Yellowstone

Wednesday, August 27th, just a few hours drive from Rigby, we entered Yellowstone Park, from the West entrance.  Here we were assessed a fee of $3.00 each, which entitled us to camping privileges for the season.  Here, also the car was given the "once over" to see if it were capable of making the grades in the Park.

Having passed inspection, we drove immediately to "Old Faithful" camp grounds and before unpacking the car and pitching the tent, we had a look at the faithful geyser performing.  The day had been warm but when night came, it bot cooler and cooler.  We used all our blankets and still were not warm.  The next morning we found ice frozen in a pan of water beside the tent.


There was some sort of entertainment or recreation at this camp every day.  The first evening we attended a lecture on "Bears" given by one of the Rangers, at the Bear Feeding Station.  We learned many things about these fascinating animals and were warned over and over again to "leave the bears alone" and they wouldn't bother us.

One night we sat around a huge campfire listening to a Ranger tell some of the history of Yellowstone, including stories of the famous Jim Bridger.
Another evening we attended a Minstrel Show put on by some of the employees of the Park.
During the day, we did sight- seeing.  Took a 4 - mile hike over the Upper Geyser Basin with a Ranger as guide.  He told us about the formation and performance of the various geysers and hot springs.  Some of the Geysers are estimated to be five to six thousand years old.  We saw a great many in action - among the better known were - Old Faithful, Riverside, Solitary, Lone Star.  The Lone Star erupts one in 4 to 5 hours.

It is quite a distance from any other geyser and the mouth is star shaped, hence its name.
Another interesting trip was the "Nature Trail".  This was conducted by a young lady Ranger.  She told us about the trees and plant life of the Park.  In 1926, the "Blue Gention" has been chosen as the "Park Flower".  It is a beautiful blue, bell shaped flower, very rare, and even tho there were signs everywhere , "Do not pick the flowers,", many people picked them - the blue gentian included.
We left Old Faithful Camp Saturday August 27th and went to Mammoth Hot Springs - Fort Yellowstone - the northern entrance to the Park, where we found it much warmer.  The elevation at Mammoth Hot Springs is 6,387 ft., while at Old Faithful, it is 7,394, which accounts for the difference in temperature.  We made this cap our headquarters during the rest of our stay in the Park.
We took many sight - seeing trips from Mammoth Hot Springs.  Visiting the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone", "The Glass Mountain", "Norris Geyser Basin", "Buffalo Farms", West Thumb", Yellowstone Lake", Mt. Washburn" (highest motor road in the Park - altitude 10,817'), "Camp Roosevelt" where President Coolidge had been just the week before.

We even went trout fishing one day but, no luck - Mr. Coolidge had taken the last one.
Attended the Ft. Yellowstone Church got acquainted with the weather forecasters of the Park, who gave us interesting information about the workings of the United States Weather Bureau.
We did most of our shopping in Gardiner, Montana, where we found prices considerably under those in the Park.  After just literally "throwing watermelons around" in the south, we were amused to see rather inferior melons priced at $1.50 each.  Bananas were 75 cents per dozen, Round steak 50 cents per pound, etc.  Inside the park they would be at least 50% higher.  Gasoline, for instance sold for 35 cents per gallon inside the Park, where in Gardiner, it could be obtained for 23 cents.

Our original plans had been to visit Glacier National Park, but already snow was falling in that section and soon the mountain passes would be closed, so we left that for some future date.