On Wednesday we decided to explore Big Sky. We are between seasons; the ski resorts don't reopen for another week or so so we are unable to go on a lift. We did visit Moonlight Resort, just a mile from our place. What a beautiful resort! I see why people stay at a resort when skiing; I wouldn't want to drive the curvey and steep road during the winter.
On Thursday we decided to revisit Old Faithful. We got down to W. Yellowstone to attend a Ranger talk about the park. It was a clear day so it was easy to see the water from Old Faithful. We had timed it perfectly as we arrived 5 minutes before the "scheduled" erruption. Afterwards we had lunch at the Old Yellowstone Inn. This hotel was built shortly after the Park was created. Very rustic -- old logs and stones are everywhere. We again had good timing as there was a 45 minute tour of the Inn. We learned that the Inn was built within a year and how inexpensive the cost was; this was because they used the local materials -- wood and rocks.
We visited the Grand Prismatic Spring; Yellowstone's largest hot spring. It was interesting to seethe Exelsior Geyser. The overflow from this geyser drains into the Firehole River. Having hot water pour into the cool river water -- steam everywhere. The Grand Prismatic Spring measures 250x350 feet and it isbrilliantly colored -- turquoise colors were beautiful. The Springs had beautiful shades of orange as part of the bacteria mats.
We did experience a "Yellowstone Moment" as we had to wait about 20 minutes for a herd of buffalo to cross the road. This isn't bad as the Park Ranger in the morning had told us that the early morning delay is usually 2 hours.
New pictures are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/38560987@N02/?saved=1.
I love the picture of the inside of the Inn that you 've posted on Flickr! Looks pretty amazing! Thank you for sharing your vacation and pics with all of us!
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