More Yellowstone....northern loop

Heading north towards Mammoth Hot Springs from Norris Geyser Basin is a gorgeous ride through the mountains. Some of the roads are not my favorite (a little scary!), but it was certainly worth the view. It is just amazing how the landscape changes.

beautiful scenery

at least this part has a guard rail

and this part had rocks

just look at that!

We stopped at several scenic overlooks to admire the view (and snap some more pics since I don't have enough!).

scenic view

scenic view

Mammoth Hot Springs is on a hill of travertine. The rock area below is composed of limestone, Hot water from the springs cools and calcium carbonate is deposited.  Color is due to thermophilic microorganisms (bacteria and algae) . For more information (especially for my chemist friends interested in the detailed chemical reaction!), click here. Mammoth Hot Springs are constantly changing shape and color, depending upon the water. Some springs dry up, or become inactive for years before resuming activity. We noticed a big difference from when we were last here, 18 years ago.

When we reached Mammoth, we parked at the Upper Hot Springs. Looking down from the Upper Mammoth Hot Springs, you can see Fort Yellowstone, where the calvary was stationed. I believe it is now employee housing, and the hotel/restaurants/shops are down there too. There is also parking down there for the lower springs, but we walked down along the boardwalk (and then back up-ugh-my favorite!).

Looking down from the Upper Hot Springs

Starting at the top boardwalk and walking across the upper area, the scene is very barren, dry and white. Very little color at all, and very little springs,until we started walking down the steps.

Upper Mammoth Hot Springs

some bacterial mats

the views were great

Looking across the top of the hot spring from this angle is the mountain on the other side. Again, the completely different ecosystems right next to each other is amazing to me.

finally we see some hot springs

and living bacteria

Some of these pictures are dramatic due to the height they were taken at, I think, and with the mountainous background.

Travertine

seeing some "steps" now as we walk down the boardwalk steps

There were not too many active springs, and we were surprised at the difference from when we were here 18 years ago. We seem to remember more running spring water and bacterial mats and less "white" calcium deposits everywhere. We remember more like the pictures below. I'll have to check my old pictures some day.

nice one!

very dramatic

looks like its flowing, doesn't it?

really cool close up

guess the water isn't too hot for this guy

views were spectacular

A lot of the area was dried up and inactive. And through it all, a flower grows. Amazing.

totally dried up and no living bacteria (color)

the springs make the difference

see the butterfly on this "superflower" that can grow in such an environment?

We continued our walk around the lower area as well, but then, we eventually had to go back up. (I had the fitbit on and walked 17,000+ steps and 61 flights that day! I know...I need to do more!!)

come on Susie...more steps!!

are you kidding me??

The views from the top were magnificent though! Especially the surrounding landscape.

Fort Yellowstone

really looks different from what we remember from 18 years ago

Driving past Mammoth Hot Springs towards Lamar Valley, we passed by beautiful scenery. The overlooks for the river were really nice and many people were stopping. We got out our binoculars to look for wildlife across the river, and all I can say is something "was" there. It looked like something just laid down and died and the bones told the tale. They weren't even scattered like I would assume, if something ate it. Wow! Didn't expect to see that.

waterfall view

really flowing! must be snow melt

again

bones...directly across from us (may need to enlarge pic)

another perfect view

Of course, there were numerous "road jams", but the road was so narrow with very little shoulder and being on the side of a mountain, we did not stop. Actually, you are only supposed to stop at pullouts or get your car totally off the road, and not block the road in any way. NO WAY were we going to pull off the side of the road! The side was way too steep and our car would have been on a treacherous angle. No thanks!

lots of mountain meadows too

Farther on in the ride, we saw another "road jam" and were able to safely pull off. It was a young bear eating some of those tasty wildflowers! Cute! (Stay away at least 100 yds and leave if the animal changes behavior!)

munching on flowers

looking for more "blue" flowers?

A little later on, another traffic jam due to this big guy! We did not stop to get out, but I snapped some pics on our way driving past. What is really great is that at most of these "jams", a ranger arrives and makes sure no one does anything stupid like go down the hill and pet the bear. Seriously though, the ranger makes sure the crowd is a safe distance and that the bear is not bothered.

this is a big one!

the ranger and about 100 people were watching nearby as we drove by

Heading to Lamar Valley, the scenery is just spectacular! We passed an antelope was just hanging out, very relaxed, just watching cars go by. There is a section of landscape with lots of big rocks dotting the hills. Not sure about them, if they are glacial??

beautiful! like a painting!

pronghorn watching the cars go by

osprey nesting

so magnificent

The herd of buffalo was in Lamar Valley! There were so many, everywhere in the meadow far away from people. Looking through the binoculars, you could see there were many babies too. We also spotted lots of antelope there.

the little specs are smart buffalo-away from people

more

antelope romping through the meadows too

Driving back, we stopped to take more scenic pictures....just so beautiful!

very scenic

lone buffalo

another scenic stop

with more flowers-ahha

At one of the pullouts, two old men were staring at something with their binoculars. So, THESE two old people came up to them with their binoculars and asked what they were watching. Turns out, it was an osprey nest. Very cool! No one else stopped though when we were there. On our return trip, there was a professional photographer all set up with his huge lens, and tons of people stopped. It was a big "jam". Guess what? It was the exact same osprey nest...people stop when the big lenses are pulled out!!

osprey nest again...the male just flew away and the female is there

Again, the scenery was fantastic. Like a painting.

nice looking trail ride

another "painting"

remnants of a forest fire...but it is regrowing nicely 

We just wanted to sing "the hills are alive".....that's what it felt like here..ahhaha.

scenic stop

other angle

looking for wildlife

a little left over snow

We were passing by some pretty thick snow, which made us wonder just how much snow they had. All I can say is, I have some nerve complaining about the NJ winter last year!!

lots at the base of some of these trees

Okay...and what NOT to do in Yellowstone. At least the guy had a camera. That crazy lady had nothing! What?? And that buffalo was huge and looking toward them as we drove by. I wanted to "save" them by throwing them into our car! Hope they fared well.

oh no.....

people-you are too close!!

Another guy along the Madison River. The male bison are everywhere. All over the park. And in Lamar Valley. The females and babies seem to be only in Lamar Valley, at least this day.

hanging around at the Madison River