 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Trip to Yellowstone |
|
|
|
With our cookie money, our troop was able to go on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. We broke up into 3 planning groups, some planned the food, some planned activities and some took care of all the arrangements. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
We left on Sunday, June 5 with an 11 hour drive in front of us. We had walkie talkies that we used almost the whole day all the way to Yellowstone. There were six of us girls and three adults. We passed through the gates of the Grand Teton National Park around 5:30 p.m. Shortly after this, we came across a wreck in the road. Apparently, some animal was in the road which caused some motorists to crash into each other. This is where we met George, a very cute Park Ranger in the Grand Teton NP. He has been a Park Ranger for 29 years. We had a lot of fun talking to George while we waited for the traffic to clear. Needless to say he was the topic of conversation quite frequently for the rest of the week. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
We finally made our way to the campground and arrived around 7:30 p.m with enough light left to set up our tents. It?s a good thing we practiced setting up our tent before we left on our trip. It rained the whole first night, but we were prepared. We not only put tarps under our tents but also inside the tents. Our gear stayed dry the entire week. A troop next to us at the campground shared with us about how their gear got all wet.
Our first full day was Monday. We headed for Old Faithful, but along the way stopped at the Fountain Paint Pot. It was very cold and snowy/rainy but everyone donned their rain ponchos and we headed out on the walk.
(Pictured is a bacteria mat.) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Next we stopped at Midway Geyser Basin. The weather had cleared slightly and just lightly rained. This is the location of the famous 370m diameter hole called the Grand Prismatic Spring. We didn't get to see if very well because the steam was blowing towards us on the walk way and we were not able to see into it.
We finally headed up for Old Faithful to catch the blow off at 1:00 p.m. We ate lunch in the lodge where it was nice and warm. After lunch the weather had cleared enough so that we were able to walk around to the other geysers in the area and hike up the mountain to the Old Faithful overlook to catch the 2:30 blow off. After returning from our walk around the geysers in the area we went indoors to the museum to watch a film and talk to Ranger Sean Duffy. He too, was quite engaging and really enjoyed all the attention the girls gave him asking him all kinds of questions. You could tell he really loved his job. He had expertise in like six outdoor things, like paleontology, geology, anthropology, seismology and others and these are just things he likes to play around with in his spare time. On our way back we stopped and did our planned hike to Mystic Falls. (See photos on other page.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday morning brought us better sleep with no rain. Today our destination was Mammoth Hot Springs. After getting a late start due to sleeping in, and having our amazing Egg Turnover breakfast, we headed directly for Mammoth Hot Springs. There we caught a presentation by Ranger John on all the different mammals in the area. While we watched John, John watched a Bison that was not more than 50 yards away from us. The day was gone before we knew it and we headed back to camp to start our spaghetti dinner. This evening we invited the other Girl Scout troop from Manhattan, Kansas to join us in a Scouts? Own Ceremony. It was really great meeting and talking the other Cadette Girl Scouts about their experience in Yellowstone and in Girl Scouting. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
YELLOWSTONE WEATHER
Early June in Yellowstone is like March in Monument. Or at least it was while we were there. Sources tells us that it was warm the weekend before and starting thursday (the day we drove the long trip home), it began to warm up. So our nicest day was probably Sunday afternoon. It was in the upper 40's with some light rain and a thunderstorm in the distance. That night it dropped to the 30's by the time we went to bed.
Monday morning we woke up to below-freezing temperatures (i hope everyone slept on their clothes!) and there was rain/snow falling. During our trips to the paint pots, there was a wind and heavier snow, but once we got closer to Old Faithful, it turned to rain and there was a little breeze. Temperatures during the day were upper 30's-lower 40's.
Tuesday morning was the same (and so was Wednesday morning), but up at Mammoth, temperatures warmed up enough to take off the winter coats and gloves!! Hooray!!!! It was actually about 48 degrees!! On the drive back to Madison it snowed and went to the upper 30's again.
Wednesday was better then Monday and Tuesday. The hike was a little wet but we were used to it!!! As we were driving to lunch, we saw-gasp-SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!! That was awesome. Temperatures ranged from 49-52 degrees. What a great way to leave!!
Sources from the Girl Scout troop from Kansas and the Old Faithful visitor center, and precise temperatures provided by Mrs. Ottesen's car! (my parents need one of those....) |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday morning we got up early to pack up, eat breakfast and prepare to head out for the day, which by the end would find us in Cody, WY. While some packed up, others prepared a farmer's breakfast. After breakfast, we headed out to West Thumb and Fishing Bridge. At West Thumb we took a hike up to Duck Lake. On our way back from Duck Lake, we took a detour off the path and up the hill near some power lines. At the top of the hill, we had an awesome view of Yellowstone Lake. We then headed for Fishing Bridge and had lunch and looked around the area. Mostly we checked out the souvenir shop. Some of us finally got to see a bear, but unfortunately, it was the stuffed kind. We headed for the East exit from the park which would take us into Cody, Wyoming for the evening where everyone was able to get a shower and a good night's sleep.
Thursday morning we rallied everyone together and started on the ten hour ride home.
|
|
|
|
|