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Ever since we decided to full time RV we knew we would be visiting Bozeman, Montana our first year out. We have close family that lives here and we knew the area was beautiful with lots to do so that was an easy decision. We ended up spending 3 weeks here. What a great time.
While here we enjoyed several state parks with our personal tour guides, did several hikes that stretched our flatlander legs, ate some exotic and delicious meats (at least John did…Patti not so much), did some shopping that can only be done in towns of a certain size, and, most importantly, spent quality time with those we love. Plus we enjoyed just wandering the historic downtown. Any town that has trails that start just off Main Street and run into the mountains is alright by me.
We will be returning next spring for a wedding. We can’t wait.
View from the Triple Tree Trail outside Bozeman, MT 6/28/19
Alongside the Triple Tree Trail outside Bozeman, MT 6/28/19
Overlooking Bozeman, MT. I walked up here most every day. 7/2/19
Overlooking Bozeman, MT. The wildflowers just got better every day. 7/2/19
Missouri Headwaters SP 6/30/19
View at Buffalo Jump SP 6/30/19
The Native Americans would drive buffalo off this cliff. Buffalo Jump SP 6/30/19
Inside the cave at Lewis and Clark Caverns SP 7/11/19
Lewis and Clark Caverns SP 7/11/19
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
OK, this is my last dedicated Yellowstone post, at least until next time. As to be expected, there are a multitude of beautiful sights to be seen throughout the park. Wide valleys, towering mountains, winding creeks and rivers. The light changes the view from moment to moment, requiring repeated visits to savor everything there is to offer. Below are a handful of these wonderful sights.
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone NP 6/19/19
Yellowstone Lower Falls, Yellowstone NP, 6/19/19
Tower Falls, Yellowstone NP 6/19/19
This post will be short on words, long on pictures. We saw a bunch of animals while in the park which is as expected. With only a 200mm lens I didn’t have the reach to even get a shot at many of them (I’m looking at you, wolf) and many that I did get from extreme distance don’t make for compelling photos (mama and baby bighorns, several bears, etc.). Others I got so many excellent shots that it’s hard to whittle them down. I captured so many of the coyote that virtually walked right up to me that it is truly difficult to choose. I should always have such problems.
This elk was just hanging out to welcome me on my first morning walk into the park. Yellowstone NP 6/17/19
And this elk stopped by for dinner. Taken from the front seat of the RV. Gardiner, MT 6/21/19
Mama and baby Griz. I could have used a longer lens since this was about as close as this city boy was going to get. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Fun fact: both male and female bison have horns. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Fun fact #2: the baby bison are called “Red Dogs”. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Getting side eye from a bison was a new experience. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
This was NOT taken with a long lens. I thought I was going to get up close and personal with this coyote. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
Looking for lunch. Yellowstone NP 6/20/19
The title of this post is a phrase I use when I’m in an area that is just so beautiful and/or interesting that anywhere I point my camera there is a potential “keeper” photograph. Yellowstone National Park falls well into this category. We had briefly visited the park on a couple of occasions in the past, but this was to be our first extended stay. We were parked just outside the north entrance in Gardiner and were close enough that my morning walks took me from the RV through town and into the park. Nice.
We saw way too much to cover in one post. This one focuses on the geothermal delights to be found in virtually every corner of the park and even many nooks and crannies outside it. It’s odd to be driving down the road and see steam and/or bubbling “water” coming out of the ground. It’s even odder when you just start taking it for granted. One thing we didn’t take for granted was just how pretty these things are. The colors can be spectacular. The bottom line, though, is that things can look pretty damn primal and dangerous. It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature, especially when she has very hot, very acidic liquids flying around.
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP 6/17/19
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP 6/17/19
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP 6/17/19
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP 6/17/19
Artists Paint Pot, Yellowstone NP 6/18/19
Random thermal feature seen from the side of the road, Yellowstone NP 6/18/19
The Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone NP 6/18/19
The World as We See It 