as I wanted to check out a few of the thermal features around the park, including Old Faithful.

It was a nice, but chilly morning . . . I had no idea that storms were in the forecast.  That's what happens when you are REALLY off the grid!  I was able to have a decent morning of viewing some of the things I wanted to before the rain started in the Old Faithful area as we awaited the 10:14am predicted eruption.  (FYI . . . it went off right on schedule!)

I have mentioned this before, but for those who haven't read each blog entry, I suffer from asthma and arthritic gimpy knees so my ability to get out and really enjoy many of the best park features is severely limited.  Places like the Mammoth Terrace, Norris Basin, Mud Volcano and Grand Prismatic are places I simply don't risk, especially when traveling alone.

What I did check out was the Roaring Mountain, Beryl Spring, Firehole Lake Drive (including the White Dome Geyser) and of course, Old Faithful.  All of these are very easily accessible with very short walks in areas not stinky with sulfur or other gaseous fumes.  I have to say, it was pretty cool having the first front row seat for the White Dome eruption.

It was especially nice being there at the time of one of the park tours as I got to informally listen in to their discussion.

When I got to the Old Faithful Visitor Center, there was plenty of time to take in the short movie and then make my way out to the viewing area to get a front row seat.  The crowds didn't start showing up until around 9:50a and by 10:05a they were making their way to their cars for umbrellas and rain slickers.  I just waited patiently as the clouds passed by.  The rains seemingly stopped on cue, just before she blew!

Looking away from the Old Faithful area, the skies looked quite threatening.  In fact, I pondered if I was a bad park visitors finding the storm clouds more interesting that Old Faithful!  I headed towards the East Entrance of the park hoping I might see some wildlife, especially a brown (grizzly) bear.  As I drove along Lake Yellowstone, there were a number of vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder.  Folks were watching a small herd of elk resting.
 
I headed away to go check into my campground.  Unfortunately, my assigned site could not be changed so I was further way from the bathrooms that I like to be . . . especially if I need to get up in the middle of the night to use the toilet.  This would be an important factor in later decisions I would make.

While driving to the Grant Campground I heard several severe weather warnings from NOAA.  Included in the area of the notice was the southern end of Yellowstone, as well as all of the Grand Teton-Jackson Hole area.  I would be about an hour behind the warnings, so I felt confident in heading south to see what I might see down the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

It was pretty surprising to see all of the "white stuff" along the side of the road.  I had to turn down a side road towards a marina to see what it was.  I was pretty sure it wasn't snow . . . I was right.  It was hail!  Given the air temp was around 65f at the time, I'm guessing these may not have melted too much although the severe weather warning forecasted quarter sized hail along with the 60MPH winds.

I thought maybe I would be lucky enough to see grizzly bear #399, but she and her two cubs were nowhere to be seen.  In fact, the Pilgrim Creek Road was closed to traffic. At the Jenny Lake Visitor Center the ranger said the road was closed to provide them with some quiet away from tourists . . . probably a wise decision given that she lost her cub last year to a hit-and-run driver on the road that cuts through Grand Teton National Park up near where I had seen and photographed them in June 2016.

There wasn't much happening in and around Grand Teton so I headed back to Yellowstone before it got dark.  Along the way, I did spot a black bear in the woods.  The driver of the car in front of me also saw it as we both did a U-turn at the first turnout.  Unfortunately, it was simply too dark to get a photo safely from the road . . . so I just enjoyed the short encounter and headed on "home" for the night.

I was in bed by 9:45p.  Today's miles 318 (2,549 total).

p.s.  Best price on gas in the area (Yellowstone NP, West Yellowstone, Cooke City, Grand Teton) was at Grand Teton's Colter Bay Village where I paid just $2.41/gallon.  (As a point of comparison, it was $2.79 at all of the Yellowstone stations.)