Another Day In The Park

Not like going to your local park for a leisurely day of relaxing and picnicking or laying around but, instead 60 miles each way to get to the Canyon Village section of Yellowstone.  A semi-early start to a full day but, not like having to get up to catch that 7:00 a.m. shuttle the day before.

Before I entered the park, I stopped at the picnic area just outside the park and on the Snake river to finish my second cup of coffee -- and try some fishing.  Beautiful scenery, good coffee but, no bites so, only a small amount of time spent there before continuing on into the park.  Same 22 mile trip to West Thumb and then onto the east fork through the Lake Village and Fishing Bridge areas along Yellowstone Lake (which had many nice viewing areas/pull-offs and toilets too).

Yellowstone Lake

The skies were much clearer than the day before but, the winds had white-caps lapping at the shores of the lake making it less inviting to stop for any length of time or walking down to the water.  The approximate hour and a half drive seemed to take longer perhaps because of the bleak landscape around the lake where the ground was covered with dead, fallen trees and very few small new trees were growing back in there place.

When I neared Canyon Village, I decided to take South Rim Drive to Uncle Tom's Point and Artist's Point where I hoped to see Yellowstone Falls and hike around a bit.  As soon as I made the turn onto the drive, there was the usual chaotic scene with cars half blocking the road and their occupants out in the fields and hillsides -- just shy of the parking area of course and us sensible, polite drivers jockeyed around the stupid people's cars to get in the parking lot and find a real parking space.  Apparently all the fuss was centered around two huge male Elk grazing just by the entrance to the parking lot -- both of which I encountered on the trail as I hiked to the Upper Falls (a 3/4 mile hike each way).

The hike to the Upper Falls was pleasant and a little up and down the hillside with little spots along the way to take pictures of the upper falls, rainbows and beautiful scenery -- and wildlife like the Elk.  Just getting past the Elk safely posed a bit of a problem as one of them got startled by a motorcycle when it tried to get up on the road and it came bolting back down the hillside next to the trail (I chose a spot behind a nearby pine to wait for the Elk to move along at its own pace -- others did too).

Upper Falls

After the hike and after getting numerous pictures, I headed farther down South Rim Drive to Artist Point where I hoped to get a picture to match the ones on the brochure.  There were closer approaches to the falls on the North Rim but, not as good for taking pictures since they were right at the top of the falls.  I think I made the right choice but, didn't go to the north side to confirm it.  Maybe some other time (with grand kids).

Yellowstone Falls

I decided after having some lunch to head back out of the park instead of going the additional 37 miles to Mammoth Springs (on the northern most side of the park) -- had my mind set on doing some more fishing at the bridge over the Snake River.

On the way back, I stopped at the Mud Volcanoes and its geyser basin where a large Buffalo was laying down right under and next to the wooden walkways.  I also approached another one on a hillside where it seemed to be isolated from any of the other Bison in the herd -- thought he might be laying down to die (too much rotten egg smells for him to take any more).

The decision to go back and fish some more provided a memorable afternoon at the river as I saw firshand a "rise" of amazing portions as numerous Cutthroats were feeding on a "hatch" of some sort.  I couldn't get them to touch my usual trusty Panther Martin lures so, I looked in my mini-tackle box for a fly to possibly through at them.  I didn't have a bobber or float so I tied on a little piece of a tree branch and threw it into the current to drift toward the highly active fish.

Immediately, a big fish took the fly and I struggled to keep him on and get him to shore but, as soon as he saw me on the shore he took off downstream into the current as fast as he could go and broke off the line -- taking the fly with him.  After that I caught three 16-inch Cutthroats, kept two and released one.  Then, I got another bigger fish on again and he too broke off the line.  The two that got away had to be over 20 inches from what I saw of them -- had me hungry to go back the following day (after getting the RV ready for the road trip to Ogden, Utah).