7-jul-19 Sunday 6:30 am - Yellowstone - Indian Creek Campground
Waiting for the camp hosts to head on down to the Kiosk so I can exrend my stay. I never did get to see the geysers up close yesterday, Parking the RV was nigh impossible and battling the crowds at the entrance had me pretty well tired out. I was ready to leave the park but made several tries for a campground and managed to get in here. It is north of where I would like to be but at least I am in the park and can stay for up to 14 days
Been up since about 3 am and reading some of the literature, there is gasoline available at several locations, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower/Roosevelt, Grant Village, Old Faithful, and I may be able to make something of a loop past the geysers (Which I will see this time) down to Yellowstone Lake. Round trip about 100 mi - may be more than I want to do in one day. Will check on the possibilities of switching campsites.
At Indian Creek there is no power, no internet, no cell phone, vault toilets, cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon, the road has about 5 miles of gravel due to construction, and this is a high traffic area for bears, overall, a pretty good RV boondocking camping experience. It is close to the North Entrance which I can use to get on the I-90 East to South Dakota when I get ready to leave so there are advantages to just staying here, will see.
From the heated (furnace) comfort of the RV I am watching my neighbors break camp (tent) - lots of work, but they are young and have had a great experience to share all their lives- will see if they leave the firewood, the subaru outback is looking pretty packed and they still have two people and two dogs to go. (Later - said goodbye and picked up 4 logs with thanks)
8 am reserved for tonight - can get another campground - ok with hosts -off to the geysers Steamboat by Norris a priority - its been active lately.
The next day, and here it is: The tallest (300ft) and the holy grail of geyser gazers worldwide. It just spit out a few 20 ft spouts while I was there, not much to see in this picture - its unpredictable and you take your chances, BUT, when it goes off its like a dozen freight trains or a dozen 747 jet planes, your right there, and the sheer power captured the imagination of two people who were there with me and had witnessed the geyser at full power.
Both the eyewitnesses sounded like their lives had been changed by the event.
This one has been making the news lately because of its increased activity.
Later in the day I was about 300 yards from "Old Faithful" when it went off, my timing and planning could be better I suppose but I was lucky to have seen it at all and I have now some idea of what a geyser is.
I had walked the entire Norris Geyser Basin where Steamboat is located, partially on the guided tour, part on my own, saw the Emerald Pool, Pork Chop Geyser and many more, there are pictures but the internet where I am now is so slow it is not worth trying to post them here. (Next Post) The main thing missing from the pictures is the sulfurous smell, it is an unpleasant but necessary part of the experience.
Yellowstone is difficult sometimes because of the crowds, Next time I will do more planning, mostly with having a confirmed campsite or lodging within the park and a smaller vehicle to drive, there are places I could not go in the RV, Parking lots I could not enter (and there are places I probably should not have taken the RV this time). I saw a lot anyway:
Three things that are draw-dropping:
1. Geysers
2. Animals (up close and big)
3. Scenery
It is worth the crowds - you can get away from them once inside - I will go again perhaps some June or September depending on seasonal access.
Waiting for the camp hosts to head on down to the Kiosk so I can exrend my stay. I never did get to see the geysers up close yesterday, Parking the RV was nigh impossible and battling the crowds at the entrance had me pretty well tired out. I was ready to leave the park but made several tries for a campground and managed to get in here. It is north of where I would like to be but at least I am in the park and can stay for up to 14 days
Been up since about 3 am and reading some of the literature, there is gasoline available at several locations, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower/Roosevelt, Grant Village, Old Faithful, and I may be able to make something of a loop past the geysers (Which I will see this time) down to Yellowstone Lake. Round trip about 100 mi - may be more than I want to do in one day. Will check on the possibilities of switching campsites.
At Indian Creek there is no power, no internet, no cell phone, vault toilets, cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon, the road has about 5 miles of gravel due to construction, and this is a high traffic area for bears, overall, a pretty good RV boondocking camping experience. It is close to the North Entrance which I can use to get on the I-90 East to South Dakota when I get ready to leave so there are advantages to just staying here, will see.
From the heated (furnace) comfort of the RV I am watching my neighbors break camp (tent) - lots of work, but they are young and have had a great experience to share all their lives- will see if they leave the firewood, the subaru outback is looking pretty packed and they still have two people and two dogs to go. (Later - said goodbye and picked up 4 logs with thanks)
8 am reserved for tonight - can get another campground - ok with hosts -off to the geysers Steamboat by Norris a priority - its been active lately.
Both the eyewitnesses sounded like their lives had been changed by the event.
This one has been making the news lately because of its increased activity.
Later in the day I was about 300 yards from "Old Faithful" when it went off, my timing and planning could be better I suppose but I was lucky to have seen it at all and I have now some idea of what a geyser is.
I had walked the entire Norris Geyser Basin where Steamboat is located, partially on the guided tour, part on my own, saw the Emerald Pool, Pork Chop Geyser and many more, there are pictures but the internet where I am now is so slow it is not worth trying to post them here. (Next Post) The main thing missing from the pictures is the sulfurous smell, it is an unpleasant but necessary part of the experience.
Yellowstone is difficult sometimes because of the crowds, Next time I will do more planning, mostly with having a confirmed campsite or lodging within the park and a smaller vehicle to drive, there are places I could not go in the RV, Parking lots I could not enter (and there are places I probably should not have taken the RV this time). I saw a lot anyway:
Three things that are draw-dropping:
1. Geysers
2. Animals (up close and big)
3. Scenery
It is worth the crowds - you can get away from them once inside - I will go again perhaps some June or September depending on seasonal access.
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