sleeantagh

Just don't feel up to writing. Tell you about Yellowstone tomorrow......Bad!!!! Cold.


Mon. Feb 06, 2006

otay....drugs are working for me, went home from work early, so here we go:

Sat:

Drove down 191 through MT and WY to West Yellowstone, MT. NBD, nothing I haven't seen in NY, CN, PA, or WV until I look at the altimeter on the GPS and realize baseline altitude here is @ 6000 ft. Still, all the peaks have trees on top....

West Yellowstone:

A little colder and snowing and blowing hard. Took a pic of snowmobiles in the streets. (Thank you Mr. Ford for putting 4WD in my Escape.) Found the West Entrance to the park and a sign stating open to snowmobiles only. So, I took advantage of the time to do a little touristy thing and talk to some of the locals. Apparently, it starts snowing around Halloween; melts at the end of March, and has snowed as late as Mother's Day. Then it's summer.

Sun: Determined to get into the park, though sick as a dog. (Where did that phrase come from anyway?)

Drove I90 to Livingston then south on 89 to Gardiner and the North Entrance to the park. $20.00, some instructions and info like all the roads are closed except the one to Cooke City (That's ok, it goes by Mammoth Hot Springs) and we're in.

I saw an Elk and several Bison. I hiked the trails around Mammoth Hot Springs and marveled that the only sound I could hear was that of the snow crunching under my boots. I lingered at the hot springs wondering about how anything could grow in there, until I'd had enough of the hydrogen sulfide gas. Then I drove on to Cooke City. Saw a huge herd of Mule Deer on the way. Turned around and drove home, pretty much underwhelmed by our first National Park. Whereupon it began to snow like a motherfucker once again.

In retrospect I'd have to say that I was sick and I only got to see the Northern end of the park, but all in all I've enjoyed the Blue Ridge, Adirondack's and Laurentian Mts. much more.

Final Answer: Being in the mountains makes me happy, no matter where I am.