July 12, 2012

July 12, 2012

Like yesterday we got up early and took a leisurely drive south out of the park. We stopped at Yellowstone Lake and while we were having breakfast I saw a big bull elk saunter across the parking lot. While I was taking a few photos, an RV full of elderly Chinese pull up and they run right up to it. When the elk charged, the Chinese scattered like pinballs.

After this morning amusement we walked the West Thumb basin of the lake. This area is a volcanic caldera that filled with lake water. It is still active. Hot springs bubble up along the lakeshore and even a few yards into the lake.

Yellowstone has been a zoo and over half of the crowd is foreign. The entrance fee to this most amazing park is only $25, far less than the price charged in other countries. It should be doubled or tripled for international visitors who contribute no tax dollars to its upkeep. That will never happen. The politicians would howl if park rangers started asking for proof of citizenship.

Leaving Yellowstone we follow Rockefeller Memorial Parkway to its neighbor Grand Teton National Park. On our original trip we only spent a few hours here. We intend to fully explore it this time. We just love it. We have no problem getting a nice campsite and the scenery is stunning. The Tetons are the jewels of the Rocky Mountains. After the stress of Yellowstone we spend all afternoon relaxing.