Chain of Lakes Revisited

Last Monday we took a ride to Wade and Cliff Lakes, which we visited last year in the fall. Our day started with breakfast at Campfire Lodge with our fellow workampers from Bargain Depot Outlet. Thanks to our wonderful bosses for this nice treat. After breakfast we drove to the end of Ghost Village Rd along the Madison River. We saw two osprey nests with occupants along this route. They were too far away to get good pictures, but we did enjoy them with binoculars. Another side trip was on Beaver Creek Rd. a nice ride along the creek with wildflowers in abundance. We finally made it to Wade and Cliff Lakes. There are small campgrounds at each lake and another one on the hilltop between the two. There weren't many campers, but the area was well populated by mosquitoes. They tell us they will be gone by July 4th. We can already see a reduction of the pests here in town. After our stop to admire the lakes we headed south on Route 87 to Henry's Lake. Along the way we saw a turn off into the Targhee National Forest that we hadn't been on, so of course we had to take it. Another wonderful day exploring.

The circle at the end of Beaver Creek Rd.

A small stream meanders through this valley in the Three Dollar Ranch. The road to Wade and Cliff Lakes goes through the ranch.

Wade Lake

Cliff Lake with it's many shades of green and blue.

A closer look at Cliff Lake

Henry's Lake

What many see as a weed, we consider another beautiful wildflower.

The arrowleaf balsamroot are everywhere adding color to many hillsides.

White Mule's Ears cover many meadows with their snow white blooms.

Delicate flowers hiding under the leaves.

We saw many of these blue flowers near the Madison River.

Lupines in the early morning. You can see the flower stalk forming in the middle.

Morning dew on some interesting flowers and leaves.

West Yellowstone Centennial

West Yellowstone celebrated it's centennial this past week. One hundred years ago the railroad built a line which ended here to give visitors access to Yellowstone. Yellowstone was the first National Park, established in 1872. West Yellowstone was built as a place for people to stay while they explored Yellowstone by stage coach and horse back. In the 1920's they incorporated the use of open top buses. At it's peak 325 buses were in use which made it the largest mass transit system in the world. The town was originally named Boundary, but was later changed to it's present name. Trains don't run here any more, but the station, which is now a museum, and the large dining hall are still here. In preparation for this celebration they picked artists to paint 25 buffalo, (bison) which were put on display last summer. This year 10 buffalo calves were unveiled and next year the bull will be added. After next year they will all be sold to private collectors and businesses. Interestingly enough the fiberglass buffalo were all cast in Buffalo, New York. For this week's celebration they had the 25 from last year corralled in front of the museum. They all have sponsors around town and will be moved there this week. The calves are kept inside and are already at their sponsor's locations.

Some of the bison in the corral.

They are all unique. Some represent Yellowstone's history and most have depicted the wildlife here.

This one shows camping from the 1920's to 1957 on this side.

The camping time line continues to 2006.

Another view of the herd with Yellowstone Ave and the snow covered mountains in the background.

Some of the old stage coaches at the museum.

Inside the dining hall. This is where the visitors to Yellowstone would arrive, change out of their dusty clothes and have their meals. The opening in the fireplace on the end is 18 foot high.

One of the new calves located inside a book store.

This young calf is inside one of the grocery stores. Wonder what he'll munch on at night.

Yellowstone National Park

We have had very interesting weather lately. It seems winter does not want to end here. Last Friday we started the day with cool rain showers, then we had a thunderstorm with hail and sleet which turned to snow with about 2 inches of accumulation. By the time we headed home from work, the sun was shining. Saturday and Sunday we had snow showers on and off.

We had some trouble with our truck after we arrived here a little over a month ago, so today we finally made it into Yellowstone for the first time this year. We took a short ride from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful and back.

Water rushing through a narrow area in the Firehole Canyon.

Looking down river at Firehole Canyon.

Fly fishermen on the Madison River.

Very tiny flower with dandelion for comparison.

Bison calves taking an afternoon rest in a field of wildflowers.

Blue heron, a different variety of fisherman.

A family of Canadian geese.

A bison bull making his way through fallen logs.

Bison crossing the Madison River.

Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, ID

On our way to Idaho Falls, Idaho last Monday to stock up on supplies, we took a side trip on the Mesa Falls Byway. The following are photos we took at the falls. There is a nice path that leads right up to the Upper Falls. The Lower Falls can only be seen at a distance. With all the winter snow melt, all the rivers are very full this year.

Water droplets clinging to the edge of leaves on the trail to the Upper Mesa Falls.

Rocks on both sides of the falls were covered in various kinds of moss.

Rainbow in the mist at the Upper Falls.

Water thundering over the Upper Falls.

The volume of water coming over the falls was amazing.

Interesting columns of rock on the shore of the river.

The Lower Mesa Falls from the overlook.

A close-up of the Lower Falls.