Today we were up and out of the lodge by 6:17am, picked up breakfast on our way to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and then loaded up in our snowcoach for the day.

BRRR! Our first stop was Swan Lake where we checked air and ground temperatures using tools like a Kestrel and an infrared thermometer. Temps were hovering between -2 and 1 degree Fahrenheit.

FALLING… As we continued our snowcoach journey, we moved to the next stop to view the Upper and Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We learned about the artist Thomas Moran, who panted visions of the falls and other nature scenes in Yellowstone. Ultimately, these paintings influenced enough support in Congress for Yellowstone to become our nation’s first national park in 1872 under President Ulysses S. Grant.

IN and OUT! Today’s trip involved the first flush toilets and running water we’d encountered inside the park. We enjoyed talking to the park rangers, seeing the skins of various animals (ermine, red fox, coyote, beaver) and seeing a bison skull up close.

CRITTERS GALORE! We watched a coyote and a red fox as they crouched and waited for their subnivean prey (aka a warm meal on a cold day) under the snow. Only the coyote was successful and they chomped their food as they went along the ridgeline. The trumpeter swans were seen floating in both water and air, stretching their long necks out.

HOT, HOT, HOT!! We visited several geothermal features. The sulfur gas bubbled and troubled us much like we imagined the cauldron of Macbeth. The Dragon’s Mouth Spring rumbled and released an odor akin to the smell of rotten eggs. The temperature of the springs reportedly reached 170 degrees Fahrenheit but we cannot confirm or deny this info.

GOIN’ FISHIN’ – Our next stop was the Fishing Bridge on the Yellowstone River. We met Ranger Mary at the warming lodge where she maintains a fire to keep park visitors warm. Fishing Bridge was a place where we stood and simply looked up and down the river seeking the elusive river otter (alas, there were none) and enjoying the serenity of the moment.

THUMBS UP! We drove and drove and drove, at 25mph, until we finally arrived at the West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake. We walked out to the lake and saw more geothermal features. Norm, our driver, shared a lot of great stories and kept us entertained and informed about Yellowstone history.

ARRIVED! We had a nice dinner at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge before heading to bed. We’ll be up before sunrise tomorrow to watch the geysers put on a show!