We just got back from an adventurous trip to the Great White North. Just so you know this is totally out of our element. We are warm vacation people! However, this was well worth the freezing temps. We'll always remember driving through miles and miles of powdery snow surrounded by hundreds of beautiful flocked pine trees. It's a magical place when you add in gysers, geothermic pools and rivers heated by hot springs. This place is amazingly beautiful. I can't believe how awesome it was even in the winter. We had a fantastic eight-hour day even with the weather being soo cold because it was also soo clear that we could see far into the distance.
DISCLOSURE: I have tried to limit the pictures in this post. Sorry...It didn't work too well. If you could only see the hundreds of pictures on my camera you would understand.
Waiting in the hotel lobby for the snow coach to come and pick us up. Extra gloves and dry socks packed...We can't wait!!
Everyone meets Griz...the heated snow coach...what a comfortable way to travel through the park.
Such cute faces...love them!!
Loved spending time with these kids!
Christmas Tree Rock is where a pine tree grows right in the middle of a rock, right in the middle of the Madison river. On Aug 25th, some people got snowed in and had to camp by this area and ended up decorating the tree with lights. Now, each August people sneak across the river and continue to decorate the tree. The rangers don't like it and have to go every year and take it down.
Madi happily posing by the Madison River--
...at least Seven Swans a Swimming on the Madison River.
Look how beautiful this hot spring is. The tourquiose was so brillant. The trees on the left side are naturally flocked by the steam rising off the spring.
Ghost trees
Fountain paint pots
Paint Pots - bubbling mud pots
Is it cold enough yet? 17 degrees for the high today. Yikes!!
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| Kayli was pretty excited about Griz. This name has a story... |
Castle Gyser
One of the coolest parts was being dropped off at biscuit basin and cross county skiing through the upper gyser basin towards Old Faithful. This was Madi and Sara's first time on skis and they managed them with ease (only falling a few times). It was so awesome skiing through all the different gysers. We held our breath hoping that we would make it to Old Faithful in time for it to erupt as it only erupts every 90 min. It was a close one...we barely made it with only about 5 minutes to spare.
Everyone on Cross Country skis in front of Grotto Gyser (reminded me of Pirates of the Carribean)
Heading over the first bridge...the skis are all on and we are off.
Old Faithful Lodge
Sara leaving her mark...
We all really enjoyed this trip so much!
Derek mentioned on the way home that we were now driving in the Snow Sequioa. The tour continued as we drove on massive icy and snow covered roads through Island Park. I am very grateful for good tires, 4-wheel drive and a careful driver who is very good with these kinds of roads.
We decided to head back home a day early because we heard a giant storm was coming through. We are really glad we did as the roads were already starting to get dangerous. But, we made it home Safely.
