Yellowstone

It must leave a Jurassic-size carbon footprint connecting flights from airport to airport to get to where you're going. That’s the reality of traveling from the little commuter airport where I live! Yet I do it because as the late great Freddie Mercury once said, Keep Yourself Alive. After doing time at my little airport, and then the Atlanta Airport, followed by the Salt Lake City Airport, I got myself to the Jackson Hole Airport during a torrential rainstorm. I dragged my luggage through all that rain because planes there let you off outside and there is no choice. (I’m skipping over the part about flying through a thunderstorm because I was so glad to finally get to where I was going that I didn’t mind that part.)

My rental car ended up getting super-sized, but why stop now? After driving through Jackson Hole in the dark and more rain, I eventually found the condo I’d rented and hurled myself into bed and slept. 

My first few days around Jackson Hole were spent exploring The Grand Tetons. 

Although I took countless photos, they don’t do any of the sights justice. The Grand Tetons are outside of Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park is so enormous it's in both Wyoming and Montana. First I visited the Teton area. Then I moved into the Yellowstone National Park enormity. 

My photos just don’t capture the massiveness of these places, you can't smell the fresh air, or the way you can drive only a couple miles and go from gigantic mountains, to forests, to plains, lakes, geysers, canyons, and hot springs of every imaginable color. Even words can't grasp this place. Not to mention all of the wildlife. There are bison everywhere (think buffalo). Moose. Bear. Coyotes. Foxes. Wolves. The hassle of getting to this place is well worth the effort. 

After my days exploring the Jackson Hole area, I stayed in various places within Yellowstone National Park. I booked whatever availability there was in the villages within the park. In Grant Village I had a room, but also stayed in cabins at both Mammoth and Old Faithful. You do need to book about a year ahead, and that includes booking meals at the various restaurants. 

Hiking was my favorite activity during this trip. There are geysers and hot springs dotted over the park. They even ring Yellowstone Lake, which is incredibly huge. The pathways are mostly made up of decking material and you're safe to walk around as long as you stay on the paths. You can purchase these honking huge cans of bear spray for going off the grid hiking too. 

I'd seen the videos of tourists doing foolish things, but what took me by surprise is that it's going on in real time every moment you're there. I saw people stick their fingers into bubbling hot springs, people darting off the clearly marked paths, to run across thin earthen crusts full of oozing bubbling smoking geysers and variations of other volcanic activity, just to get a better picture. Every snap of your camera takes another fantastic picture. There's no need to risk your life. People raced toward wild animals to pet them. Where I live in the shire is full of wildlife. I've been battling a mangy little black bear all summer trying to keep him out of my trash. I know you don't fool with WILD ANIMALS. THEY DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR RULES. THEY DO NOT LIKE YOU. THEY LIKE FOOD. Including your trash. 

Obviously, too many of us don't live near wild animals on a daily basis. We have forgotten what they will do to your house for a half cup of birdseed at 2:00 a.m. We have forgotten how strong a four-hundred plus pound animal is. But, DUDE, don't you see the horns and TEETH? Don't make them remind you. 

Although, look at those sweet baby eyes! It's a trap!

I cannot wait to go back.